Summary Information
- Prepared by
- Kaiyi Chen
- Preparation date
- 1998, revised 1999, 2002, and 2003
- Date [bulk]
- Bulk, 1953-2003
- Date [inclusive]
- 1947-2003
- Extent
- 2.0 Cubic feet
PROVENANCE
Gift from Doris Dannenhirsch-Beshunsky, former coach of Pennguinettes, and Helene Hamlin, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003.
ARRANGEMENT
The Pennguinettes Records are organized into two series: Chronological File and General File.
HISTORICAL NOTE
Pennguinettes was organized in 1946 with eight woman students who swam once a year to entertain visitors to campus on High School Day. The group practiced for only part of the spring semester. In 1953, it became an official athletic society under the auspices of the Women’s Physical Education Department and the Women’s Athletic Association. When the Association of Synchronized Swimming for College Women was formed in 1954, Pennguinettes was one of its charter members.
In addition to its annual Aquatic Musical, Pennguinettes has performed over the years for Parents Day on campus, entertained handicapped children and adults, and put charity shows on or off campus. It has also sponsored and conducted clinics, workshops, festivals and regional programs.
In 1978, Pennguinettes competed for the first time in area intercollegiate meets. Its team placed third overall. In 1990, it won the fourth place in Pennsylvania and the eleventh nationally.
SCOPE AND CONTENT
This small collection documents the history and development of Penn’s women society specialized in synchronized swimming. Most of the material has been filed chronologically from 1953 to 2003. The collection consists of programs, clippings, posters and photographs.
Inventory
Chronological files, containing programs, posters, clippings and photographs, 1953-2003 |
Box |
Folder |
|
1953 |
1 |
1 |
|
1954, spring |
1 |
2 |
|
1954, fall |
1 |
3 |
|
1955 |
1 |
4 |
|
1956 |
1 |
5 |
|
1957 |
1 |
6 |
|
1958 |
1 |
7 |
|
1959 |
1 |
8 |
|
1960 |
1 |
9 |
|
1961 |
1 |
10 |
|
1962 |
1 |
11 |
|
1963 |
1 |
12 |
|
1964 |
1 |
13 |
|
1965 |
1 |
14 |
|
1966 |
1 |
15 |
|
1967 |
1 |
16 |
|
1968 |
1 |
17 |
|
1969 |
1 |
18 |
|
1970 |
1 |
19 |
|
1971 |
1 |
20 |
|
1972 |
1 |
21 |
|
1973 |
1 |
22 |
|
1974 |
1 |
23 |
|
1975 |
1 |
24 |
|
1976 |
1 |
25 |
|
1977-2003 |
1 |
26 |
|
General file |
Box |
Folder |
|
History of Pennguinettes, with color photocopy of photographic prints of synchronized swimming, 1961-1968 |
1 |
27 |
|
Programs, etc., of demonstrations, festivals, aquatic art workshops and symposiums on and off campus, 1953-[1978] |
1 |
28 |
|
Women’s swimming, clippings and photos, 1947-1957 |
1 |
29 |
|
Photographs, nine, 1953-1975, including one group picture (1963) and five pictures of group composition performances |
1 |
30 |
|
Mermaids on Parade: America’s Love Affair with its First Olympic Women Swimmers by Buck Dawson, 2000 |
1 |
31 |
|
Aquatic Shows from A to Z, by Robert E. Kerper, Jr., 2002 |
1 |
32 |
|
Scrapbook: “University of Pennsylvania Synchronized Swimming and Aquatic Art,” 1946-1996 |
OS 2 |
|
|
Posters and clippings, 1959-1978 |
OS 2 |
|
|