The Rooms Provincial Archives launches Women in Sport: A Celebration exhibit
and Women in Sport: pre-Confederation Newfoundland virtual exhibit

The Rooms Provincial Archives today unveiled Women in Sport: A Celebration, an exhibit profiling pioneer women athletes (1900-1977) from the province and includes photographs and artifacts such as medals, trophies etc.; and, Women in Sport: pre-Confederation Newfoundland, a corresponding web site which includes a collection of still images, audio clips and interactive multimedia applications celebrating women from various Newfoundland communities who participated in pre-Confederation sporting events and activities.

"The Archives is thrilled to have the opportunity to bring together not only the images of these pioneering women, but also their memories and reflections through the use of our interactive website and audio collection," commented Greg Walsh, director of The Rooms Provincial Archives. "The images and audio clips utilized throughout the exhibit allow the public to revisit this time and learn more about the exciting sporting events and activities these women were involved in."

The women profiled in the exhibits were from various communities such as St. John�s, Grand Falls, Bay Roberts, Carbonear, Bell Island etc.; however, two have since died. This exhibit, along with the limitless nature of the web site, speaks to the importance of record collection within Newfoundland and Labrador. Records, specifically sports records, are important tools in the cultural history of the province as they seek to integrate oral histories, images, and information that are both precious and at risk of being lost. The web site also provides people throughout the province continual access to this invaluable information, creating an accessibility to the provincial archives that is independent of time and space.

These exhibits are also possible because of the work of Archives� volunteers Linda Murphy and Frances Horwood and funding provided by Canadian Heritage, Canadian Council of Archives and Library and Archives Canada. The exhibit at The Rooms Provincial Archives will be on display from May 8, 2006 to September 30, 2006, with photographs and tapes available to the public through the Archives. The web site, accessible at www.therooms.ca/archives/wis will continue to be maintained as part of The Rooms Provincial Archives web site.

Media contact: Chrysta Collins, (709) 757-8091

2006 05 08                            3:00 p.m.