Bibliography
Websites
Taylor, Brad. 2003. The Many Threads to Tradition's Tapestry. University of Wisconsin Crew Alumni. http://wiscorowing.org/history/tradition.htm (accessed June 8, 2005).
This article relates a story that was told at a University of Wisconsin Annual Men's Crew Banquet. It briefly outlines the beginnings of Wisconsin rowing and discusses the Poughkeepsie Regatta and its importance to the school. As proof of the importance of the Poughkeepsie Regatta to the University of Wisconsin, a letter by D. Hayes Murphy, former Crew Commodore in the year 1900, is included. In the letter D. Hayes Murphy recounts how it was so important to the university that they send their Freshman Crew with the Varsity to the Poughkeepsie Regatta that the faculty and the Dean told Mr. Murphy, then a student, that it was more important for him to concentrate solely on raising enough money to send both teams than to pass his two law finals, and he would still receive his diploma based on his class rank. This article is an excellent example of how important the Poughkeepsie Regatta was to schools and the lengths they would go to in order to attend.
University of Washington. 2005. Husky Crew: 1920-1929. Washington Rowing Foundation. http://www.huskycrew.com/1920.htm (accessed June 8, 2005).
This website gives a detailed history of the Washington Husky Men's Crew teams from the years 1920-1929. Washington would become a powerhouse in the rowing world, and their trips to the Poughkeepsie Regatta are related throughout the website. Almost every year a play by play account of the end of the races at the Poughkeepsie Regatta are retold. Many of the finishes, especially the Varsity, were extremely close, tense, and exciting. There is a photo of the team at Poughkeepsie under 1922. Scattered throughout the history can be found stories of unique events that happened at the Poughkeepsie Regatta, such as when the varsity coxswain signaled his crew to pick up the speed near the finish of a close race with Navy with a piece of red flag, and became the first west coast crew team to win the IRA. Under 1923 there's a photo of the varsity team, a piece of flag that was used by the varsity coxswain to signal his crew to "give her all you got", the IRA varsity cup, and a general shot of the varsity race. Also mentioned is the risk of rowing on the Hudson, which was much polluted at the time, demonstrated by some rowers falling ill before the race. Also mentioned is how important it was to Washington to go to the Poughkeepsie Regatta, their season was not complete without it. 1926 photo of the Varsity at the Poughkeepsie Regatta and a varsity race shot when there is only a half mile to go. 1927 photo of the JV winning their race at Poughkeepsie. 1928 photo of where the crew stayed that year, at the Aberdeen-on-the-Hudson Mansion, and a picture of the freshman crew on the Hudson.
University of Washington. 2005. Husky Crew: 1940-1949. Washington Rowing Foundation. http://www.huskycrew.com/1940.htm (accessed June 8, 2005)
This website gives a detailed history of the Washington Husky Men's Crew teams from the years 1940-1949. As before there are accounts of the team's races in Poughkeepsie for every year that they were there. Scattered throughout are stories of unusual occurrences at the Poughkeepsie Regatta. An example is a story from 1940 when the JV race was postponed until after the Varsity race, which was also delayed, so the JV's ended up racing in pitch black dark. The spectators could not see the boats, and the teams could not see each other. Many crews ended up finishing the race lanes over from where they started. The only reason the judges knew who won was because the Washington JV crew finished 8 lengths ahead of any other boat. There is a 1940 photo of the Washington boathouse on the Hudson, and a crew preparing to launch on the Hudson. Also mentioned is when the IRA varsity race was shortened to a 3 mile race for the second time, this time for good, so the 1941 Washington Varsity crew was the last team to win the four mile collegiate IRA race. There is a photo of the 1941 Varsity crew winning the last 4 mile IRA race. There is also a photo of the JV race on the Hudson. Also mentioned throughout these pages are play by play accounts of almost all the finishes at the Poughkeepsie races. There is a 1948 photo of the Varsity winning at Poughkeepsie. Briefly mentioned is the last Regatta ever held in Poughkeepsie and why it was moved. Also the 1949 JV race which was again postponed and held during a storm where there was lightening flashing and a bolt hit the bridge a half mile from the finish during the race.
University of Wisconsin. Season Results: Eastern Sprints: DNP IRA: 7. University of Wisconsin Rowing History. http://www.wiscorowinghistory.org/seasons/1946-1947.html (accessed June 8, 2005).
This website displays the season results for the University of Wisconsin for the year 1946-1947. This includes their results at the Poughkeepsie Regatta. These WebPages also discuss briefly why the Poughkeepsie Regatta was shortened from a 4 mile course to a 3 mile course in the years after the War, as well as other changes that happened because of the World War. Also discussed is the pressure that the teams felt to succeed, and the mind games that were played on teams prior to the race. An example that is related is a time that the Wisconsin team was psyched out before the race began. There are also photos of the Wisconsin team at the Poughkeepsie Regatta, and other photos on this site including the R.R Bridge when a race is underway, Poughkeepsie boathouses, and a couple race shots.
University of Wisconsin. Season Results: IRA: 1898 – 1899. University of Wisconsin Rowing History. http://www.wiscorowinghistory.org/seasons/1898-1899.html (accessed October 12, 2005).
The season results for the University of Wisconsin at the IRA for the years 1898 to 1899. The website very briefly describes what happened at the Regatta. The year 1899 is very important to Wisconsin because of their famous "Haymaker Crew" which almost won the Regatta that year, coming in second to Pennsylvania. The crew members and what positions they rowed are also listed. There is a photograph of the crew members as well as a drawing of the Poughkeepsie Course diagram taken from a Poughkeepsie Regatta program.