- Creator
- Huiswoud, Chris
- Call number
- Sc MG 661
- Physical description
- 0.25 linear feet (1 box)
- Language
- English
- Preferred Citation
- [Item], Chris Huiswoud scrapbook, Sc MG 661, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division, The New York Public Library
- Repository
- Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division
- Access to materials
- Request an in-person research appointment.
This scrapbook consists of clippings, dating ca. 1918-1940, which denote Huiswoud's career as a referee as well as reflect his management of the New York Blue Belts. The clippings are from various newspapers, such as the Amsterdam News, the Tittler Tattler, and the Liberator. The scrapbook also contains general sports articles and his sports column.
Biographical/historical information
Chris Rudolf Huiswoud was born in Paramaribo, Suriname, and immigrated to the United States with his family. Known as "Dutch" Huiswoud, he is credited with being the first official African American basketball referee. Prior to his career as a referee, he served as the captain of the Amasons soccer team, jockeyed for several years, including a season spent at Havre de Gras, and played basketball for St. Christopher and the Incorporator basketball teams of Harlem, New York, where he resided. Huiswoud's brother was the communist activist, Otto Huiswoud, who headed the International Trade Union Committee of Negro Workers in Hamburg, Germany.
Huiswoud began his referee career in 1917. In 1922, he was appointed a referee by the Intercollegiate League (which represented various institutions such as Yale, Columbia, and Brown Universities) and was later sanctioned by the Amateur Athletic Union of the United States. James Murray (well known and respected referee of the era) referred to him as an up and coming "first flight referee." Huiswoud refereed the 1925 basketball game between the original New York Celtics, a white champion basketball team, and the Renaissance Five, an African American champion basketball team, at which the Celtics were defeated 37-30. In addition to his referee career, he managed the New York Blue Belts (an African American female champion basketball team) and wrote a sports column (possibly for the Amsterdam News).
Administrative information
Source of acquisition
Gift of Hermie Huiswoud, 1999.
Revision History
Finding aid updated by Lauren Stark. (2022 February 3)
Processing information
Accessioned by L. J. Sewell, July 1999.
Separated material
Transferred to the Photographs and Prints Division: photographs.
Using the collection
Location
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division515 Malcolm X Boulevard, New York, NY 10037-1801
Second Floor