Margaret Bell papers, 1919-1956

Summary

Creator:

Bell, Margaret, 1888-1969

Abstract:

Correspondence and other files of Margaret Bell, chairman of the Department of Physical Education for Women of the University of Michigan, and physician in the University Health Service. Materials relate to University activities, conferences and speeches, copies of articles and other writings, and photographs.

Extent:

6 linear feet

Language:

English

Call Number:

861055 Aa 2

Authors:

Finding aid created by Marilyn Starr, March 1987

Background

Scope and Content:

The papers support the work and activities of Margaret Bell as Professor of Physical Education, Chairman of Department of Physical Education for Women, and a physician in Health Services at the University of Michigan from 1923 to 1956, and are divided into two sub-groups of personal activities and those specific to the University of Michigan.

The strength of the papers is found in the correspondence and reports which show the growth of physical education programs for women at the University and the identification of issues important to physical education and health in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, with the correspondence, speeches, and publications of Margaret Bell. Historical records about the Women's Athletic Building and the Women's Athletic Association are also important.

Significant correspondents include: Amos Alonzo Stagg, John Dewey, and Elmer D. Mitchell, as well as other physical education professionals: Elizabeth Halsey, Ernest Jokl, Julian Smith, Ruth Glassow, Jay B. Nash, Charles Harold McCloy, Mable Lee, Vance Blanchard, and Charles Forsyth.

Topics of special note include the article, "Athletic Competition for Women," written for AAU March, 29, 1954, as well as other articles about the physiological effects of exercise and sport for women. During the 1950s and early 1960s college women participated in playdays and sportsdays, rather than the organized intercollegiate athletic programs of the present day. There was concern that women were not physically capable of such strenuous demands of full-court basketball and were limited by the rules to half-court play during the 1950's, with two rovers being added in the 1960's.

Biographical / Historical:

Date	Event
1888	Born in Chicago, Illinois, to Frank Elliott and Elizabeth T. (Dyer) Bell.
1903-1907	Attended John Dewey Laboratory School, University of Chicago High School.
1910	Graduate from Sargent School of Physical Education.
1910-1915	Taught at South Park Playground, Chicago.
1910-1916	Taught at Englewood High School.
1915	Graduated with B.S. from University of Chicago.
1916-1918	Taught at University of Chicago.
1918	Taught at Teachers' College, Chicago.
1920	Graduated from Trudeau School of Tuberculosis.
1921	Graduated with M.D. from Rush Medical School, Chicago; Assistant, Internal Medicine at Cardiac Clinics, Central Free Dispensary, Chicago.
1922	Research worker at Elizabeth McCormick Memorial Fund, Chicago.
1923	Received certificate from San Francisco Hospital, San Francisco.
1923	Co-director of Camp Tenaya, Yosemite, Ontario.
1923/24	Professor of Hygiene and Physical Education, Chairman Department of Physical Education for Women, Medical Advisor for Women at University of Michigan. (continued in these positions until 1956)
1929-1930	Instructor, Internal Medicine at University of Chicago Clinics.
1937-1938	New York Post Graduate School of medicine.
1969	Died

