Downtown in New Haven in New Haven County, Connecticut — The American Northeast (New England)
Walter Camp
Photographed By Michael Herrick, October 23, 2011
1. Walter Camp Marker
"The Father of American Football"
May 1992
Erected 1992 by The Walter Camp Football Foundation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Sports. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1992.
Location. 41° 18.893′ N, 72° 55.683′ W. Marker is in New Haven, Connecticut, in New Haven County. It is in Downtown. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Grove Street and High Street, on the right when traveling north. Located in Grove Street Cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 227 Grove Street, New Haven CT 06511, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Noah Lane Farnham (a few steps from this marker); John Gamble Kirkwood (within shouting distance of this marker); Pelatiah Perit (within shouting
this page online
Also see . . . Walter Camp on Wikipedia. (Submitted on November 20, 2011, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
Photographed By Michael Herrick, October 23, 2011
2. Walter Camp Marker and Headstone
1859 – 1925
And His Wife
Alice Sumner
1934
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, December 12, 2017
3. Walter Camp
This c. 1960 painting by Albert W. Hampson after a 1925 photograph of Walter Camp (1859-1925) hangs in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.
“The undisputed ‘Father of American Football,’ Walter Camp introduced the innovative rule changes that transformed English rugby into a uniquely American game. Camp was a stellar player on the Yale football squad (1876-82), but his off-the-field contributions to the emerging sport were of even greater importance. A member of the Intercollegiate Football Association's rules committee for forty-eight years beginning in 1877, Camp spearheaded the initiatives that reduced teams from fifteen to eleven players and created the key position of quarterback. He instituted the line of scrimmage, suggested a system of downs to govern possession of the ball, devised the present-day point system, and is credited with developing the distinctive gridiron pattern of the playing field. In short, no one proved more influential than Walter Camp in shaping the structure of the modern game.” – National Portrait Gallery
“The undisputed ‘Father of American Football,’ Walter Camp introduced the innovative rule changes that transformed English rugby into a uniquely American game. Camp was a stellar player on the Yale football squad (1876-82), but his off-the-field contributions to the emerging sport were of even greater importance. A member of the Intercollegiate Football Association's rules committee for forty-eight years beginning in 1877, Camp spearheaded the initiatives that reduced teams from fifteen to eleven players and created the key position of quarterback. He instituted the line of scrimmage, suggested a system of downs to govern possession of the ball, devised the present-day point system, and is credited with developing the distinctive gridiron pattern of the playing field. In short, no one proved more influential than Walter Camp in shaping the structure of the modern game.” – National Portrait Gallery
Credits. This page was last revised on February 10, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 20, 2011, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 784 times since then and 56 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 20, 2011, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. 3. submitted on December 25, 2017, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.
