SPRINGFIELD COLLEGE ARCHIVES AND SPECIAL COLLECTIONS SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS
MANUSCRIPT NUMBER MS 506
James Naismith Papers 1888-2016 (bulk: 1888-1961)
Written by Rachael A. Salyer June 2009
Updated by Jeffrey Monseau August 2016
Shelf space occupied 1 linear foot Number of boxes 2 boxes + oversized materials
ABSTRACT The materials in this collection relate primarily to the life of Dr. James Naismith. Naismith was born in Almonte, Ontario, Canada in 1861. He graduated from McGill University with an A.B. in 1887 and Presbyterian College in Montreal with a religion degree in 1890. From 1890-91, Naismith was both a student and an instructor at the YMCA Training School (now Springfield College), and he continued as an instructor at the International YMCA Training School until 1895. During Naismith’s second year at Springfield (winter 1891), he invented the game of basketball. Naismith continued his education with a medical degree from the University of Colorado and finally settled at the University of Kansas as a professor and coach. Naismith retired in 1937 and died in 1939.
The collection includes photographs, the official records from Naismith’s time at the YMCA Training School, three manuscripts about Naismith (one by Katherine Holmes Naismith that contains transcripts of many letters by Naismith and his family and one by his friend R. Tait McKenzie, the sculptor), a manuscript by Naismith himself entitled “The Origin of Basketball,” Naismith’s correspondence with Springfield College’s Alumni Association (primarily George O. Draper), and a few letters he wrote, including one about basketball in 1898 to T.J. Browne and one from his time in France during World War I. The rest of the collection contains materials about Naismith, including articles (written by and about Naismith), information about the establishment of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, letters from Forrest C. Allen and Paul Endacott, a nomination for the “Hall of Fame of Great Americans” at NYU, and numerous scrapbook pages filled with newspaper articles, photographs, etc. There are copies of materials from other Archives including a folder that contains copies of materials thought to have been created by or at one time in the possession of Dr. James Naismith that are owned by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd. and are online with the Canada Sports Hall of Fame and some materials from McGill.
______MS506 James Naismith Papers Page 2 Archives and Special Collections Babson Library, Springfield College, Springfield, Massachusetts
INFORMATION ON USE OF THE COLLECTION
TERMS OF ACCESS AND USE Unrestricted except what is listed below:
Box 2, Folder 29: Copies of materials on/from Naismith owned by the Maple Leaf Sports Entertainment Ltd. and on loan to the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame
Materials came from digital files sent by Doug Stark on March 7, 2019 (see emails in this folder). These files were originally sent to him by the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame where the materials resided. Files were printed out and placed in this file at that time. All print copies have number of acquisition and file name information written on them. The Springfield College Archives has kept these original digital files and has placed them within the digital collections folder for this collection. These files are available by request and approval of the college archivist, but no approval for use by researchers can be given. These files will not be placed in the online version of the digital collections unless approval from the owners of the materials is given. At the time of the writing of this note (April 19, 2019), this option has not been investigated.
PREFERRED CITATION Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information (in addition to any other information required by the citation style being used):
MS506 - James Naismith Papers, box #, folder #, Archives and Special Collections, Springfield College, Springfield, Mass.
HISTORY OF COLLECTION Acquisition information for some materials within the collection is unknown. Some materials were originally records at Springfield College, others were collected and donated by Rachael Naismith (James Naismith’s great-granddaughter), and some were copied from materials at the Basketball Hall of Fame (dates unknown). Individual documents were donated by T.J. Browne (letter, 1943) and Edna Gardner Lowry (copy of autograph book page, date unknown).
