wasmhi1982_216.xml Guide to the Nate Druxman Seattle Boxing Photograph and Ephemera Collection 1920-1945 Druxman (Nate) Seattle Boxing Photograph and Ephemera Collection Finding aid prepared by Jody Hendrickson Museum of History & Industry © 2008
5933 6th Avenue South Seattle, WA 98108 Phone: 206-324-1126 URL: http://www.mohai.org
Finding aid encoded by Jody Hendrickson 2008 Finding aid written in English. Finding aid based on DACS ( Describing Archives: A Content Standard). Museum of History & Industry, Sophie Frye Bass Library
5933 6th Avenue South Seattle, WA 98108 Phone: 206-324-1126 URL: http://www.mohai.org
1982.216 Druxman, Nate, 1892-1969 Nate Druxman Seattle boxing photograph and ephemera collection 1920-1945 1931-1941 1 box, including 109 photographs .42 cubic feet Photographs and ephemera related to the sport of boxing in Seattle in the 1930s, particularly to boxers and events promoted by Nate Druxman. 2b.1.10 Collection materials are in English. 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.

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.

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

Arranged into two series:

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

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

The collection is open to the public by appointment.

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.

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

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

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.

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Druxman, Nate--Archives Steele, Freddie, 1912-1984--Photographs Ayerman, J.A. Dempsey, Jack, 1895-1983--Photographs United States--Washington (State)--Seattle Boxing matches--Washington (State)--Seattle Boxing--Washington (State)--Seattle Boxers (Sports)--Washington (State)--Seattle Boxing managers--Washington (State)--Seattle Photographs Seattle Sports and recreation Photographic prints Programs Tickets

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

Photographs 1930s-1940s Freddie Steele circa 1930-1938

Boxing champion Freddie Steele (born Frederick Earle Burgett), was born in Seattle in 1912, moving to Tacoma (he was later dubbed "the Tacoma Assassin") in 1927. Steele played baseball and basketball in intermediate school before becoming enamored of local Seattle boxer Tod Morgan and trying his hand at boxing at 13 years old. Steele won his first amateur bout in 1926, and did not lose a bout until his 47th fight, to Tony Portillo in December 30, 1930. Steele won the Pacific Northwest Welterweight Title in January 1933 and his first world title in 1936, defeating Babe Risko for the World Middleweight title. With the exception of a loss to Tommy Herman in 1932, Steele went on to win every one of his bouts until Freddie Apostoli defeated him in January 1938. The broken breastbone he suffered in the Apostoli bout, in addition to earlier fight injuries and the effects of a serious traffic accident, essentially ended his career. In pain and unable to lift his gloves to defend against the knockout blow, Steele lost the National Boxing Association World middleweight title fight in the first round to Al Hostak in July 1938. Attempting a comeback, Steele lost his next and last fight three years later to Jimmy Casino in 1941.

Steele also suffered, professionally and personally, from the loss of his manager, Dave Miller. Miller noticed Steele when Steele began boxing at Miller's gym as a young teen; he soon became Steele's manager as well a surrogate father figure. When Miller died suddenly in 1937, his brother Eddie took over management of Steele's career, and according to accounts, failed to pay Steele his ring earnings. In addition to Steele's injuries, Miller's death contributed to the decline of Steele's boxing career.

Freddie Steele also had a career in the film industry between 1941 and 1948, as a fight double, in several uncredited roles, and in more significant roles in a few films, including the 1944 The Story of G.I Joe. After over a decade in California, Steele returned to Washington, opening a restaurant with his wife, Helen, in Westport, which he ran for over 20 years until poor health forced his retirement. Steele died in an Aberdeen nursing home in 1984.

Freddie Steele is a member of both the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the World Boxing Hall of Fame. Steele's boxing record stands at 125 wins (with 60 knockouts), 5 losses and 11 draws.

 1/1 1-6 Postcards circa 1933-1936 6 postcards Smith , Tacoma National Studios , New York

3 standard size postcards by Smith showing Freddie Steele with the caption "Pacific Coast Welterweight Champion, Under Management of Dave Miller"; 3 larger cards by National Studios showing Freddie Steele and Dave Miller, with caption "World's Middleweight Champion" and "Lincolnshire Hotel. Tacoma, Washington."

