The William H. Ball Alumni Class Representative Papers (MS 527)

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William Henry Ball had a long and distinguished career in the YMCA. A graduate of the International YMCA Training School, now Springfield College, in 1891, he worked at a number of different YMCAs including Yonkers, New York, Prospect Park in Brooklyn, the Springfield, Mass. YMCA and the Detroit YMCA. From 1911 until 1924, Ball served as Secretary to the YMCA International Committee in New York City. At the end of his career, Mr. Ball returned to his alma mater, Springfield College to teach from 1927 until his retirement in 1930. William Henry Ball died December 17, 1955.

The materials center on Mr. Ball’s activities as a Springfield College alumni class representative for the Class of 1891. Most of the collection is made up of correspondence from members of the Class of 1891 and 1892 and alumni representatives. Of greatest importance are 2 letters from Dr. James Naismith, the inventor of Basketball, and 4 letters from Amos Alonzo Stagg, the “Grand Old Man of Football.” Other materials include some newsletters for the Class of 1891 and 1892, a bunch of reports for various alumni funds, some meeting minutes to the Alumni committee and the Office of the Board of Trustees.