Penn State’s University Archives will be the home to one of the world’s best collections about the Olympics, announced University Archivist Jackie R. Esposito Dec. 15. The gift of the John A. Lucas Olympic History Collection comes from John A. Lucas, professor emeritus of exercise and sport science in the College of Health and Human Development’s Department of Kinesiology. Since 1952, Lucas has documented and researched the modern Olympic games, amassing a collection (162 cubic feet), unparalleled outside the official International Olympic Committee (IOC) holdings.
Lucas, the author of four books, including "The Future of the Olympics" (1992) and "The Modern Olympic Games" (1980), as well as more than 200 articles on the subject, was named the official North American historian for the Olympic games by President of the IOC Juan Antonio Samaranch. In 1991, Samaranch appointed Lucas the official Olympic lecturer. In that capacity, Lucas has delivered over 500 lectures in the U.S. and abroad. In 1996, Lucas received the IOC’s highest honor, the Olympic Order gold medal.
Lucas has arranged and labeled his collection of books, professional journals, article reprints, research files, biographies, and individual articles chronologically by Olympiad. In addition to the Olympic archives, Lucas also has donated his significant range of research materials documenting track and field. Lucas served as the Penn State men’s track and field coach from 1960 to 1967. A runner himself, he has logged over 198,000 miles, all recorded in his “running diaries,” which are part of the collection.
Esposito anticipates that the collection will be available for research use well before the opening ceremonies of the summer games in London scheduled for August 2012. Information about and access to the collection can be arranged by e-mailing Esposito at jxe2@psu.edu.