Joseph S. Branzell papers
Scope and Contents
This collection gives an insight into the life of a major league scout. A great collection of Free Agent Drafts and Reports and what scouts look for in high school and college athletes. The detailed notes, statistics and travelling from tournament to tournament, camp to camp, all year long, proves that one must be dedicated to this profession. The scouting reports have been digitized and are available at collection.baseballhall.org.
Dates
- 1953-1996
Creator
- Branzell, Joe, 1918-1997 (Person)
Language of Materials
English .
Conditions Governing Access
Some materials are open without restrictions but viewing materials does require an appointment. A 65-year release from the creation date is set by the Office of the Commissioner. See content list for release dates. Please contact the Giamatti Research Center, research@baseballhall.org, 607-547-0330.
Conditions Governing Use
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum provides use copies of materials to facilitate private study, scholarship, and research. The Museum welcomes you to use materials in our collections that are in the public domain and to make fair use of copyrighted materials as defined by copyright law and with proper citation.
Biographical / Historical
Joseph S. Branzell was born in Georgetown, MD in 1918. In 1931, he became a charter member of the Georgetown Branch of the Washington Boys Club. His relationship with the Boys Club and the passion for team sports that he developed there would remain throughout his life. After serving in the Navy during WWII, Joe returned to the Georgetown Boys Club to begin a lifetime of providing leadership and guidance. Joe coached and managed many Boys Club teams. In 1955, its most successful year under the sponsorship of E.K. Morris, owner of the Federal Storage company, they dominated the local Clark C. Griffith Memorial League and won four AAABA championships between 1955 and 1962. Joe served as Director of the new Jelleff Boys Club on S Street in Georgetown from 1953 to 1961. Branzell left the Boys Club in 1962 to begin a 35-year career as a major league scout. While scouting for the Washington Senators and later the Texas Rangers, he signed major leaguers Tom Brown, Mike Stanley, Dick Bosman, and Billy Sample to contracts. Sources: bigtrain.org, Historical Society of Washington, D.C.
Extent
12.08 Linear Feet (in 22 document boxes, 2 shoeboxes, 1 banker box, and 1 flat box)
10.6 Cubic Feet
Abstract
This collection gives great insight into the life of a Major League scout, Joe Branzell. It includes correspondence, agreements, player drafts, scouting reports and statistics.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged by subject matter in chronological order.
Physical Location
Dean O. Cochran, Jr. Manuscript Archives, Aisle 9, Range d, Shelves 4-6; Aisle 2, Range a, Shelf 3; Aisle 3, Range a, Shelf 1
Other Finding Aids
Joseph S. Branzell Papers, MS 591, The Historical Society of Washington, D.C.
Custodial History
This collection was created and compiled by Joseph Branzell over the span of his career. It was donated by his estate following his death.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift (BL-2001-00390)
Appraisal
No material was removed during accessioning or processing.
Existence and Location of Copies
Digital surrogates of scouting reports are available.
Separated Materials
Central Archives: 12 organizational record books; BA MSS 218 Spring Training programs, magazines, yearbooks
MSS Photos, Minor Collections, Box 1, Folder 29 Scouts' group photos (14)
Processing Information
Items were placed in archival sleeves where needed, into acid-free folders and archival boxes.
Creator
- Branzell, Joe, 1918-1997 (Person)
- Title
- Guide to the Joseph S. Branzell papers BA MSS 114
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Claudette Scrafford, Manuscript Archivist
- Date
- April 2011
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Revision Statements
- 2024 May 22: revised location and format information for recorded media objects in collection
Repository Details
Part of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Archives Repository