 Freddie Steele in the ring 1/2 7 Freddie Steele outside training ring, with Dave Miller lacing his gloves circa 1930 1/2 8-9 Freddie Steele training in ring with another boxer circa 1930 1/2 10-11 Freddie Steele in ring wearing training gear talking to trainer Jack Connors 1936 1/2 12-14 Freddie Steele posing in ring circa 1930 1/2 15 Trainer Jack Connors wiping Freddie Steele with towel circa 1930 1/2 16 Freddie Steele sitting with manager Dave Miller and trainer Jack Connors circa 1930 1/3 17 Freddie Steele seated in corner of ring, with Jack Townsend, Dave Miller and announcer Charlie Davis 1931 May 13 Slim Lynch

This photograph is identified as depicting a fight between Steele and Joe Townsend at the Civic Arena in Seattle.

 1/3 18 Freddie Steele in corner of ring with Dave Miller and Jack Connors circa 1930 1/3 19 Freddie Steele in corner of ring with Dave Miller circa 1930 1/3 20-21 Freddie Steele, his oppponent and referee during unidentified fight circa 1930 1/3 22 Freddie Steele and Dave Miller after fight circa 1930 1/3 23 Freddie Steele and Al Hostak before their match, with referee Jack Dempsey probably 1938 July 26

This is almost certainly a photograph from the 1938 bout in which Al Hostak knocked out reigning champion Freddie Steele, winning the World Middleweight title.

 1/3 24 Freddie Steele after a fight circa 1938 1/3 25-27 Triptych showing Steele during fight, probably with Frank Battaglia 1937 1/3 28 Fight between Freddie Steele and Frank Battaglia, showing Battaglia knocked out, and referee Tommy Clark 1937 International Newsreel , Seattle Bureau 1/4 29-30 View of ring and crowd at Civic Stadium for Freddie Steele and Al Hostak fight 1938 July 26

This photograph depicts the crowd and boxing ring at the Seattle Civic Arena. The occasion was a boxing match between Freddie Steele and Al Hostak on July 26, 1938, the biggest bout in Seattle’s boxing history, with over 35,000 in attendance and the middle weight title at stake. In a match refereed by Jack Demspsey, Al Hostak knocked out reigning champion Freddie Steele in the first round, winning the World Middleweight title.

 Freddie Steele in street clothes 1/5 31 Freddie Steele running circa 1930s 1/5 32 Freddie Steele with golf club circa 1930s 1/5 33 Studio portrait circa 1936 National Studios , New York 1/5 34 Portrait of Steele reading old newspapers circa 1930s Haas-Schreiner Photo , San Francisco 1/5 35 Steele with Northwest Welterweight championship belt circa 1933 Smith , Tacoma 1/5 36 Freddie Steele with his grandfather John W. Steele circa 1934 Smith , Tacoma

Caption on verso: "John W. Steele, grandfather of Freddie Steele, came all the way from Ketchikan, Alaska, to see Freddie fight Gorilla Jones. Here is grandpa Steele presenting Freddie with a chain of Alaska gold nuggets."

 1/5 37 Dave Miller, Freddie Steele and ship officer on deck on ship circa 1936 1/5 38 Steele and another man (artist?) circa 1930s 1/5 39 Freddie Steele, Dave Miller, Bud Zeller, "Midget" Wolgast, and "Suey" Welch with Mae West circa 1930 1/5 40 Steele and boxer Ralph DeJohn, Rochester, New York 1938 1/6 41-42 Freddie Steele with six young boys 1930s 1/6 43-44 Steele in boxing stance 1930s 1/6 45 Portrait 1930s 1/6 46 Steele at water fountain 1930s 1/6 47 Steele running 1930s 1/6 48 Steele with horse 1930s Photographs by J.R. Eyerman

The Freddie Steele photographs include a large percentage of images by photographer J.R. Eyerman of Tacoma; these have been filed together though subject matter spans that of the other series.

 1/7 49-52 Posed photographs of Freddie Steele with (probably) Eddie Miller and Jack Connors 1930s

Eddie Miller was Dave Miller's brother, and became Steele's manager after Dave Miller's sudden death in 1937.

 1/7 53-54 Freddie Steele with unidentified men circa 1931 1/7 55 Freddie Steele with Bill Connor, Nelson Hong, Elliot Metcalf, Neil Edris and manager Dave Miller 1930s 1/7 56 Steele in boxing stance posing for sculptor near training ring 1930s 1/7 57 Steele and Walter "Popeye" Woods shaking hands near training ring 1930s 1/7 58 Steele working with Davey Ward 1930s

Steele trained with and coached Davey Ward.

