Collection is open for research; access requires at least 48 hours advance notice. Because of the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access will require additional advanced notice. Unless noted, digital media are not available online. Copies of unrestricted digital files will be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room upon request. Access will be provided to use copies of unrestricted digital files rather than carrier media, such as CDs, DVDs, and floppy disks. Some or all electronic files may be unavailable or restricted due to privacy reasons, agreement with the donor, software is not available to interact with files, or because files cannot be retrieved from original media.
This collection contains photographs of Kay Yow, the North Carolina State University Women's Basketball Coach from 1975-2009, and Densie Bittner, the former Director of Development at the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Kay Yow (1942-2009) was born in Gibsonville, NC. She graduated from East Carolina University with a degree in English in 1964. While at ECU, Yow played intramural basketball as there was no intercollegiate program for women at that time. After she graduated, Yow coached women’s basketball and volleyball at Elon University. In 1975, North Carolina State University hired Kay Yow as the women’s athletics coordinator and women’s basketball coach, where she stayed for 34 years until her death. While at NC State, Yow brought national recognition to NC State women’s basketball, leading the team to many wins and tournament appearances. She is the recipient of many awards and honors, including the Jimmy V Award, which is given to a member of the sporting community who has overcome great obstacles through perseverance. In 2000, Yow was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. Kay Yow was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987. She helped initiate Hoops 4 Hope, a basketball game that raised money and awareness for cancer research. In 2007, she founded the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, dedicated to researching women’s cancers. Kay Yow died in 2009 of breast cancer, after bravely fighting the disease for 22 years.
Denise Alexander Bittner (who is in these photographs alongside Yow) was born in Yakima, Washington, in 1950. In 1972, she graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in broadcasting. In 1973, she married Robert Bittner, a professor of journalism at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Denise Bittner served as the Director of Development at the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. She later worked as the Assistant Dean for Institutional Advancement of the School of Medicine at the University of North Carolina before retiring in 2002.
This collection contains two photogrpahs taken in 1995 of Kay Yow and Denise Bittner at the University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.
The NC State University Libraries generally claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections materials. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. Libraries staff are unable to advise on copyright and other legal matters; the user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Helpful resources for assessing copyright include Cornell Libraries' "Copyright Services: Copyright Term and the Public Domain" and copyright.gov. This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information about identifiable living individuals, which may be protected under federal or state laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that there may be legal ramifications for disclosing this information.
The University Archives operates in accordance with the State Public Records Act, with unrestricted access to records not covered by state and federal statutes and regulations.
[Identification of item], Denise Bittner Photographs of Kay Yow, MSS 00456, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC
Gift of Denise Bittner, 2025, April (Accession 2025.0069)
Processed by: Grace Midha 2025 June; Finding aid written by: Grace Midha, 2025 June
Collection is open for research; access requires at least 48 hours advance notice. Because of the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access will require additional advanced notice. Unless noted, digital media are not available online. Copies of unrestricted digital files will be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room upon request. Access will be provided to use copies of unrestricted digital files rather than carrier media, such as CDs, DVDs, and floppy disks. Some or all electronic files may be unavailable or restricted due to privacy reasons, agreement with the donor, software is not available to interact with files, or because files cannot be retrieved from original media.
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[Identification of item], Denise Bittner Photographs of Kay Yow, MSS 00456, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC
The NC State University Libraries generally claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections materials. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. Libraries staff are unable to advise on copyright and other legal matters; the user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Helpful resources for assessing copyright include Cornell Libraries' "Copyright Services: Copyright Term and the Public Domain" and copyright.gov. This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information about identifiable living individuals, which may be protected under federal or state laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that there may be legal ramifications for disclosing this information.
The University Archives operates in accordance with the State Public Records Act, with unrestricted access to records not covered by state and federal statutes and regulations.