Letter from George B. Affleck to President Ernest M. Best (February 3, 1940)

Item Information

Title:
Letter from George B. Affleck to President Ernest M. Best (February 3, 1940)
Description:
This is a letter from George B. Affleck, the director of Division of Health and Physical Education of Springfield College (then known as International YMCA College), to Dr. Ernest M. Best, the President of the College (February 3, 1940). In the letter, Affleck suggests that Dr. John Henry Gray, a Springfield College alumnus, would be suitable for the open positions in Western University in London and Toronto University. Dr. John Henry Gray is a member of class 1904. After he graduated from Springfield College (then known as International YMCA Training School), he entered Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and graduated with his M.D. degree in 1908. He then served as the Physical Director of the Calcutta, India, Y.M.C.A. and National Physical Director of the Y.M.C.A.'s of India, Burma and Ceylon from 1908 to 1919. In 1916, he received Honorary Degree of Master of Physical Education from Springfield College. He went to China in 1920, served as National Physical Director of the Y.M.C.A.'s of China until 1927. From 1928 to 1931, Dr. Gray was the National Physical Director in India and Acting Principal of the Y.M.C.A. College of Physical Education, Madras, India. He traveled to Burma in 1933 and worked as the General Secretary of the Y.M.C.A., Rangoon, Burma until 1938. He began his second career at the age of 60 and joined the physical education faculty of Long Island University. Dr. Gray died October 19, 1964. George Baird Affleck (1876-1958) spent his boyhood in the woods of Canada, where he became an enthusiastic trapper, camper, and naturalist. He attended Manitoba Provincial Normal School (g. 1895), University of Manitoba (g. 1897), and Springfield College (g. 1901), where he played on the lawn hockey team. He worked as the Assistant Secretary of the Winnipeg YMCA from 1898-1899 and as the Physical Director of the State Teachers College (Cedar Falls, Iowa) from 1901-1907. He spent the following two years as the Physical Director of the Central Department YMCA in Chicago. In 1908, Springfield College hired Affleck, and he remained here until his retirement in 1941. Affleck was professionally affiliated with the American Student Health Association, National Education Association, College Physical Directors’ Society, AAHPRER, American Social Hygiene Association, and American Camping Association of YMCA Secretaries. For thirty years, he compiled and edited the “Selected Bibliography in Physical Education.” He wrote articles for the Association Seminar, Physical Training Magazine, Pedagogical Seminar, Camping World, Journal of Health and Physical Education, Research Quarterly, and he co-authored the Classification for Physical Education Library. In 1944, Springfield College awarded him the Tarbell Medallion, which recognizes outstanding service. The handwriting on the letter cannot be read with clarity.
Creator:
Affleck, George Baird, 1876-1958
Date:
February 3, 1940
Format:
Documents
Location:
Springfield College Archives and Special Collections
Collection (local):
College Archives Digital Collections
Series:
Student Files
Subjects:
Springfield College
Springfield College--Alumni and alumnae
Springfield College--Faculty
Springfield College--Presidents
Springfield College--International
International Young Men's Christian Association College
Gray, J. Henry
Best, Ernest Maurice, 1880-1963
Affleck, George Baird, 1876-
Correspondence
Places:
Massachusetts > Hampden (county) > Springfield
Link to Item:
http://cdm16122.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15370coll2/id/21215
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.
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Publisher:
Springfield College
Language:
English
Identifier:
gray-john-h-letter-feb-3-1940