 1/7 59 Man examining Steele's right arm 1930s 1/7 60 Steele and Dave Miller in corner of ring 1930s

2 copies. One copy inscribed; "To Nate Druxman, the premier promoter of the west. Best wishes always from Freddie Steels and Dave Miller."

 1/7 61 Steele dining outdoors 1930s 1/7 62-70 Freddie Steele 1930s

Images depict Steele swimming, rowing, sawing, in bed, showering, showing his height and reach and other poses.

 1/8 71-72 Men, including Freddie Steele and Dave Miller, in banquet hall at Winthrop Hotel, Tacoma 1935 September 25

Caption on photos: "Steele-Gibbons-Shanklin Civic Banquet, Winthrop Hotel, Tacoma"

 1/9 73-80 Miscellaneous 1930s 8 photographs

Includes 5 photographs of Steele posing in boxing gear alone or with unidentified individuals; 1 image of Steele, Dave Miller and 3 other boxes identified as Lenhart, Fraser and Britt. Also includes a 1936 photograph of the Civic Stadium captioned on verso: "where Nate staged Freddie Steele-Babe Risko out-door Worlds 15 round middleweight championship. Steele won decision July 11, 1936." Folder also includes an embossing plate showing Freddie Steele in fighting pose.

Other boxers 1/10 81 Dode Bercot 1920s 1/10 82 Dode Bercot and Abie Israel on fishing boat in Holmes Harbor 1932 March 18 1/10 83-84 Swede Berglund in boxing gear 1940s 1/10 85 Jimmy Braddock waving from door of plane 1939

Caption on verso: "Heavyweight champ arriving at Seattle to referee fight in 1939."

 1/10 86 Dave Miller and Jimmie Brett 1931 May 20 Smith , Tacoma

Inscribed to Joe Waterman.

 1/10 87 Bobbie Harper 1920 October 6

Inscription on photo: "To my pal Nate Druxman From Bobbie Harper, Lightweight Champion of Pacific Coast."

 1/10 88 Ken Overlin in training gear in ring with Jack Dempsey, in suit, outside ring circa 1930s 1/10 89-90 Maxie Rosenbloom circa 1930s 1/10 91 Barney Ross with Druxman's son Calvin circa 1935

The photo was probably taken when Barney Ross was in Seattle for an April 9, 1935 bout, sponsored by Druxman, at the Civic Auditorium. Ross defended the Junior Welterweight Title against challenger Henry Woods, winning by decision after 12 rounds.

Caption on verso: "Cal Druxman with Junior Welterweight Barney Ross--World's Champ. Nate Druxman was promoter. Photo taken at 2158 E. Shelby in 1930s."

Photo inscribed on front: "To my little pal Call. My Best Wishes, Barney Ross."

 1/10 92 Boxers Dode Bercot and Bobby Harper shaking hands in ring, with four other men 1924

Four men identified in photo as (left to right) Bert Forbes, Belkin, Jimmy Burke and L. Austin.

 1/10 93 Arthur "Pinky" Shull 1930s Smith , Tacoma photographic postcard Jack Dempsey

Nate Druxman promoted Dempsey.

 1/11 94 Jack Dempsey with Nate Druxman's four sons 1931

Dempsey fought over 100 exhibition bouts in 1931 and 1932 and was signed by Druxman for a tour of the Northwest. This photo was probably taken when Dempsey was in Seattle for his exhibition bouts at the Civic Arena in August 1931.

 1/11 95 Jack Dempsey with Nate Druxman's son Ed on his shoulders 1931 1/11 96 Jack Dempsey being examined by Dr. J.S. Thomas 1931 August 26

Inscribed to Thomas by Dempsey.

Caption on verso: "Dempsey here for exhibition bout. Dr. Thomas often physician for fighters."

 1/11 97 Jack Dempsey with horse and jockey 1937

Inscription on photo: "Jack Dempsey at Long Acres."

Inscription on verso: "Came to referee fight in 1937."

 1/11 98 Jack Dempsey at microphone 1945 June 4

Inscribed to Ed Druxman by Dempsey

 1/12 99 Civic Arena showing ring and crowd at Jack Dempsey exhibition bout 1931 August 26 Boxing promoters and others

All of the photos are inscribed to Druxman on the front of the photograph.

