This photograph shows what we believe to be the 1917 Springfield College men’s gymnastics team. The ten team members are wearing their gymnastics uniforms and sitting in two rows on the grass. On the far left of the seated row is Leslie Judd, the team captain. The team was led by head coach Louis C. Schroeder and team manager Leon Kranz. Leslie J. Judd (1888-1987) was a Springfield College faculty member and graduate from the class of 1920. Judd spent thirty-one years coaching gymnastics at his alma mater. While at Springfield College, he also coached track and field, swimming and diving, cross country, soccer, and dance. Judd was born in Melbourne Victoria, Australia, where he served as a physical education director until World War I. During the war, he served in the Australian forces. His famous gymnastic tableaux, which unified the aesthetic and athletic qualities of the sport, were presented throughout the world, and his expertise was the subject of a feature story in Life Magazine in 1939. In 1955, he received the Tarbell Medallion, which recognizes alumni who have made significant contributions to the college. In 1962, he received an honorary doctorate of humanities from Springfield College. For biographical information on Frank Wolcott, see: https://springfield.as.atlas-sys.com/agents/people/54. Edges are damaged. On the back, Coach Frank Wolcott wrote: "Coach Leslie J. Judd as a gymnastic team capt. SC 1917. He is the one on the far left front in the picture with arm around number 2 man. This picture is at the 17 of 100 yrs. of gymnastics exhibitions by Wolcott and Raymond."
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