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ALFRED JORDAN WAS AN ENGLISH DRAUGHTS PLAYER BORN IN LONDON, ENGLAND ON NOVEMBER 6,
1870. HE BEGAN A SERIOUS STUDY OF THE GAME WHEN HE WAS EIGHTEEN YEARS OLD, AND WOULD GO ON TO BECOME ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL
MATCH AND TOURNAMENT PLAYERS EVER TO PLAY THE GAME. HIS RECORD IN ENGLISH TOURNAMENT AND MATCH PLAY IS ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE
EVER, INCLUDING MANY LONDON AND ENGLISH CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT VICTORIES.
A VERY YOUNG ALFRED JORDAN, AS SEEN IN STEARNS' BOOK OF PORTRAITS VOL. II
JORDAN WAS ALSO KNOWN FOR HIS TOURING EXHIBITIONS, HAVING PLAYED THOUSANDS OF GAMES AGAINST ALL COMERS IN
MANY DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, INCLUDING ENGLAND, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, CANADA AND AMERICA. DURING HIS TOURS, HE WAS BEFRIENDED
BY COUNTLESS MEMBERS OF THE PLAYING FRATERNITY, AND BECAME ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR PLAYERS OF ALL TIME.
IN JANUARY OF 1911, ALF JORDAN ARRIVED IN SAN FRANCISCO TO BEGIN THE FINAL LEG OF HIS WORLD TOUR. THIS
WAS HIS SECOND VISIT TO AMERICA, AS HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE GREAT BRITAIN TEAM THAT VISITED AMERICA FOR THE 1905 INTERNATIONAL
MATCH.
HE IMMEDIATELY SET TO EXHIBITIONS AND MATCHES, AND WAS SCHEDULED TO PLAY A 24 GAME PURSE MATCH WITH MR.
JOSEPH DROUILLARD, THE PACIFIC COAST CHAMPION, IN FEBRUARY. JORDAN EASILY DEFEATED DROUILLARD , ONE OF THE MOST HIGHLY
REGARDED AMERICAN PLAYERS OF THE ERA, 7-0-11 DRAWS.
AT CEDAR POINT, OH. JORDAN ENDED HIS WORLD TOUR IN AUGUST OF 1911 BY DEFEATING AMERICAN NEWELL BANKS
IN A 20 GAME SUBSCRIPTION MATCH, 4-1-13 DRAWS. THIS VICTORY WAS SIGNIFICANT IN THAT NEWELL BANKS WAS THE RECOGNIZED AMERICAN
MATCH CHAMPION, ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO TITLE AT STAKE IN THIS ENCOUNTER. INDEED, THE MATCH WAS CONSIDERED MORE OF AN EXHIBITION,
AS BANKS ENTERED INTO THE MATCH ADMITTEDLY ILL-PREPARED .
THIS WAS THE FIRST MATCH OF WHAT WOULD BECOME ONE OF THE GREATEST RIVALRIES IN THE HISTORY OF THE GAME.
THE GAMES OF THE JORDAN-DROUILLARD AND JORDAN-BANKS MATCHES WERE RECORDED AND LATER PUBLISHED IN BOOK FORM BY
MANSON TEETZEL.
 SHORTLY AFTER THIS VICTORY OVER BANKS, JORDAN RETURNED TO GREAT BRITAIN, AND IN JANUARY 1912,
HE WON THE SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT, DEFEATING FORMER WORLD CHAMPION JAMES FERRIE IN THE FINALS , 1-0-11
DRAWS. IT WAS THIS VICTORY , ALONG WITH THE MATCH VICTORY OVER NEWELL BANKS AT CEDAR POINT, THAT ALL
BUT CEMENTED JORDAN'S CLAIM TO THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, WHICH WAS VACATED BY THE DEATH OF RICHARD JORDAN ( NO RELATION) SEVERAL
MONTHS EARLIER.
VERY SHORTLY AFTER THIS, ALFRED JORDAN LEFT ENGLAND TO LIVE IN AMERICA, AND APPLY FOR AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP,
WHICH HE WOULD EVENTUALLY OBTAIN.
IN ORDER TO STAKE A LEGITIMATE CLAIM TO THE TITLE, ON OCTOBER 26, 1912, JORDAN PRESENTED AN OPEN CHALLENGE
TO ANYONE IN THE WORLD FOR A FORTY GAME, CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH, AND A $500.00 (PER PLAYER) STAKE.
