COMMUNITY CALL FOR SPORTS MEMORABILIA

Play ball!

Or ready, set, go!

Or Oh, Say Can You See!

However you start your own athletic endeavors, there is no denying that sports are an important part of our human experience. From roller derby, lacrosse, power walking, ice hockey, or the uniquely Ithacan Rutabaga Curl, our forebears have gifted us today a rich tapestry of sports to build on for subsequent generations.

The History Center in Tompkins County is excited to announce our next exhibit, A Sporting Chance: On and Off the Field, BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP!

We are asking members of the Tompkins County community far and wide to contribute memorabilia of community level sports teams to the upcoming exhibit. We plan on featuring loaned items in our Exhibit Hall during A Sporting Chance. So, bring us your well-worn shirt from your beer league softball team, the hats you made for your children’s youth rec team, or the trophy from your pine box derby championship; We can’t wait to build a broad and diverse display of what it means to “sport” here in Tompkins County.

This history is an important part of the fabric of our community. Local teams at all levels bring people together, build relationships across differences, and promote a sense of pride and spirit. By documenting the history of these teams, we gain a better understanding of our community over time, and the contributions of the many people past and present who were part of these teams.

In addition to our community wall, the exhibit will also feature in-depth explorations of a number of local teams. Guest contributors, exhibits on loan, and interactive displays will augment the rich artifacts and photographs from The History Center’s collection. Narratives of achievement and empowerment are complicated by stories of erasure and exclusivity. Truth be told, the history of sports is quintessential human history – meaning, its complicated. In whole, A Sporting Chance offers an exciting opportunity to understand our place in the world. We’re excited to share in the exploration and conversation of our history through a sporting lens through the upcoming exhibit. 

PLEASE CONTACT design@thehistorycenter.net

ABOUT MATERIALS FOR THIS EXHIBIT