creator:

Jack Trice, 1902-1923

title:

Papers

dates:

1923-[ongoing]

extent:

.42 linear feet (1 manuscript box)

collection number:

RS 21/7/23

repository:

Special Collections Department, Iowa State University.

access:

Open for research

publication rights:

Consult Head, Special Collections Department

preferred citation:

Jack Trice, Papers, 1923-[ongoing], RS 21/7/23, University Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

Biographical note

 
Johnny (Jack) Trice was born in Hiram, Ohio in 1902.  As a child, he was active in sports and demonstrated outstanding athletic skills.   In 1918, Trice’s mother sent him to Cleveland, Ohio to live with his uncle.  He attended East Technical High School where he played football. In 1922, Trice followed five of his teammates and his former high school coach, Sam Willaman who took a coaching position at Iowa State College (University), to Ames, Iowa.  Trice became the first African-American athlete at Iowa State, participating in track and football.  He majored in animal husbandry, with the desire to go to the South and use his knowledge to help black farmers. In the summer after his freshman year, Trice married Cora Mae Starland. They both found jobs in order to support themselves through school. 

On October 6,1923, Jack Trice played in his first “real” college football game against the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. During the second play of the game, he broke his collarbone.  He insisted he was all right and returned to the game. In the third quarter, University of Minnesota players forced Trice to the ground and crushed him.  Although he claimed to be fine, Trice was removed from the game and sent to a Minneapolis Hospital.  The doctors declared him fit to travel and he returned to Ames with his teammates.  On October 8, He died from internal bleeding due to injuries received during the game.

In 1973, Jack Trice’s legacy was renewed and a promotion began to name Iowa State’s new stadium after him.  In 1974, the Iowa State University Government of Student Body unanimously voted to endorse this effort.  In addition, the Jack Trice Stadium Committee compiled more than 3,000 signatures of supporters.  An Iowa State University ad hoc committee voted to advise President Robert Parks to name the stadium “Cyclone Stadium.”  In 1984, the stadium was named “Cyclone Stadium” and the playing field was named “Jack Trice Field.”  The Government of Student Body, wanting to do more to honor Trice, raised money to erect a statue of Trice in 1987.  Due to the persistence of the students, alumni, faculty and staff, and other supporters, the stadium was finally named Jack Trice Stadium in 1997.

Collection description

 
The collection consists of biographical material, newsclippings, correspondence and information regarding Jack Trice Stadium and the various organizations which advocated the name.  The collection is comprised of five series:

Series 1: Biographical Material includes information on Trice’s family background, memorials about Trice after his death, a scrapbook compiled by the Jack Trice Stadium Committee (1974), papers written by students in 1994, and oral history interviews with Harry Schmidt and William Thompson completed in 1973 and 1974. 

Series 2: Correspondence consists of copies of Trice’s last letter written the day before the football game against the University of Minnesota; letters regarding Trice’s injuries and death from his mother, President Pearson, Mr. and Mrs. Curtis (Cora Mae Trice’s parents), and others; and a letter written by his widow, Cora Mae Trice Greene, in 1988.   

Series 3:  Jack Trice Stadium Material contains information regarding the controversy over the naming of Iowa State’s stadium.  Included are documents from the Jack Trice Memorial Foundation, the Jack Trice Memorial Fund, the Jack Trice Stadium Committee, and the dedication ceremony of Jack Trice Stadium.  Newspaper and magazine articles relating to the stadium can be found in Series 5.

Series 4:  Jack Trice Statue consists of information regarding the dedication of the statue. Newspaper and magazine articles relating to the statue can be found in Series 5.

Series 5:  Newsclippings contains articles relating to Trice and the campaign to name the stadium after him.

Organization

 
The collection is arranged into five series.  Each series is organized alphabetically.

Container List