A copy of a second page of a questionnaire that is believed to have been filled out by James Naismith out sometime between 1937 and 1939. It is unclear what organization created this application and where the first page is located. The form asks about his children, marital status, church affiliation, hobbies, famous relatives, and other activities. When asked to list his basketball achievements, Naismith writes, “INVENTOR of the game of basketball.”
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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 item is a photocopy of the original. Location of original and the first page of this document are unknown.
