The IHSA Archives project brings the state final experience out of
the past and onto your computer, laptop, or mobile device!
The vast library of video recordings preserved by the Illinois High School Association
is now available, on YouTube, to a worldwide audience of fans.
View the list of posted videos
Visit the IHSA Archives channel on YouTube
About the videos
The IHSA Archives collection consists of more than 2,500 recordings of state final events in almost every sport and some non-athletic activities. Most of these recordings are of telecasts or webcasts that include commentary. A small percentage of the recordings are silent "game films" taken by single cameras. The quality can range from excellent to poor, depending on the original media, its age, and how many times it has been duplicated, but when it comes to preserving history, any video is better than no video.
Although the collection is huge it is, sadly, not complete. A significant number of recordings were never preserved, are missing from the collection, or are so badly degraded that they cannot be digitized. In particular, coverage from the 1970s basketball tournaments is spotty at best, and no football title games were saved until 1988.
The videos come from a variety of sources and the amount recorded before and after the actual event can vary based on the whims of the person making the original recording. For this project, the videos have been edited to remove station breaks and most commercials (we've left in a few classic Illinois Bell Telephone and Country Companies ads). Everything else – including special features, trophy presentations, and interviews with coaches, cheerleaders, and fans – remains just as it was on the original recording.
What can I see and how can I see it?
Videos from IHSA collection are posted on YouTube on the "IHSA Archives" channel (www.youtube.com/IHSAArchives). There is no cost to view the videos. New material will be posted regularly, so be sure to subscribe to the channel or our Twitter feed and visit the index of the available videos to find the latest
How can I help?
We would like to hear from you if you have a film, tape, or DVD recording of a missing IHSA state final event, especially from the 1970s or 1980s (or if you have a better or more complete version of an event already posted). Since home video recorders entered the market around 1980, it's our belief that those missing games are out there somewhere, in closets, basements, or attics. Please contact archives@ihsa.org if you would like to contribute. You can bet there are many fans who would like to see your games.
Questions or comments?
Feel free to write us at archives@ihsa.org.