ABOUT
The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic collection initially began as part of the then-United States Olympic Committee library before relocating to the now-U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee headquarters in Colorado Springs, where it still stands today. Established in 2012 through a transformative two-part, $1.5 million total donation from Gordy and Dona Crawford, the Crawford Family U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Archives contains more than 11,000 artifacts, 500 manuscripts and tens of thousands of photos from the Olympic and Paralympic Games, dating back to 1896.
Since 2012, more than 8,000 artifacts have been donated from Team USA athletes and members of the public, with an annual growth rate of approximately 19 percent. In August of 2018, the Crawfords added to their collection of artifacts, donating their priceless collection of Olympic medals and torches. This collection totaled more than 300 artifacts, which was one of the most complete personal collections in the world. The mission of the Crawford Family U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Archives is to capture the history of the Olympic and Paralympic movements in the United States.
Currently, the archives occupy a 5,045 square-foot facility at the USOPC headquarters in Colorado Springs. These artifacts include competition jerseys, sports equipment, torches, medals, patches, pins and more. Many of these collections will be added to the digital archives over time.
The archives will loan numerous artifacts, including the Crawfords collections of medals and torches, to the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum, which is set to open in 2020 in Colorado Springs. The museum will welcome patrons from around the world to experience the spirit of the Games, bringing to life the stories of Team USA athletes to fans of all ages.
If you have an item you would like to donate or questions about donating to the Crawford Family U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Archives, please email archives@usopc.org.
Michael Johnson won two gold medals at the Olympic Games Atlanta 1996 in custom golden spikes.
The Olympic participation diploma of diver Alice Lord, who competed at the Olympic Games Antwerp 1920
By the Numbers
- 11,300+ total artifacts
- 376 torches
- 1,066 medals
- 87 complete parade/podium uniforms
- 102 competition jerseys
- 104 competition shoes
- 213 sports equipment
- 55 balls
- 64 autographed artifacts
- 2,601 pins
- 1,610 posters
Torch used for the Olympic Games Helsinki 1952
Uniform of 1932 Olympic field hockey player William "Bill" BoddingtonDid you Know?
- The oldest artifact is a piece of the Olympia Altis Rock. The Altis refers to the sacred grove of Zeus, and the rock is believed to be from the 8th to 5th centuries when the Temple of Zeus was completed.
- The newest artifacts donated in 2019 include a 2016 judogi – which is the traditional uniform in judo – from two-time Paralympic bronze medalist Dartanyon Crockett, and a Paralympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 U.S. wheelchair curling jersey from vice-skip Stephen Emt.
- The oldest competition uniforms are a 1932 track singlet worn by two-time Olympic champion Eddie Tolan (100-meter, 200-meter) and a 1932 field hockey jersey worn by Bill Boddington.
- The oldest parade uniform is from 1948, worn by diver Sammy Lee, the first Asian American man to win Olympic gold.
- The oldest podium uniform is from 1964, worn by four-time Olympic champion discus thrower Al Oerter.
- The smallest artifact is a kangaroo pin from Olympic Games Sydney 2000.
- The largest artifact is a Team USA training bobsled from 2002.
- The most valuable artifact is the Helsinki 1952 Olympic torch, valued at $1.15 million.
- The most recognized artifact is a 1996 Nike golden spike signed by four-time Olympic track champion Michael Johnson.
- The most unusual artifact is an 18K gold turtle from the Olympic Games Beijing 2008.
- The most delicate artifacts are Alice Lord and Dick Landon’s Olympic participant diplomas from the Olympic Games Antwerp 1920. Lord was a diver and Landon competed in the high jump, where he won gold. The two met on the boat transporting the U.S. Olympic Team to Antwerp and were married in 1922.
- The archives include balls, calendars, coins, flags, glasses, luggage, mascots, medals, paintings, patches, pins, posters, rings, scarves, shoes, sports equipment, stamps, statues, tickets, torches, uniforms and more.
- Documents include board minutes, books, diplomas, invitations, journals, newspapers, official records and more.
- The archives include items with with signatures from U.S. athletes including Muhammad Ali (boxing), Bonnie Blair (long track speedskating), Alice Coachman (track and field), Mike Eruzione (ice hockey), Allyson Felix (track and field), Peggy Fleming Jenkins (figure skating), Joe Frazier (boxing), Steven Holcomb (bobsled), Dan Jansen (long track speedskating), Rafer Johnson (track and field), Jackie Joyner-Kersee (track and field), Michelle Kwan (figure skating), Sugar Ray Leonard (boxing), Greg Louganis (diving), Carl Lewis (track and field), Bob Mathias (track and field), Becca Meyers (Para swimming), Michael Phelps (swimming), Al Oerter (track and field), Picabo Street (alpine skiing), Kristi Yamaguchi (figure skating) and more.
- The archives adhere to archival standards of temperature and humidity-controls and include three zones of fire suppression for the collection. The photograph and special collections rooms use an early smoke-detection apparatus with continuous air sampling to provide the earliest possible warning of an impending fire hazard.
A ticket to swimming at the Olympic Games Beijing 2008 signed by Michael Phelps, who that day won gold in both the 200-meter butterfly and 4x200-meter freestyle
Izzy, the mascot of the Olympic Games Atlanta 1996
A pair of skates signed by five-time Olympic speedskating champion Bonnie Blair
The shoes of 1964 Olympic boxing gold medalist Joe Frazier