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Pratt Field (RG 110 Subseries 04b)

This postcard shows an aerial view of International YMCA College's (now Springfield College) Pratt Field. The image shows a large group of people on all sides of the field watching a football game. The surrounding area shows houses, buildings, trees and the tennis courts. The postcard was stamped on September 29, 1913 and was addressed to Mrs. William Bobo. 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.

Pratt Field

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 Judd Gymnasium and the Marsh Memorial Building. The location of Pratt field is still used today for track and field, however the name was changed to Blake Track.

Scope and Contents of the Subseries

This sub-series mainly contains photographs of Pratt Field, though there is some general information and a few newspaper articles on the field. Of particular interest are newspaper articles of when the Pratt Field Grandstand burned down in June of 1959. There are also some pictures of this event. There are many photographs of the gate, wall, and Grandstand taken at various times during their existence. Among these are some nice photographs from the ceremonial opening of the gate and of Herbert L. Pratt for whom the field is named.