SCSS PHI Intern Lindsey Glick Explores the Role of Female Athletes at the Capstone

The Summersell Center for the Study of the South’s Public History Initiative partners students with on-campus and local organizations, such as the Gorgas House, W.H. Hoole Special Collections Library, and local churches and clubs, to conduct research and create projects that communicate their history to the public.

This semester, Lindsey Glick, one of the Department of History’s undergraduate majors, is interning at the Gorgas House, here on The University of Alabama’s campus, and had the following to say about her experience so far:

This year marks the 125th anniversary of Women’s admission at the University of Alabama. The admittance of women marked an important shift in the University’s history and its culture. The Gorgas House is in the midst of preparing an exhibition that commemorates and celebrates the impact of women on the University. Through an internship at the Gorgas House this semester I have been researching women’s sports at the University of Alabama and its role on campus from a historical perspective to be included in the exhibition. To research women’s sports at the University of Alabama I first began by looking at multiple sources from the Bryant Museum. Next, I examined a thesis written by a past graduate student addressing the integration of SEC sports to garner an understanding of the impact of integration on women’s athletics at the University. Finally, I have scoured online sources to locate photos and videos of past and present University of Alabama female athletes. Later this semester, we will be working on getting interviews with current and possibly past female athletes and coaches who have had a profound influence on women’s sports at the University. Through this research we will create an exhibit as well as a digital exhibit dedicated to the historical significance of women’s athletics at the University, which will be displayed in Gorgas House in conjunction with the exhibition of the effects of Women on campus in general. The exhibition, including my exhibit on women’s athletics, will be open to the public. On a personal note, this experience so far has been extremely beneficial and enjoyable, allowing me to gain an understanding of what type of work is done as a public historian. This internship has strengthened my love for history, provided valuable experience with conducting in depth research, and peaked my interest in trying my hand at being a public historian.

UA president Joab Thomas with olympic gold medalist Lillie Leatherwood
Lillie Leatherwood, 3rd from right; UA President Joab Thomas, right.