ROBERT STEWART OF SCOTLAND, ANOTHER PLAYER WHO MANY VIEWED AS BEING OF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CALIBER, ACCEPTED THE
CHALLENGE ON THE CONDITION THAT THE MATCH BE PLAYED IN MANCHESTER OR GLASGOW. THIS CONDITION WAS UNREASONABLE TO JORDAN AND
NEGOTIATIONS FELL APART, WITH THE MATCH NEVER TAKING PLACE.
BEING THAT NO ONE ACCEPTED THE TERMS PUT FORTH IN HIS OPEN CHALLENGE WITHIN THE ALLOTTED TIME, ALFRED JORDAN CLAIMED
THE TITLE OF RESTRICTED WORLD'S CHECKER CHAMPION.
AT THIS POINT, NEWELL BANKS ACCEPTED THE CHALLENGE, AND AFTER OVERCOMING A FEW STUMBLING BLOCKS IN NEGOTIATIONS,
THE MATCH WAS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN ON NOVEMBER 16, 1914.
IN THE MEANTIME , JORDAN CONTINUED TO TOUR AND COMPETE IN MANY TOURNAMENTS AND MATCHES.
EVENTUALLY, MELVIN POMEROY WOULD NEGOTIATE A MATCH WITH JORDAN FOR THE FREESTYLE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP. (JORDAN'S
CLAIM WAS TO THE RESTRICTED TITLE.) POMEROY WOULD DEFEAT JORDAN TWICE IN FREESTYLE (UNRESTRICTED OPENING) CHAMPIONSHIP
MATCHES. THESE LOSSES HAD NO BEARING ON JORDAN'S CLAIM TO THE RESTRICTED TITLE. INDEED, (NOT TO TAKE ANYTHING AWAY FROM
THE PLAY OF POMEROY), IT HAS BEEN WRITTEN SINCE THAT TIME THAT JORDAN CARED NOTHING FOR THE TITLE THAT WAS AT STAKE IN THE
POMEROY MATCHES, AND THERE HAS BEEN RUMOR (UNCONFIRMED) LEAKED DOWN THROUGH THE GAME'S HISTORY THAT JORDAN ACTUALLY THREW
THESE TWO MATCHES TO POMEROY.
(POSSIBLY TO LOWER THE DEFENSES OF BANKS FOR THE UPCOMING TWO-MOVE TITLE MATCH)
REGARDLESS OF THE RESULTS OF THESE MATCHES WITH POMEROY, JORDAN BEGAN A "DEFENSE" OF HIS CLAIMED RESTRICTED
TITLE
AGAINST NEWELL BANKS ON NOVEMBER 16, 1914 AT KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI. AFTER TEN DAYS PLAY, THE FINAL SCORE WAS 2-2-36 DRAWS,
JORDAN CLAIMING THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP AS THE DEFENDING CHAMPION IN THE EVENT OF A TIE.
IMAGE FROM THE JORDAN-BANKS MATCH BOOK
ALTHOUGH SEVERAL OF THE PERIODICALS OF THE DAY QUESTIONED THE LEGITIMACY OF HIS CLAIM OF BEING WORLD CHAMPION,
THERE WAS NEVER ANY QUESTIONING THE CROSSBOARD ABILITY OF THIS GREAT PLAYER.
A RETURN MATCH WITH NEWELL BANKS TOOK PLACE ON JANURARY 8-19, 1917 AT LOS ANGELES, CA. IN THIS MATCH JORDAN WAS
DEFEATED BY THE CLOSE SCORE OF 3-2-35 DRAWS, THUS ENDING JORDAN'S CLAIM TO THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FROM THIS POINT FORWARD.
JORDAN CONTINUED TO TOUR AND GIVE EXHIBITIONS IN AMERICA FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE, AS WELL AS COMPETE IN MANY
REGIONAL TOURNAMENTS ALONG THE WAY.
PROBABLY THE MOST DISAPPOINTING PART OF HIS GREAT CAREER WAS HIS INABILITY TO WIN AN AMERICAN NATIONAL TOURNAMENT.
HE ENTERED FIVE IN TOTAL, AND WAS FAVORED TO WIN IN EACH OF THEM, BUT LOST SEVERAL OF THEM IN THE FINALS.
ONE OF HIS GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AND ONE WHICH HE WAS VERY PROUD OF, WAS BEING CHOSEN AS ONE OF THE "BIG SEVEN"
TO REPRESENT AMERICA IN THE SECOND US/GB INTERNATIONAL MATCH IN 1927.
UNFORTUNATELY, HE WOULD NEVER LIVE TO BE PART OF THIS EVENT.
