LTS

 

NAISMITH MEMORIAL COMMITTEE
Springfield, Mass.

 

MAYOR ROGER L. PUTNAM

Cha irman

September 27, 1941

This year, as you doubtless know, marks the fiftieth anniversary of basketball,
and beginning in November the Naismith Memorial Executive Committee, of which

I am chairman, will inaugurate a year of nationwide celebration of the Golden
Jubilee of Basketball,

It is the plan of the executive committee to include every basketball player,
coach and fan in the Golden Jubilee undertakings, the purpose of which is to
erect here at Springfield, the birthplace of the game, a permanent monument

to Dr. James Naismith, who invented the game when he was a young instructor at
Springfield back in December, 1891. This Temple of Basketball will combine a
model court, Hall of Fame, and historical museum, and in its archives will be
preserved the records and data of the sport.

You will be interested to know that the Naismith Memorial will be erected on a
site overlooking beautiful Lake Massasoit which site has already been given to the
Naismith Executive Committee. The Hall of Fame will be maintained in perpetuity.

In order to help raise sufficient funds for this Memorial, the Naismith Execu-
tive Committee plans to have a network of Golden Ball games throughout the
country. Already we have been assured of the help and cooperation of many of
the most important men in the sports world, the academic sphere and public life.

In order to make the Golden Ball games a success, we need your cooperation
and would appreciate a letter from you assuring us of your helpfulness in this
worthwhile undertaking. It seems fitting and right that the entire country,
which is so devoted to the great game of basketball, and the institutions and
teams that have profited so materially from the game should honor the memory
of the man who founded the pastime and brought so much joy to millions.