The materials in this series document the history of the Women’s Recreation Association at Santa Clara University. The Women’s Recreation Association provided women with instructional classes, intramural competition, and extramural competition for many years. Established soon after women were admitted to the university, the recreation program was met with some resistance from male students who were unaccustomed to sharing facilities, and others who thought it unseemly for women to participate in athletics. Support of women’s athletics grew stronger over time, and the program went on to produce several notable athletes, including Liz Bruno, Brandie Chastain and Cathy Jamison.

The majority of the scrapbooks were created by Marygrace Colby, the Women’s Athletic Director from 1963-1985, who also served as coach for many of the sports. Scrapbooks chronicle Powderpuff football, badminton, basketball, ballroom dancing, belly dancing, crew, cross country and soccer. Events, such as Twenty Years of Women’s Intercollegiate Athletics, the 50th Anniversary of Women at SCU, and the Colby Women’s Intercollegiate Invitational golf tournament, are also documented. Scrapbooks consist of invitations, newsletters, newspaper clippings, photographs, programs, rosters, statistics, and other ephemeral items.