Notice of closure for the day, Wednesday, May 15th

May 14, 2013

The Stark Center will be closed all day, Wednesday, May 15th for a special event.


Notice of closure tomorrow, Friday, May 10th, @noon

May 9, 2013

The Stark Center will be closing to the public Friday May 10th at noon.


Monday, April 8th, 3pm closure notice

April 5, 2013

Monday, April 8th, at 3pm the Stark Center will inaccessible due to an event. We will still be available though phone and computer.


We will be closing at noon Friday, March 29th

March 28, 2013

Friday, March 29th, the Stark Center will be closing at noon.


“Basketball and American Culture” Symposium Airing on TV

February 8, 2013

On Monday, February 11th at 8pm, the Longhorn Network will air the Stark Center presented “Basketball and American Culture.” This special symposium, which took place November 29, 2012, features Bill Bradley, as introduced by Jody Conradt, as well as additional speakers Dr. Dan Nathan, Dr. Reuben A. Buford May, and Professor Madeleine Blais. For more information on the symposium, CLICK HERE.


Closing Early Jan. 28th

January 23, 2013

The Stark Center will be closing early, at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, January 28, due to a private event.


Closing Early Dec. 12

December 11, 2012

The Stark Center will be closing early, at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 12 due to events taking place in the North End Zone building.


Closed Thursday Nov 29th

November 28, 2012

The Stark Center will be closed Thursday, November 29th for Symposium and related events.


Updated Finding Aid Posted: Steve Wennerstrom Collection

November 5, 2012

Steve Wennerstrom is an expert on the history of women’s bodybuilding. He has served as the International Federation of Bodybuilders (IFBB) Women’s Historian. However, his interest in women’s sports extends beyond bodybuilding and the collection reflects that reality. Almost every sport that women have played is represented, making the Steve Wennerstrom Papers an invaluable resource to all researchers with an interest in women’s sports. Wennerstrom attended Cal State Fullerton and ran track. He also created one of the first women’s track publications, Women’s Track and Field World. The collection covers everything from strongwomen and circus performers to bodybuilding and powerlifting. It is truly an amazing knowledge base for bodybuilding and sports fans everywhere, especially those interested in the rise of women’s sports throughout the recent decades.

http://hdl.handle.net/11048/6596


New Finding Aid Posted: Harvey Penick Collection

October 16, 2012

Harvey Penick was an Austin institution who served the Austin Country Club in some capacity from 1913 until 1995.  From 1913 to 1923 he caddied.  In 1923 he became the head professional right out of high school.  He remained the pro until retiring in 1971, when his son, Tinsley, took over the position.  Harvey Penick continued as the golf pro emeritus from 1971 until he passed away in 1995.  He taught many famous golf pros including Ben Crenshaw, Betty Jameson, Tom Kite, Sandra Palmer, Betsy Rawls, Kathy Whitworth and Mickey Wright.  His gentle manner and forever positive attitude about golf and life endeared him to his many friends and pupils.  He became nationally and world famous when he penned The Little Red Book with author Bud Shrake in 1992.  That book of golf tips and stories became the biggest selling sports book of all time and was followed up with three more.

http://hdl.handle.net/11048/6550


October 5th Closure

October 4, 2012

The Stark Center will be closed Friday, October 5th for a private function. As always, we welcome inquires about gallery or research visits. For more information, see our welcome page.


New Finding Aid Posted: Tom Kite Collection

September 13, 2012

Before the advent of Tiger Woods, Tom Kite excelled and reached professional golf earning plateaus never dreamed of before.  He began at the feet of the Austin Country Club golf legend, Harvey Penick.  Kite and Ben Crenshaw starred together, both at the Austin Country Club and on the University of Texas Longhorn golf team.  Kite honed his craft with countless hours of practice and became one of the most consistent performers in PGA Tour history.  He thought of the wedge as an indispensable part of golfing success.  His work ethic and the inimitable style of his glasses and hats made him a fan favorite.  Golf fans worldwide reveled in Kite’s victory at the 1992 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, a fitting tribute to his hard work and dedication.  The golf courses on which Kite competed inspired him to begin creating his own and he has succeeded in the completion of twelve such efforts.

http://hdl.handle.net/11048/5992


Your Physique: Volume 1, No. 1 Now Online

March 21, 2012

Joe Weider began his publishing career in 1940 with this mimeographed edition of Your Physique magazine.  Very few copies of Volume 1, No. 1 have survived through the ages  so we recently digitized our copy to make this valuable resource available to all.   After opening the link, clicking on the titles in the index on the left will lead you directly to the articles.

Flip through the magazine online


Arnold Schwarzenegger on the Stark Center old

March 4, 2012

Arnold Schwarzenegger spoke at the Arnold Strongman Classic in Columbus Ohio about the H.J. Lutcher Stark Center and what it means to him.


New Finding Aid posted: Robert Hoffman Collection

January 19, 2012

Robert Hoffman was one of the central figures in physical culture in the 20 th century. He founded York Barbell Company in 1932, which became one of the largest purveyors of strength building equipment in the world. In 1933, Hoffman founded Strength and Health magazine, one of the most widely read muscle building magazines on the globe from the 1930s through the 1960s.

Access the finding aid online


The Stark Center featured on PBS’ “History Detectives”

October 14, 2011

Going through her mother’s belongings, a woman from Springfield, VA rediscovered a box of 78rpm records from the 1920s.   Her mother purchased the records at a garage sale in the ‘60s because they featured images and the name of her father-in-law, Wallace Rogerson.  She can’t find any details about Wallace or the record collection and asked HISTORY DETECTIVES host Tukufu Zuberi to find out more about these records.

With the help of Stark Center director Jan Todd, PBS’ History Detectives learn about Wallace Rogerson of Chicago and his impact on Women’s Fitness.

Watch the full episode at pbs.org