National Association of Amateur Athletes of America (NAAA) was formed in 1879.Gazette, Montreal Quebec, Canada, Oct 27, 1880. Retrieved Feb 3, 202Cincinnati Enquirer, Ohio, Oct 2, 1880. Retrieved Feb 3, 202 This was the organized body for the Amateur Athletes before the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) took over in 1888.AAU History. Retrieved Oct. 14, 2020

NAAA History

NAAA formation

After the Amateur National Championships (1876 to 1879) were held for several years, several meetings took place in the New York area to create an Association of Amateur Athletes.Track & Field History. Retrieved Oct. 14, 2020 The Association was mostly formed by Athletic Clubs (from USA and Canada) for uniformity and setting of rules and guidance of the various sports. Track and Field (Athletics) was one of the sports included in the formation of this Association. Starting in 1888, the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) took over the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Athletes.Track & Field History. Retrieved Oct. 14, 2020

NAAA National Championships (prior to AAU) 1879 to 1888

In 1888 there was both a NAAA and AAU Championships. NAAA competitions were held at various athletic clubs grounds.USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Retrieved Oct. 14, 2020

1888 Manhattan AC grounds, New York, New York on Oct. 13, 1888.NAAA Championship. The Sun, New York, New York Oct 14, 1888. Retrieved Oct. 14, 2020

1887 Manhattan AC grounds, New York, New York on Sept 17, 1887.NAAA Championship. New York Times, Sept. 18, 1887. Retrieved Oct. 14, 2020

1886-2 NYAC grounds, Mott Haven, NY on Sept 18, 1886.NAAA Championship. Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, New York, Sept. 19, 1886. Retrieved Oct. 14, 2020

1886-1 Staten Island AC grounds, West Brighton, Staten Island on June 26, 1886.NAAA Championship. New York Tribune, New York, New York, June 27, 1886 Retrieved Oct. 14, 2020

1885 Manhattan AC grounds, New York, New York on June 13, 1885.NAAA Championship. New York Times, New York, New York, June 14, 1885 Retrieved Oct. 14, 2020

1884 Williamsburg AC grounds, Brooklyn, NY on Sept 28, 1884.NAAA Championship. New York Times, New York, New York, Sept. 28, 1884 Retrieved Oct. 14, 2020

1883 NYAC grounds, Mott Haven, NY on June 2, 1883.NAAA Championship. New York Tribune, New York, New York, June 3, 1883 Retrieved Oct. 14, 2020Times Union, Brooklyn, New York, June 9, 1883. Retrieved Jan 25, 2021

1882 Polo grounds, New York, New York on June 10, 1882.NAAA Championship. Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, New York, June 11, 1882 Retrieved Oct. 14, 2020 Note: June 11, 1882 Boston Globe included meet results.Boston Globe, Massachusetts, Jun 11, 1882. Retrieved Feb 3, 2021

1881 NYAC grounds, Mott Haven, NY on Sept 24, 1881.NAAA Championship. New York Times, New York, New York, Sept. 23, 1881 Retrieved Oct. 14, 2020NAAA Championship. New York Times, New York, New York, Sept 25, 1881. Retrieved Jan 25, 2021 Note: Sept 25, 1881 Boston Globe had full meet results.Boston Globe, Massachusetts, Sept 25, 1881. Retrieved Jan 25, 2021

1880 NYAC grounds, Mott Haven, NY on Sept 25, 1880.NAAA Championship. The Sun, New York, New York, Sept. 26, 1880 Retrieved Oct. 14, 2020NAAA Championship. Gazette, Montreal, Quebec, Sept 29, 1880. Retrieved Jan 25, 2021 Note: Sept 26, 1880 The Sun, New York, New York included meet results.The Sun, New York, New York, Sept 26, 1880. Retrieved Feb 3, 2021

1879 NYAC grounds, Mott Haven, NY on Sept 27, 1879.NAAA Championship. New York Times, New York, New York, Sept. 28, 1879 Retrieved Oct. 14, 2020

Past NAAA presidents

1879 George W Carr was elected president, 1880 & 1881 & 1882 A. H. Curtis was elected president, 1883 & 1884 & 1885 Gilbert H Badeu elected president, and 1887 Walter Storm was elected. George W Carr and Walter Storm were from the Manhattan Athletic Club. A. H. Curtis was from the New York Athletic Club (NYAC). Gilbert H Badeu was from the Williamsburg Athletic Club.Track & Field History. Retrieved Oct. 14, 2020Book: National Association of Amateur Athletes of America; Constitution and Bylaws, 1880, New York Retrieved Oct. 14, 2020

Constitution and bylaws

April 22, 1879: The Crimson (Cambridge) (reported on Nov 4, 1882), "In April, 1879 the N.A.A.A. was formed ...".The Crimson, Feb 1882 through Feb 1883 articles, GoogleBooks. Retrieved Feb 3, 2021 A constitution was in the process of adoption.St Louis Post-Dispatch, St Louis < MO, Apr 23, 1879. Retrieved Feb 3. 2021New Orleans Daily Democrat, Louisianan, Apr 24, 1879. Retrieved Feb 3. 2021

Jan 1880 the NAAA released the definition of what an "amateur" was.Record Union, Sacramento, Calif, Jan 31, 1880. Retrieved Feb 3, 2021Record-Union, Sacramento, Calif, Jan 31, 1880. Retrieved Feb 3, 2021

The 1880 and 1886 National Association of Amateur Athletes of America's Constitution and Bylaws are both available on-line. List of Associated Clubs and Rules are includes in both.National Association of Amateur Athletes of America; Constitution and Bylaws. 1880 and 1886. Retrieved Dec 24, 2020.

