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Finding Aid

Pennguinettes Records UPS 81.9PG

Access to collections is granted in accordance with the Protocols for the University Archives and Records Center.

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