John Herbert Nichols, M.D.: a Life of Leadership in Physical Education and Athletics
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This dissertation has been microfilmed exactly as received 68—12,881 TONG, Curtis Whitfield, 1934- JOHN HERBERT NICHOLS, M.D.: A LIFE OF LEADERSHIP IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND ATHLETICS. The Ohio State University, Ph.D., 1968 Education, physical University Microfilms, Inc., Ann Arbor, Michigan JOHN HERBERT NICHOLS, M.D.: A LIFE OF LEADERSHIP IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND ATHLETICS DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Curtis Whitfield Tong, B.A., M.A. ******* The Ohio State University 1968 Approved by Adviser Department of Physical Education ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The writer wishes to express his sincere gratitude to the many people who have assisted in the preparation of this dissertation. Appreciation is expressed to Dr. Bruce L. Bennett, adviser, for his helpful and willing guidance throughout the study; to the members of the reading committee, Dr. f&rgaret A. Mordy, Dr. Lewis A. Hess; to the subject of this writing, Dr. John Herbert Nichols, for his most cooperative assistance; and to the many friends and professional colleagues of Dr. Nichols who gave of their time through letters and interviews. Special acknowledgment is due my mother, Mrs. Walter C. Tong, and my wife, Jinx, for their invaluable service rendered during the i months spent completing this study. ii VITA August 26, 193^ Born - Davao, Philippine Islands 1956 .... B.A., Otterbein College, Westerville, Ohio 1956-1959 • • 1st Lieutenant, United States Air Force, Personnel Services Officer 1959-1963 . Teacher, coach, Bexley High School, Bexley, Ohio 1961 .... M.A., The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 1963-1968 . Assistant Professor, basketball coach, Otterbein College, Westerville, Ohio FIELDS OF STUDY Major Field: Physical Education, Health, and Recreation Studies in Guidance and Counseling. Professor Herman J. Peters iii CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS................................................ ii VITA ............................................................ iii Chapter I. INTRODUCTION............................................ I II. THE DEVELOPMENT OF A LE A D E R ............................ 5 The Nichols Family Heritage .......................... 5 Boyhood in O h i o ......... 10 Student-Athlete-Coach at Oberlin College .............. 15 Medical Student at the University of Chicago .......... 22 Medical Corpsman during World War I ............ 25 III. A ROLE OF LEADERSHIP AT OHIO STATE U N I V E R S I T Y.......... 30 A Brief H i s t o r y .......... 30 A Decision Is M a d e .................................... 40 The Introduction of Elective Activities in the Required Program............................ Mi- Military Duty— a Deterrent to Departmental Development . 48 Credit in Physical Education .......................... 50 Amended Senate Bill No. 7 4 ............................ 52 The Physical Education Major C u r r i c u l u m .............. 56 Separation of the Men's and Women's Departments .... 59 Professionally Upgrading the Department .............. 6l Nichols' Departure from Ohio State University ........ 64 Summar y ................................... 66 IV. A ROLE OF LEADERSHIP AT OBERLIN C O L L E G E ................ 68 A Brief History ...................................... 68 Oberlin's Contribution to John H. Nichols and Physical Education .................................. 77 The Contribution of Oberlin's Founders and Presidents. j8 The Contribution of Oberlin's Sports Directors .... 82 The Contribution of Oberlin's Graduates ............ 90 iv CONTENTS (Contd.) Chapter Page As Director of Intramurals............................ 99 As Oberlin1s Director of Athletics .................... 108 Nichols 1 Philosophy of Physical Education and A t h l e t i c s ........................................ 110 Nichols' Working Relationship vith the Women's Department........................................ 119 Intercollegiate Athletic Policies .................. 121 V. A ROLE OF LEADERSHIP IN THE PROFESSION.................. 12? As a Western Conference Official ...................... 127 As an Officer and Committeeman in the National Collegiate Athletic Association .................... 13^ As an Administrator and Representative in the Ohio Athletic Conference ................................ 148 As an Active Lecturer, Writer, Committeeman and Officer in Other Professional Activities and Organizations ...................................... 1$6 As a Civilian Consultant in the European Theater of Operations ...................................... 162 VI. A ROLE OF LEADERSHIP IN R E T I R E M E N T...................... 168 An Active Camp D i r e c t o r ............. 