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The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame was established in 1959 without a physical location by Lee Williams, a former athletic director at Colby College. In the 1960s, the Hall of Fame struggled to raise enough money for the construction of its first facility. However, the necessary amount was soon raised, and the building opened on February 17, 1968, less
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The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame was established in 1959 without a physical location by Lee Williams, a former athletic director at Colby College. In the 1960s, the Hall of Fame struggled to raise enough money for the construction of its first facility. However, the necessary amount was soon raised, and the building opened on February 17, 1968, less than a month after the National Basketball Association played its 18th All-Star Game. The Basketball Hall of Fame's Board named four inductees in its first year. In addition to honoring those who contributed to basketball, the Hall of Fame sought to make contributions of its own. In 1979, the Hall of Fame sponsored the Tip-Off Classic, a pre-season college basketball exhibition. This Tip-Off Classic has been the start to the college basketball season ever since, and although it does not always take place in Springfield, Massachusetts, generally it returns every few years.
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This fund raising pamphlet titled "Basketball hall of fame," was likely written in 1952-1953 for distribution before the 1953 basketball...
/ This fund raising pamphlet titled "Basketball hall of fame," was likely written in 1952-1953 for distribution before the 1953 basketball season. This pamphlet contains the following: the first page is a proposed rending of the hall of fame, the following page shows images of the site, then sections are titled "Basketball hall of fame committee," which lists members of the committee formed for the Basketball Hall of Fame, "How the idea started," which gives a brief overview of the origin of the idea for the Basketball Hall of Fame, "What the building will house," which gives a list of the facilities that will be housed within the building, "How will this hall of fame operate?" which gives which gives an account of how the Hall of Fame will be managed through multiple entities responsible for different aspects of upkeep and maintenance, "How will the project be financed?" which gives a list of seven potential sources of revenue to raise the funds necessary to construct the hall, "Here's how you can stage an exhibition 'Old timer's game'," which gives directions (item four under the previous heading) on how to play a game of basketball according to the original rules and includes rentable costumes of 'old-time uniforms,' "A few tips to make your exhibition fund-raising publicity for your school," "Those who have staged an old timer's exhibition game enthusiastic!" which includes reviews of other institutions that have had success in presenting an old-time game of basketball for fund raising purposes, "We're counting on you!" which provides quotes from famous basketball coaches and players asking you to support this endeavor, "This history of basketball," "The men who helped make history," which describes the contemporaneous appeal of basketball and an image of the first basketball team, "A living history of basketball," which shows various images of basketball hoops and includes an image of a Meso-American Tlachtli hoop c. 952 CE, "Dr. James Naismith, founder," which gives a brief biography of the founder of the sport and includes a pensive portrait of Naismith. After those sections there are a floor plans, an aerial view of the proposed location, and a photograph of the location looking south south east towards lake Massasoit.
This binder contains architectural sketches of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts. Produced in 1959 by...
/ This binder contains architectural sketches of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts. Produced in 1959 by the architecture and engineering firm Munson & Mallis, Inc., the sketches show the building’s proposed floor plan and exterior. The last page has a photograph of the International YMCA Training School’s (now Springfield College) first basketball team sitting with their instructor, James Naismith. The Basketball Hall of Fame was first located on the campus of Springfield College, where several thousand visitors flocked to visit. In 1959, despite the absence of a physical structure to call home, the Basketball Hall of Fame was incorporated and its first class of inductees was announced. The institution officially opened its doors to the public on February 17, 1968.
Speech by Charels F. Weckwerth for the laying of the corner stone for the Naismith memorial Basketball hall of fame...
/ Speech by Charels F. Weckwerth for the laying of the corner stone for the Naismith memorial Basketball hall of fame on November 6, 1961. It discusses the the nature of fame and the human conditions required for attainment, self sacrifice and contentment with the act of doing without foreknowledge or promise of the endeavor being worthy of fame.