ALF "THE ARTFUL DODGER" JORDAN PASSED AWAY ON MAY 7, 1926, AT THE YOUNG AGE OF 56. HE WAS SUDDENLY
STRUCK WITH ACUTE NEPHRITIS, AND PASSED ON VERY QUICKLY .
HE LEFT BEHIND HIM A MOST REMARKABLE CAREER IN THE GAME OF CHECKERS/DRAUGHTS THAT SPANNED ALMOST FORTY YEARS,
AND HE WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED AS ONE OF THE GREATEST PLAYER/ANALYSTS OF THE TWO-MOVE ERA, AND AS ONE OF THE GREATEST
CHECKERISTS THE GAME HAS EVER PRODUCED.
QUITE OFTEN DURING HIS EXHIBITION TOURS, JORDAN WOULD BE GIVEN, AS A GIFT, A PHOTGRAPH FOR HIS
OWN PERSONAL COLLECTION. MANY OF THESE RARE AND AND BELIEVED TO BE NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED PHOTOGRAPHS HAVE BEEN PRESERVED
BY THE DESCENDANTS OF JORDAN.....
THROUGH A POST MADE ON THE OMOCH FORUM, CORRESPONDENCE HAS BEEN INITIATED WITH THE GREAT GRANDSON OF ALFRED JORDAN;
KEITH BRANNEN.
MR. BRANNEN, IN AN EFFORT TO PRESERVE THE LEGACY OF ALFRED JORDAN, HAS AGREED TO SHARE SOME OF THE FAMILY
HEIRLOOMS THAT HAVE BEEN PASSED DOWN TO HIM, GENERATION TO GENERATION, FROM ALFRED JORDAN HIMSELF.
THE
ONLINE MUSEUM OF CHECKERS HISTORY
ON BEHALF OF
MR. KEITH BRANNEN
PROUDLY PRESENTS
THE ALFRED JORDAN EXHIBIT
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EXHIBIT 139KB
"ALF JORDAN TROPHY PHOTO"
SHOWN HERE IS A PHOTOGRAPH OF MR. JORDAN POSING WITH SOME OF HIS MANY TROPHIES. THIS
IMAGE IS ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS IN THE GAME'S HISTORY, AND HAS BEEN PUBLISHED MANY TIMES. INCLUDED IS ONE OF THE MOST NOTABLE
USAGES OF THE PHOTOGRAPH, THE FEBRUARY 1912 ISSUE OF DRAUGHTS WORLD. THIS ISSUE CONTAINED COVERAGE OF THE NINETEENTH
SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT, WHICH JORDAN WON. THIS IMAGE CONTAINS A LISTING OF ALL OF THE TROPHIES PRESENT IN THE PHOTOGRAPH.
THE IMAGE EXHIBITED HERE IS REPRODUCED DIRECTLY
FROM AN ORIGINAL COPY OF THE PHOTOGRAPH, AND WAS MOST LIKELY JORDAN'S OWN PERSONAL COPY, AS IT IS CURRENTLY IN THE POSSESSION OF KEITH BRANNEN, WHO IS A DIRECT DESCENDANT OF JORDAN.
FROM KEITH...
"These are actual photographs that I have, not scanned from books or
off the internet....As far as the cups he had , if I remember correctly, my grandfather told me that most were lost when
Alfred was in Australia."
SUBMITTED BY K. BRANNEN
CLICK IMAGES BELOW TO ENLARGE
EXHIBIT 140KB
"5TH AMERICAN TOURNAMENT PHOTO"
THE FIFTH AMERICAN TOURNAMENT FOR THE CHECKER CHAMPIONSHIP OF
AMERICA WAS HELD AT THE AMERICAN HOUSE IN BOSTON, MASS. FROM OCTOBER 12-23, 1922.
IT WAS WON BY EIGHTEEN YEAR OLD ASA LONG, WHO HAD TO DEFEAT THE VETERAN ALFED JORDAN IN TWO
CONSECUTIVE HEATS TO WIN THE TITLE OF AMERICAN CHAMPION.
SHOWN IS THE "UNEDITED" GROUP PHOTO THAT WAS CONTAINED WITHIN THE PAGES OF THE FIFTH AMERICAN
TOURNAMENT BOOK. (IMAGE INCLUDED IN THE EXHIBIT)
AS WAS COMMON WITH EARLY TOURNAMENT PHOTOGRAPHS , IT CAN CLEARLY BE SEEN THAT PRIOR
TO THE PUBLICATION OF A PHOTO, AN EDITOR WOULD CUT AND PASTE AN IMAGE OF ONE PLAYER OVER TOP OF A SUBSTITUTE SIT-IN,
IN ORDER TO PRODUCE A PHOTO THAT WOULD SHOW MORE PROMINENT PLAYERS, OFFICIALS, ETC. (COMPARE PERSON AT BOTTOM RIGHT IN THE
TWO IMAGES.)
