Early Hoofers History (1920-1979)

Wisconsin Hoofers, UW’s outdoor recreation club, has a long and rich history. Hoofers had its start in 1931, when a professor, an administrator, and several students joined forces to promote outdoor activities and to provide access to recreational equipment.

Hoofers has since grown to become one of the largest student outdoor recreation organizations in the country and currently has approximately 2,200 members in six clubs: Sailing, Ski and Snowboard, Riding, Mountaineering, Outing, and SCUBA.

This exhibit and timeline traces the history of the Hoofers organization from the 1920s through the 1970s.

The UW Digital Collection’s Center hosts a larger, more comprehensive collection of materials docuementing the history of the UW Hoofer’s Club.

For more information about the Hoofers Club, visit their Web page at https://www.hoofers.org/.

Compiled by Chris Hartman (iSchool) for the University Archives.