Clippings, 1945

Jerome Kessler was the Eagles’ part-time publicist. He began working for the team while a student at Rutgers Law School and upon graduation conducted some legal work for the team as well. Kessler was white, which at times led to controversy. (See letter in Series 1. from journalist Oliver “Butts” Brown of the New Jersey Herald News to EM, 4 April 1940). When Kessler was in the service during World War II, Brown took on some of the publicity work.

The publicity material consists of clippings, press releases and player biographies. The clippings are sparse, including only one or two clippings for each year. The press releases are largely related to player statistics or biographies, team statistics and schedules. Also included in the press releases are: “Information on Negro Baseball as compiled by Effa Manley… (1941); and a statement regarding integration of the Major Leagues: “To Owners of Major League baseball World … This is supposed to be the Land of the braves and the Home of the free” (1942).

The biographies are usually brief responses to a list of questions. Among the information and questions in the biographies, which varied over the years, were: name, address, age, height, weight, throw ____, bat ____, position, years playing professionally, teams played with, birthplace, hobbies, are parents living?, married?, children?, do you drink (whiskey, beer, wine)?, do you smoke? do you play a musical instrument? remarks.