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Great news! - Mystic Seaport Museum has provided space in the G.W. Blunt White Building for a permanent display of rowing history and the NRF's National Rowing Hall of Fame. This is what we've been waiting to hear for many years. Now there is a physical and permanent home for the National Rowing Hall of Fame as well as a display area for precious rowing memorabilia. Three rooms are open to the public and manned by rowing volunteers.

See more:
    Mystic Seaport Magazine, July 2009
    NRF photos of the exhibit opening at http://www.natrowing.org/blunt-white.htm
    U.S. Rowing video tour at http://www.usrowing.org/MediaCenter.aspx?id=141&topicID=39
    Crossroads Magazine TV segment on You Tube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKDcbNQpeZc

Poughkeepsie IRA history - We heard from Bob Creedon about a great site containing wonderful information about the Poughkeepsie IRA Regatta. It was produced by Marist College and contains results, photos, bibliography and page by page images of regatta programs. Check it out at http://library.marist.edu/archives/regatta/index.html . (June/09)

Peter Klose from the River Rowing Association, Nyack New York sent a link about it's history. Go to
2007-Article-NyackRowing-Nyack Villager.PDF and for more information about River RA, go to
http://web.me.com/ivanrs/Site/RRA_Events/Entries/2007/1/11_Nyack_Rowing%2C_Past_and_Present.html (Feb/09)

We hear from Robin Poke about two books available from Walla Walla Press, Australia:
Sculling & Skulduggery, A History of Professional Sculling - by Stuart Ripley PDF order form
Peter Antonie: Out of His Shell, A Biography... PDF order form (Dec/08)

Recent book - Invincible (the history of the Duluth Boat Club)
Mike Cochran's book about the Duluth Boat Club is well worth the purchase. It's chock full of rowing history and includes numerous good quality images. Sometimes club books get a bit bogged down with lists of races and crews, but Mike's book gives us a view/photos and well written text about rowing at the "Northwest" club especially from the 1880s through the 1920s when DBC was one of the dominant rowing clubs in the US. We don't often see/read/hear much about rowing in this section of the country. Mike Cochran's book fills much of that gap nicely. For more details, go to http://www.thehistorypeople.org/rowing.asp (July '08)

Recent book - Rowable Classics
Darryl Strickler has written and Wooden Boat Books published a book about rowing classic wooden single-sculls.
Go to http://www.rowableclassics.com/ for information. (Nov '08)

Rowing History Forum - Sunday, March 9th 2008 @ The River Room, Seamen's Inne, Mystic Seaport
See photos and description Forum

Kelly: A Father, a Son, an American Quest
Daniel J. Boyne, author of Essential Sculling and The Red Rose Crew: A True Story of Women, Winning, and the Water, has a new rowing book now out (March '08) Kelly: A Father, a Son, an American Quest about three-time Olympic gold medalist, John B. Kelly and his son's quest to win the Diamond Sculls at Henley Royal Regatta. It is published by Mystic Seaport, the Museum of America and the Sea. Read more about Boyne’s new book and order a copy at www.mysticseaport.org/kellybook (from Göran Buckhorn - March 08)

Recent book - Magdalen College Boat Club, 1859-2008
Mark Blandford-Baker has sent a pdf link announcing the publication and ordering information for the Oxford University college boat club's history. Check it out at http://www.magdalenboatclub.com/_graphics/FLYER-1.pdf (Sept/08)

The traditional Pocock cedar singles are in production again.
We hear from Jim Buckley in Port Townsend WA who purchased/saved all the original Pocock forms & patterns. His website includes a history of Pocock wooden racing singles. (June/07)
Visit his web site: http://www.pocockclassic.com

Peter Antonie, Out of His Shell by Robin Poke
A biography of Australian rowing’s unsung hero.

To order and pay by credit card via Walla Walla Press
Go to: www.wallawallapress.com/order.php

(April/07)

The boathouse of the Société Nautique de la Marne - We received this link describing the boathouse with a page of great "Pictures' of the old boathouse.
Take a look: http://avironmarnejoinville.free.fr/article.php3?id_article=193 (Mar/07)

Charles L. Grimes, Yale '57 - At 6' 7" and 197 lbs, the heart of the engine room of Yale's 1956 Melbourne Olympics gold medal crew, died Feb. 5, 2007 of pancreatic cancer. Four oarsmen and the coxswain remain from that eight. (Feb/07)

Ernestine Bayer's Memorial Service - October 15, Exeter, NH
A large group of friends on shore and rowers & scullers brought shells to Exeter NH for Ernestine Bayer's last row. Eights from Exeter Academy and University of New Hampshire boated for an on-the-water remembrance of Ernestine. The Sunday morning was sparkling clear and dead flat for the occasion. A women's eight comprised of many of the 1984 Olympic crew reenacted their 1984 row with Ernestine in the #2 seat where Ernestine often commented that "it was the thrill of my life to feel the power of that boat". On October 15, 2006 @ 9:00 AM, the #2 seat was reserved for Ernestine once again. (Oct/06)

Ernestine Bayer: 1909-2006Women of the Century (Oct/06)
Row2k - Ernestine Bayer, 97, Mother of Women's Rowing in United States dies in New Hampshire, 9/10/06
See Photo Essay of Ernestine, Ernie & Tina Bayer

Ernestine Bayer, Mother of Women's Rowing
This is a wonderful soft cover biography by Lew Cuyler.
Books can be ordered from www.Amazon.com (Oct/06)

Boathouse Row - Mike Sullivan sent us a link to an article by Thomas G. Beischer, "Control and Competition: The Architecture of Boathouse Row." (Aug/06)
http://www.historycooperative.org/journals/pmh/130.3/beischer.html

