Girls want to wear boy track suits in 1923 Delco!!!

The old Ridley Park High School in Ridley Park on Free St. now the location of the Ridley Middle School. The school was built in 1918 and torn down in the early 1970's when the district merged with Ridley Township and Eddystone School districts to become the Ridley School District.

NOTE: It is hard to imagine today but girls wanted to wear boys track suits rather than their own so they could run faster or so they felt. It caused quite a stir in Delco. 100 years ago. I have no pictures of old girl track suits, maybe a reader does?

CHESTER TIMES 

 March 30, 1923 

 CONTROVERSY ON GIRLS’ TRACK GARB 

Teachers Contend Track Suit Immodest – Girls Want Freedom

          A controversy is taking place at present among the directors of girls’ athletics in the Delaware County schools as to what the girls shall wear in their track work now that it has been definitely decided that they are to have an interschool track meet.  The girls themselves wish to wear the regulation boys’ track suit, their contention being that freer movement is needed than can be gained in the old style full pleated bloomers and heavy middy blouses.  Most of the teachers and officials of the schools are included to the view point that full bloomers middy blouses, stockings covering the knee and tennis shoes are the only things permissible in this work, as in basketball and hockey.  Both sides have certain points on their side which are right.  The girls’ idea that freer movement is necessary is absolutely correct.  The middy blouse is usually of very heavy material and restricts the motion of the arms that is so necessary.  Additionally, the stockings covering the knee inevitably loosen with the chance of falling down to the ankles.  This is a certainly usually unsuccessful in the girl’s effort when a girl is running to make a record.

          On the other hand the contention of the teachers that the track suit for girls is not modest is a matter of one personal opinion.  The girls who wear this suit do not do so merely for the purpose of calling down condemnation and comment on their heads.  They do not enjoy being the objects of discussion everywhere.  They wear this form of track uniform because it is the most comfortable, as well as being the one best suited to their purpose.

          The Valcour Club, from New York of which Marion McCartey, the girl who broke the national seventy-five yard dash record, and Miss Rose Fischer, who afterwards defeated Miss McCartey, are members and wear track suits exclusively.  The Valcour Club also is the club which broke the girl’s quarter-mile relay one week and participated in a meet the next week and broke their own record.  These girls all advocate the track suit, in fact, will not wear any other.

It seems possible that a compromise might be effected between the two parties.  Dr. D’Elescu of Temple University is in favor of tight fitting bloomers, a jersey with sleeves to the elbow, and stockings rolled to the elbow, and stockings rolled to the knee.  “This would make a serviceable, comfortable, and modest outfit,” says Dr. D’Elescu.  “It gives the girls freedom of motion coupled with the fact that it is a great improvement over the low cut track suit that most people object to.”

This form of uniform has been adopted by the Meadowbrook Club of Philadelphia, and has proved to be hugely satisfactory.

Miss Preston, head of the Department of Physical Education in Temple University, is in favor of the loose bloomer suit made somewhat on the romper style on a yoke without sleeves.  A white waist is worn under this.  This costume has been a great success in athletic work in certain directions, but has not found favor on the cinder track, due no doubt, to the fact that it is not much of an improvement over the full heavy bloomers.

There is nothing against the track suit if the meets were, as some people advocated, closed to the general public and for women and girls only.  This idea does not find favor, however, and it does not appear to be one that will become universal due to the fact that the boys are very much interested in the progress of track events for girls.

There are still a few copies left of my booklet on the 50th Anniversary of Ridley Creek State Park. Profits all go to the group, Friends of Ridley Creek State Park. The booklet can be purchased at the places listed below