The purpose of this study was to examine the history and analyze the influence of the women's track and field team at the historically black college, Tennessee State University located in Nashville, Tennessee. The study was divided into three major sections. The first part examined the founding, early development and growth of the TSU women's track and field program beginning in 1944. The second section examined the social changes and transformations of the TSU track and field program and its athletes during the heart of the civil rights and women's movements of the 1960s and 1970s. The third section examined the decline in the TSU track and field program during Coach Edward Temple's last years as head coach, particularly examining how and why the Tigerbelles program lost its athletic dominance during this time period. Additionally, this third part reflected on the historical legacy and influence of the Tigerbelles and the renewed efforts to return the TSU track and field program to its past glory under the last Temple-era Olympian, Chandra Cheeseborough. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]