Rachael Naismith on Dr. James Naismith, 2009

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.

This video, created in the fall of 2009, features Rachael Naismith, Assistant Director and the head of the Public Services Department at Babson Library (Springfield College), talking about her great-grandfather, Dr. James Naismith (1861-1939). The video is a collection of stories and feelings about James Naismith. It talks about her father's memories, his early years, creation of the football helmet, why he choose to come to Springfield College, women playing the game of Basketball, John McClendon, and the 1936 Olympics. There are pictures of Springfield College and James Naismith scattered throughout the video. The video was created for the fall 2009 Law Librarians of New England conference held in Springfield Massachusetts.