Skip to main content

Buttrick, Barbara, Born 1930

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: Born 1930

Biography

Barbara Buttrick ‘The Mighty Atom of the Ring’ was born in Cottingham, Yorkshire, in 1930.

At a young age Barbara was inspired to become a boxer by Polly Fairclough. Her first appearance was on the fairground was at Epson on Derby Day in 1949, aged 19, in Tommy Wood's show. She also boxed with Professor Bosco and Sam McKeowen among others and during her career she gave around 1,000 boxing exhibitions on the fairgrounds of England, France and America.

In 1953 Barbara moved to America where she joined an Athletic Show travelling the Midways with a carnival. In 1954, she started fighting competitive bouts rather than exhibition matches becoming one of the most famous women boxers of all time and the first female boxer to have her fight broadcast on national television.

Barbara's professional achivements:

First English woman professional boxer 1948-1960

First English woman to travel continental Europe and engage in public boxing contests 1951-1952

Frist English woman to cross the Atlantic and box against American women in public boxing contests 1952-1960

Engaged in the first female boxing contests in the following American states; North Dakota, Kansas, Texas and Florida

Engaged in the fits female boxing in Canada. 9 September 1954, which was the first ever radio broadcast of a professional women’s boxing bout

Obtained the first female boxing license in the State of Texas in October 1957

Won the first Women’s World Boxing Championship in San Antonio, Texas 9 October 1957

Featured in the first female boxing contest in Florida, that was broadcast over radio station WCKR Miami on 1 October 1959

Featured in the first photographs of a female boxing contestant published in Ring Magazine, The Bible of Boxing, December 1957

Created a record 12 year active boxing career. The longest in Women’s Boxing history The first woman President of a Men’s Veteran Boxers Association Ring 31 of Florida, September 1988

Her Pro-boxing records was 30-1-1

In 12 years in the ring she had over 1,000 exhibitions mainly with male boxers. She also had over 50 matches as a Pro-Wrestler

Undefeated Women’s World Fly & Bantamweight Boxing Champion 1950-1960

Found in 61 Collections and/or Records:

Campeonato Mundial de Boxeo Femenino Poster, c1979 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178R52.6
Scope and Contents

Gimnasio Nuevo Panama. Kathy Rivers vs Valerie 'The Wolf' Mahfood. Anna 'Dinamita' Pascal vs Vicky 'Huracan' Woods, Bonnie 'Cobra' Canino vs Sophia Johnson, Alfonso Mosquera vs Darisnel Vergara, Leopoldo ‘Tiburon’ Arrocha vs Tony Gutierrez. White type on red and black background.

Dates: c1979 - 1999

Correspondence, c1940 - 2000

 Series
Reference code: 178F15
Scope and Contents

Items of Barbara Buttrick's correspondence.

Dates: c1940 - 2000

Correspondence Between Barbara Buttrick and Francis Robson, 1949

 Item
Reference code: 178F15.1
Scope and Contents

Photocopy of letter to Barbara Buttrick from Francis 'Spike' Robson.

Dates: 1949

Correspondence Between Barbara Buttrick and Tony Burns, c1949 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178F15.2
Scope and Contents

Photocopy of letter to Barbara Buttrick from Mrs Tony Burns.

Dates: c1949 - 1999

Discover the Women's International Boxing Federation Leaflet, 1995

 Item
Reference code: 178I29.1
Scope and Contents

Photocopy of promotional leaflet for Women’s International Boxing Federation Inc. including colour photographs of boxers and information. 6p.p.

Dates: 1995

Girls Learn Boxing for Amateur or Professional Competition Poster, c1979 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178R52.3
Scope and Contents

Girls Learn boxing for Amateur of Professional Competition for information call Barbara Buttrick. USA. Black type on white background.

Dates: c1979 - 1999

Girls Learn Boxing for Amateur or Professional Competition Poster, c1979 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178R52.4
Scope and Contents

Girls Learn boxing for Amateur of Professional Competition for information call Barbara Buttrick. USA. Black type on white background.

