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History of Recreation, Sport and Tourism
Introduction: The Origin and Early Development of Professional Preparation in Recreation (Leisure Studies) at the
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Prepared by Professor Allen V. Sapora, Professor Emeritus, January 1996
Preface
An intensive analytical history has not been recorded over the years since the Department of Leisure Studies
(Recreation) has been in operation. There have been many separate reports but not one that treated total department
history. Many details about Leisure Studies may be found in the Annual Reports of the Dean (Staley). These reports make
many notes of departmental operations but much of the operational history is necessarily formed in nature. Some information
may also be found in the University Archives and in special reports and accounts of departmental operations. These data may
be found in Room 89D Huff gymnasium basement with other documents. Recently (1994) a more extensive report has been
completed (Sapora-Donlon) which provides much general historical data listed in chronological order which reveals basic
operations that the department engaged in since its origin.
Finally, this report deals more specifically and is confined to how the concept of the Department of Recreation was
realized, how it was formed and came into existence as an official separate department of the School of Physical Education
mainly during the years 1930 to 1952. Since the Department has grown so in recent years it is recommended that a history
be written that picks up where this one stops. Much could be learned about department operations with such a study that
should be made while the data are still available. Many people have been involved in the growth and development of the
Department of Recreation. It is hoped that my impressions in this paper have been interesting and that they reflect a
reasonable analysis of what actually happened during the development of what we now know as the Department of Leisure
Studies.
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