When I first came to the H.J. Lutcher Stark Center for Physical Culture and Sports, I knew almost nothing about the history of strength or the extraordinary figures who shaped it—aside from our renowned Director, Dr. Jan Todd, once known as the “Strongest Woman in the World.” I certainly didn’t know how to make a FlipBook,...
Published by Strength & Health Magazine, this calendar features many of the greatest Mr. Americas and Mr. Canadas of the era. Each month features a different bodybuilder posing with a photo and stats for every month. To view this issue in PDF format, check out Mr. America Bodybuilder Calendar on The Strongman Project.
The Moscow Dynamos, football champions of the U.S.S.R., visited Britain after WWII. Their successful tour, in which they defeated Cardiff City, the Arsenal, and drew with both Chelsea and the Glasgow Rangers, created in Britain a significant interest in Soviet sport. Physical culture and sport in the Soviet Union has always been a government-sponsored affair...
Published by Strength & Health Magazine, this calendar features many of the greatest weightlifters of the era. Each month features a different weightlifter with a photo and stats for every month. To view this issue in PDF format, check out 1960 Weightlifting Calendar on The Strongman Project.
How does a strong man make a living? For Joe Bonomo (1901-1978), his strength opened doors for several career paths, including work as a stunt man and actor in Hollywood. Thanks to the Victor (Vic) Boff collection at the Stark Center, we can all enjoy a glimpse into Hollywood’s silent era and early “talkies” through...
Joe Louis Barrow, known as “The Brown Bomber,” was arguably the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time. His career spanned from 1934 to 1951 and he reigned as the Heavyweight Champion of the World from 1937 until his temporary retirement in 1949. During that time, he successfully defended 25 consecutive title defenses, a record for...
The Chicago Park District Recreation Division published this Weightlifting Instruction Manual originally in 1939 and followed it up with a second printing in 1940, and then with this third printing in 1950. Norbert B. Grueber, the Editor for Body Builder Magazine, published this manual under the supervision of the Division of Recreation of the Chicago...
The Stars of the Mat booklet is part of the Ottley Coulter Collection. Ottley was an American strongman, circus performer, weightlifter, wrestler, and police officer. He was a co-founder of the American Continental Weightlifting Association, and the author of a book about strength athletics. The booklet features well known bodybuilders and wrestlers and contains photos...
The University of Texas has hosted many interscholastic championship events over the years in every sport imaginable. This booklet, generously donated by Waneen Spirduso, is from the 1913 interscholastic championship track meet for the state of Texas. This was a massive event attended by public and private high schools and held at Clark Field on...
