Basketball Hall of Fame Harsh Memorial Library Springfield College Springfield, Mass
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BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME HARSH MEMORIAL LIBRARY SPRINGFIELD COLLEGE SPRINGFIELD, MASS. BASKETBALL -- t A* A PROJECT SPONSORED BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BASKETBALL COACHES Supported by Basketball-Minded People Everywhere Sandy beach left of pine, part of land Hall of Fame Building will occupy The pictures on cover pages are views of the site of the new Basketball 11 all of Fame. Spring field College Campus, Springfield, Massachusetts was chosen in accordance with the expressed wishes of the late Or. Naismith. Views show backdrop of stately pines, the grounds sloping gently to the waters of Lake Massasoit. A natural setting unsurpassed for beauty. Lake view from behind Administration Building • BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME COMMITTEE JOHN W. BUNN, Springfield College, Chairman FORREST C. ALLEN, University of Kansas, PRIMARY ADVISORS Lawrence, Kansas EVERETT DEAN, Stanford University, H. C. CARLSON, University of Pittsburgh, Stanford, California Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania A. O. DUER, George Pepperdine College, W. H. H. DYE, University of Washington, Los Angeles, California Seattle, Washington NED IRISH, Madison Square Garden, New HOWARD HOBSON, Yale University, New York, New York Haven, Connecticut H. V. PORTER, National Federation High ROY MUNDORF, University of Louisville, School A. A., Chicago, Illinois Louisville, Kentucky Louis G. WILKIE, A.A.U. HAROLD G. OLSON, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois K. L. WILSON, N.C.A.A. VADAL PETERSON, University of Utah, EDWARD J. HICKOX, Springfield College, Salt Lake City, Utah Springfield, Mass., Executive Secretary EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS FRANKLIN C. CAPPON, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey BRUCE DRAKE, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma HAROLD FOSTER, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin E. S. HICKEY, St. Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri PAUL D. HINKLE, Butler University, Indianapolis, Indiana RAY OOSTING, Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut CLIFF WELLS, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana This list represents only the organizing and steering committee of the present, with primary advisors. It will be enlarged to include others who have or have had active interest and influ ence in the game. Other committees to be set up and filled include those on Finance, Library, Mainte- nance, Games, Honors, and Public Relations. People with deep interest in basketball and special qualifications in the field of sports will be asked to serve on such committees. HOW THE Idea STARTED The first National Honors to Dr. James Naismith for inventing basketball came with the 1936 Olympics, when the National Association of Basketball Coaches sponsored a drive to raise funds to send Dr. and Mrs. Naismith to Berlin. There, the honors heaped upon Dr. Naismith gave evidence of the world'wide spread and the importance of Basketball as an international game. The Coaches began pondering ways and means for a permanent memorial to the game and its founder. World War II put a stop to all planning. In 1948, during the presidency of Herbert W. Read, the first Basketball Hall of Fame Committee was appointed with William S. Chandler as Chair' man. The next year the committee was reorganised and enlarged and made permanent under the chairmanship of John W. Bunn. Funds were voted to carry on its activity and an office was set up at Springfield College where the college administration furnished the necessary facilities. The choice of Springfield as the location for the Hall of Fame was unani' mous, because no uncertainty exists as to when and where the game of Basket' ball began. The successful carrying out of this project will require the combined efforts of all the many interested individuals, groups and institutions working together harmoniously and industriously. The efforts must be real and considerable, comparable to the greatness of the game and worthy to enshrine the immortal efforts of its inventor, James Naismith. What THE BUILDING WILL HOUSE THtcaeum Basketball history in terms of souvenirs and mementos of the founder, of former players, coaches, teams and institutions. Pageantry of growth of game in terms of equipment, playing areas and spectator space. Near replica of gym room where the game was first played with markings indicative of changes to date, serving as the main display room. ^.vfaicviy Complete historical coverage to the present. Already promised to it are the basketball libraries of several men famous in the development of the game. Continuing collection of all books, magazines, papers, and other printed materials, pertaining to basketball for the purpose of providing a working library for students of the game. /4ueUtaiCctm. With stage and equipment necessary to present movies, demon strations and addresses. 