Dorothea Poulin was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts on June 10, 1917. She grew up attending schools in Pittsfield, and in 1935, was the first full-time woman admitted into Springfield College in a pursuit of a bachelors of Physical Education, graduating in 1939. Married to Frank Woodside, Dorothea taught High School and continued to coach and participate in swimming activities all of her life. Dorothea Poulin passed away on 22 April, 2005 in Cincinnati at the age of 87.

The collection contains manuscripts, newspaper articles, pamphlets, yearbooks, clothing, and medals/awards. Most of the items come from her time as a student at Springfield College (1934 to 1939). Items include yearbooks, school directories, school IDs, the 1939 commencement materials, and her student athletic sweat suit. Her SC Tarbell Medallion is also included. A highly decorated swimmer throughout her life, there are swimming materials from the Red Cross, medals from High School and the YMCA, and a book and letter from Dr. Thomas Cureton, swimming coach and professor at Springfield College. Finally, there is an autobiographical manuscript that was finished and cleaned up by her daughter.