Unboxing the boxer: cataloguing papers relating to sport at De Montfort University Special Collections

Significant collections relating to the history of sport in the UK held at De Montfort University are not being used to their full potential because they are difficult to access. These comprise papers of the Amateur Boxing Association, Sir Norman Chester, the Ski Club of Great Britain and the Special Olympics. These collections could be used to research themes including widening participation in physical activity, elitism, exclusion and the place of minority groups in sport. 

We will create an ISAD(G)-compliant online catalogue of each collection and rehouse the collections in archival packaging. We will identify at-risk items and conserve them where necessary. The archive will be promoted to internal and external research audiences and the public and we will assist the Heritage Centre Coordinator with a sports heritage exhibition

The cataloguing of these collections will provide invaluable teaching and learning resources for the university and open up the archives for investigation by the international research community.