Kent State University Sports Artifacts

Finding Aid

Prepared by Cara Gilgenbach, January 30, 2002; Last Updated: July 2023

Inclusive Dates: 1920s-2000s; undated
Extent: 7 cubic feet (8 boxes = 4 record storage boxes; 1 document case; 3 flat oversize boxes)
Physical Location: 11th floor

Scope and Content: This collection contains miscellaneous Kent State University athletics memorabilia and artifacts from various time periods. Most items are undated.

Box 1: Artifacts
Contents

1. Football helmet (leather)
2. Footbal uniform leggings
3. Football uniform component (sock?)
4. T-Shirt: "Kent State; MACS Champs; Tangerine Bowl"
5. Foam "Flashhead" (A golden flash bolt made out of foam, attached to a metal head band to be worn on the head)

Box 1A: Artifacts
Contents

1. Football: "1923; K.S.N.C. 6; West Liberty 7; First T.D. Scored with this Ball"
2. KSU Baseball coin purse (plastic)
3. Kent State Golf Course pencil
4. Medal: "Kent State Normal College, Men's Singles [tennis], Summer School, 1922, 2nd Prize, Fred G. Weinman"
5. Coins: "Kent vs. Texas El Paso, Homecoming, Oct. 12, 1985"
6. "Flippy" Frisbee: "Fly With the Flashes! Schlitz WKNT 100 Fm"
7. Mini-Footballs:
   • "Kent State University Golden Flashes 1972 Mid-American Champs Tangerine Bowl"
   • "Souvenir of Trevor Rees Testimonial Dinner, July 8, 1972"
8. Baseballs (two) [one is signed by Rick Moyer, March 26, 1983]
9. Baseball: Signed by baseball team "1992 Kent MAC Champs"
10. Pin: Football Field Pass, 1964  (two copies)
11. Pin: Football Field Pass, 1965
12. Pin: "Give 'Em Hell Kent" (basketball with Grog character), 1970s
    Acquisitions Note: Donated by D. Scott Cunningham, Class of 1977
13. Pin: "Pack Pit KSU 74/75" (basketball), 1974
    Acquisitions Note: Donated by D. Scott Cunningham, Class of 1977
14. Blue and Gold Kazoo, 1970s?
    Acquisitions Note: Donated by D. Scott Cunningham, Class of 1977
    Historical Note: According to Cunningham, Kazoos were handed out before one of the football games (date unknown) so students could participate in the "KSU Kazoo Band."
15. Tie clip: NCAA Championships, Wrestling, 1967
16. Pendant: Second-year varsity, undated
17. Letter opener: "Matt Resick Testimonial, June 14th, 1976"
18. Playing cards: "Joe Begala: Builder of Champions, 1929-1971"
19. Patch: "KSU Golden Flashes," undated (2 copies)
20. Patch: "KSU Baseball," undated
21. Patch: K logo with Golden Eagle, undated but 1985 or after (2 copies)
22. Tickets: 100 Years of Baseball (2), 2014
23. Trading Cards: Baseball All-Time Team (2 sets), circa 2014
24. Kent State University Employee Athletic Card, 1953-1954
    Acquisitions Note: Donated by Ruth Ruggles
25. Flag: "The Golden Flashes Club," undated

Box 2: Jack Lambert memorabilia
Contents

1. Bronzed shoe
2. Pro Football Hall of Fame Pin
3. Trading Card
4. Commemorative Pepsi can, 1990

Box 3: Flat Oversize 1
Contents

1. Poster: "1994 Kent Baseball; The Nation's Number One Pitching Staff; Travis Miller; Dustin Hermanson; Brian Tutkovics; Mike Nartker" [autographed by all]
2. Flash mascot blanket
3. Baseball uniform (wool), [1940's?]
4. Football shoulder pads (cotton), [1920's?]

Box 4: Flat Oversize 2: Baseball and track uniforms worn by KSU student (?), William Scott, in the mid-1930s.
Contents

1. Short-sleeved gray jersey with "Kent" in blue felt letters
2. Short-sleeved heather-colored jersey with "Kent" in blue and gold felt letters and matching pants
3. Short-sleeved heather and green-striped jersey with "Whistle" in green felt letters
4. Two pairs of gray shorts
5. Pair of heather and blue-striped short pants
6. Two pairs blue wool stirrup socks

Box 5
Contents

1. Basketball: Signed by Kent State University women's basketball team members: 1990s or early 2000s

Box 6: Flat Oversize 3
Contents

1. Wrestling singlet, size large, undated

Box 7: Martin Kovalik: Sports Clothing, 1930s

Historical Note: Martin J. Kovalik, Class of 1939, played basketball at Kent State in 1934 and was on the baseball team, earning a letter sweater, in 1939. Kovalik later served on the Alumni Association Board.
Acquisition Information: These materials were donated by Les Kovalik, Martin's son, in July 2023, along with a small collection of other memorabilia and papers from Martin's time at Kent State as a student.

Contents:

1. Athletics hooded sweatshirt with KSU and number 4 stenciled on back
2. Letter sweater with inside tag sewn in reading "Martin Kovalik"
3. Basketball uniform, two piece, blue and white, satin-like fabric; number 2 player number
4. Wool socks, shorts, and ball cap in Kent State colors
5. General Athletic Clothing catalog from the era with some annotations by Kovalik