AN ANINIVERSARY YEAR - 2011

December 21, 2011 - the Anniversary of the first time the Game of Basketball was played - in Springfield, Mass., in 1891.

In accordance with its mission to preserve and strengthen the traditional bonds between Scotland, Canada and the United States, The Caledonian Foundation USA is providing information on this remarkable individual to Scottish-American organizations throughout the USA and encouraging them to arrange special events that highlight Naismith's achievements.

It is anticipated that in most cases the organizations will make their announcements in November and December of 2011, with the actual presentations in the early part of 2012.

Information and background material will be furnished by contacting the Foundation office: dm99mv@vineyard.net.

Nov. 6, 1861	Born in Almonte, Ont. Canada. Parents (from Scotland): John and Margaret (Young) Naismith, who died in 1870.
1876	High School Drop-out at age 15
1881	Resumed education
1883	High School diploma
1887	Graduated with honors from McGill University (Montreal) with Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy. Remained at McGill and worked as Physical Education Instructor and studied Theology at the Presbyterian Theological College in Montreal.
1890	Naismith travels in the fall to YMCA in Springfield, Mass., to meet Dr. Luther Gulick, Dean of the YMCA International Training School. Naismith enrolled in YMCA International Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts. In the summer he was sent to the Island of Martha's Vineyard, Mass., to study the principles of the Swedish system of exercise, being taught there by Baron Nils Posse.
1891	While at the YMCA International Training School, Naismith invented the Game of Basketball, first played December 21, 1891After completing the two-year training program, he remained on the staff As a full-time teacher.
1894	Naismith married Maude Evelyn Sherman. They had five children.
1895	Naismith moved to Colorado to become director and instructor of Denver YMCA.
1898	Received Doctor of Medicine degree from Gross Medical School in Denver. Upon graduation he became director of chapel and director (and sole instructor) of Physical Education at the University of Kansas and continued in this position until his retirement in 1937.  He introduced Basketball to Kansas and coached the varsity team from 1899 to 1909.
1916	In 1916 he was ordained as minister and served as captain to Kansas National Guard and as chaplain with YMCA from 1917 to 1919 in France during World War I. Naismith earned four degrees in the fields of Philosophy, Religion, Medicine and Physical Education.  In 1911 he received Honorary Master's Degree in Physical Education from YMCA in Springfield, Mass., and an Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from the Presbyterian Theological College in Montreal in 1919.
1925	On May 4, 1925, James Naismith became a naturalized U.S. citizen.
1937	Death of Naismith's wife, Maude Sherman.
1939	James Naismith died November 28, 1939 in Lawrence, Kansas.