Dr. James Naismith and Edward Hickox

Item Information

Title:
Dr. James Naismith and Edward Hickox
Description:
This slide shows Edward Hickox (left) and James Naismith (right) perhaps standing inside west gymnasium at Springfield College, though the exact location is not known. The man in the center is unidentified.
Date:
[1930?–1938?]
Format:
Photographs
Location:
Springfield College Archives and Special Collections
Collection (local):
College Archives Digital Collections
Series:
James Naismith Papers
Subjects:
Springfield College--Alumni and alumnae
Springfield College--Faculty
Naismith, James, 1861-1939
Hickox, Edward J.
Places:
Massachusetts > Hampden (county) > Springfield
Link to Item:
https://cdm16122.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15370coll2/id/2813
Terms of Use:
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:
Springfield College
Language:
English
Notes:
James Naismith was part of the first class inducted into the Springfield College Athletic Hall of Fame. Other members of the class included, Amos Alonzo Stagg, Leslie Mann, Leslie J. Judd, and Archie P. Allen. 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. Edward Hickox graduated from Springfield College in 1914, and in 1926 began his 16-year coaching career for the College’s men’s basketball team (compiling a 209-85 record). He also served as director of athletics. Hickox served on the National Basketball Rules Committee and was chairman for the last three years. He was a charter member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches, was its president, and was its 1949 Man of the Year. In 1949, Hickox volunteered to be the executive secretary of the nonexistent basketball hall of fame. His contributions laid the groundwork for building the first Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on the campus of Springfield College. Unfortunately, Hickox, who died in 1966, did not live to see the building’s opening, which took place in 1968.
Identifier:
ms506-01-04-016