Honors Court inside Original Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

Item Information

Title:
Honors Court inside Original Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Description:
This photograph features the Honors Court from the original Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Springfield College's campus. The Honors Court featured faux stained-glass floor-to-ceiling windows enshrining 90 of basketball’s pioneers. Those enshrined included players, coaches, referees, and contributors who met specific requirements in their area and received ten or thirteen Honors Committee votes for enshrinement. Specific requirements in their area refers to a coach having coached in the profession for 25 years, a player having been retired for at least five years, and a referee must have been retired for at least five years to be nominated for enshrinement. Each basketball pioneer had their own ten foot high window made of Lucite. The shape and style of these windows, known as lancet windows, were common architectural features of gothic churches and cathedrals. The Honors Court was created using lancet windows and 'stained-glass' which have strong religious associations, dim lighting, and an intimate setting in effort to create a chapel-like setting. This effort was made not only to honor Hall of Famers but also to honor Naismith's connection to his religion. The original Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame was constructed on the Springfield College Campus due to the college’s deep connection to the sport of basketball; from Dr. James Naismith, who invented the game while he was a faculty member at the school in 1891; to Dr. Edward Hickox, the driving force behind the Hall’s creation; and the innumerable members of the faculty who have sat on national rules committee. In 1959 when the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame construction began the first group of players, coaches, and contributors to the sport were inducted into the Hall of Fame. This first group of inductees included five with ties to Springfield College; Dr. James Naismith, Amos Alonzo Stagg, Luther H. Gulick, Edward J. Hickox, and Naismith’s First Team from Springfield College, then known as the International YMCA Training School. By the time the Hall of Fame opened in 1968 it already had 43 inductees. With the ever-growing popularity of the sport of basketball, inductees into the Hall of Fame, and visitors, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame began to outgrow its Springfield College home. In 1985 the Hall of Fame opened in a new location in Springfield and the original Hall of Fame building ownership was transferred to Springfield College. Renovations on the building began in 1987 and the building was rededicated as the Allied Health Sciences Center in April of 1989. Written on casing of Slide side 1, "Basketball Hall of Fame / The Honors Court - Plaques / DT38256C / Pioneeer Valley Novelty & Premium Co. / Copyright 1968 Dexter Press, Inc." and side 2, "Super 35s / Made by Dexter West Nyack N.Y."
Creator:
Pioneer Falley Novelty & Premium Co.
Date:
1968
Format:
Photographs
Location:
Springfield College Archives and Special Collections
Collection (local):
College Archives Digital Collections
Subjects:
Basketball--History
Springfield College--Buildings
Springfield College
Basketball Hall of Fame
Allied Health Sciences Building
Basketball Hall of Fame (Springfield, Mass.)
Springfield (Mass.)
Stained glass
Exhibitions
Places:
Massachusetts > Hampden (county) > Springfield
Link to Item:
http://cdm16122.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15370coll2/id/2254
Terms of Use:
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.
Publisher:
Dexter Press Inc.; Basketball Hall of Fame (Springfield, Mass.)
Identifier:
rg147-05-05-008
rg147-03-07-008