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Nate Druxman Seattle boxing photograph and ephemera collection, 1920-1945

Overview of the Collection

Collector
Druxman, Nate, 1892-1969
Title
Nate Druxman Seattle boxing photograph and ephemera collection
Dates
1920-1945 (inclusive)
1931-1941 (bulk)
Quantity
1 box, including 109 photographs, (.42 cubic feet)
Collection Number
1982.216 (accession)
Summary
Photographs and ephemera related to the sport of boxing in Seattle in the 1930s, particularly to boxers and events promoted by Nate Druxman.
Repository
Museum of History & Industry, Sophie Frye Bass Library

P.O. Box 80816
Seattle, WA
98108
Telephone: 2063241126 x102
library@mohai.org
Access Restrictions

The collection is open to the public by appointment.

Languages
English.
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Biographical Note

Prominent Seattle boxing promoter Nate Druxman (1892-1969) was born in Seattle to Ukrainian Jewish parents, owners of a furniture store at Second Avenue South and Yesler Way. Druxman attended Seattle Public Schools, first the old South School, and then the Pacific School, where he met his future wife, Jessie Simmons. They were married in 1914 and had four sons, Robert, E.J. ("Bud"), Calvin and Edward.

Druxman played semi-pro baseball and did some lightweight boxing as a young man. His boss at the Schwabacher Brothers and Company store, however, was not impressed with Druxman's boxing career and, needing the job, young Druxman quit boxing to work fulltime selling cigars. Druxman worked for Schwabacher Brothers from around 1910 until 1929.

Though he had quit fighting, in 1914 Druxman began promoting boxing shows at Seattle's Elks Club at Fourth Avenue and Spring Street, one of several local venues for private club boxing. Though professional boxing was illegal in Washington State at the time, an exception in the 1909 legislation "Provided that nothing in this section shall be so construed as to interfere with members of private club sparring or fencing for exercise among themselves." Accordingly, most fights took place in American Legion posts, Elks, Knights of Columbus, Moose Lodges and other clubs for "members." Other Seattle boxing venues at the time included the Northwest Athletic Club and the National Athletic Club.

By 1925, Nate had opened his own club, the Druxman Athletic Club, at the Crystal Pool on Second Avenue; he also promoted fights at the Civic Ice Arena, Dugdale Park, and the National Athletic Club during this period. Among the fighters who fought or refereed for Druxman were Freddie Steele, Tod Morgan, Al Hostak, Gorilla Jones, Ted Krache, Dode Bercot, Travie Davis, Henry Woods, Max Baer, Doc Snell, and Cecil Payne. After boxing was legalized in Washington in 1933, Druxman was able to promote world title fights in Seattle--11 of them between 1933 and 1940, including the middleweight title bout between Freddie Steele and Al Hostak in 1938. Though Druxman also operated a real estate business, he continued to promote boxing until 1942, when he went to work for the special services section at the Port of Embarkation during the war.

Nate Druxman died on November 20, 1969.

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Content Description

The collection consists largely of photographs of local Seattle boxers and boxing events associated with Seattle boxing promoter Nate Druxman; also includes images depicting other boxing promoters and other individuals . The bulk of the photographs documents the career of boxer Freddie "the Tacoma Assassin" Steele from circa 1930-1938, including images of Steele's fights with Frank Battaglia in 1937 and Al Hostak in 1938. The collection also includes several images of Jack Dempsey, in Seattle for an exhibition bout in 1931, and to referee a bout promoted by Druxman in 1937. Other boxers depicted include Dode Bercot, Maxie Rosenbloom, Ken Overlin and Barney Ross, among others.

Ephemera consist largely of programs and ticket envelopes for Seattle boxing matches promoted by the Druxman Athletic Club, circa 1936-1942. The series also includes a pamphlet about the career of Jack Dempsey to 1931, and a ticket to the Freddie Steele vs. Al Hostak match (refereed by Jack Dempsey) at the Civic Stadium on July 26, 1938, one of Seattle's first major sporting events.

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Use of the Collection

Alternative Forms Available

View selections from the collection in MOHAI's online collections.

Alternative Forms Available

View selections from the collection in digital format by clicking on the camera icons in the inventory below.

Restrictions on Use

The Museum of History & Industry is the owner of the materials in the Sophie Frye Bass Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from MOHAI before any reproduction use. The museum does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.

Preferred Citation

Nate Druxman Seattle Boxing Photographs and Ephemera, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Arranged into two series:

  • Photographs
    • Freddie Steele
    • Other boxers
    • Boxing promoters and others
    • Miscellaneous
  • Ephemera
    • Seattle boxing programs
    • Ticket envelopes
    • Other ephemera

Location of Collection

2b.1.10

Acquisition Information

Gift of Ed Druxman (Nate Druxman's son), December 12, 1982.

Processing Note

Collection was arranged and numbered into broad groupings on accessioning. During current processing, the collection was rearranged and renumbered to create series based on subject, and/or chronology.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Boxers (Sports)--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Boxing managers--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Boxing matches--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Boxing--Washington (State)--Seattle

Personal Names

  • Dempsey, Jack, 1895-1983--Photographs
  • Druxman, Nate--Archives
  • Steele, Freddie, 1912-1984--Photographs

Geographical Names

  • United States--Washington (State)--Seattle

Form or Genre Terms

  • Photographic prints
  • Programs
  • Tickets

Other Creators

  • Personal Names

    • Ayerman, J.A. (photographer)

Finding aid prepared by Jody Hendrickson
2008

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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