from the K.U. NEWS BUREAU

= KANSAS UNIVERSITY m LAWRENCE, KANSAS m RAY HEADY, Director

 

 
 

: he ; soph a7
For Release in event of death \

Lawrence, Kas., Nov. .---Dr. James Naismith, who. . 48
years ago gave the game of basketball to the webld: wrote a book in
1918 that had the title of "The Basis of Clean Living."

3 Those five words characterized the life of the 18-year old
professor emeritus of physical education at the University of Kansas,
who retired from active teaching duty in 1937 after 40 years of "build-
ing character in the hearts of young men" at K.U.

Dr, Naismith, who at the age of eight was left an orphan,
was born in Almonte, Ontario, on Nov. 6, 1861. After making his home
with an uncle, he went to McGill University in Montreal, Canada, and
eraduated with an A.B. degree in 1887. This was the first of his three
degrees. In 1890 he graduated from Presbyterian College, in 1891 he
received his master of physical education degree from Y.i1.C.A. College
in Springfield, Mass., and in 1898 he earned his doctor of medicine

degree from Colorado University.
Dr. Naismith married Miss Maude E. Sherman of Springfield,

Mass., in 1694. Three daughters and two sons, all of whom live in the

fiddlewestern area of the United States, were born to the marriage.

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Mirs. Naismith died in March, 1937.

Dr. Naismith, also prepared for the ministry, but never, as
he said, preached a sermon in his life. At least, not directly. His
sv2mon of clean living was delivered indirectly through teaching young
men to love clean athletics. Neither did Dr, Naismith practice medi-
cine, although he was a member of the Kansas Medical Association.

Four jobs in physical education occupied Dr. Naismith's
career. From 1887 to 1690 he was director at McGill, from 1890 to
1895 he directed the work at Springficld Y.M.C.A., from 1895 to 10690
ac was director at the Denver Y.M.C.A., and in 1898 he came to the
University of Kansas. Here he scrved 40 years.

Military Sorvice during the World War included four months
service in 1916 with ie First Naonsas regiment, and 19 months with the
Y.V¥.C.A. in France from 1917 to 1919.

Dr. Naismith was a member of the following orgenizsatious:

Socicty of Directors of Fhysical Education in Kansecs Colleges, Kansas
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