AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN FOOTBALL PIONEER FROM IOWA

When thinking of Iowa, most Americans imagine waves of corn fields blowing in the wind, a field of dreams, or the start of a Presidential campaign. Few think of Iowa's contribution to the history of African-Americans in football, yet Iowa was one place where a small number of African-Americans made a significant contribution. A few of these are known: Iowa State's football stadium is named for Jack Trice who played for the school in 1923; Sol Butler, a former world record holder in the long jump played football for the University of Dubuque in 1919 and 1920; Duke Slater starred at the University of Iowa between 1918 and 1922 and was elected in the inaugural class to the Iowa Sports Hall of Fame.

1930's Cereal Box Collectibles from the Breakfast of Champions

Collectors of vintage football memorabilia have often found quality material very close to home. Occasionally it appeared on the kitchen table, as a bread label or on the outside of kid-oriented breakfast foods. Cereal box panels, insert cards, and the boxes themselves have inspired a widespread collector following. Wheaties was the first and most important of the cereal makers to feature sports collectibles. The colorful nature of these promotions and the sports themes they celebrated have ensured their long term popularity

Remembering the Ironton Tanks' NFL Victories

Ironton, a small city in Southern Ohio, was the home of the Ironton Tanks. The Tanks started play in 1919 and finished its last season in 1930. It left a football record matched by few clubs. In twelve seasons, the Tanks compiled an overall record of 88-17-15. The final season of 1930 was filled with gridiron achievements that many NFL teams would love to forget.

One of the great enjoyments that I receive from my collection of football publications is to trace the history of the game of football over many years.  One of the more interesting runs of football publications that is in my football library is the Street & Smith's football annual magazine.

Still in publication today, Street & Smith's is the longest running annual in the market with its' debut in 1940.  In the 1940 edition, the annual just covered the college game and in 1941, there was an early article review about the NFL professional game.From 1940 to 1962 Street & Smith's was a one edition annual and then beginning in 1963, the split came for two editions, a college and a professional magazine