Photograph of Ben Levine and Young Boxers in Training

Photograph of Ben Levine and Young Boxers in Training

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Description (Brief)
Black and white photograph of Ben Levine and boxers in training. Dated 1936 on reverse. Four men squatting or kneeling in front, with 11 men standing behind them. Levine was a participant in the development of amateur sports competition from 1902 as a boy of 13 when he went to work for James Sullivan, President of the Amateur Athletic Union until his retirement from the A.A.U. in 1968. Levine's primary contribution was to Amateur boxing, which he first promoted prior to 1920. He staged the first Golden Gloves and was the Assistant Manager of the U.S. Boxing teams at the 1924 and 1928 Olympic Games and an international jurist in boxing at the Olympics in 1932.
The 1936 Summer Olympic Games, also known as the Games of the XI Olympiad were held in Berlin, Germany and included 49 countries, 3,632 men and 331 women athletes participating. These games were the first to be televised as the airship Hindenberg flew over the stadium during the opening ceremonies flying the Olympic flag. The Olympic torch relay was debuted at these Games as were the sports of basketball, handball, and canoeing. These games are noted for Hitler’s promotion of Nazi propaganda and racial supremacy forcing Jewish athletes to be excluded from competition. Hitler’s ideals of a master race were undermined by the performance of African American Jesse Owens and his four gold medals in track and field events, making him the most decorated athlete of the Games. Germany won the medal count with 89 with the United States coming in a distant second with 56 medals.
Location
Currently not on view
Object Name
photograph, boxing
date made
1936
depicted (sitter)
Levine, Ben
Physical Description
paper (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 5 in x 7 in; 12.7 cm x 17.78 cm
ID Number
1991.0049.24
accession number
1991.0049
catalog number
1991.0049.24
Credit Line
Bertram Levine
subject
Boxing
Amateur
Olympics
See more items in
Culture and the Arts: Sport and Leisure
Sports & Leisure
Data Source
National Museum of American History
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