Memorandum recorded by Mr. Dean W. Peterson, March 23, 1939 – ACQ-0079-2014 Letter and articles donated by Norris Lineweaver, December 12, 2012 – ACQ-0148-2012 John McClendon letter to Laurie Naismith, August 9, 2016 – ACQ-0085-2016 Copies of materials at McGill University, August 3, 2016 – ACQ-0081-2016 “Meet the past with Crosby Kemper III featuring James Naismith” – ACQ-0034-2013 “The Naismith Chronicles” by Katherine Holmes Naismith – ACQ-0084-2016 Unsigned letter written by James Naismith, ca. 1918 – ACQ-0083-2016 Commemorative petition for membership to the Masons – ACQ-0082-2016 Japanese scrolls and photograph – ACQ-0154-2013 Letter from James Naismith to Maude Naismith, Aug. 13, 1916 – ACQ-0089-2016 Fundamentals of Basketball, by Dr. James Naismith – ACQ-0108-2016
______MS506 James Naismith Papers Page 3 Archives and Special Collections Babson Library, Springfield College, Springfield, Massachusetts
Prints of “Duck on a Rock” – ACQ-0122-2018 Print of original photograph of Original Gymnasium – ACQ-0126-2018 Letter from James Naismith to daughter Hellen – ACQ-0001-2019 Copies of materials on/from Naismith owned by the Maple Leaf Sports Entertainment Ltd. and on loan to the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame – ACQ-0006-2019
Collection processed and arranged by Rachael A. Salyer, June 2009.
ORGANIZATION The collection is organized into a single series.
ARRANGEMENT The collection has no original order, so the materials have been arranged by type and—wherever possible—chronologically.
______MS506 James Naismith Papers Page 4 Archives and Special Collections Babson Library, Springfield College, Springfield, Massachusetts
RELATED MATERIALS In Archives and Special Collections, Springfield College, Springfield, Mass.:
Archives Digital Collections – For all Images and Documents digitized on Naismith
Basketball History – For all Images and Documents digitized on Basketball History
Triangle/Physical Education Magazine. https://cdm16122.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15370coll3
Athletic Department: Basketball Papers. https://cdm16122.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15370coll2/id/2166
Browne, Thomas James. History, Use and Limitations of Basket Ball. 1898. (GV885 .B72)
Cosentino, Frank. Almonte’s Brothers of the Wind: R. Tait McKenzie and James Naismith. Burnstown, Ontario : General Store Publishing House, 1996. GV331 .C67 1996
Lee, Mabel. “Papers on Prominent Physical Educators,” AAHPERD Collection. (GV439 .M22, Box W1)
Luther Halsey Gulick Papers, MS 503. https://cdm16122.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15370coll2/id/2935
Minutes and letters of Ahikamin Circle of King’s Sons, International Young Men’s Christian Association College, 1890-1940. (LD5171.S551 A45)
Naismith, James. Basket-ball for 1893. Springfield, Massachusetts: Triangle Publishing Company, 1893. (GV885 .N15 1893)
Naismith, James. Basketball, Its Origin and Development. New York: Association Press, 1941. (GV885 .N18 1941)
Naismith, James. Basketball’s Origins: Creative Problem-Solving in the Gilded Age. Robert B. Cheney, ed. Cambridge, New York: Bear Publications, 1976. (GV885 .N182)
Naismith, James. How Basketball Started and Why it Grew so Fast. Springfield, Massachusetts: Springfield College, 1931. (GV885 .N192)
Naismith, James. An Improved Basis for Judging and Comparing the Physical Development of Children. Lawrence, Kansas: Bureau of School Service and Research, University of Kansas, 1930. (LB3423.A2 N3)
Naismith, James. Rules for Basketball. Springfield, Massachusetts: Triangle Publishing Company, 1892. (GV885 .N15 1892)
______MS506 James Naismith Papers Page 5 Archives and Special Collections Babson Library, Springfield College, Springfield, Massachusetts
Naismith, James and Luther Gulick. Basket-ball. New York City: American Sports Publishing Company, 1894. (GV885 .N16)
R. Tait McKenzie Papers, MS 508. https://cdm16122.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15370coll2/id/4879
YMCA Hall of Fame Papers, RG 103. https://cdm16122.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15370coll2/id/2389
Springfield College Armed Forces Collection, RG 104. https://cdm16122.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15370coll2/id/12093
Springfield College Office of the Trustees Records. International YMCA Training School Trustee Minutes and Reports, 1890 to 1898.
