Personal papers compiled by the athlete, Wal Monk. The collection includes a significant number of programmes, mostly for various track and field events which Wal himself competed. The collection also includes a scrapbook compiled by Monk; various newspaper cuttings and photographs which include family snapshots, formal portrait photographs and images taken during athletics events such as the Inter-Allied meet, 1919; menu cards from commemorative dinners, some autographed by contemporary athletes; and three athletics shirts worn by Monk during the 1920s.
Papers of Walter H. (Wal) Monk
Archive Collection
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- ReferenceGB 150 ATH/WHM
- Dates of Creation1918 - 1961
- Name of Creator
- Language of MaterialEnglish French
- Physical Description2 standard boxes (comprising 1 volume 2 files 89 items and 1 large photograph)
Scope and Content
Administrative / Biographical History
Walter Harry (Wal) Monk (1896-after 1965) was a member of Birchfield Harriers who enjoyed great success as a middle-distance runner in the early 20th century. He was a contemporary of Paavo Nurmi and became well known for his impressive final lap speed. He was born in 1896 and served during the First World War, developing his running skills by winning a number of races in France and Italy representing either his unit or the British Army. In August 1918, on his way home from the fighting, he was admitted to hospital in Etaples. In 1919, his first year back with Birchfield Harriers, Monk won a prize in every race he entered except one. He concluded the year by winning the Midland 10 Miles Championship held at the annual Austin Sports. Wal was one of four brothers who, at this time, all belonged to Birchfield Harriers and a number of athletics programmes included in these papers refer to the names T. Monk, W. E. Monk and Sid Monk.
Monk's athletics career flourished during the early 1920s and perhaps his biggest achievement was selection to represent his country at international meetings, including the 1920 Antwerp Olympic Games when he was a travelling reserve for the cross-country race although he did not compete. On 1 July 1921 he won the Amateur Athletic Association's National Four Mile Championship in London with a time of 19 minutes 59.2 seconds. Monk worked at Longbridge, for Austin, and a programme for 21 April 1919 states that he ran for the Austin AAA. In later life he lived in Northfield. His daughter Betty married Reginald Lerrigo in Birmingham in 1954.
Sources: papers of Wal Monk; Birchfield Harriers website accessed 15 July 2014 from http://birchfieldharriers.net/theclub/olympic-representation/antwerp-1920/
Arrangement
These papers have been arranged into the following four series:
athletics programmes;
collected publications;
scrapbook, newspaper cuttings and photographs;
personalia
Access Information
Open. Access to all registered researchers.
Other Finding Aids
Please see full catalogue for more information.
Archivist's Note
Papers arranged and described by Mark Eccleston, July 2014, in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description (ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; and in-house cataloguing guidelines.
Conditions Governing Use
Permission to make any published use of any material from the collection must be sought in advance in writing from the Director of Special Collections (email: special-collections@contacts.bham.ac.uk). Identification of copyright holders of unpublished material is often difficult. Special Collections will assist where possible with identifying copyright owners, but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user of the material.
Custodial History
This collection was previously in the custody of the National Centre for Athletics Literature (NCAL).