About the Rowing History Project

The Rowing History Project is a nonprofit 501c3 whose mission is to tell the history of rowing both locally and nationally through this virtual museum which catalogues and displays important rowing-related objects, photographs, videos, and audio recordings. The Project seeks in this way to preserve and share with the public artifacts that tell the story of this iconic sport and its place in American history.

In addition, the Rowing History Project seeks to educate rowing organizations about the importance of their collections and methods to inventory and preserve them.

Based in Philadelphia, we are initially focusing on the legacy of rowing on Boathouse Row and elsewhere in the region. We invite rowing organizations nationally and abroad to coordinate with us and share their history with this platform.

The Rowing History Project is made up of a passionate group of individuals committed to the preservation of rowing’s historical records and artifacts, many of which are currently poorly housed and damaged or likely to become so. We represent various boat clubs on Boathouse Row as well as others nationally who share our concerns.

Our Team

Jen Wesson, HOSR Executive Director and University Barge Club
Ellen Carver, HOSR Board Chairperson and University Barge Club
Hillary Langer, Vesper Boat Club
Dotty Brown, Vesper Boat Club, Author – “Boathouse Row, Waves of Change”
Rick Stehlik, Malta Boat Club
Alan Robinson, University Barge Club
Henry Hauptfuhrer, Bachelors Barge Club
Lee Silverberg, Fairmount Rowing Association
James Dietz, All American Rowing Camps, New York Athletic Club
Stephen Malbouef, Detroit Boat Club
Al Mackenzie, Historian and Pocock Center, Seattle, WA
Chris Doyle, Pennsylvania Barge Club

Advisors and Supporters:

Bill Miller (rowinghistory.net)
Goran Buckhorn (heartheboatsing.com)
Pete Mallory (The Sport of Rowing)

And…

The late Tom Weil: Eminent Rowing Historian, Collector and The Henley Rowing Museum

How The Rowing History Project Came Together

In 2020, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta (HOSR), its leadership formed the “50 Stories Committee.” During a time of Covid, with no races, the committee launched a series of Zoom conversations, inviting important figures in the rowing world here and abroad to share stories and memories. So far, 23 “Story Hours” have been produced and can be viewed at hosr.org/50-years-50-stories/. Participating in those conversations have been Olympic athletes and coaches, boat builders, and longtime rowers whose personal stories about important moments in rowing and the unique character of rowing clubs have now been captured for the future.

In 2023, the Committee came to realize that preserving America’s rowing legacy, embodied in club records, trophies, banners, and equipment – often dating back to the 1800s –is of increasingly urgent concern. Much has already been “lost to history” and more is perishing. Of most dire concern, there did not seem to be any widely understood path forward.

In response, the 50 Stories Committee expanded its work to focus on preservation of American rowing history, with the goal of promoting awareness in the rowing community, and engaging experts in the field to design a path forward that would hopefully save the legacy from further deterioration. Click here to see the “Call to Action” addressed to the American rowing community.

The team conducted focus sessions with preservation experts and sought guidance from America’s most notable rowing historians, including the late, great Tom Weil.

"One of the most useful roles this entity could play, which would underpin the linked member communities function, would be to have a searchable meta-database into which all of the archives/collections of the members could be entered. Such a database could provide, at an elemental stage, a checklist of rowing art, artifacts, literature, images, etc., and, at some more divine level of aspiration, a digital catalogue with descriptions and pictures of the constituent elements which would constitute an online museum/ library/research facility."

Tom Weil (1948-2024)

It quickly became clear that creating, funding and maintaining a physical museum of rowing history was unattainable. Instead, the team decided to create a publicly accessible on-line museum. That decision led to more research:

How to inventory a rowing collection for display in a digital museum;
Which museum-friendly software to choose, and how to host it for Members;
How best to encourage clubs to focus attention on their own collections for preservation as well as digitizing it for posterity.

How You Can Join in

The Rowing History Project has produced a list of suggestions for individuals, schools and clubs who wish to preserve and digitize their important rowing records and artifacts. Several of the Story Hours also discuss historical preservation. For more information, contact us at rowingarchives@hosr.org.

The History Rowing Project became a 501(c)(3) in order to apply for grants and solicit donations to support its educational mission, and to maintain the Rowing History Project web site and digital repository. The HOSR leadership graciously sponsored its successful incorporation under the umbrella of the existing HOSR 501(c)(3). Click here for the HOSR Board Resolution establishing our legal organization.