Dates: c1979 - 1999

Handbills, c1949 - 1999

 Series
Reference code: 178T46
Scope and Contents

Handbills related to Barbara Buttrick's boxing career.

Dates: c1949 - 1999

Illustrated Sporting Budget and Boxing Record Newspaper, 26 November 1910

 Item
Reference code: 178G57.6
Scope and Contents

Illustrated Sporting Budget and Boxing Record, containing black and white photographs and articles on boxing and other sports including horse racing and an article on Miss Annette Kellerman’s swimming. 16p.p.

Dates: 26 November 1910

International Ladies Night Out, She-Time Programme, 24 May 1998

 Item
Reference code: 178K54.1
Scope and Contents

Illustrated programme for female boxing match at Tropicana Resort and Casino, Atlantic City USA Women’s boxing night. 12p.p.

Dates: 24 May 1998

Jimmie Scaramozi Presents Boxing Poster, c1949 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178R52.2
Scope and Contents

San Antonio USA. Phylis Kugler vs Barbara Buttrick, Eloy Tellez vs Santiago Guttierez. Black type on white background and black and white photographs of contestants.

Dates: c1949 - 1999

Kilburn Empire Handbill, 7 March 1949

 Item
Reference code: 178T46.3
Scope and Contents

Battling Barbara Buttrick the girl boxer banned by the Variety Artists Federation, Danvers and Dolaine, The 4 Jolly Rogers, Eno and Lane, Davide Starmer with Denise, Bob Nelson, Arthur Pond, Clement Minns. Blue and red type on off white background with blue line border. Printed by Coronation Press, 330A Cricklewood Lane, London NW2.

Dates: 7 March 1949

Kilburn Empire Programme, 7 March 1949

 Item
Reference code: 178K54.3
Scope and Contents

Photocopy of illustrated programme for variety performances at the Kilburn Empire presenting Barbara Buttrick among other acts. 4p.p.

Dates: 7 March 1949

Lady Boxer Magazine, 1997

 Item
Reference code: 178G57.12
Scope and Contents

Women boxing specialist journal containing black and white photographs and articles including a synopsis of Barbara Buttrick’s career on the last page. 28p.p.

Dates: 1997

Letterhead Promoting F. Spike Robson, c1910

 Item
Reference code: 178Z24.1
Scope and Contents

Photocopy of letter headed paper listing the boxing achievements of F. Spike Robson on the left hand side.

Dates: c1910

Monograph on Barbara Buttrick, c1949 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178B45.4
Scope and Contents

Photocopy of a letter from Tony Burns to Barbara Buttrick a monograph on Barbara and boxing articles entitled Veteran Boxer’s Beat by Harry Warren and Women’s Boxing by Don King. 3p.p.

Dates: c1949 - 1999

Newspaper Cuttings, 1896 - 2000

 Series
Reference code: 178G57
Scope and Contents

Newspaper reports and articles on boxing.

Dates: 1896 - 2000

Newspaper Cuttings About Modern Boxing and Women Boxing, 1976 - 2000

 File
Reference code: 178G57.2
Scope and Contents

Photocopies and original newspaper cutting about modern boxing, predominantly about women’s boxing, including articles about Bonnie Canino, Lucia Rijker, Pat Pineda, Deirdre Gogarty, Kathy Collins reports on boxing matches including Helga Risoy vs Daniella Sommers, Jawaid Khaliq vs Lee Murtagh, Gina Guidi vs Dora Webber, Kathleen Collins vs Andrea SeDhong and other generic articles including Women’s Boxing in America.

Dates: 1976 - 2000

Newspaper Cuttings on Barbara Buttrick, c1948 - 1990

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178G57.3
Scope and Contents

Photocopies and original newspaper cuttings about Barbara Buttrick.

Dates: c1948 - 1990

Newspaper Cuttings on Boxing, c1950 - 1999

 File
Reference code: 178G57.4
Scope and Contents

Black and white photocopies of newspaper articles on boxing from the UK and USA.

Dates: c1950 - 1999

Additional filters:

Type
Archival Object 60
Collection 1
 
Subject
Business 3
Fairs 13
Performers 1
Sideshows 1
Wrestling 7