Katherine Montgomery: a Change of Heart on Women's Competitive Athletics in the Early 2Oth Century Peter L
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Florida State University Libraries Electronic Theses, Treatises and Dissertations The Graduate School 2005 Katherine Montgomery: A Change of Heart on Women's Competitive Athletics in the Early 2Oth Century Peter L. Castelow Follow this and additional works at the FSU Digital Library. For more information, please contact [email protected] THE FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF EDUCATION KATHERINE MONTGOMERY: A CHANGE OF HEART ON WOMEN’S COMPETITIVE ATHLETICS IN THE EARLY 2Oth CENTURY By PETER L. CASTELOW A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Degree Awarded: Fall Semester, 2005 The members of the Committee approve the dissertation of Peter L. Castelow defended on October 31, 2005. _____________________________ Victoria-Maria MacDonald Professor Co-directing Dissertation _____________________________ Jeffrey Milligan Professor Co-directing Dissertation _____________________________ Paula Welch Outside Committee Member _____________________________ Jonathan Leib Committee Member _____________________________ Emanuel Shargel Committee Member Approved: ________________________________________________ Joseph Beckham, Chair, Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies ________________________________________________ Marcy P. Driscoll, Dean, College of Education The Office of Graduate Studies has verified and approved the above named committee members. ii The opportunity to pursue this research was provided by the unwavering support and sacrifice of a truly wonderful family. My daughters, Meagan and Abby, have on many occasions given up opportunities for a “normal” childhood. Their independence in pursuing academic excellence and awareness of self and the world around them has been remarkable. Their ongoing journey into adulthood has provided me with daily inspiration to continue my work in the field of education. I am immensely proud and fortunate to have had the support and companionship of my wife, Dr. Teri Castelow. We have taught and worked through our Ph.D.s together. Having a constant companion to discuss career interests with has greatly enhanced my life. I am forever indebted. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to acknowledge my committee members for their help and their willingness to persevere over a considerable period of time. I thank Dr. Jeffrey Milligan for his needed assistance at the end of my defense process. Dr. Jonathan Leib was always available and helpful as an outside committee member. Dr. Emanuel Shargel provided much needed insight, and Dr. Paula Welch served as the expert on many of the elements of this research. Both graciously continued their assistance beyond retirement. Dr. Victoria-Maria MacDonald served as my advising professor and committee chair. She expended much energy in both capacities, and I am forever grateful for her efforts. Finally, my wife and I were privileged to have been students in the Educational Foundations and Policy Studies Department at Florida State University. Drs. Sande Milton, Steven Klees, George Papagiannis, along with Dr. Victoria-Maria MacDonald and Emanuel Shargel, provided a positive and intellectually stimulating learning environment which I hope to reproduce to the best of my abilities. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Figures ................................................................................................ Page vii Abstract ...................................................................................................... Page viii 1. Introduction ................................................................................................ Page 2 2. Pre-Professional Life ...................................................................................... Page 21 Montgomery’s Early Life ........................................................................... Page 21 Montgomery’s School Years ...................................................................... Page 23 Education and Athletics Intertwine............................................................. Page 25 Societal Attitudes Toward Women and Exercise ....................................... Page 26 Women’s Educational History.................................................................... Page 28 Southern Women’s Education .................................................................... Page 30 Florida State College for Women ............................................................... Page 33 Montgomery’s College Years..................................................................... Page 35 3. A New Instructor............................................................................................. Page 38 Montgomery Begins a Career ..................................................................... Page 38 American Industrialization and Urbanization............................................. Page 39 Athletics and Education Increased Together .............................................. Page 40 World War I and the Impact on Women’s Athletics .................................. Page 46 Montgomery – A New Professional ........................................................... Page 48 The Women’s Olympics ............................................................................. Page 50 4. A New Direction............................................................................................. Page 58 Societal Changes......................................................................................... Page 58 Katherine Montgomery and Northern Influence......................................... Page 61 The Conventions ......................................................................................... Page 63 Control of Women’s Athletics.................................................................... Page 67 Montgomery’s Influence Increases............................................................. Page 72 5. Demise of the Platform ................................................................................... Page 77 The Backdrop of World War II................................................................... Page 77 Montgomery at New York University ........................................................ Page 78 Montgomery’s Dissertation ........................................................................ Page 79 Florida High School Athletic Association .................................................. Page 87 Dissenters ................................................................................................ Page 89 Biases Exposed ........................................................................................... Page 92 Katherine Montgomery............................................................................... Page 95 6. Conclusions ................................................................................................ Page 98 Montgomery’s Response to the Platform ................................................... Page 98 Educational Model vs. Commercial Model ................................................ Page 99 v A New Bureaucracy.................................................................................... Page 101 Implications Today ..................................................................................... Page 103 Further Research ......................................................................................... Page 104 APPENDICES ................................................................................................ A. Florida High School Athletic Association – Key Events for Girls’ Interscholastic Athletics........................................................................ Page 106 B. Katherine Montgomery Professional Resume ...................................... Page 111 REFERENCES ................................................................................................ Page 146 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH .............................................................................. Page 162 vi LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Picture of Katherine Montgomery as an instructor at Florida State College for Women ..................................................................... Page 1 Figure 2: 1914 Field Day at Florida State College for Women .......................... Page 20 Figure 3: 1918 Field Day at Florida State College for Women .......................... Page 20 Figure 4: Anne Harwick in her uniform for the Women’s Olympic team .......... Page 37 Figure 5: Katherine Montgomery in FSCW Letter Sweater ............................... Page 57 Figure 6: Front of Gymnasium at Florida State College for Women ................. Page 76 Figure 7: Inside of Gymnasium at Florida State College for Women ................ Page 76 Figure 8: Katherine Montgomery Honored with Commemorative plaque from Physical Education Majors from 1930-1955 ....................................... Page 97 vii ABSTRACT Katherine Williams Montgomery (1894-1958) attended Florida State College for Women (FSCW) from 1914 until 1918. After graduating with a degree in English, she became an instructor at FSCW and would soon be asked to acquire training to become the head of a new Physical Education program. Montgomery would begin her new career just as a contentious argument over the right type of athletics for women was reaching an apex. As a student at FSCW, she had participated in athletic competition wholeheartedly, and spoke in favor of