Wayne State University College of Liberal Arts Health and Physical Education Department: George B. Sherman Records
Collection
Identifier: WSR002683
Series Description:
Series 1: World War II, 1942-1946
Series 1 consists of World War II correspondence between George Sherman and soldiers affiliated with the Wayne Athletics Department, the "Chit-Chat" Newsletters, photographs of the soldiers, as well as newspapers, war-time publications, and a U.S. Marine Corp. black-out poster.
Series 2, Subseries A: Wayne State University Records, 1924-1981 Subseries A of Series 2 reflects George B. Sherman's time at Wayne as their athletic business manager. Part A includes: Athletic Department reports, general and specific sports correspondence, intramural handbooks, athletic policies, Wayne sports play-by-plays, statistics, and news clippings. Team player and captains lists for Wayne teams, as well as sports publicity releases, Amateur Athletic Union of the United States (AAU), NCAA, and PAC (President's Athletic Conference) correspondence and athletic events' programs. An unpublished sports book with accompanying photographs documenting Wayne's sports teams, and pages of a scrapbook with Wayne sports newspaper clippings are also included.
Other documents relating to Wayne include: fraternity and sorority dance programs, homecoming dance programs, records from the Mackenzie Honor Society, and other Wayne clubs. Records from the Wayne Alumni Advisory Council, the Wayne Alumni Fund, Inc. Board of Trustees, and the Wayne Alumni Awards Committee.
Series 2, Subseries B: George B. Sherman's Personal Collection, 1853-1960s Subseries B of Series 2 consists of Sherman's personally collected sports memorabilia, such as: various collegiate football schedules; Detroit high school and Detroit City sports programs; Detroit Boxing programs; Detroit Lions, Tigers, and Redwings programs; and a series of McGuffy's Readers.
Series 2, Subseries A: Wayne State University Records, 1924-1981 Subseries A of Series 2 reflects George B. Sherman's time at Wayne as their athletic business manager. Part A includes: Athletic Department reports, general and specific sports correspondence, intramural handbooks, athletic policies, Wayne sports play-by-plays, statistics, and news clippings. Team player and captains lists for Wayne teams, as well as sports publicity releases, Amateur Athletic Union of the United States (AAU), NCAA, and PAC (President's Athletic Conference) correspondence and athletic events' programs. An unpublished sports book with accompanying photographs documenting Wayne's sports teams, and pages of a scrapbook with Wayne sports newspaper clippings are also included.
Other documents relating to Wayne include: fraternity and sorority dance programs, homecoming dance programs, records from the Mackenzie Honor Society, and other Wayne clubs. Records from the Wayne Alumni Advisory Council, the Wayne Alumni Fund, Inc. Board of Trustees, and the Wayne Alumni Awards Committee.
Series 2, Subseries B: George B. Sherman's Personal Collection, 1853-1960s Subseries B of Series 2 consists of Sherman's personally collected sports memorabilia, such as: various collegiate football schedules; Detroit high school and Detroit City sports programs; Detroit Boxing programs; Detroit Lions, Tigers, and Redwings programs; and a series of McGuffy's Readers.
Dates
- 1853 - 1981
- Majority of material found within 1930 - 1981
Creator
- Wayne State University (Organization)
Language of Materials
Material entirely in English.
Access
Collection is open for research.
Use
Refer to the Walter P. Reuther Library
Rules for Use of Archival Materials.Restrictions: Researchers may encounter records of a sensitive nature – personnel files, case records and those involving investigations, legal and other private matters. Privacy laws and restrictions imposed by the Library prohibit the use of names and other personal information which might identify an individual, except with written permission from the Director and/or the donor.
Extent
4.5 Linear Feet (4 SB, 1 OS)
Abstract
George B. "Shorty" Sherman, served as WSU's athletic business manager from 1938-1972. During this time, Sherman also served in the capacity of sports information director from 1939-1946. In his 34 years of service to the University, Sherman performed hundreds of duties ranging from writing publicity releases and supervising the cheerleaders to lining the field and blowing up the football. Born in Boston in 1905, Sherman came to Detroit at the age of two. He graduated from Northern High School and entered City College of Detroit (WSU) in 1924. When he graduated in 1940, City College had become Wayne University. Sherman was president of the College Athletic Business Managers Association (CABMA) from 1967-68, vice president from 1964-67 and secretary-treasurer from 1961-64. It was at this time that Sherman became nationally known for his hard work and dedication to athletics. He received the Citizen's Sportsman Award in 1969 from the Detroit Chapter of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame. He also won the Athletic Business Managers Award in 1971, the year before he retired. Former Mayor of Detroit, the late Jerome Cavanagh, proclaimed June 9, 1963 as George B. Sherman Day.
History
World War II correspondence: During World War II many Wayne State University athletes and former athletes were drafted into military service. George Sherman began sending newsletters to them to keep them updated on Wayne sports and university news. They evolved into the “The Weekly Chit-Chat” and grew to include information and anecdotes submitted by the servicemen affiliated with athletics at Wayne. In November of 1944 Sherman renamed the newsletters, "The Chit-Chat", acknowledging that he had been unable to maintain a weekly schedule. The first issue is dated June 8, 1942 and the last issue #56, is dated June 23, 1945.
Arrangement
Arranged in 2 series – Series 1 (Boxes 1-2), and Series 2 (Boxes 2-5). Folders are arranged alphabetically and topically.
Series 2 is further divided into 2 subseries.
Series 2 is further divided into 2 subseries.
Acquisition
The materials in this collection were donated in many installments starting in 1960 with the last donation in 1992.
Processing History
Processed and finding aid written by Elizabeth Nicholson on May 11, 2016.
Creator
- Wayne State University (Organization)
- Sherman, George B. (George Burrage) (Person)
- Title
- Wayne State University College of Liberal Arts, Health, and Physical Education Department: George B. Sherman Records
- Status
- completed
- Author
- Processed by Elizabeth Nicholson.
- Date
- 2016-05-10
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
Repository Details
Part of the Walter P. Reuther Library Repository
Contact:
5401 Cass Avenue
Detroit MI 48202 USA
5401 Cass Avenue
Detroit MI 48202 USA