168 VII. SUMMARY.................................................. 175 APPENDIX ...................................................... 180 BIBLIOGRAPHY .................................................. 226 v CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION Physical education has experienced an interesting pattern of growth in the United States. Like a mighty river being fed by an ever increasing number of rivulets, physical education in its developmental stages has received the ideas and efforts of many men and women. For over a century, physical education has provided toward the total develop ment of each generation, and each generation has contributed toward the greater effectiveness of physical education for the succeeding generation. Quite naturally, the contributions of a few personalities have stood out above all others. If we are to fully comprehend the goals of physical education today, a deeper understanding can be achieved through a study of those factors which served as the basis for those goals. Very often, a study of the personalities and contributions of those men and women who led in the developmental process of physical education will reveal the struggles, conciliations, and ideals behind accepted philosophies, policies and principles of modern physical education. This dissertation is primarily aimed at reviewing the life and constributions made to the growth of physical education by one leader, John Herbert Nichols, M.D. Research has revealed that the nature of his vast contribution has been unique in its consistency. The touch of his thoughts and words have been felt in the examining room, in the class room, in the gymnasium, on the athletic field, in convention halls and around the campfire j and the touch has left a print which has always stood for hard play, honesty, democracy, and individual decency in sports competition at every level. Dr. Nichols' life has spanned the critical growth years of physical education and athletics in America. These years have witnessed an influx of commercialism and professionalism in athletics with a resulting suppression of advancements in instructional classes and intramural sports in many quarters. Dr. Nichols' philosophy opposed this trend and his voice, for forty years, was one of the clearest and most frequently heard in defense of educational sports. Such men as Jesse Feiring Williams, Jay B. Nash, Dudley B. Reed, Charles W. Savage, and others, were strong supporters of Nichols' views as he was of theirs. That so many of his contemporaries in philosophy were also Oberlin College graduates, prompted the author to examine the background of leadership at that institution which has with consistency produced leaders of high calibre and with similar fundamental beliefs. An attempt has been made also to explore the family heritage of Dr. Nichols. His personal integrity, which was so vital a factor in the Nichols personality and the Nichols contribution has its roots in that heritage. In the research for this study of John Herbert Nichols, a great deal of source material, previously not examined by historical research ers, has been reviewed. Such items as unpublished writings, personal letters, personal notes, diaries, newspaper clippings, photographs and portfolios from Dr. Nichols' home library are included. 3 The most fascinating and enjoyable aspects of the entire study were the opportunities afforded the researcher to talk privately with Dr. Nichols at his home in Oberlin and at his bungalow at Camp Pemigewassett in Hew Hampshire. These conversations have proved an invaluable source of data for this dissertation. Interviews and correspondence with living friends and contemporaries of Dr. Nichols have also served beneficially to the study. Other pertinent data to the study have been located in the following areas: the files of the Men's Physical Education Depart ment at Oberlin College, Carnegie Library at Oberlin College, Ohio Wesleyan University Library, Otterbein College Library, Columbia Univer sity Library, the files of the Athletic Department at Ohio State Univer sity, the Ohio State University Library, the Archives of Ohio State University, and the library at Camp Pemigewassett. Dr. Nichols' contributions were made in many areas of the pro fession. Each will be treated within that chapter which most closely represents the period in which that contribution made its greatest impact. Dr. Nichols' service to the profession through his contribution in the National Collegiate Athletic Association, for example, began while he was a young professor at Ohio State University and continued throughout his years of service at Oberlin College and until his retire ment. That segment of his contribution will be included with the Oberlin chapter because his major accomplishments in that organization were achieved while he was the Athletic