Kansas University and possible James Naismith Teaching files and documents. Unprocessed. ACQ-0086-2016
William H. Ball Alumni Class Representative Papers, MS 527. https://cdm16122.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15370coll2/id/16574
Springfield College Faculty Files: Rachael Naismith Folder
Springfield College Archives and Collections Acquisitions files: James and Maude Naismith Family Tree Project conducted by Ken Cerino (Information is restricted and only available for review by special permission from Archivist, Ken Cerino and Naismith Family)
In other collections:
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. http://www.hoophall.com/
[Personal Papers of James Naismith], University Archives, PP 305, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, The University of Kansas. http://etext.ku.edu/view?docId=ksrlead/ksrl.ua.naismithjames.xml
University Archives, Spencer Research Library, The University of Kansas. Digital Collections on Dr. James Naismith. & https://kuscholarworks.ku.edu/handle/1808/19780
James Naismith’s Life and Legacy: Celebrating 150 Years exhibit. The University of Kansas. http://liblamp.vm.ku.edu/omeka/exhibits/show/naismith150
Radio Interview, 1939. The University of Kansas. https://exhibits.lib.ku.edu/exhibits/show/naismith150/collections/radio-interview
______MS506 James Naismith Papers Page 6 Archives and Special Collections Babson Library, Springfield College, Springfield, Massachusetts
Modern Basketball Fundamentals. The Unversity of Kansas. https://exhibits.lib.ku.edu/exhibits/show/naismith150/collections/modern-basketball- fundamentals
Naismith, James (Dr.). YMCA Biographical Files. Box 153. https://www.lib.umn.edu/ymca
Photographic materials on Dr. James Naismith. McGill University Archives. http://www.archives.mcgill.ca/aspfile/searchphoto4.asp?f1=naismith&choosedb=allphoto&Orde rby=Date&recsperpage=50&fileName=photosearch.htm
McGill University Archives. https://mcgill.ca/library/branches/mua
James Naismith collection, 1893-1962 (bulk 1917-1961). William L. Clements Library. University of Michigan. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/c/clementsmss/umich-wcl-M- 4028nai?view=text
“The Life and Times of Dr. James Naismith” The James Naismith Foundation & Canada’s Digital Collection, 1999. http://epe.lac-bac.gc.ca/100/205/301/ic/cdc/naismith/index.htm
SEARCH TERMS AND SUBJECTS The following terms represent persons, organizations, and topics documented in this collection.
Naismith, James, 1861-1939 Allen, Forrest Claire, 1885-1974 Endacott, Paul, 1902-1997 McKenzie, R. Tait (Robert Tait), 1867-1938
Basketball Basketball—Coaching Basketball Hall of Fame (Springfield, Mass.) Basketball—History Basketball—Rules Basketball—United States Basketball—United States—History
Springfield College School for Christian Workers Young Men’s Christian Association (Springfield, Mass.). Training School International Young Men’s Christian Association Training School (Springfield, Mass.) International Young Men’s Christian Association College
______MS506 James Naismith Papers Page 7 Archives and Special Collections Babson Library, Springfield College, Springfield, Massachusetts
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE James Naismith was born in Almonte, Ontario, Canada on November 6, 1861. He was orphaned at age ten and raised by his maternal grandmother and then uncle. Although he dropped out of high school for several years, he later returned and graduated. Naismith continued his education at McGill University in Montreal with an A.B. in 1887 and Presbyterian College—also in Montreal—with a religion degree in 1890. R. Tait McKenzie, the noted educator, physician, and sculptor, was also born in Almonte (1867), and he and Naismith were childhood friends, fellow students at McGill, and later colleagues.
