Family Donates Rare Globetrotters Items To Black Fives Foundation Historical Archives


A private collection of rare photographs and other historical materials relating to the early Harlem Globe Trotters has been donated to the Black Fives Foundation Historical Archive.

The items are from the family of Michigan resident Cherithe Carroll whose uncle, Floyd Patrick Brewton, was an acquaintance of African American basketball star Roscoe “Duke” Cumberland, who played with the ‘Trotters and several other professional teams in the 1940s. Though best known as a Globe Trotter, Cumberland, who was originally from Toledo, Ohio, also played with the Chicago Studebakers, the Dayton Mets, and the Dayton Rens.

Harlem Globetrotters guard Marques Haynes dribbles to elude a defender as spectators laugh, 1949.

Harlem Globe Trotters guard Marques Haynes dribbles to elude a defender as spectators laugh, at an unidentified location, ca. 1949.(Cherithe Carroll Collection, Black Fives Foundation Historical Archive)

Upon her uncle’s passing (may he rest in peace) those items from his estate were discovered by the Carroll family and Cherithe took on the responsibility and challenge of finding a proper home for them. She eventually discovered our website and sent us an email to make contact.

“I pray these items will benefit in some way to the education of not only our young black children but be an educational tool for all races and all ages,” Cherithe says.

The Harlem Globetrotters are welcomed upon arrival in Hawaii, circa 1952. Front row, left to right: Abe Saperstein, unk., unk., unk., "Babe" Pressley, Buiey. Back row (left to right): Unknown, unknown, unknown, unknown, Marques Haynes, unknown, unknown,unknown.

The Harlem Globe Trotters are welcomed upon arrival on one of their early trips to Hawaii, this one probably their second trip to the islands in late 1947. Front row, left to right: Abe Saperstein, unidentified boy, Bernie Price, Louis “Babe” Pressley, Ermer Robinson, Boid Buie. Back row (left to right): Unidentified, unidentified, possibly Sam “Boom Boom” Wheeler, Inman Jackson, Marques Haynes, unidentified, unidentified, Reese “Goose” Tatum. This is a rare glimpse of one-armed player Boid Buie (front, far right) who joined the Globetrotters in 1946. (Cherithe Carroll Collection, Black Fives Foundation Historical Archive)

“We are grateful to the Carroll family for entrusting their precious artifacts to our care as well as for Cherithe’s patience and faith to keep looking until she found us,” says Claude Johnson, executive director of the Black Fives Foundation.

The timing for the Carroll family’s gift is perfect because just this past week, in a major initiative, we upgraded and expanded our entire Black Fives Foundation Historical Archive.

Harlem Globetrotters player Reece "Goose" Tatum attempts a field goal from just inside the free throw line using his head, 1949.

Harlem Globe Trotters player Reece “Goose” Tatum attempts a field goal from just inside the free throw line, literally using his head, at an unidentified location, ca. 1949. (Cherithe Carroll Collection, Black Fives Foundation Historical Archive)

“I look forward to reading about and watching the growth within the Black Fives Foundation and personally bringing my grandsons to see the exhibit in the near future…or maybe they’ll be bringing me,” wrote Cherithe in a follow up note to us. “On behalf of the entire family of Floyd Patrick Brewton, God bless you…he would be pleased!”

Editor’s Note: The original post has been revised (11/30/2016) to correctly identify Bernie Price, who was previously listed as Roscoe “Duke” Cumberland, and to mark as unidentified the young boy previously mistakenly identified as possibly Jerry Saperstein.

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eloise saperstein
7 years ago

Duke Cumberland is not in this picture…………neither is Jerry Saperstein. The light skin man standing next to the little boy is Bernie Price
Eloise Saperstein
Daughter of Abe Saperstein

Who is that movie person who died that you claim is Jerry Saperstein’s brother. Abe Saperstein had 2 children, Eloise and Jerry ONLY!