12 May 2025 – 2 September 2025
LG and G Floors of Aldham Robarts Library
29 Maryland St, L1 9DE
Open Mon-Fri 08:45-17:00

Curated by Christopher Olive, LJMU Special Collections & Archives
Designed by Paola Dore, DADU Alghero, Università degli Studi di Sassari

With many thanks to
LJMU Special Collections & Archives
The Association of Past Students of I M Marsh College of Physical Education
Apogee Corporation Ltd.
LJMU School of Art and Creative Industries Department for Graphic Design & Illustration
With special thanks to: Rebecca Davies, Jas Kaur, Dorna Mahmid, and Sally Marquiss.

In celebration of over 125 years of women’s physical education in Liverpool, A Legacy in Motion: Women’s Physical Education 1900-2025 reflects on the long-lasting impact of I M Marsh College of Physical Education, from its modest beginnings at the Liverpool Gymnasium to the nationally respected institution still beloved by many today. From classroom to hockey field, hospital ward to swimming pool, the staff and students of I M Marsh led innovation and challenged expectations. Irené Mabel Marsh’s story, and the stories of generations of women and men who followed her, is a story of movement in every sense – of bodies, boundaries, and cultural landscapes.

The exhibition features seven cases split across two floors. The Ground floor showcases a timeline of the College’s history split into four eras: pre-1900-1919; 1919-1938; 1938-1965; and 1965-1981 and beyond; with the Lower Ground floor showcasing student life and sports activities within a locker-room style display. There’s also plenty of bookmarks, badges, and leaflets to take away – and reproductions from the archive to browse downstairs.

Browse the full collection via our online catalogue using reference LJMUH/IMM or use an Advanced Search to look for something specific. Email archives@ljmu.ac.uk for all appointments and enquiries to view material not included in this exhibition. To download a full digital copy of the exhibition leaflet, scroll to the end of this blog post.

Download a full copy of the exhibition catalogue:

A Legacy in Motion Guidebook V.2Download

Christopher Olive, Assistant Archivist 2025