University Archives News

Object Lesson: Rope Burns for the Alma Mater

A monthly feature highlighting the artifact collection of the University Archives.

Tug of War Team 1889

Five steely-eyed young men file forward with clenched jaws and veins bulging on their forearms to anchor their feet on wooden cleats. Their leathery palms grip a thick rope as they dig down into position to await the starting pistol. The crowd is wild with anticipation and raucous chants and cheers pierce the cigar-smoke-filled air of the arena. With a crack, "the pull" is on!

During the late 1880's and early 1890's, Northwestern University was a national force in the popular, inter-collegiate sport of Tug-of-War. Yes, you read correctly: Tug-of-War. And it was more popular than football on campus during its reign. Many colleges and universities during this era had traditions of class year tug-of-war battles; many times between freshmen and sophomores; often contested across a river or mud pit.

In the artifact collection, the Archives holds two gold medals won by NU teams in this struggle of muscle and will. The first is from April 23, 1888, when the school squad bested a team from the Union Athletic Club (then the largest private sporting club in Chicago) in a match at the Casino Skating Rink.

The second medal, from December 2, 1891, is inscribed to E.B. Fowler, who was the anchor of the NU team for several years. This medal is possibly from the National Inter-Collegiate Championship that Northwestern won that year by defeating Columbia. In 1892, Northwestern won the Hub Cup for the third consecutive time, giving them permanent possession of the cup and the title of "Champions of the Northwest."

Edson Brady Fowler (WCAS 1893, Medicine 1896) was also awarded a medal from the U.S. Government for his role in the Evanston Life Saving Crew's rescue of all 18 crewmen of the steamer Calumet, which ran aground on a sandbar during a blizzard on November 8, 1889. Fowler went on to practice as a successful physician and surgeon in Chicago and Evanston for many years. He is visible at the far left of both team photographs, anchoring the squad. The Archives holds the Edson B. Fowler Family Papers as Series 55/2.

Tug of War Team circa 1890