2006 Rowing History Forum - see summary & pics (Feb/06)

We're all very saddened to report the passing of John P. Cooke. John was a very special and enthusiastic friend of rowing. Please read about his contributions to life: www.cstv.com/sports/c-crew/stories/010506aac.html (Jan/06)

The Henley Regatta Through The Generations

This is a very nice DVD about HRR. It is 68 minutes on the history, people and personality of the famous regatta. You can order one through Richard Way's Books, Henley UK waybooks@btconnect.com , (Jan/06)

The St. Catharines Rowing Club
100 Years In A Row - A Pictorial History
Edited by Stan Lapinski

This is a great soft cover record of the Club viewed through many historic photos and chock full of images of memorabilia. Go to http://goldmedalphotos.com/ to find out about ordering a copy
or email slapinsk@vaxxine.com
(Jan/06)

Request for S.F. Gordon information:

I am doing research on the Olympic Rowing event in Stockholm 1912. On the back of an old file photo from 1912 it states that the sculler in the picture, Samuel F. Gordon of Vesper B.C., is training for the Olympic rowing in Stockholm. (In 1910, Gordon became the N.A.A.O. champion in the single.) However, the U.S. never sent any oarsmen to Stockholm. Is there anyone that knows more about Gordon and why the U.S. never sent any boats to Stockholm? I am grateful for any information. Thanks.
Göran R Buckhorn, Mystic, CT (Jan/06)
goranrbuckhorn@hotmail.com

Harlem River Photos/Images

James Sciales has submitted the URL for the Empire State Rowing Association. Go to right side of the page to view the photo essay about rowing on the Harlem River
(click on right function box to "View Full-Size Photos" (Dec/05)
http://spaces.msn.com/members/empirestatera/

Beauty and the Boats, Art & artistry in early British rowing
Illustrated from the Thomas E. Weil Collection

This is a catalogue of the special exhibit earlier this year at the River & Rowing Museum, Henley of some of the items in the personal collection of Thomas E. Weil, Jr. However, it is much more than a catalogue. Tom has done a magnificent job annotating the superb images reproduced in the catalogue. I'm not sure which I'm more impressed with: the outstanding collection of very rare rowing images and memorabilia or the wealth of information that he included on its pages.
This is a must for any rowing history buff.
Copies can be ordered through the Mystic Seaport Bookstore at bookstore@mysticseaport.org or call 800-331-2665 (Oct/05)

ALL TOGETHER, The Formidable Journey to the Gold with the 1964 Olympic Crew
William A. Stowe

Bill Stowe does a wonderful job describing the events, circumstances and personalities surrounding the preparation and capture of the Olympic Gold Medal in 1964. A copy can be purchased directly from William Stowe by sending a check payable to him at 46 River Road, Lake Placid NY 12946 for $16.95 (shipping included) (Oct/05)

Rosa Diaz Sandoval sent a link for the web page of the Lakeside Rowing Club, first rowing club in Mexico. Go to http://mx.geocities.com/lakeside_remo/History.htm (Sept/05)

Jonathan Cantwell reports from Australia about his oar blade decorating business and his site with a section on the history of Trophy Oars. Also, if you have any bits of historical information/images about oar blade inscription I'm sure he'd like to hear about it. (May/05)

We hear from Rolan Gerbach in Germany with a web page ( in German) listing the multiple Olympic rowing medalists with some photos.
Go to www.olympiaclub.de/rudern.html#Frauen
The site has all Olympic sports also. (April/05)

Wisconsin Where They Row, A History of Varsity Rowing at the University of Wisconsin
Bradley F. Taylor (Mar/05)

Brad Taylor has been researching the history of University of Wisconsin Crew details for many years and it's now in print. Go to www.wisc.edu/wisconsinpress/books/3625.htm to order. (March/05)

The Slim Book On Rowing
by Barrie Robinson
Slim Book of Rowing

A 75 page book for beginners and a good refresher for old hands. It includes coaching and describes some excellent exercises. (Feb/05)
Go to http://www.storesonline.com/site/405636/product/182-4609403 for more information

Also, see the site about Northwest Rowing at www.NorthwestRowing.com

Evolution of the Rowing Stroke
Peter Mallory is writing about rowing technique. (Jan/05)
Go to www.rowingevolution.com

For those of you who are fluent in français, you can view rowing history at
http://etienne.chopot.org/aviron.html
and if not, browse and see the great images. (Dec/04)

Rowing Retrospections
by Edward Monahan

More information and to order:
Mystic Seaport Museum-Books (Nov/04)
http://www.mysticseaport.org/shop/category.cfm?mc=72

North East Rowing On-line
There's very good information about North East Rowing (England) at
http://www.nerowing.com/timeline.html

Andrew Guerin and Margot Foster have developed a great site,
The History of Australian Rowing.

Go to www.rowinghistory-aus.info

Jim Buckley sent in the links to the WOODEN BOAT FOUNDATION site:
Where they built the Salish Star, a reproduction of the American Star
www.woodenboat.org/programs/row/salish.html
See info about the c1890 Perrott's Boat Club, one of the early clubs to admit women
www.woodenboat.org/programs/row/history.html
Where they saved many of the Pocock 1x production jigs and molds, see photos
www.woodenboat.org/programs/row/pococksingles.html

Here's a great new site dedicated to rowing history by the RRM.
You must register to get in, but it will become a wealth of information, communication/dialogue between rowing history buffs.
(click on the the logo above)

What it takes to earn your place
150th Oxford & Cambridge Boat Race Book
by Julian Andrews (May/04)

More information and to order: www.what-it-takes.co.uk

BATTLE of the BLUES
The Oxford & Cambridge Boat Race from 1829
by Christopher Dodd & John Marks (March/04)

More information and to order: eventmanager@theboatrace.org