'TH^emotCal fZoam A room of beauty and quiet dignity set aside as a shrine for Dr. Naismith. This will include such effects of Dr. Naismith as had to do with the organisation of basketball, which his heirs may find and present to the Hall of Fame. The central item will be a small copy of the statue of Dr. Naismith and a case exhibiting the first draft of rules as typed for Dr. Naismith himself just previous to presenting the game to his class. /4mfc6x-t&e<zt'ie Outdoor amphitheatre facing the lake with terracing to fur' nish seating where larger audiences may enjoy pageantry, addresses and memorial services, in surroundings comfortably spacious, quietly beautiful and impressively dignified. Statue A large bronze statue of Dr. Naismith will be the center of the fore' grounds. This will catch the eye and attention of the visitors and pre' pare them to appreciate the building as a memorial to his game and to him. HOW WILL THIS HALL OF FAME OPERATE? The Hall of Fame for basketball will be operated under the direction of an executive committee selected from the members of the National Association of Basketball Coaches, and from other responsible groups and individuals vitally interested in basketball. The title to the property will be held in the name of Basketball Hall of Fame, Inc., a nonprofit organisation created to handle all legal, financial, con' tractual and business matters incident to the project. The physical maintenance will be covered through the budget of the corpc ration and carried on through cooperative arrangements with Springfield Coh lege. Janitorial and housekeeping duties will be under the supervision of the college, acting for the corporation. The annual financial budget will be provided from door fees, and conces' sion sales at the Museum, increased as needed by contributions, by receipts from special games, and income from endowment funds. Experience in similar projects indicates that when the Museum and Library become going concerns, the plant will be fully self'supporting. Every member of the corporation will have voice in the direction and man' agement of this tangible evidence of interest and appreciation — interest and appreciation not only of those directly connected with and engaged in basket' ball activities, but also of those millions who must engage vicariously as on' lookers and supporters. These millions deserve our finest efforts to present to them a full and pleasing picture of the invention, growth and present standing of our great game. HOW WILL THE PROJECT BE FINANCED? The estimated cost of the building is $400,000, as proposed by the archi' tect. The efforts to raise these funds will begin with the opening of the 1953 Basketball season. It will start first within the active membership of the Na' tional Association of Basketball Coaches, which is the sponsoring body. The minimum goal to aim at for each of the approximately four hundred active members of the association has been set at $1000. The following plans have been proposed as means of raising this quota: (Select the ones most appropriate to your situation) 1. Play one game scheduled as a Hall of Fame Building Fund Game. 2. Collect an additional 25c on each regular admission at some one game during reg ular season. (This is the plan used by many institutions for collecting funds for the Olympic games) 3. Use the Brochure with proper line-up insert* as a program and sell at one or more games. 4. Put on a demonstration of the first game as it was played in that gymnasium class under Instructor Naismith's supervision in 1891. (See Suggestions, page 7) 5. Put on an inter-squad, varsity vs. alumni, varsity-freshman game with special pro motional headliners. 6. Secure direct investments from institutions and individuals. 7. Have local sports radio reporters suggest to their hearers that they become Dollar Donors. Each donor of one dollar would receive a suitable card of recognition and thanks which would also entitle donor to one admission to the Hall of Fame Museum. Greater investment in the project will be sought by giving to the $5.00 donors, in addition to the card, a reprint of the very first printed rules of 1892. In addition an investment of $25 will entitle investor to a five year membership in the corporation. An investment of $100 will entitle investor to a life membership in the corpora tion. An institutional investment of $1000 makes that institution a permanent member of the corporation with voting privileges. After the membership of the National Association of Basketball Coaches has made sub stantial progress in its part of the drive, the program will be expanded to the other agen cies which are interested in and are conducting basketball activities: The A.A.U., the Y.M.C.A., the High Schools, Clubs, Officials Associations, Tournament Centers, Profes sional Teams, Equipment Dealers, and Old Timer groups with fine records of achievement in the past. Subscribers and contributors will receive proper certificates of appreciation and their names will be entered in the Gift Book, and inscribed on the permanent records of the Basketball Hall of Fame. * Copies of the Brochure for programs may be obtained in quantities from the printer who will also prepare and staple in such inserts as the ordering institution may desire.