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University of Florida Football Programs

 Collection
Identifier: U796.33 FLp

Scope and Content

This collection is comprised of University of Florida football programs, spanning from 1921 to the present day. Though not a comprehensive collection, the programs document games played by the Florida Gators, their opponents, and scheduled dates of games. When identified, special games such as Homecoming, SEC Championship games and Bowl games are indicated in the listing. The programs contain team rosters and player photographs, lists of coaches, officiating signals and rules of the game, offensive and defensive starting lineups, articles, and advertisements. As early as 1928, pictures of players, as portraits or in group shots, can be found in the programs. Some programs may also contain pictures of players on opposing teams, the Florida marching band, and other related images.

In addition to documenting Gators' games, the programs illustrate changes in cover art over the decades. Early program covers from the 1920s to the 1940s were often decorated with football-themed commercial art. In the mid-1950s, an unidentified local artist was hired to create original comic-like illustrations for the covers, which depict the teams’ mascots in comical scenarios. Beginning in the early 1960s, photographs replaced illustrations on football program covers. The 1960s photographic covers depict posed shots of students and faculty around campus with a small blurb describing each scene inside the issue. From the late 1960s to the present day, program covers are most frequently decorated with photographs of players in action, cheerleaders, post-game celebrations, and other football-themed images. Throughout the programs, and on the back covers of many, one can find dozens of advertisements for local businesses, services and organizations. As football at UF grew in scale and revenue over the years, the football programs also contain an increasing number of ads for national companies and products such as cigarettes.

This is an open collection.

Dates

  • Creation: 1921 - 2024

Creator

Access

University Archives collections are available for research. Portions of the collections may be restricted due to the requirements of applicable state and federal laws, including but not limited to FERPA and HIPAA, and in accordance with best practices as defined by the Society of American Archivists.

Florida Gators Football

The University of Florida in Gainesville was established in 1905 when the Buckman Act restructured higher education in the state. Four institutions: East Florida Seminary, University of Florida at Lake City (formerly Florida Agricultural College), St. Petersburg Normal and Industrial School, and South Florida Military College were merged into one university which relocated to Gainesville.

Though football had been played at the institutions which merged in 1905, the newly established University of Florida in Gainesville fielded its first varsity football team in 1906. The Florida Gators football team plays its home games in the Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field, also known as "The Swamp."

Extent

11 Linear feet (25 boxes, 1 folder, 1 volume)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

University of Florida football programs, 1921 - present.

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

Physical Location

University of Florida Smathers Library Building

Title
A Guide to the University of Florida Football Programs
Status
Completed
Author
Finding aid prepared by Andrea Benefiel
Date
March 2014
Description rules
Finding Aid Prepared Using Dacs
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Description is written in English.

Revision Statements

  • December 2019: Updated by Sarah Coates to add programs from 2018-19, and to update box numbers for entire collection

Repository Details

Part of the Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida Repository

Contact:
George A. Smathers Libraries
PO Box 117005
Gainesville Florida 32611-7005 United States of America
352-273-2755