In 1890 Naismith moved to Springfield, Massachusetts in order to attend the YMCA Training School (which became the International YMCA Training School in 1891 and is now Springfield College) and study physical education as a student in the School’s special one-year course. Naismith also became an instructor at the school that same year. Naismith played center on the School’s first football team under the direction of Amos Alonzo Stagg. At his 1891 commencement, Naismith read his essay “Psychology of Exercise.” During his time at the YMCA Training School (1890-1895), Naismith instructed such courses as “Animal Mechanics,” “Study of the Bible by Books,” “Psychology,” “Ethics,” “Methods of Christian Work,” “Outline Study of Man,” and “Man as an Individual.” He was also an instructor during the Physical Department’s summer sessions, instructing courses like “Anthropometry” and “Swedish System of Gymnastics” (1891). Along with fellow students A.A. Stagg, W.H. Ball, W.O. Black, and W.E. Ninde, Naismith was one of the founding editors of the Physical Department’s student publication “The Triangle,” which started in February 1891 and became “Physical Education” in March 1892. He contributed numerous articles and editorials to this journal during his time at Springfield and was also elected editor of the publishing company that developed out of this venture, the Triangle Publishing Company, alongside Luther H. Gulick, president, and Frank N. Seerley, business manager. Naismith is best known as being the father or inventor of basketball, which he created in 1891 at the YMCA Training School in an effort to provide the students with a game to play indoors during the winter months. Although he left Springfield in the mid-1890s, Naismith remained one of the College’s corporators until his death in 1939.
Naismith moved to Denver, Colorado after he had completed his training in Springfield. In Denver he served as the physical education director of the YMCA and also attended medical school at the University of Colorado. He earned his medical degree in 1898, and then he and his family moved to Kansas, where Naismith worked at the University of Kansas as an associate professor, the chapel director, and the University physician. Naismith also coached the University’s first basketball team. In 1936, Naismith traveled to Berlin, Germany to attend the first Olympic basketball game. He retired from the University of Kansas in 1937, and he died two years later on November 28, 1939 in Lawrence, Kansas.
______MS506 James Naismith Papers Page 8 Archives and Special Collections Babson Library, Springfield College, Springfield, Massachusetts
SCOPE AND CONTENTS OF THE COLLECTION The materials in this collection relate primarily to the life of James Naismith. The collection includes the official records from Naismith’s time at the YMCA Training School, several photographs of Naismith, Naismith’s correspondence with the College’s Alumni Association, and a page from an autograph book that Naismith filled out in 1888. There are three unpublished manuscripts about Naismith written by other people within the collection, including one by Grace Naismith, titled “The Father of Basketball was my Father-in-Law,” one by his friend, R. Tait McKenzie, titled “Reminiscences of James Naismith,” and one by Katherine Holmes Naismith, titled “The Naismith Chronicles: Being Letters by, to, and about Dr. James Naismith, Father of Basketball and other Creations Even More Beguiling – Margey, Honnie, Jack, Maudann and Jim.” The Katherine Holmes manuscript is of particular interest as it contains transcribed letters that may no longer be accessible. Additionally, there are various manuscripts written by Naismith, including “The Origin of Basketball,” from a lecture given in 1932, “An Improved Basis for Judging and Comparing the Physical Development of Children,” published in the University of Kansas Bulletin of Education in 1930, a lecture Naismith delivered in 1894 at the New England Conference of Y.M.C.A Secretaries entitled “Hygenic Work: It’s Place and Value,” and “Fundamentals of Basketball” published in the 1930s.
There are a number of letters written by Dr. James Naismith in the collection. One of the most important is the letter Naismith wrote describing how basketball was invented. The letter was written to Springfield College student Thomas J. Browne in 1898. This is one of the earliest written records of how the game of Basketball was created. Three of the letters in the collection are also transcribed in the manuscript by Katherine Holmes Naismith. This includes two partial letters, including an unsigned letter that was written on November 13, 1918 that outlines his ideas for returning soldiers from World War I to get help buying homes from cities and states and a letter dated Jan 16, 1918 to his daughter Helen. There is a letter from Naismith to his wife, Maude Naismith, dated August 13, 1916. The bulk of the letter talks about his feelings about playing sport, baseball in particular, on Sundays.
There are also materials about Naismith, including articles from newspapers and journals, information about the establishment of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, letters from Forrest C. Allen and Paul Endacott, a nomination for the “Hall of Fame of Great Americans” at NYU, and numerous scrapbook pages filled with newspaper articles, photographs, etc., including copies of scrapbook pages that contain information on early women’s basketball. Finally, there is a commemorative print of Dr. Naismith’s Petition of Membership in the Lawrence Kansas Mason Lodge, ca. 2016. The document has a picture of James Naismith with a basketball and the copy of the petition. It is number 106 of 500.
