c. 1893 cabinet photo with Thomas Bruce

 Thomas Seth Bruce was a starter on Bates College football team from 1894-1898.  During his senior year Bates had one of their best seasons going 6-0.  Bruce broke the color barrier and was an early black football player for a predominately white college.  

What is interesting about this photograph is that he appears to be the captain of the team since he is holding the football.  I believe this photo is from Nichols Latin School which was a prep school for Bates College.  An NLS is seen on another players uniform in the image.

After graduation Bruce went to seminary school in Newton Massachusetts.  He played on the Newton Athletic Clubs football team who actually played Yale that season.  I believe he is one of the first black players on a major athletic club team.

Early 1880s Columbia football team cabinet

 There are very few early Columbia football team images circulating out there.  This is perhaps the earliest I have seen.  Based on a name on the back I attribute this image to around 1881.

1897 Jackson High School football cabinet

 Toward the end of the 19th century the popularity of football was spreading west.  The HYPs were not the only powerhouses anymore with schools such as University of Michigan, Wisconsin and Chicago starting to turn into national powerhouses.  Here is an interesting Michigan area high school football cabinet.  Not anything of real historical significance, but I love the looks of it with the barbed wire in the background and all the little kids trying to get in on the picture.  Also note on the back how they played other college teams.

Early 1880s Cabinet photo with Father of Dartmouth Football Clarence Howland

 Unsure what athletic group this is but I tired here is early Dartmouth University football pioneer Clarence “Cap” Howland.  For many years prior to 1880 Dartmouth had been playing games of association style football on campus.  When Howland entered Dartmouth in 1880 he was familiar with the rugby style game which he had played at Williston Seminary.  So in 1880 he organized and coached the first football team.  It wasn’t until 1881 that they were able to play their first intercollegiate game.  Until his graduation in 1883 he had coached and captained every team and helped jumpstart football at Dartmouth.

Eugene V Baker Yale 1877 Graduation Cabinet Photo

 If Walter Camp is the father of American football then Eugene Baker would be the grandfather.  Playing on the Yale team from 1873-77 he was responsible for recruiting Camp to be on the football team.  He was captain of the football team in 76’ and 77’.  The 1876 team was the first to defeat Harvard.  He was an important figure in overseeing the transition from a more Association style kicking game to a Rugby style of carrying the ball which ultimately transformed into what we are accustomed to today.

1889 Princeton University Cabinet Photo

 This is an image of the 1889 Princeton University National Championship team.  They went on to an undefeated 10-0 season on finishing of the powerhouse Yale 10-0.  Five players ended up taking home inaugural All-American awards including Captain Edgar Allen Poe who became the first QB to win that honor.  Other interesting players are “Snake” Ames and “Sport” Donnelly who went on to have early pro football careers.

1898 Gallaudet College Football Cabinet

Here is an oversized imperial photo of the 1898 Gallaudet College “Deaf-Mutes” of Washington D.C.  They didn’t let their handicaps hold them back as they were one of the best teams outside of the Ivy leagues during this time.  GC was also responsible for inventing the football huddle so when they played other hearing impaired schools they would not steal their signs.  Also included is a photo from an 1898 issue of Harper’s Weekly.