The Kim and Catherine Brown Collection

This collection was donated in spring 2024 to the University Archives by Kim Brown (1948- ), a former athletic coach and academic advisor at Ohio University. She coached women’s field hockey, lacrosse, and softball, and she has been recognized for her achievements as a player and as a coach. Kim began her employment in the athletic department at Ohio University in 1978 and was close friend to Catherine Brown (1932-2012), who was also a coach and professor at Ohio University from 1965 to 1996 during which time she coached women’s track, field hockey, and lacrosse. Catherine was eventually elected to the Ohio University Athletics Hall of Fame for her many successes as a coach, as well as for her immense contribution and effort to improving conditions for women’s sports.

During the early 1970s, when Title IX federal equity legislation was passed, Catherine was already coaching at OU and Kim came onto staff shortly thereafter and both women advocated tirelessly for university compliance with the new mandates of the legislation. This was especially apparent with regard to their efforts get more funding better facilities for women’s athletics.

In fact, much of the collection relates in one way or another to OU compliance or lack thereof with Title IX. For instance, in 1983, in response to correspondence and complaints received by the University pertaining to gross inequities remaining between men’s and women’s sports, a full federal investigation was begun by the U.S. Department of Education. The final detailed report of the findings of the investigation is included in the collection.

Besides information involving Title IX at Ohio University, one can also find correspondence relating to both Kim or Catherine, various newspaper clippings, sports reports, programs and brochures, photographs, and many other records about women’s athletics at OU.