Finally, there is a folder that contains copies of materials thought to have been created by or at one time in the possession of Dr. James Naismith that are owned by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd. and are online with the Canada Sports Hall of Fame. There is some documentation of what each item in that came with the copies. This is a brief outline of the materials: photographs of a whistle used by Naismith, photograph of the class of 1891, two photograph, circa 1880s-90's that may be clipped from larger photographs, some drawn basketball plays (2 pages), signed Spalding 1926-27 basketball guide, signed High Edition Rules 1932-33 (whole document), two small promotion basketball cards with signed statements, a ______MS506 James Naismith Papers Page 9 Archives and Special Collections Babson Library, Springfield College, Springfield, Massachusetts
group of photos taken of Naismith (6), Handwritten pages and notes and data on referees, more handwritten notes on Basketball evolution (maybe mid-‘30s basketball and Olympic tournament), typed documents with handwritten notes on backboard and then copies of basketball tournament, a typed version with handwritten notes of the creation of the game of basketball (may be from his book), hand-written notes on “Styles of Play” and dribbling, typed document with handwritten notes about the Origins of Games going back to the Greeks, Spalding Official Basketball Rules for 1916-1917 (only cover and title pages), and a flyer of a talk given by Dr. James Naismith at the Axtell Amusement Pavilion hand-dated 1920.
______MS506 James Naismith Papers Page 10 Archives and Special Collections Babson Library, Springfield College, Springfield, Massachusetts
Folder List JAMES NAISMITH PAPERS, 1888-
BOX FOLDER CONTENTS DATE DIGITAL
1 1 Biographical Notes undated Digital Files
1 2 Additional Resources on Naismith undated, Digital Files 1939, 1970, 1975, 2008 1 3 Auction Catalogs: Heritage Auction Galleries & 2006, 2010 No Digital Files Sotheby’s
1 4 Photographs undated, Digital Files 1891
1 5 Naismith Admission Record 1890-1891 Digital Files 1 6 Autograph Book Questionnaire 1888 Digital Files 1 7 Alumni Correspondence with Naismith 1931-1940 Digital Files 1 8 Letter on Basketball from Naismith to Browne & 1898, 1943 Digital Files Letter from Browne Returning Naismith’s Letter 1 9 Nomination for “Hall of Fame of Great undated Digital Files Americans” at NYU by Forrest C. Allen 1 10 Correspondence about Naismith: Forrest C. Allen 1964, 1983 Digital Files and Paul Endacott 1 11 Naismith Manuscript: “The Origin of Basketball” 1932 Digital Files 1 12 From Barclay Scrapbook: Naismith Lecture 1931 Digital Files (copy) 1 13 Grace Naismith Manuscript: “The Father of undated Digital Files Basketball was my Father-in-Law” 1 14 R. Tait McKenzie Manuscript: “Reminiscences of 1932? Digital Files James Naismith” 1 15 Articles in The Springfield College Bulletin and 1931-1941 See Hyperlink The Springfield Student to the left 1 16 Article from Trowel: “Brother Naismith’s 1991 Digital Files Basketball is 100 Years Old” 1 17 Articles from Enshrinement: “Naismith Untold” 1999 Digital Files and “Dr. Talk” 1 18 Souvenir Magazine “The Golden Jubilee of 1941 Digital Files Basketball” 1 19 Articles about Naismith and Early Basketball undated, Digital Files 1932-2008 1 20 “Basketball was born here” (pamphlets) 1956, 1990, Digital Files 2008, 2011 1 21 Basketball Commemoration Day and Founding 1957, 1961 Digital Files the Basketball Hall of Fame 1 22 Naismith Scrapbook Materials 1921-1960 Digital Files 1 23 Hygenic Work: It’s Place and Value by James 1894 Digital Files Naismith ______MS506 James Naismith Papers Page 11 Archives and Special Collections Babson Library, Springfield College, Springfield, Massachusetts
