American Boxiana - A Historical Perspective ©2007 VBH&IPR, ©1987 MEW Press International
by Bob Winkler

An interactive seminar that investigates and researches the historical, sociological and genealogical background of boxing in the United States up to World War II.

Contents

  • Pre 1830: Wild Oats. A rich history of British and American pugilistic events involving James Belcher, Stringer Tonks, Jacob Hyer and Tom Crib, as early American society forges it's identity.

  • 1840s & 1850s: Illegally Adrift
    Discover the oft times brutal, but colorful, histories behind the original American "gangs" and newly arrived immigrants with the likes of Tom Hyer, Yankee Sullivan, William Poole and John Morrissey.

  • 1880s & 1890s: The Golden Age
    Readings and discussion about the lives and legends of John L. Sullivan, Jake Kilrain, Jack McAuliffe, Bob Fitzsimmons, Jim Corbett, Tom Sharkey and James J. Jeffries, and how they reflected the society around them.

  • 1920s and 1930s: A Rebirth of Character
    Travel along the road with Jack Dempsey, Gene Tunney, Tommy Loughran, Max Baer, Max Schmelling and Jack Sharkey, while investigating pre-World War II American society.

    Research Projects
    Investigative topics on local and regional boxers and family history. Have a boxer in your past? This includes researching primary sources, conducting oral histories, "adopt-a-pug" from the past for investigation, or developing statistical databases or websites.

    Presentations
    Sharing research findings before local historical/genealogical societies, public or private schools, college and university gatherings, or community groups.

    Boxing blog - An interactive forum for discussions surrounding topics, research technics and insights unto the rich history of boxing.

    Resources
    Callis, Tracy, Chuck Hasson, and Mike DeLisa. Philadelphia's Boxing Heritage, 1876-1976. Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishling, 2002.

    Collins, Jerry. When Boxing Was Big In Buffalo: 1881-1951. Buffalo, NY: s.n., 1999.

    Fitch, Jerry. Cleveland's Greatest Fighters of All Time. Charlestown, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing, 2002.

    Goldman, Herbert G. "The Singular Career of Bob Fitzsimmons." Boxing Digest 42, #3 (March 2000): 56-57.

    _____. "Tiger Ted Lowry." Boxing Digest 42, #5 (May/June 2000): 72-73.

    _____. "Dempsey, Anyone?" Boxing Digest 42, #7 (August 2000): 56-57.

    International Boxing Research Organization, Journal. Vols. 50 - 80.

    Johnston, Alexander. Ten And Out! The Complete Story of the Prize Ring in America. New York: Ives Washburn, 1927.

    Liebling, Abbott Joseph. The Sweet Science. New York: Viking Press, 1956.

    McCallum, John D. The World Heavyweight Boxing Championship. Radnor, Pennsylvania: Chilton Book Company, 1974.

    Pierce, Egan. Boxiana: Or, Sketches of Ancient & Modern Puglism, Vol. 1. London: 1830. Chronicles Regency-era fighters.

    _____. New Series of Boxiana: Being the Only Original & Complete Lives of the Boxers, Vol. 2. London: 1829.

    Rotella, Carlo. Boxers, Bluesmen, and other Characters From the Rust Belt. University of California Press, 2002.

    ----------. Cut Time: An Education at the Fights. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2003.

    Smith, Kevin R. Black Genesis: The History of the Black Prize Fighter, 1760-1870. New York: iUniverse, Inc., 2003.

    _____. Boston's Boxing Heritage: Prizefighting From 1882 to 1955. Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing, 2002.

    Sekules, Kate. The Boxer's Heart. New York: Villard Books, 2000.

    Sugden, John. Boxing and Society: An International Analysis. Manchester, United Kingdom: Manchester University Press, 1996. A great bibliography!

    Toulmin, Vanessa. A Fair Fight. Oldham, England: World's Fair Publications, 1999.

    Tully, Jim. The Bruiser. New York: Bantam Books, 1936.

    Wacquant, Loic. Body & Soul: Notes of an Apprentice Boxer. Oxford University Press, 2004.

    Member

  • National Veteran Boxers Association, Ring #44, Buffalo, NY
  • International Boxing Hall of Fame
  • International Boxing Research Organization
  • Vermont Historical Society
  • Genealogical Society of Vermont
  • Essex County (New York) Historical Society

  • vtbox©1997 Website created by Robert Winkler
    Vermont Boxing History & International Pugilist Review

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    contact

    Version 1.0 by Bob Winkler - April 5, 2007