Mantor Library, University of Maine Farmington

Farmington Normal students were encouraged to participate in outdoor or team activities as a way to maintain good health and make social connections. Although the school had a few sports teams in the 1890s, more formal competitive sports did not start until the 1920s.

In the beginning, Normal men's baseball and basketball teams played against local town or high school teams. The women's teams were exclusively intramural.

Regardless of who they were playing, the students did wear some form of uniform -- even if it was just their required gym outfit.

These images show the clothing Farmington Normal School students wore while engaging in fitness activities or playing team sports in the 1890s - 1950s.