In a climate-controlled room in Newman Library at Virginia Tech, a timeline of cheerleading history unfolds through pleats, pompoms, and polyester.
As disco-era hot pants sit alongside mid-century sweaters and modern moisture-wicking fabrics, each uniform tells a story of Virginia Tech’s cheer evolution. The Virginia Tech Cheerleading Uniform Collection, representing 1956-2012, captures changing fashion trends and Hokie Spirit across generations.
Sherwood “Sherry” Payne Quillen ’71 recognized an opportunity while coordinating a cheerleading reunion in the early 2000s as a member of the Monogram Club. The Monogram Club offers former student-athletes a chance to honor Virginia Tech’s past achievements and celebrate present sports and support areas.
“As we gathered memorabilia for the reunion, this idea of uniforms through the decades was born,” said Quillen. “Fashion and clothing are so indicative of the historical period and culture of a place. We wanted to capture the many styles of cheerleading at Virginia Tech for posterity.”
Quillen’s dedication to the project led to a collaboration with University Libraries Special Collections and University Archives. University Archivist Amelia Verkerk and student archivist Ella Winterling are processing the collection to ensure its preservation and make the garments accessible to the community for study and recognition.
“This collection was an opportunity to preserve a classic part of Virginia Tech’s history that hasn’t been well documented beyond what’s in the Bugles and our Historic Photograph Collection,” said Verkerk. “Virginia Tech’s cheerleaders and the rest of the Spirit Squad, have been promoting Hokie sports and the university for decades and their accomplishments deserve to be remembered. Hokie alums are the best and Sherry is the perfect example. She’s worked incredibly hard over the years advocating for Virginia Tech and its cheerleaders and we are honored she chose the library to archive the uniforms.”
For Quillen, the collection holds personal significance. “I was a Virginia Tech cheerleader in the ’70s, my youngest son was the Hokie Bird in the early 2000s, and my youngest granddaughter is currently cheering for her middle school and on a competition team,” said Quillen. “It’s exciting to have three generations where school spirit is more than just being a fan in the stands. Birds of a feather, I guess.”
