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Brief History and Chronology of the Recreation Department
Prepared by Professor Allen V. Sapora
- 1937
-
First professional undergraduate course in Recreation was offered at the University
of Illinois - TITLE: Principles of Recreation. 3 hours. 2nd Semester
1937. TEACHER: Dr. Arthur Daniels, who came from Columbia University
and initiated the course at the suggestion of Director Seward Staley.
Dr. Staley was very interested in developing a recreation professional
curriculum in the School of Physical Education. The Club (men and women
physical education majors) was very active in promoting the course.
The three-hour course was offered on an experimental basis to see if
students were interested. The class was a mixed group of social work,
LAS students interested in scouting and other voluntary agencies, and
some physical education students who had particular interests in outdoor
education. A. V. Sapora was a member of this class. Field trips were
arranged to nearby cities. Decatur was in the process of developing
a public tax-supported program following a WPA program directed by Charles
K. Brightbill. Champaign had a WPA program and established its tax-supported
city recreation program in 1937 but the program was very limited at
that time. King J. McCristal was summer playground supervisor for Champaign
Recreation Department; H. E. Kenney was pool supervisor for Urbana Park
District and developed a special class in Archery and games for boys
and girls 8-14 years of age.
- 1939
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First Graduate Course in Recreation - TITLE: Philosophy and Administration of Recreation.
The course was taught by Dr. Hartley D. Price, coach of gymnastics.
The subject material dealt mainly with the theory of leisure. There
was an approach to develop models of public recreation administration
for cities but actual subject materials were very limited. Practitioners
in the field did contribute to the class - Russell Perry (Wilmette and
John Ludlam) at that time park districts (about 45 in the State) were
not involved in recreations to a great extent. A. V. Sapora worked with
Dr. Price in these two courses as a graduate assistant and liaison with
Urbana Park District.
- 1946-1948
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After WWII, Allen V. Sapora introduced Principles of Recreation (1947), Rec. 175;
the camping course was introduced and taught in Physical Education;
the P. E. course in sports was changed to Recreation Sports; and from
1946-48 Dr. Ralph Johnson and Dr. Sapora developed the Recreation curriculum
- Johnson was curriculum coordinator for the School of Physical Education
and Sapora was appointed to develop the curriculum. In 1948 the curriculum
was offered, and the Bachelor of Science degree in Recreation was established
and approved by the Senate June 24, 1948 and the Board of Trustees January
13, 1949; A. V. Sapora was appointed Supervisor of Recreation curriculum.
- 1950
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The first three undergraduate degrees in Recreation were awarded.
- 1951
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Charles K. Brightbill was appointed Chairman of the Recreation curriculum in
the School of Physical Education.
- 1953
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Graduate work established and the Master of Science Degree in Recreation was
offered.
- 1957
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Establishment
of the Department of Recreation and Municipal Park Administration, College
of Physical Education. The Recreation and Park Field Service, a community
consultant and research service established in the Department.
- 1966
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Allen V. Sapora appointed head of the Department of Recreation and Municipal
Park Administration. Establishment of the Motor Performance and Play
Research Laboratory, Children's Research Center.
- 1967
-
Name of Department changed from Department of Recreation and Municipal Park
Administration, now the Department of Leisure Studies.
- 1969
-
Establishment of Office of Recreation and Park Resources jointly with the College
of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service.
- 1972
-
Ph.D. is offered in the Department of Recreation and Park Administration.
- 1973
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Joseph J. Bannon appointed Head of the Department of Recreation and Park Administration.
- 1974
-
Establishment of Leisure Behavior Research Lab.
- 1975
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June 18, 1975, the Board of Trustees approved the Department name change to Department
of Leisure Studies.
- 1986
-
Lawrence Allen appointed Head of the Department of Leisure Studies.
- 1989
-
Joseph J. Bannon appointed Acting Head of the Department of Leisure Studies.
- 1990
-
William R. McKinney appointed Head of the Department of Leisure Studies.
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