Four Rice University cheerleaders in action, during a football game. They are standing on the sidelines, with a male cheerleader holding a female cheerleader on his shoulder, while she holds aloft a blue and a white pom-pom. The crowded stands are visible behind them. Original resource is a color photograph.
"Cheerleaders in formation at a football game, Rice University." (1995) Rice University: http://hdl.handle.net/1911/77973.
Originally called yell leaders, cheerleading started in 1916. The squad was male-only until 1953. In April of that year, Jane Ryba, Joan Ryba, and Carolyn Thomas were elected as the first female cheerleaders.
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