Finding aid for the Benny Friedman Papers


Title:
Benny Friedman Papers
Repository:
Western Reserve Historical Society
Phone: 216-721-5722
http://www.wrhs.org
Creator:
Friedman, Benny
Dates:
1920-2005
Quantity:
2.20 linear feet (1 container and 2 oversize volumes)
Abstract:
Benjamin "Benny" Friedman (1905-1982) was a high school, college, and professional football player, coach, and athletic administrator. One of six children of immigrant parents, he was raised in Glenville, a predominantly Jewish neighborhood on the east side of Cleveland, Ohio. As Glenville High School's star quarterback, he led his team to the City Football Championship and the National High School Championship in 1922. He entered the University of Michigan in 1923, became the starting quarterback in his sophomore season, and earned a reputation as the greatest passer of his day in college football. He was named an All-American in 1925 and 1926. In 1927, he joined the struggling professional National Football League, playing with the Cleveland Indians, the Detroit Wolverines, the New York Giants, and the Brooklyn Dodgers, whom he also coached. He made every All-Pro team of the era and revolutionized the game with his passing. He was backfield coach at Yale University in 1930. From 1934 to 1941 he coached football at City College of New York. After World War II, he became the football coach and athletic director at Brandeis University until they discontinued the sport in 1963. In 1951, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in its charter class. He began a football camp for young quarterbacks in Oxford, Maine in 1964. In 2005, Benny Friedman was inducted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame. The collection consists of articles, biographical entries, a certificate, correspondence, newspaper clippings, notes, programs, scrapbooks, speech text, and trading cards.
Identification:
MS 5072
Location:
closed stacks
Language:
The records are in English

Biography of Benny Friedman

Benjamin "Benny" Friedman (1905-1982) was a high school, college, and professional football player, coach, and athletic administrator. One of six children of immigrant parents, he was raised in Glenville, a predominantly Jewish neighborhood on the east side of Cleveland, Ohio. As Glenville High School's star quarterback, he led his team to the City Football Championship and the National High School Championship in 1922. He entered the University of Michigan in 1923, became the starting quarterback in his sophomore season, and earned a reputation as the greatest passer of his day in college football. He was named an All-American in 1925 and 1926. In 1927, he joined the struggling professional National Football League, playing with the Cleveland Indians, the Detroit Wolverines, the New York Giants, and the Brooklyn Dodgers, whom he also coached. He made every All-Pro team of the era and revolutionized the game with his passing. He was backfield coach at Yale University in 1930. From 1934 to 1941 he coached football at City College of New York. After World War II, he became the football coach and athletic director at Brandeis University until they discontinued the sport in 1963. In 1951, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in its charter class. He began a football camp for young quarterbacks in Oxford, Maine in 1964. In 2005, Benny Friedman was inducted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame.


click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for Benny Friedman


click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for the Cleveland Bulldogs

Scope and Content

The Benny Friedman Papers, 1920-2005 and undated, consist of articles, biographical entries, a certificate, correspondence, newspaper clippings, notes, programs, scrapbooks, speech text, and trading cards.

This collection is of interest to researchers studying sports history, football, and the history of the Glenville neighborhood in Cleveland, Ohio. Those interested in the evolution and development of the techniques and strategies of high school, college, and professional football will find the collection useful. Those interested in the history of the Jewish community in Cleveland will find this collection useful. Those studying the early years of the National Football League will find this collection useful.

Statement of Arrangement

The collection is arranged alphabetically by document type and then chronologically.

Restrictions on Access

None.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects:

College football players -- 20th century.
Football -- Coaching -- United States -- History -- 20th century.
Football -- United States -- History -- 20th century.
Football coaches -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- 20th century.
Football players -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- 20th century.
Friedman, Benny, 1905-1982.
Glenville (Cleveland, Ohio)
Jews -- Ohio -- Cleveland.
National Football League -- History -- 20th century

Preferred Citation

[Container ___, Folder ___ ] MS 5072 Benny Friedman Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio

Acquisition Information

Gift of Marilyn Myers in 2010.

Processing Information

Processed by Philip Wasserstrom in 2011.


Detailed Description of The Collection



Benny Friedman Papers, 1920-2005; undated

Box 1 / Folder 1
Article, Benny Friedman tribute, undated




Box 1 / Folder 2
Biographical entry, College Football USA 1868-1973, undated




Box 1 / Folder 3
Biographical entry, The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, 1981-1985, undated




Box 1 / Folder 4
Certificate, ROTC, East Technical High School, 1920




Box 1 / Folder 5
Correspondence, Stephen Fox, 1991-1992




Box 1 / Folder 6
Newspaper clippings, general, 1925-2005




Box 1 / Folder 7
Newspaper clippings, Glenville Torch, 1932




Box 1 / Folder 8
Notes, for biography, 1991




Box 1 / Folder 9
Program, Fathers and Sons, The Temple Men's Club, ca. 1920




Box 1 / Folder 10
Program, Red Grange "77" Football Program, Chicago Bears vs. New York Giants; Football's All American Team, ca. 1925




Box 1 / Folder 11
Program, Brandeis University, Benny Friedman Tribute, 1998




Box 1 / Folder 12
Scrapbook, (removed as Oversize Volume 1)., 1922




Box 1 / Folder 13
Scrapbook (removed as Oversize Volume 2), ca. 1920-1939




Box 1 / Folder 14
Speech text, "Benny Friedman Tribute," Rudy Finderson, 1998




Box 1 / Folder 15
Trading card, 2005