What is James Naismith family history?

Answer 1

James Naismith was born and educated in Canada, where he became a coach and a teacher of physical education. He eventually migrated to the United States, residing in western Massachusetts. In 1891, when he was teaching at the YMCA (Young Men's Christian Association) Training College in Springfield MA, he was asked to develop an indoor game students could play during the winter, and he created the game of Basketball. In its original form, there were only thirteen basic rules, and players scored by shooting the ball through a peach basket. Naismith left Massachusetts to become a successful coach at the University of Kansas in the late 1890s; a deeply religious man, he also served as the school's chaplain. In 1936, when basketball first became an Olympic sport, Naismith went to Berlin to present the medals to the winning teams.

(In fairness, it should be noted that at least one other person is also credited with having invented what became basketball; his name was Lambert G. Will, and he lived in Herkimer NY, not far from Utica. Unfortunately for Will, it is Naismith who got most of the credit, even though there is some proof that Will made important modifications and improvements on Naismith's original idea.)

Answer 2

James a. Naismith was orphaned early in life and was raised by his uncle later married and had five children.