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Establishment of an Archive for Amateur Boxing

Dear Colleague

As Chairman of the Amateur Boxing Association of England (ABAE) I wanted to highlight, and seek your support, for a very important initiative the ABAE has agreed to sponsor on behalf of English, and indeed World Amateur Boxing.

In April 1880 the 'Amateur Boxing Association (ABA) was formed.  The 'ABA' established amateur boxing around the World.  The 'Federation de Internationale de Boxe Amateur' (FIBA) formed in August 1920 had an Englishman as its President and its Honorary Secretary and Treasurer (Mr John Douglas and Mr Val Barker).  Today AIBA has 203 Affiliated Federations / Associations.  All have a direct link back to the 'ABA'.  The AIBA was formed at a London Hotel in 1946.  The AIBA offices were based in London with its Honorary Secretary and Treasurer again an Englishman (Colonial Rudyard Russell).  'The Most Stylish Award' presented at every Olympic Games (since 1936) is named after an Englishman, Mr Val Barker.  We have a long rich history.

The 'ABA' Championships are the oldest amateur boxing championships in the World.  The first championships were held in 1881.  Followed by the ABA Schools Championships in 1920 and the Junior ABA's in 1935.  More recently the Novice Championships (1996), Golden Belt (2004) and Females (2004), but lets not forget the Miners, Railways, Youth, Police and Dockers Championships.

The ABAE has been at the fore of amateur boxing for over 126 years.  Yet there is still no national archive or museum.  This is a situation we would like to correct.  The ABAE has agreed to do all in its power to put this right.  Its our ambition that by the '2012 Olympics' there will be a 'National Archive and Public Display' of amateur boxing.

Clearly much will need to be done.  This is where I am seeking your support.  We are appealing to individuals, officials, boxers, clubs, divisions and associations to donate items to this important national collection.  We are looking for

  • cups, medals and other trophies
  • programmes of international matches
  • photographs
  • national final programmes (of all competitions)
  • artifacts
  • mementos
  • national official papers and records of national meeting eg. Council, Board, Commissions
  • books on amateur boxing
  • collections of magazines and newspapers
  • posters
  • ABA merchandise (eg. blazer badges, ties pin, vests)
  • papers of significant events (eg. formation of Associations or Divisions)
  • opening / closing of long forgotten clubs (Polytechnic, Eaton Manor, Belsize and many more)
  • international events (Olympic, World, European, Commonwealth, etc), medals, programmes and mementos.   

Any donations will be formally recognised in a 'roll of honour' to be displayed.  Any significant donations will be marked by a specially commissioned 'ABA' Jewel which we will ask the ABAE Council to award in recognition.

We will keep you advised of progress through our newsletters and website.  The website will contain a list of donations to help avoid duplication.

We have made a start, now we need your help and support so please seek out donations and kindly send to: ABAE c/o English Institute of Sport, Coleridge Road, Sheffield, S5 9AD.

If you have any queries you can contact the ABAE directly on this issue by emailing archive@abae.org.uk. 

I urge you to dig out, seek out and 'acquire' whatever you can and donate to the future 'National Amateur Boxing Archive'.  I can assure you that no item donated will ever be sold but preserved for the benefit of future generations to review and enjoy.

Yours sincerely

Keith Walters

Keith Walters

Chairman