State Historical Society of Iowa

C.L. Brewers' Letter Barring Football Player Jack Trice from Playing at the University of Missouri, October 8, 1923

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Courtesy of Iowa State University Library Special Collections and University Archives, Brewer, Chester L., "Chester L. Brewer letter to Samuel W. Beyer regarding football game at University of Missouri," 8 October 1923

Description

This letter was sent from C.L. Brewer, director of the Department of Physical Education at the University of Missouri, to Iowa State College and Professor S. W. Beyer. Brewer's letter stated that Jack Trice, Iowa State's first African-American athlete, would not be allowed to play in their upcoming game between the two colleges.

Transcript of C.L. Brewers' Letter Barring Jack Trice from Playing at the University of Missouri

Source Dependent Questions

  • What was the purpose of this letter? How might C.L. Brewers' position and the historical context have influenced his claims?
  • Reflect on the phrases, "you know the conditions here" and "I know that you understand the tradition that a colored man cannot come here." How did these phrases show his perspective on Trice's involvement in the game?
  • How does this quote from The Life and Legacy of Jack Trice essay help to underscore what would happen on the football field: "African Americans who played for predominantly white institutions faced extraordinary hazards and abuse."

Citation Information

Brewer, Chester L., "Chester L. Brewer letter to Samuel W. Beyer regarding football game at University of Missouri," 8 October 1923. Courtesy of Iowa State University Library Special Collections and University Archives Courtesy of Library of Congress