Henry A. Shenk presented this paper, titled “Dr. James Naismith --- The Man: Stories and anecdotes about the man who gave basketball to the world,” at the National College Physical Education Association for Men (NCPEAM) Convention in Portland, Oregon on December 1970. Naismith taught Shenk at the University of Kansas from 1924-1928, and Shenk assisted him with giving incoming freshmen men their physical examinations in the fall of 1927. The preface explains that many of the stories are either from memory or anecdotes related by others. Along with biographical information, the paper tells the story of how Naismith invented basketball and headgear for football. The paper also discusses the sculptor R. Tait McKenzie and his friendship with Naismith.
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.
Contact host institution for more information.
Publisher:
National College Physical Education Association for Men (U.S.)
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.
