Unique Physical Culture Collection Becomes Part of a New, Expansive Academic Center - February 22, 2007

Click to View Photo Gallery of Images from the Todd-McLean Physical Culture Collection.
(from a previous article)

The University of Texas at Austin’s Todd-McLean Physical Culture Collection, which is believed to contain the most extensive archives in the world related to physical culture and sport, will serve as the foundation of the newly-named H. J.Lutcher Stark Center for Physical Culture and Sports. The Stark Center will be moving from Anna Hiss Gym to a 27,000-square-foot space in Royal-Memorial Stadium in the fall of 2008.

The University of Texas System’s Board of Regents approved the new name at its February meeting and construction of the research facility is underway. The physical space for the archives was made possible by a $3.5 million pledge from the Nelda C. and H.J. Lutcher Stark Foundation in Orange, Texas, $700,000 of which has already been received. The center will be part of a larger, $176.5 million renovation project at the north end of Royal-Memorial Stadium.

“Throughout his lifetime, Lutcher Stark contributed his time, talents and resources to the advancement of the University of Texas,” says Stark Foundation CEO Walter G. Riedel, speaking on behalf of the foundation, “and we are honored to have the opportunity to support a project that recognizes those contributions.”

Created and co-directed by Drs. Jan and Terry Todd – two scholar-athletes who set scores of world and national records in powerlifting and, between them, have written six books and over 500 articles - the physical culture collection has been part of the College of Education’s Department of Kinesiology and Health Education for over 20 years.

It boasts more than 150,000 items, including the first illustrated book on sports medicine, massage and physical culture, written by Heironymus Mercurialis in 1569. The collection holds books, photos, films, magazines, letters, training courses, videotapes, posters, paintings and artifacts that cover the history of physical fitness, strength training, health promotion, bodybuilding, alternative medicine, and many competitive and recreational sports. Most recently, the Todds received the papers of the late Abbye “Pudgy” Stockton, a pioneering strength athlete who helped to found and make famous California’s Muscle Beach. The most recent addition is an exceptional 1,600-volume collection of golf books assembled by the late Edmund Hoffman, a Dallas businessman and UT graduate.

According to the Todds, the spacious new center will combine the features of a museum and library and include permanent and revolving displays in physical culture as well as competitive sports. The center also will have a research room where its many rare materials can be studied, as well as a large reading room where students and the general public can read recent books, magazines, and journals on sports and physical culture. There will be an ongoing effort to acquire additional collections and materials related to sports and physical culture, as well as continuing work to raise funds to support the center’s activities.

“I remember hearing stories about Lutcher Stark from Professor Roy McLean, who helped get me started in weight-lifting when I came to UT as a freshman,” says Terry Todd who, with his wife Jan, will direct the activities of the center. “McLean’s stories made Stark sound like some kind of larger-than-life force of nature who partnered up with Theo Bellmont, UT’s Athletic Director in the early days, and made a lot of good things happen at Texas in the fields of sports and fitness.

“Both of these men were dedicated weight trainers back when almost everyone thought weights would make a person slow and clumsy, and they taught McLean and McLean taught me. I’m very gratified that the Stark Foundation shared our vision that the circumstances were right for UT to finally recognize Stark’s many contributions by naming the Center for Physical Culture and Sports in his honor.”

Stark, who was the first student at UT to have a car, served on UT’s Board of Regents for 24 years - from 1919 until 1931 - and was Board chairman for 12 of those years. While chairman, he and UT athletic director L. Theo Bellmont led a fundraising drive to build Texas Memorial Stadium on the eastern edge of campus. An estimated 10,000 students, alumni and friends of the university gave money to erect the 27,000-seat facility, which was completed in 1924. Stark also managed the football team for a brief period, helped to schedule games and gave the team members blankets emblazoned with the word ”Longhorn,” which in time became the school’s logo. In the 1960s he established the Stark Foundation and, in the years since, the foundation has supported many significant educational efforts in Southeast Texas, including the Stark Art Museum.

—Kay Randall, University Communications, 512-232-3910