The Gulf States Conference Records contain organizational records and lists of eligible and participating athletes for the seasons 1948-1971. The initial members of the conference were Centenary College, Louisiana College, Louisiana Polytechnic Institute, Loyola University of the South, Mississippi Southern College, Northwestern State College, Southeastern Louisiana College, Southwestern Louisiana Institute (now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette), and Spring Hill College. The conference members in 1971 were Louisiana Tech University, McNeese State University, Nicholls State University, Northeast Louisiana University, Northwestern State University, Southeastern Louisiana University, and the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette). Sports included track and field, football, basketball, baseball, tennis and golf. No women’s teams were involved in intercollegiate athletics at this time. The purpose of the conference was to regulate, control, and promote all recognized activities of intercollegiate athletics sponsored by member institutions.