1 24 An Improved Basis for Judging and Comparing 1930-12 Digital Files the Physical Development of Children by James Naismith, published in the University of Kansas Bulletin of Education 1 25 Memorandum recorded by Mr. Dean W. Peterson 1939-03-29 Digital Files of conference with Dr. James Naismith at Hotel Lincoln in New York City 2 1 An undated, unsigned, and incomplete letter 1918-11-13 Digital Files thought to be written by Dr. James Naismith while in France during World War II 2 2 The Naismith Chronicles: Being by, to, and about 1950-1985? Digital Files Dr. James Naismith... an unpublished manuscript by Katherine Holmes Naismith (Folder 1 of 2) 2 3 The Naismith Chronicles: Being by, to, and about 1950-1985? Digital Files Dr. James Naismith... an unpublished manuscript by Katherine Holmes Naismith (Folder 2 of 2) 2 4 Certificates and a photograph from sporting 1922-1930? Digital Files events in Japan belonging to Dr. James Naismith 2 5 Naismith is Colourblind and He Can’t Drive a 2011 No Digital Files play by Fern Martin 2 6 Copies of newspaper articles from the McGill 1988-1936? Digital Files University Archives, 2 7 Commemorative print of Dr. Naismith’s Petition 2016? Digital Files of Membership in the Lawrence Kansas Mason Lodge 2 8 Copies of Scrapbook pages containing info on 1892-1936? Digital Files Naismith, creation of basketball, and early Basketball for Women 2 9 Letter from Dr. James Naismith to Maude 1916-08-13 Digital Files Naismith 2 10 Fundamentals of Basketball, by Dr. James 1930-1940? Digital Files Naismith 2 11 Brochure Almonte, Ontario, Canada Naismith 1996-2000? Digital Files Museum and Hall of Fame 2 12 Springfield magazine “The don’t kill the losers 1991 Digital Files anymore” 2 13 Duo claimed basketball invented in Herkimer 2007-2008 Digital Files 2 14 If Naismith had known 1980-2000? Digital Files 2 15 A celebration of Basketball: A tribute to Dr. 1991 Digital Files James Naismith 2 16 Before the Dream Team: An influence other than 1992 Digital Files preaching 2 17 The spiritual pathway to March madness 2010 Digital Files 2 18 Birthplace of basketball Springfield College 1985-1995? Digital Files 2 19 Sports of the Times, Basketball’s papa Jimmy 1991 Digital Files
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remembered 2 20 Profile-James Naismith: Where athletics meets 2008 Digital Files religious fervor 2 21 Army chaplain credited with inventing Basketball 2015 Digital Files 2 22 Basketball was born here 1956 Digital Files 2 23 Bennie’s Corner stone moved to Mill of Kintail 1968-1979? Digital Files 2 24 Dr. James Naismith, a pamphlet prepared by the 1970-10-25 Digital Files First Presbyterian Church of Lawrence, Kansas for Homecoming Sunday Services 2 25 Naismith Letter to his daughter, Hellen Naismith, 1917-06-19 Digital Files from Del Rio Texas (including letter of authenticity and hand written copy of envelope) 2 26 “Duck on a Rock” Prints (2-copies) of a painting 1990-2010? Digital Files of Naismith childhood home in Almonte, Canada 2 27 Copy of photographic print of gymnasium of 1892-1930? Digital Files original school building where basketball first played (original owned by Stephen Overbury) 2 28 Letter from Naismith to daughter Hellen 1918-01-16 Digital Files Naismith, from France (Letter is incomplete) 2 29 Copies of materials on/from Naismith owned by 1870-1939? No Digital Files the Maple Leaf Sports Entertainment Ltd. and on (available on loan to the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame request) 2 30 Copies of Various Writings by Naismith 1896 Digital Files (including a history of Basketball and a piece on Referees and Umpires) 2 31 The YMCA Today Spring 1976 magazine with 1976 Digital Files the article “Basketball—Born to Sweep the World” within
______MS506 James Naismith Papers Page 13 Archives and Special Collections Babson Library, Springfield College, Springfield, Massachusetts