 1/13 100 Dan Salt 1923 May 2 Hartsook , Seattle 1/13 101 Lonnie Austin 1922 June 23 1/13 102 Michael S. Jacobs 1940 May 24

Jacobs was a fight promoter from New York

 1/13 103 Lloyd Tanner 1930s Hartsook , Seattle

Manager of the Civic Ice Arena and other civic buildings

 Miscellaneous 1/14 104 Nate Druxman and other men at picnic table, Sunnydale, Washington 1935 June

Identifications on verso: Bill Moran, Vic Zednick, Pete Daverso, Royal Brougham, Nate Druxman, Fred Rivers, Pete Rosai, Alex Schultz, George Rosai, Dick Sharp, Bill Hobson, Dutch Ruether, May, Bill Klepper, Lefty O'Doul, Ken Binns.

 1/14 105 Captain Henry H. Bonsall, Jr. circa 1940s

Note on verso: "Seattle POE Officer in war."

 1/14 106 Family group with 14 children undated Hand colored Rex Photo Finishers , Victoria

Caption on verso: "McClaren?? Victoria fighter and his family."

 1/14 107 Crystal Pool swim coach Ray Daughters with starting gun and young Ed Druxman poised to dive into pool circa 1930 1/14 108 Group of men on sidewalk undated 1/14 109 Nate and Jessie Druxman and others in front of Civic Ice Arena 1930

Identifications on verso. Left to right: Hugh Caldwell, Jessie Druxman, Mrs. Calder, Frank Calder, Mrs. Caldwell, Nate Druxman

 Ephemera Seattle boxing programs

Programs for fights sponsored by the Druxman Athletic Club, of which Nate Druxman was President.

 1/15 110 Babe Risko vs. Freddie Steele, Seattle Ball Park 1936 July 10 1/15 111 Golden Gloves Boxing Tourney, Crystal Pool 1936, December 7-8

Fight sponsored by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

 1/15 112 Freddie Steele vs. Frankie Battaglia, Seattle Civic Auditorium 1937 May 11 1/15 113 Al Hostak vs. Babe Risko, Seattle Civic Arena 1937 July 13 1/15 114 Crystal Pool event 1937 October 5

Glen Strong vs. Al Moquin; Billy Barnett vs. Charlie Rosander; Leonard Bostick vs. Dallas Bennett; Chuck Nickason vs. John McOmber; and Allen Matthews vs. Joe Smallwood

 1/15 115 Freddie Steele vs. Al Hostak, Seattle Civic Stadium Field 1938 July 26 1/15 116 Solly Krieger vs. Al Hostak, Seattle Civic Stadium Field 1939 July 27 1/15 117 Tony Zale vs. Al Hostak, Seattle Civic Stadium Field 1940 July 19 1/15 118-136 Civic Auditorium boxing events 1940 November 19-1942 November 6 19 programs

Programs for Druxman Athletic Club sponsored events at the Seattle Civic Auditorium. Each event consists of 5 or 6 bouts, featuring various boxers from Seattle and elsewhere.

 Ticket envelopes

All events are presented by Nate Druxman under the auspices of the Druxman Athletic Club. No year is given on the envelopes.

 1/15 137 Al Hostak vs. Allen Matthews August 10 1/15 138 Henry Armstrong vs. Richie Fontaine October 20 1/15 139 Freddie Steele vs. Gorilla Jones September 17 1/15 140 Babe Risko vs. Al Hostak 1937 July 13 1/15 141 Solly Krieger vs. Allen Matthews April 5 1/15 142 Al Hostak vs. Tony Zale 1940 July 19 1/15 143 Barnie Ross vs. Henry Woods 1935 April 9 1/15 144 Babe Risko vs. Freddie Steele 1936 March 24 1/15 145 Freddie Steele vs. Vince Dundee 1935 July 30 1/15 146 Al Hostak vs. Solly Krieger November 1 1/15 147 Al Hostak vs. Solly Krieger 1939 June 27 1/15 148 Freddie Steele vs. Frank Battaglia 1937 May 11 1/15 149 Freddie Steele vs. Sollie Krieger June 14 1/15 150 Babe Risko vs. Freddie Steele 1936 July 10 1/15 151 Freddie Steele vs. Al Hostak 1938 July 26 1/15 152 Freddie Steele vs. Ken Overlin May 4 1/15 153 Freddie Steele vs. Ken Overlin August 31 1/15 154 Freddie Steele vs. Allen Matthews October 21 Other ephemera 1/15 155 Pamphlet "Highlights of Jack Dempsey's Career--1931 Tour" 1932 1/15 156 Ticket to Freddie Steele vs. Al Hostak World's Middleweight Championship fight at Seattle Civic Stadium 1938 July 26

The fight was promoted and presented by Nate Druxman, whose photo appears on the back of the ticket.