Correspondence
In order to provide some insight into the correspondence documents below, a brief history of some of the key players is given.
Clyde Kesler was a professor at the University of Illinois, who in 1970, challenged his concrete materials class to build a canoe out of concrete. In 1971, Purdue learned of the project and challenged Illinois to a race. This marks what some believe as the first intercollegiate concrete canoe race in the world.
J. Francis Young (co-author of the widely used textbook, Concrete) was an important figure in the early days of concrete canoe. During the 70s and 80s, he was a professor at the University of Illinois and continued the work started by Professor Clyde Kesler.
This is a draft of a press release about an upcoming concrete canoe competition.
This is an account of the races that took place in 1976 from J. Francis Young to ACI.
Insurance is always good to have when racing. It’s fair to say that the legal team had to get creative to justify insuring students for “concrete canoe races”.
Even though concrete canoe is not an NCAA sport, it must still comply with Title IX.
Even way back in the the early 80s, concrete canoe was catching on internationally. The second part of the PDF is a telegram sent to J. Francis Young from the organizers of the 1st FIP International Concrete Canoe Race.
An alumni of the University of Illinois, and team member for several years in the early 70s, sent a letter to Professor Francis Young detailing some of the early competitions.
This list outlines the concrete canoe races held across the nation in 1978.
