Letter from Dr. James Naismith to Dr. Laurence Locke Dockett, 1918
Description:
A letter From by Dr. James Naismith to Dr. Laurence Locke Doggett, president of Springfield College, explaining that plans were underway in Paris for a reunion of Y.M.C.A. graduates in the area. In the letter, Naismith explains what he and his fellow Springfield College alumni were doing overseas and for the War effort during World War I. The letter was transcribed in a local newspaper with the title, "Reunion in War Zone Planned."
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James A. Naismith (November 6, 1861 – November 28, 1939), known as "The Father of Basketball," was born in Almonte, Ontario. When he was nine, both of his parents died of typhoid fever and he was raised by his uncle, who later financed Naismith's way through college. He earned his theological degree from McGill University and graduated from Springfield College, then the YMCA Training School, in 1891. After graduation, he was hired as a faculty member, where he taught for five years. It is in his first year as a faculty member at Springfield College that he created the game of Basketball as an activity for an unruly class. In 1895, Naismith enrolled at the Gross Medical School in Denver and received his M.D. in 1898. In that same year, Naismith took the position of department head of physical education at the University of Kansas, where he remained until his death.
The Article titled "Reunion in War Zone Planned" can be viewed here: http://cdm15370.contentdm.oclc.org/u?/p15370coll2,257 ; The item number for this document may change due to a change in position or a mistake in counting during digitization of this folder;
