Q: Who was Dr J.?
A: Dr. James Naismith is regarded as the inventor of the game of basketball.

Q: When was Dr. James Naismith Born?
A: James Naismith was born November 6th, 1861.

Q: Where was Dr. James Naismith Born?
A: James Naismith was born on a farm near Almonte, Ontario.

Q: Who were Dr. James Naismiths parents?
A: He was the second child of John Naismith and Margaret Young. James parents were Scottish immigrants who lived upon their marriage on the farm of his maternal grandmother (Young), and then purchased a sawmill in Calumet Island, Quebec.

Q: Where was James Naismith raised?
A: James was raised on this farm located on Highway 15, 3km north of Almonte.

Q: When did his parents arrive in Canada?
A: Both his parents arrived in Upper Canada in 1852.

Q: What did James Naismiths parents do for a living?
A: John Naismith was a carpenter and builder while Margaret served as a seamstress while tending her house.

Q: Did James Naismith have any other relatives?
A: His grandparents had been deceased early in his life with his grandmother young passing in 1871. James also had an older sister Annie and a younger brother Robert.

Q: What kind of games did James like as a child?
A: Games ranged from feats of strength like tossing a sheaf of wheat, to throwing stones, building pyramids, games of tag, tug of war, duck on a rock and more.

Q: What is Duck on a Rock?
A: Duck on a Rock was a childhood game, which used a large base rock, and individual fist sized rocks for the payers. It combined the elements of tag and throwing rocks at a target. It was a typical game of the day previous to the construction of a variety of balls that exist today. They used small rocks and played the game near their rural schoolhouse.

Q: How was duck on a rock played?
A: The guard would be determined by a throw-off (closest to a target), was would result in the guard placing their "duck" on the base rock. Each player from a distance of around 20 feet would take turns trying to dislodge the guards' stone. If they missed they had to retrieve their "duck" but risked being tagged while they raced for it before the guard could reach them. If they were tagged they would change places with the guard, or if they dislodged the guards "duck", that player would remain for another turn.

Q: Where did James attend school?
A: As a young boy, James attended the Bennie's Corners Rural School about a five mile walk by road from the farm. Later he would attend Almonte High School. He dropped out of high School to be of better service to his uncle on the farm, then worked the lumber camps in the winter. Inspired by his desire to help his fellow man, he returned to Almonte High School 19 and completed 4 years in a year and a half. Upon graduation he went to Montreal to attend the Presbyterian College to study theology and finished with training at McGill University studying physical education. He resumed his education in 1895 at Gross Medical College in Denver, Colorado where he earned his Medical Doctorate.

Q: Where did James live?
A: James Naismith spent his first 21 years living in Almonte. He went to Montreal for school in 1883 and remained there till 1890 before he ventured to Springfield, Mass. With the YMCA till 1895. He was stationed in Denver, Colorado till 1898 until he accepted his post at the University of Kansas until his death in 1939.

Q: When was he born, when did he die?
A: Born in 1861 he lived 39 years on each side of the 20th century until his death in 1939.

Q: Who was James wife?
A: In 1893 he married Maude Sherman of Springfield, Mass.

Q: How many times did he marry?
A: James Naismith married 2 times. In 1893 he married Maude Sherman, in 1939 he married Florence Kinkaid.

Q: Who are Jaimes children?
A: His children are Hellen, Maude Annie, Jack, Margaret, and Jim.

Q: How many grandchildren did they have?
A: James and Maude were blessed with 13 grandchildren.

Q: What were the great accomplishments in his life, in regards to sport?
A: James Naismith had the great vision to introduce 2 objects in his life. In 1891 he introduced the game of basketball as a winter indoor sport in Springfield, Mass. And in 1894, he introduced the football helmet for American Football.

Q: When was the first game of basketball played?
A: The 1st game of basketball was played on December 21st, 1891, after spending 2 weeks preparing the rules and objectives as an assignment.

Q: Why was basketball invented?
A: Basketball was an assignment by his mentor, Luther H. Gulick to interest the incorrigibles. He was asked to come up with an indoor game free of rough play for the football and lacrosse players who were restless during the winter.

Q: Where was basketball invented?
A: He invented the game at the YMCA in Springfield, Mass.

Q: What was the first ball?
A: The original object used in the 1st game was a soccer ball.

Q: What was the first basket?
A: After his initial request for 2 small square boxes, the custodian could only come up with 2 peach baskets, which lead to the naming of the game.

Q: What was the score of the first game?
A: The 1st game featured much confusion and many penalties and ended in a 1-0 score.

Q: Who played in the first games?
A: The 1st teams were comprised of members of a class at the Springfield YMCA training school. There were 18 people in his class therefore 9 played on each side.

Q: How did basketball spread?
A: The game of basketball spread almost naturally s many of the students went their separate ways for Christmas and introduced the game in their hometowns as early as January 1892.

Q: Did James serve in any armed conflicts?
A: James Naismith served in 2 major conflicts. Firstly he was stationed on the Mexican border during the Mexican -American War, and then was stationed in France during World War 1.

Q: What were his duties in these conflicts?
A: His duties were to counsel the soldiers on Christian and moral matters, and also to organize recreational and sporting activities to keep the soldiers sound.

Q: How old was James Naismith when he died?
A: James Naismith lived to be 78 years old. He died on November 28th, 1939.

Q: What was his cause of death?
A: James Naismith died of a cerebral hemorrhage.

Q: Where is he buried?
A: James Naismith is buried in Lawrence Kansas. He is buried alongside his first wife, Maude Sherman. James Naismith's family, his parents and brother and sister are buried alongside in the Auld Kirk Cemetery near Almonte, Ontario.