This article was originally published by Andrea Cantrell in recognition of Women’s History Month, March 1, 2011.
The Special Collections Department has recently processed the records of the first Director of Women’s Athletics for the University of Arkansas, Ruth Cohoon (MC 1880.UA). Ruth Cohoon was instrumental in taking women’s athletics at the University of Arkansas from informal “Play Days” to a fully funded Women’s Athletics program. Cohoon joined the University of Arkansas as a swimming instructor in 1965. In 1971, Cohoon volunteered to do some extra administrative work and the next year was appointed to be the Director of the Women’s Intercollegiate Sports program. Over the next few years Cohoon’s teaching commitments decreased as her administrative responsibilities increased.
Cohoon consistently fought for better funding, better equipment and better scholarships, resulting in better opportunities for women athletes. She repeatedly requested better salaries for women teachers and coaches to build a quality program. She strove to keep the University of Arkansas program competitive with women’s sports programs around the country by conducting surveys, participating in surveys sponsored by other schools, keeping current on publications and articles about women’s athletics, and actively participating in the AWISA, SWAIAW, AIAW, and NCAA, serving on committees and holding offices. Cohoon served on the Governing Board of the AWISA, the Executive Board and the Ethics and Eligibility Committee of SWAIAW, the Executive Board and the Ethics and Eligibility Committee of AIAW, and the Academic Requirements Committee of the NCAA. Cohoon also held the offices of secretary and treasurer for the SWAIAW.
Cohoon retired from her administrative position in 1989 but continued to teach until 1999. She was succeeded in the position of Director of Women’s Athletics by Bev Lewis in 1989, who held the position until the Athletic Department was restructured in 2008, and Lewis assumed a new position. In 2008, the Athletic Department was reorganized to encompass men’s and women’s athletics under a single administrative unit. The position of Director of Women’s Athletics was reorganized to associate vice chancellor for intercollegiate athletics and executive associate athletic director, making Ruth Cohoon and Bev Lewis the only women to hold the title of Director of Women’s Athletics at the University of Arkansas.
The collection contains correspondence, meeting minutes, budgets, reports, scholarship materials, and survey and research materials. In addition, there is a large portion about Title IX and the University of Arkansas compliance. Cohoon was not just interested about women athletes at the U of A, but also about women’s athletic programs around the country. Articles, surveys and research papers about women athletes in general can be found throughout the collection.