Becky Sisley faculty papers , 1965-2012

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Sisley, Becky L.
Title
Becky Sisley faculty papers
Dates
1965-2012 (inclusive)
Quantity
12 linear feet, (8 containers )  :  8 record storage boxes
3 unprocessed linear feet, (2 containers)  :  2 record storage boxes
Collection Number
UA 230
Summary
Becky Sisley was a University of Oregon professor and coach whose work focused on gender equality in sport and equal opportunity for women athletes and coaches. As the first Women's Athletic Director from '73 to '79, Sisley pushed for change and progress in the UO Women's Athletic Department. The Becky Sisley faculty papers contains documents from her time at the University of Oregon as well as her involvement in various Women's sports organizations. The papers include course material from classes she taught, publications and articles written by her colleagues on title IX and gender equity in athletics as well as personal publications.
Repository
University of Oregon Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives
UO Libraries--SCUA
1299 University of Oregon
Eugene OR
97403-1299
Telephone: 5413463068
spcarref@uoregon.edu
Access Restrictions

Collection is open to the public. Collection must be used in Special Collections and University Archives Reading Room. Collection or parts of collection may be stored offsite. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives in advance of your visit to allow for transportation time. Collection includes sound recordings, moving images, and digital files to which access is restricted. Access to these materials is governed by repository policy and may require the production of listening or viewing copies. Researchers requiring access must notify Special Collections and University Archives in advance and pay fees for reproduction services as necessary.

Additional Reference Guides

See the Current Collection Guide for detailed description and requesting options.

Languages
English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Serving as both an educator and coach, Becky Sisley made great contributions to women's athletics at the University of Oregon. She helped push for greater equality and involvement for women athletes and coaches which led to the expansion of women's varsity sports. Born May 10th, 1939 in Seattle Washington, Sisley would stay in Seattle up until her college years, earning her undergraduate degree at the University of Washington. Sisley then continued her studies in physical education, earning her masters and doctorate at University of North Carolina Greensboro (UNCG).

After working as a PE teacher at Lake Washington High School in Kirkland in 1961 and after spending two years working as a physical education instructor at University of Wisconsin, Sisley started working at the University of Oregon. In 1965 she began her career at the University of Oregon as an instructor and coach, coaching softball, basketball and eventually field hockey. In 1973 Sisley would make history, becoming University of Oregon's first, and only, Women's Athletic Director. Through her role as Women's Athletic Director from '73 to '79, Sisley pushed for change and progress in the UO Women's Athletic Department. After the passing of Title IX in 1972, Sisley worked to ensure compliance and gender equity in University of Oregon athletics. She advocated for better funding and facilities for women sports as well as equal pay for women coaches. During her time as athletic director, Sisley hired University of Oregon’s the first full time women's coaches, helped push through the first co-ed track meet in 1977 and played a role in securing athletic scholarships for women. Her hard work paid off as she fought for changes in the athletic department. During her 6 years as athletic director, the budget for women’s sports grew from $40,000 to $424,000.

Sisley not only advocated for equality between women's and men's sports at the University of Oregon, she also advocated for equality nationally, taking part in a number of Women's Sports Organizations. Sisley held a leadership role in organizations such as the Women's Recreation Association (WRA), the Division for Girls and Women's sports (DGWSN) and the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW). Additionally Sisley served as the president of NCWSA (Northwest College Women's Sports Association) from 1977-1978 as well as organized OWSLN (Oregon Women's Sports Leadership Network). Sisley's commitment to gender equality as well as her passion for athletics led her to push for equal opportunity for women athletes as well as coaches. Thus, Sisley organize mentorship programs and trainings for women coaches to advance their positions and become athletic directors.

Apart from her role as a leader and mentor in the athletic community, Sisley also wrote a number of articles in various journals concerning women athletics and coaching. Her studies focused on coaching techniques, coaching conflicts and gender inequality in the career of sport. Additionally, she conducted and published a in depth survey on Oregon coaches and their background in order to understand the skills or lack of skills that Oregon coaches held and the changes that could be made through trainings and clinics to improve their work.

As a professor, Sisley taught courses in the physical education department and the movement studies department. She taught courses such as Women's Sports and Gender Equity, Athletic Competition for Women, and Athletic Coaching for Girls and Women in Sport. Much of her course material focused on Title IX and the following compliance and continuing inequality in women’s athletics across the country.

Becky Sisley's role at the University of Oregon, as well as her continued involvement in the sports department today, has made a huge contribution to the development of women's athletics at the University. For this reason, in 1998 Sisley's name was added to the university's hall of fame and in 2000 a scholarship award was created in her name for female athletes, recognizing professional achievement, community service and support to the University of Oregon.

Sisley retired from her career in 90s. In 2000, she returned as a professor Emeritus to continue her involvement in women's athletics at the University of Oregon.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection of Becky Sisley's faculty papers includes material from her time as a professor, her involvement in women's sports organizations and her personal publications. The collection includes course material from classes she taught in the physical education department and the movement studies department. A large part of the documents concerning course material come from a course titled Women's Sports and Gender Equity. The documents from this course examine gender inequality in sports and the passing of title IX. Other course material includes documents and teaching material from classes concerning coaching, specifically softball.

The collection also includes research material and colleague's articles on Title IX, compliance and backlash in the United States. These articles examine legal cases that took place between universities and individual athletes and coaches after the passing of title IX. Additionally, the collection contains documents on the seminars and conferences that Sisley took part in concerning title IX and compliance across the country. Sisley also kept in contact with the US Department of Education concerning title IX. This correspondence was included in the collection.

Additionally, the collection contains documents from the many women's sports organizations that Sisley was involved in. the collection contains publications, reports and minutes of meetings from prominent organizations such as DGWS, NAGWS, NCWSA and AIAW. The collection also contains photos and documents from workshops held by OWSLN.

A large part of the collection consists of articles and reports concerning women coaches, women athletes and the inequality that existed in high school and University Sports. Sisley's personal publications also examined the role of coaches and women in the career of coaching. The collection contains various articles written by Sisley on the need for women coaches in the workforce. Additionally the collection contains a report and survey on Oregon coaches and their credentials.

The unarranged accrual (19.161.A) in the collection includes: WIA and UO Women's Athletics records, photographs, slides, media guides, news clippings, Title IX and alumni reunion subject files, and artifacts.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Athletics
  • College athletes--Oregon--Eugene
  • College sports for women--Oregon--Eugene
  • College sports--Oregon--Eugene
  • Education, Higher--Oregon--Eugene
  • Sex discrimination against women--United States
  • Universities and colleges--Oregon--Eugene
  • Universities and colleges--Oregon--Faculty
  • Women--Education (Higher)--Oregon--Eugene

Corporate Names

  • United States. Education Amendments of 1972. Title IX
  • University of Oregon. Department of Athletics

Form or Genre Terms

  • Audiocassettes
  • Lectures
  • Video recordings (physical artifacts)