This photograph shows a crowd surrounding International YMCA's Training School's (now Springfield College) Pratt Field. The photograph was taken in September, 1910, and the grandstands were not yet built. There are some people sitting on benches along the sidelines but a majority of people are standing, with all of the sidelines filled. There appears to be a few people standing on the right side of the football field, but the remainder of the field is empty. Pratt Field was a gift of Mr. Herbert L. Pratt. It consisted, originally, of a quarter-mile track, 220 yard straightaway twenty-four feet wide, eleven runaways and pits for jumping and vaulting, seven tennis courts, a football field, and a baseball diamond. An eight-foot high reinforced concrete fence surrounds the field. The entrances were designed by Edward Lippincourt Tilton, who also designed Springfield's Judd Gymnasium and the Marsh Memorial Building. Part of Pratt field is still used today for track and field, however the name was changed to Blake Field.
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, 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.
