Between the Covers

Hardcover. Oblong octavo. String-tied green leather album with stamped gilt decorations measuring 11" x 7½". Contains 106 captioned black and white or sepia toned photographs measuring between 3" x 2" to 5" x 3". The album has some modest tears, and some bowing with the pages overall near fine or better with slight age-toning along the edges. A photo album of Yvonne Greenwood's experience at the Bergman-Österberg Physical Training Camp for women between 1932 and 1935. Depicted throughout are women exercising, dancing, helping one another with handstands, and playing various sports such as swimming, tennis, and netball (a sport that was created by Martina Bergman-Österberg). The school was founded by the Swedish born Bergman-Österberg in Hampstead in 1885, before moving to Dartford in 1895. The first physical education instructor's college in England, attendance was limited to women. Bergman-Österberg believed that by directly encouraging women to be active in sport and education she was helping aid in women's emancipation. Bergman-Österberg also revolutionized the way women dressed for physical activity by replacing the corset for the gymslip which she created in 1892 and which can be seen throughout the photos. The album portrays the women of the college freely participating in activities where they were encouraged to take care of themselves and make themselves better people through the use of sport, dance, and calisthenics. The college helped contribute to the social change that was occurring throughout the 1920s and 1930s. An extensive look at early women's physical education.

Item #394205

Status: On Hold