I have had this old real photo postcard of an early Minnesota girls basketball team for a long time. I was reminded of it when trying to think of something to fit the theme of Sepia Saturday 95. This card shows the 1913 Bellingham, Minnesota girls basketball team. The card not only shows a group of young women, but it also deals with sexual equality in sports. This was even before women had the right to vote, and much longer before Title IX banned sex discrimination in the schools and led to a proliferation of women's sports.
The message on the back of the postcard describes both boys and girls basketball games:
I searched for "history minnesota girls basketball" and discovered that there is a whole book on the subject: Daughters of the Game - The First Era of Minnesota Girls High School Basketball, 1891-1942, and it is available for Kindle. I don't have a Kindle, but that was no problem. I downloaded Kindle for PC (a free app), and then downloaded the book.
The message on the back of the postcard describes both boys and girls basketball games:
Dear Cousin:I attended a large high school (in another state) in the 1960s, and girls sports were practically nonexistent then and there. My high school yearbook shows team photos for 10 boys sports, with a total of 26 different teams. There is only one girls team--tennis. Things have changed a lot since then. The Wikipedia page for my old high school lists teams for 15 sports for boys and 13 sports for girls.
Don't we look stunning? We have only played a couple of games. We played Odesssa and beat them. The scores were: girls 8-2. Boys 30-10 Both in favor of Bellingham. But--we played Madison and got beat. Girls 20-5. Boys 23-13.
Gertie Lillejon(?)
I searched for "history minnesota girls basketball" and discovered that there is a whole book on the subject: Daughters of the Game - The First Era of Minnesota Girls High School Basketball, 1891-1942, and it is available for Kindle. I don't have a Kindle, but that was no problem. I downloaded Kindle for PC (a free app), and then downloaded the book.
The book is fairly short, but very interesting. It has a lot of reminiscences of the old players and pictures of teams. In the early years of the twentieth century, most Minnesota towns had girls basketball teams. The teams often used the same rules as boys until they were forced to change to supposedly safer girls rules. By mid-century, girls were not even allowed to play competitive basketball.
By coincidence, the subject of womens basketball turned out to be especially appropriate this week in Minnesota. The Minnesota Lynx team is competing in the WNBA 2011 playoff finals this week.
Nice picture, I love the hairstyles and the facial expressions. It looks like they had a fun time!
ReplyDeleteTitle IX - What a difference that law has made! The big news this week in Michigan is about the Homecoming Queen who kicked the winning field goal! I never would have dreamed to see the day ....
ReplyDeleteGreat photo.
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing that we will all be thinking along pretty similar lines this week. Your photograph from 1913 is a rare women's sporting image to have from that era - thanks for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteThe girls would be warm playing in those outfits. Old sports' teams are always interesting. Our local newspaper runs a blog were readers send in their memorabilia - sports teams feature regularly.
ReplyDeleteI played girls basketball in high school and I can't imagine wearing such voluminous outfits to play! No wonder they lost 15-5 or whatever that score was, lol. My basketball portrait was fairly similar, in that the girls were gathered around the ball, but we were all in bright orange shorts and tank tops. :-)
ReplyDeleteWhen I had high school gym class in the late 60s we played basketball during the winter months. At that time we had to wear awful one piece "bloomers" and the rules were "girl's rules". Half the players couldn't cross the center court line. I guess they thought it was too strenuous for girls to go all the way from one end of the court to the other.
ReplyDeleteThe style of sports dress has sure changed over the years.
ReplyDeleteJudy
A super photo! Someone should challenge a modern women's team to play in such classic dress for a centennial anniversary game.
ReplyDeleteThey played in those clothes?!! It can't have been easy. We had plenty of sports for girls in the UK in the 60s but schools were largely single sex.
ReplyDeleteMan this post and the comments brought back a lot of memories. I was thinking when I played basketball, in an all girl's school, we did not cross the center line the forwards on one side and the guards on the other. I wonder if the stern looking coat with all the buttons is the coach. Great post.
ReplyDeleteQMM
The team does look happy. I was in high school in detroit from 1960 to 1964. There were almost 2,000 students. I was on the swim team and there were numerous other girl's teams. the basketball teams did play with the 1/2 court rule. and the girls teams didn't get pep rallies and all that but they sure did play. and not in bloomers.
ReplyDeleteWow, this is really great...and they do look as though they mean business!
ReplyDeleteWow, this is very interesting! From the top picture to the pink uniforms, you have covered quite a time span of ladies basketball. Thanks for the tip on Kindle for PC too.
ReplyDeleteLike the swimwear of the time, those uniforms are anything but practical. All the same, I'll bet they were having a great time!
ReplyDeleteA fascinating post. And you research highlights what a useful tool eBooks can be, helping to make expert information on subjects which might only have a limited audience more widely available to everyone.
ReplyDeleteExcellent postcard! I find it fascinating how women were so encumbered with rules and restrictions. Looks like they were encumbered by fashion, as well. Those "uniforms" are hardly conducive to a well-played game of basketball!
ReplyDelete