1891 Football Team - with Alonzo Stagg and James Naismith

Naismith played center on both the 1890 and 1891 Springfield College football teams, also known as the Stubby Christians. Amos Alonzo Stagg, the “Grand Old Man of Football,” started the football program and was the coach and star of the team.

Text and images are owned, held, or licensed by Springfield College and are available for personal, non-commercial, and educational use, provided that ownership is properly cited. A credit line is required and should read: Courtesy of Springfield College, Babson Library, Archives and Special Collections. Any commercial use without written permission from Springfield College is strictly prohibited. Other individuals or entities other than, and in addition to, Springfield College may also own copyrights and other propriety rights. The publishing, exhibiting, or broadcasting party assumes all responsibility for clearing reproduction rights and for any infringement of United States copyright law.

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The 1891 Springfield College football team

1925 Jayhawker Yearbook

Yearbook
Naismith, James
University of Kansas

The 1925 Jayhawker yearbook was dedicated to Dr. Naismith. The dedication reads “To Dr. James A. Naismith, twenty-six years at the University as director of Physical Education, Father of Basketball, exponent of clean sportsmanship, believer in the Kansas Spirit, a Christian gentleman and the friend of all K.U. Students.”

KU University Archives, 69/1/1925 Jayhawker

1925

11" X 14"

black-and-white photographs

ksrl_ua__69.1_Jayhawker.1925_001.tif

1891-92 Catalog of the International YMCA Training School

After graduating from the Springfield College in 1891, Naismith becomes a faculty member at college where he remained through the spring of 1895. Not listed here is the required physical training class that the students had to take, for whom, in late 1891, Naismith eventually creates the game of basketball.

Springfield College Archives

1891

Text and images are owned, held, or licensed by Springfield College and are available for personal, non-commercial, and educational use, provided that ownership is properly cited. A credit line is required and should read: Courtesy of Springfield College, Babson Library, Archives and Special Collections. Any commercial use without written permission from Springfield College is strictly prohibited. Other individuals or entities other than, and in addition to, Springfield College may also own copyrights and other propriety rights. The publishing, exhibiting, or broadcasting party assumes all responsibility for clearing reproduction rights and for any infringement of United States copyright law.

Full image available at Springfield College:
1891-92 Catalog of the International YMCA Training School

“Triangle” magazine cover

Original page from the January 15, 1892
“Triangle” magazine in which the game of basketball is introduced.

Springfield College Archives

1892

Text and images are owned, held, or licensed by Springfield College and are available for personal, non-commercial, and educational use, provided that ownership is properly cited. A credit line is required and should read: Courtesy of Springfield College, Babson Library, Archives and Special Collections. Any commercial use without written permission from Springfield College is strictly prohibited. Other individuals or entities other than, and in addition to, Springfield College may also own copyrights and other propriety rights. The publishing, exhibiting, or broadcasting party assumes all responsibility for clearing reproduction rights and for any infringement of United States copyright law.

Full image available at Springfield College: “Triangle” magazine cover

The Gymnasium where Basketball was first played

10. The gymnasium where basketball was first played at the School for Christian Workers building

Springfield College Archives

circa 1887

Text and images are owned, held, or licensed by Springfield College and are available for personal, non-commercial, and educational use, provided that ownership is properly cited. A credit line is required and should read: Courtesy of Springfield College, Babson Library, Archives and Special Collections. Any commercial use without written permission from Springfield College is strictly prohibited. Other individuals or entities other than, and in addition to, Springfield College may also own copyrights and other propriety rights. The publishing, exhibiting, or broadcasting party assumes all responsibility for clearing reproduction rights and for any infringement of United States copyright law.

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Basketball Gymnasium

The School for Christian Workers building

The School for Christian Workers building or the original Springfield College School building, located at the corner of State and Sherman streets in Springfield, Massachusetts, where Naismith invented the game of Basketball. Today a McDonald’s occupies the site. In 2010, a monument commemorating the site as the birthplace of basketball was erected across the street.

Springfield College Archives

Text and images are owned, held, or licensed by Springfield College and are available for personal, non-commercial, and educational use, provided that ownership is properly cited. A credit line is required and should read: Courtesy of Springfield College, Babson Library, Archives and Special Collections. Any commercial use without written permission from Springfield College is strictly prohibited. Other individuals or entities other than, and in addition to, Springfield College may also own copyrights and other propriety rights. The publishing, exhibiting, or broadcasting party assumes all responsibility for clearing reproduction rights and for any infringement of United States copyright law.

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The School for Christian Workers Building

Early Springfield College Basketball Teams

During the early years of Basketball at Springfield College, interschool leagues were formed. The teams gave themselves colorful names, such as flappers, cowboys, otters, or, as is shown in this postcard, farmers and mermaids.

Springfield College Archives

late 1890s

Text and images are owned, held, or licensed by Springfield College and are available for personal, non-commercial, and educational use, provided that ownership is properly cited. A credit line is required and should read: Courtesy of Springfield College, Babson Library, Archives and Special Collections. Any commercial use without written permission from Springfield College is strictly prohibited. Other individuals or entities other than, and in addition to, Springfield College may also own copyrights and other propriety rights. The publishing, exhibiting, or broadcasting party assumes all responsibility for clearing reproduction rights and for any infringement of United States copyright law.

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Early Springfield College Basketball Teams

Dr. Luther Halsey Gulick

Luther Halsey Gulick is often referred to as the father of physical education and recreation in the United States. The founder and first director of the Springfield College physical department, it was Gulick who directed Naismith to create a winter sport to be played indoors, and thus, create Basketball.

Springfield College Archives

Text and images are owned, held, or licensed by Springfield College and are available for personal, non-commercial, and educational use, provided that ownership is properly cited. A credit line is required and should read: Courtesy of Springfield College, Babson Library, Archives and Special Collections. Any commercial use without written permission from Springfield College is strictly prohibited. Other individuals or entities other than, and in addition to, Springfield College may also own copyrights and other propriety rights. The publishing, exhibiting, or broadcasting party assumes all responsibility for clearing reproduction rights and for any infringement of United States copyright law.

Full image available at Springfield College:
Luther Halsey Gulick 

1893 Springfield College Faculty

Springfield College Archives

1893

Text and images are owned, held, or licensed by Springfield College and are available for personal, non-commercial, and educational use, provided that ownership is properly cited. A credit line is required and should read: Courtesy of Springfield College, Babson Library, Archives and Special Collections. Any commercial use without written permission from Springfield College is strictly prohibited. Other individuals or entities other than, and in addition to, Springfield College may also own copyrights and other propriety rights. The publishing, exhibiting, or broadcasting party assumes all responsibility for clearing reproduction rights and for any infringement of United States copyright law.

Full image available at Springfield College:
1893 Springfield College Faculty

The Springfield College 1890 Physical Department students

Dr. Luther Gulick, the founder and first director of the physical department at Springfield College, is in the center holding calipers. Gulick’s philosophy of training the whole man, in body, mind and spirit, was one of the reasons that Naismith came to Springfield College.

Springfield College Archives

1890

Text and images are owned, held, or licensed by Springfield College and are available for personal, non-commercial, and educational use, provided that ownership is properly cited. A credit line is required and should read: Courtesy of Springfield College, Babson Library, Archives and Special Collections. Any commercial use without written permission from Springfield College is strictly prohibited. Other individuals or entities other than, and in addition to, Springfield College may also own copyrights and other propriety rights. The publishing, exhibiting, or broadcasting party assumes all responsibility for clearing reproduction rights and for any infringement of United States copyright law.

Full image available at Springfield College
The Springfield College 1890 Physical Department students