Effect of New York's Elite Athletic Clubs on American Amateur Athletic Governance—1870–1915

Abstract

Abstract Occurring during one of the most important periods in American sport, 1865–1915, the athletic club movement accounted for much of the increased development and organization of the amateur athletic movement. During the early history of the governance of amateur athletics a few sporting clubs from New York had it within their power to make, break, or reorganize the national amateur athletic governing bodies. During this period of time, from 1870–1890 amateur sport was not truly ruled by a national body. In the next 25 years the power of the New York clubs declined. Much to the credit of the large clubs and their representatives, an atmosphere was created in which athletics could thrive. These clubs gained a respectability for sport which otherwise may never have been acquired. Without the organizational and promotional genius of the early leaders, amateur sport may not have reached the heights that were achieved during this as well as later time periods.