Professional and Service Organizations in Which Margaret Bell Was Active

1. Organizations:
   • Physical Education
     • American Association for Health and Physical Education
     • Mid-West Physical Education Association
     • Michigan Physical Education Association
     • National College Directors' Society
     • Midwest College Physical Education Society
     • Sargent Alumnae Association
   • Education:
     • Michigan Education Association
     • National Education Association
   • Medical:
     • American Medical Association
     • American Public Health Association
     • American Student Health Association
     • Michigan Student Health Association
     • National Conference on College Hygiene
     • Washtenaw County Medical Society
   • Others:
     • Women's Research Society
     • A.A.U.W.
     • University of Chicago Alumni and Alumnae Associations
     • American Youth Hostels
2. Honorary Societies:
   • Alpha Omega Alpha - Honorary Medical
   • Delta Omega - Honorary Public Health
   • Phi Kappa Phi - Honorary Education
   • Pi Lambda Theta - Honorary Education
   • Fellow, American Medical Association
   • Fellow, American College of Physicians (1932)
   • Fellow, American Association for Health and Physical Education (1933)
   • Fellow, American Public Health Association (1941)
3. Outside Committees and Responsibilities:
   • Physical Education
     • American Association for Health and Physical Education and Recreation
     • 1929 Committee on Medical Examinations for Women and Girls
     • 1935 Executive Committee
     • 1935 Legislative Council
     • 1935 Governing Board
     • 1937 Vice-President
     • 1932-33 Section Chairman, Therapeutic Section
     • 1934-35 Section Chairman, Teacher Training Section
     • 1934 Dance Section Adviser
     • 1939-40 President
     • 1944 Committee to establish provisions for Health Service Health Instruction, Physical Education, Athletics and Recreation for U.S. Office of Education
     • American Youth Hostels
     • Regional Committee
     • 1938 Advisory Board, Great Lakes Area
   • Women's Athletic Section of American Association for Health and Physical Education
     • 1931 Member of Executive Committee and Legislative Board
     • 1934 Committee on Policy
     • 1934 Finance Committee
     • 1933-35 National College Directors' Society, Program Committee
     • 1931-33 Mid-West College Directors' Society, President
   • Mid-West Physical Education Association
     • 1930-32 Vice-President
     • 1932-34 President
     • 1933-34 Committee on Orthopedics
     • 1935-36 Committee on Reorganization and Policy
   • State Council on Physical Education, 1934
   • Michigan Physical Education Association
     • 1933-34 Advisory Committee
   • White House Committees
     • 1929 Leadership Training in Secondary Schools
     • 1929 Recreation and Physical Education
4. Medical and Health Education
   • Washtenaw County Medical Society
     • 1936 Vice-President
     • 1938-39 Committee on Public Health Legislation
   • American Student Health Association
     • 1932-33 Committee on Physical Activities
     • 1932-33 Committee on Program
     • 1932-33 Women's Committee
     • 1938- Committee on Hygiene of Physical Activities
   • Michigan Student Health Association
     • 1936 Committee on Department Organization, Integration and Administration of Student Health
   • National Conference on College Hygiene
     • 1932-33 Committee on Interrelations and Correlation of
   • Hea1th Conference called by Governor Murphy in Lansing, 1938
   • National Conference for Cooperation in School Health Education
     • 1938 Member on Organization and Appraisal Committee
     • 1939 Executive Committee, alternate member-at-large
   • American Association of School Administrators
     • 1941-1942 Member, Commission on 1942 Yearbook on Health Education

Acquisition Information:

The collection was received form Mrs. Karl Illava on December 16, 1976 962

Rules or Conventions:

Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Subjects

Click on terms below to find any related finding aids on this site.

Subjects:

Physical education for women -- Michigan -- Ann Arbor.
Women -- Health and hygiene -- Michigan -- Ann Arbor.
Women physicians -- Michigan -- Ann Arbor.
Physicians -- Michigan -- Ann Arbor.
African Americans -- Women.
Athletic fields -- Michigan -- Ann Arbor.
Children.
Clothing and dress -- 1920-1960.
Gymnasiums -- Michigan -- Ann Arbor.
Physical education.
Sports.
Women.

Formats:

Photographs.

Names:

University of Michigan. Dept. of Physical Education for Women.
University of Michigan -- Faculty.
University of Michigan -- Students -- Social life and customs -- 1951-1960.
Bell, Margaret, 1888-1969.
Dewey, John, 1859-1952.
Lee, Mabel.
Halsey, Elizabeth, 1890-
Jordan, Myra Beach, 1863-1946.
McCloy, Charles H. (Charles Harold), 1886-1959.
Mitchell, Elmer Dayton, 1889-
Nash, Jay Bryan, 1886-1965.
Palmer, Thomas Witherell, 1830-1913.
Stagg, Amos Alonzo, 1862-1965.
Sundwall, John, 1880-1950.
Yost, Fielding Harris, 1871-1946.