A collection of letters written by Dr. James Naismith, who is credited with creating the sport of basketball. Each of the letters was written to his wife with four coming in 1917 or 1918 and one from 1900. The first was written on the NY Central Line and concerns the couple's children. The second letter, a love letter to his wife, is written on YMCA stationery. The third is another love letter to his wife. The fourth letter, again on YMCA letterhead, assures his wife that he is eating well and in the fifth letter, written on University of Kansas letterhead, he looks forward to the Christmas season and discusses the people he works with. Naismith would coach the University of Kansas basketball team from 1898-1907 and was also in charge of the track and field team. He passed away in 1939 at the age of 78.