In 1883 a twelve-page document, published in New York, was released under the name "Amateur Athlete." The document includes records of events.Tennessean, Nashville, Tennessee, Apr 12, 1883. Retrieved Jan 25, 2021

NAAA National Convention, Definition, and Resolution (prior to AAU) 1879 to 1888

1890: Jan 1, 1890: NAAA to be “merged” into the AAU.Track & Field History. Retrieved Oct. 14, 2020

1889: July 1889 & Dec 1889: Board of Manager Meetings in New York between AAU and NAAA took place to resolve a “merger”.Track & Field History. Retrieved Oct. 14, 2020

1888: Two separate organizations and two separate national championships existed: AAU and NAAA (National Association of Amateur Athletics).Track & Field History. Retrieved Oct. 14, 2020

1888: Sept 15, 1888 and Oct 7 at Manhattan Athletic Club, New York. Track & Field competition was originally scheduled on Sept 15, and was moved to Oct. 13, 1888 at Manhattan Athletic Club's grounds, New York. President of NCAAA and MAAAA was Walter Storm.Track & Field History. Retrieved Oct. 14, 2020

1885: March 1885: A sub-committee created (and adopted) a definition for "amateur athlete".Huddersfield Chronicle and West Yorkshire Advertiser, England, Mar 6, 1885. Retrieved Jan 25, 2021Gazette, Montreal, Quebec, Mar 3, 1885. Retrieved Jan 25, 2021New York Times, New York, Mar 23, 1885. Retrieved Jan 25, 2021

1882: June 12, 1882. Meeting in New York. A. H. Curtis was elected president.Boston Globe, Massachusetts, June 12, 1882. Retrieved Jan 25, 2021

1881: By 1881 twenty-one clubs were part of the NAAA.Track & Field History. Retrieved Oct. 14, 2020

1881: Sept 24, 1881. General Meeting in New York.NAAA Championship. New York Times, New York, New York, Sept 25, 1881. Retrieved Jan 25, 2021

1881: Jan 12, 1881. As resolution was adopted for whom may compete in NAAA competitions.Boston Globe, Massachusetts, June 19, 1881. Retrieved Jan 25, 2021Boston Globe, Massachusetts, Aug 14, 1881. Retrieved Jan 25, 2021

1880: Nov 17, 1880: Executive Committee meeting was held to discuss if several athletes should be reinstated.San Francisco Examiner, California, Dec 13, 18880. Retrieved Jan 25, 2021

1880: By 1880 twelve clubs were part of the NAAA. In 1880 a set of amateur rules and amateur records were published by the National Association of Amateur Athletics at their 183 Broadway “headquarters”. The executive committee included George W. Carr.Track & Field History. Retrieved Oct. 14, 2020

1879: Evening of Sept 27, 1879 in New York. George Carr was elected president (Convention held after the competition).National Amateur Convention. New York Times, New York, New York, Sept. 28, 1879 Retrieved Oct. 14, 2020

1879: April 22, 1879 (in New York) Formation of the NAAA (National Association of Amateur Athletics). Seven clubs became charter members.National Amateur Convention. Buffalo Morning Express and Illustrated Buffalo Express, Buffalo, New York, April 24, 1879 Retrieved Oct. 14, 2020

Note: March 25, 1878 a meeting of the American Association of Amateur Athletics was held at the Sturtevant House. This was fourth meeting held to define constitution and bylaws of the association.New York Times, NY, NY, Mar 26, 1878. Retrieved Jan 25, 2021

AAU: Post-1887

There were several athletes and several clubs requesting the Association's definition of "Amateur" and "professional" be redefined.New York Times Mar 23, 1885 Retrieved Nov 30, 2020 Later these disagreements assisted in the takeover by the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU).

Post 1887 the Competition information can be found on the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships web page.

Amateur National Championships

Amateur National Championships (prior to NAAA) 1876 to 1879

In 1879 the meet doubled as the first NAAA Championship

1878 Mott Haven, NY on Oct 12, 1878.Amateur Championship. New York Daily Herald, New York, New York, Oct. 11, 1879 Retrieved Oct. 14, 2020

1877 Mott Haven, NY on Sept 8, 1877.Amateur Championship. New York Daily Herald, New York, New York, Sept. 9, 1877 Retrieved Oct. 14, 2020

1876 Mott Haven, NY on Sept 30, 1876.Amateur Championship. The Sun, New York, New York, Oct. 1, 1876 Retrieved Oct. 14, 2020Amateur Championship. Science of Running Retrieved Oct. 14, 2020

One of the original clubs for Amateur Athletics was the New York Athletic Club which was founded in 1868. The Mott Haven grounds with cinder track were obtained by the club in 1875.New-York-Tribune, NY, NY, Apr 6, 1884. Retrieved Jan 25, 2021

1876 Amateur National Champions

The 1876 Amateur Championship included the following winners: Frederick C. Saportas (100), Edward Merritt (440), Harold Lambe (Canadian) (880 and mile), George Hitchcock (120 hurdles), H. Edwards Fickens (HJ), Isaiah Frazier (LJ), H. E. Buermeyer (SP), William B. Curtis (HT), and D. M. Stern & Charles Connor (Walks).Book: National Association of Amateur Athletes of America; Constitution and Bylaws, 1880, New York Retrieved Oct. 14, 2020GBR Athletics. Retrieved Feb 26, 2021

References

External links Track & Field History. mastershistory.org website Outing Library of Sports, article "Amateur Athletes of America" Wildwood's Magazine May 1888 Science of Running. Track & Field History Track & Field: Brinkster web page National Association of Amateur Athletics 1888 Constitution By Laws England formed in 1880: Amateur Athletic Association of England May 1880 South Canterbury Amateur Athletics; Christchurch: meet results Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America IC4A CHAMPIONSHIPS (1876-1942)