Guide to the Records of Olympic Study - Raymond C. Nedwidek Papers , 1962-1993

University of Rhode Island Library, Special Collections and University Archives
15 Lippitt Road
Kingston, RI 02881-2011
Tel: 401-874-4632
E-mail: archives@etal.uri.edu
Website: http://www.uri.edu/library/special_collections/

Published in 1993

Collection Overview

Title:	Records of Olympic Study - Raymond C. Nedwidek Papers
Date range:	1962-1993
Creator:	Nedwidek, Raymond and Stanley Berger
Extent:	2 box(es)
Abstract:	These papers focus on the study conducted by Dr. Raymond Nedwidek and Dr. Stanley Berger on the long-term effects of victory on Olympic medal-winning athletes. The collection contains data gathered throughout the study and correspondence and questionnaires between the researchers and subjects.
Language of materials:	English
Repository:	University of Rhode Island Library, Special Collections and University Archives
Collection number:	Rec. Gr. 112

Scope & content

This record group, covering the work of Dr. Nedwidek and Dr. Berger for the years 1977-1993, is divided among four series.

Series 1, Pre-Study, 1977-1982, contains the preliminary work that was done to facilitate the study itself. This includes the proposal for the study, and much of the correspondence needed to locate the Olympic athletes’ current addresses. This series also contains the final listing of addresses for the athletes.

Series 2, Correspondence, 1973-1985 is the correspondence which was conducted with various groups and individuals during the actual study: Olympic committees from other countries to see if they had conducted similar studies, organizations that sponsor athletics to discover what information they had on the post-Games activities of Olympic athletes, the President’s Counsel on Physical Fitness and Sports to gather their information on the physical and mental attitudes of competitions and victories, among others.

Series 3, Analysis, 1962-1993 contains the materials that were obtained along with the questionnaires. This includes a current biography of Bob Mathias, a study on the age of Olympic competitors done by Erich Kamper, a retrospective look at the Olympic Games of 1920 by Hal Brown, a previous questionnaire circulated to Olympic athletes at a conference in 1979, a breakdown of medal winners by nation, and team rosters from the United States Olympic teams of 1972 and 1980. This series also contains a copy of the final analyzed results of the study. These are arranged alphabetically.

Series 4, Questionnaires, contains the questionnaires that were completed and returned by the athletes. They are arranged in alphabetical order.

Access Points

Subject Names

• Berger, Stanley
• Nedwidek, Raymond C.

Subject Names

• Brown, Hal
• Kamper, Erich
• Mathias, Bob

Subject Topics

• Education

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in four series as follows:

• 1. Pre-Study
• 2. Correspondence
• 3. Analysis
• 4. Questionnaires

Historical note

In 1977, Dr. Raymond Nedwidek of the Department of Physical Education and Dr. Stanley Berger of the Psychology Department, both of the University of Rhode Island, proposed a study of the long-term effects of victory on Olympic medal-winning athletes. This study was three-fold in design: during Phase I, data would be collected from National Olympic Committees and the International Olympic Committee Medical Commission, during Phase II, the Olympic medal winners would be interviewed, and during Phase III, a computerized data bank would be set up at URI.

In laying out the design of this study, it was determined that the scope was entirely too broad for the allotted time and money that were available to them. Drs. Nedwidek and Berger then limited the study to the United States athletes in particular, but corresponded with the Olympic Committees in other countries to determine if similar studies had ever been done elsewhere. They also contacted the members of the International Olympic Medical Commission to gather whatever information they might have collected, either in an official capacity as a member of the committee or as private medical professionals. Many athletic organizations and sponsors were also consulted as to the current status of former winners and their involvement in athletics since their particular Games.

The former athletes located were sent a questionnaire requesting information about how their lives had been changed by their Olympic victories and/or defeats and their Olympic experience in general Dr. Nedwidek traveled to California and Europe to visit with associations that kept records of athletics and athletes, visiting the San Diego Hall of Champions and the Citizen’s Savings Athletic Foundation, as well as visiting with some of the former Olympic athletes, such as Erich Kamper.

Dr. Berger died in 1984, leaving the work to Dr. Nedwidek, who was able to analyze the results of the questionnaires and the accompanying information that was received. The final report of this study was published in June of 1993.

Access & Use

Access to the collection:	Any qualified person doing scholarly research is permitted to use material housed in the Special Collections Unit.
Use of the materials:	Terms governing use and reproduction: Photocopying and scanning of materials is a fee based service available in the repository and is allowed at the discretion of the Archivist when in compliance to the Unit's policy on copyright and publication.
Preferred citation:	Records of Olympic Study - Raymond C. Nedwidek Papers, Rec. Gr. 112, University of Rhode Island.
Contact information:	University of Rhode Island Library, Special Collections and University Archives 15 Lippitt Road Kingston, RI 02881-2011 Tel: 401-874-4632 E-mail: archives@etal.uri.edu Website: http://www.uri.edu/library/special_collections/

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION
Acquisition:	The records of the study were transferred to the Special Collections Unit at the URI Library in 1993.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID
Author:	Finding aid prepared by Barbara J. Bussart.
Encoding:	Finding aid encoded by Barbara J. Bussart 1993 December, updated by Erin C. Mullen on 2011 October 17
Descriptive rules:	Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Additional Information

Inventory

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