THE PHOTO SHOWN WAS ALF JORDAN'S OWN PERSONAL COPY, AND IS IN THE POSSESSION OF KEITH
BRANNEN, GREAT GRANDSON OF JORDAN.
FROM KEITH....
"I have scanned in one photo of the 1922 5th American Tourney, and have also scanned the
back where Alfred Jordan wrote the names of the players. Fortunately, he had a habit of writing names on the backs of photographs."
SUBMITTED BY K. BRANNEN
CLICK IMAGES BELOW TO ENLARGE
EXHIBIT 141KB
"6TH AMERICAN TOURNAMENT PHOTO"
THE SIXTH TOURNAMENT FOR THE CHECKER CHAMPIONSHIP OF AMERICA WAS HELD AT THE HOTEL ALAMAC IN NEW YORK
CITY FROM APRIL 29 THROUGH MAY 14, 1924.
THIS TOURNAMENT WAS WON BY SAM "THE GREAT" GONOTSKY. THIS TOURNEY WAS ANOTHER DISAPPOINTMENT FOR THE VETERAN
ALFRED JORDAN, AS AFTER DEFEATING GONOTSKY IN THE NINTH ROUND, HE SUFFERED DEFEAT AT GONOTSKY'S HANDS IN THE TENTH AND FINAL
ROUND.
THIS WAS THE FINAL AMERICAN NATIONAL TOURNAMENT IN THE PLAYING CAREER OF JORDAN.
THE IMAGE EXHIBITED IS REPRODUCED HERE FROM THE ORIGINAL, UNEDITED TOURNAMENT PHOTO, AS THE IMAGE
PUBLISHED IN THE TOURNEY BOOK HAS THE FACE OF A.J. HEFFNER CUT AND PASTED OVER THE FACE OF NEWELL BANKS. (INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH,
NEITHER OF THESE MEN ACTUALLY COMPETED IN THE TOURNAMENT.)
THE PHOTO SHOWN WAS ALF JORDAN'S OWN PERSONAL PHOTO, AND IS CURRENTLY IN THE POSSESSION OF KEITH BRANNEN,
THE GREAT GRANDSON OF JORDAN.
SUBMITTED BY K. BRANNEN.
EXHIBIT 142KB
"JORDAN-GINSBERG PHOTO"
SHOWN IS A VERY RARE PHOTO OF ALFRED JORDAN (LEFT) COMPETING CROSSBOARD AGAINST AMERICAN LOUIS GINSBERG
(RIGHT) IN A 1924 TOURNAMENT.
THESE TWO HAD MANY CROSSBOARD ENCOUNTERS FROM THE TIME OF JORDAN'S ARRIVAL IN AMERICA, THE MOST NOTABLE
BEING A SUBSCRIPTION MATCH PLAYED IN JULY OF 1921 IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, WHICH GINSBERG WON BY THE SCORE OF 3-1-25 DRAWS.
THIS IMAGE HERE IS REPRODUCED DIRECTLY FROM THE ORIGINAL PHOTO, WHICH WAS ALF JORDAN'S OWN PERSONAL
PHOTO, CURRENTLY IN THE POSSESSION OF KEITH BRANNEN, GREAT GRANDSON OF JORDAN.
SUBMITTED BY K. BRANNEN
EXHIBIT 143KB
"JORDAN-NEWCOMB PHOTO"
SHOWN IS A PHOTOGRAPH OF H.O. NEWCOMB (SEATED LEFT) IN CROSSBOARD ACTION AGAINST ALFRED JORDAN (SEATED
RIGHT) AT ST. PETERSBERG, FLORIDA IN MARCH OF 1923.
THE MAY/JUNE 1923 ISSUE OF AMERICAN CHECKER MONTHLY STATES THAT....
"ST. PETERSBERG'S DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN NOTHING SHORT OF MARVELOUS. TODAY IT IS A RIVAL OF THE AMERICAN
CHECKER ASSOCIATION AS A PROMOTER OF ANNUAL TOURNEYS WITH ATTRACTIVE PRIZES".
THE ISSUE ALSO NOTES THAT BOTH NEWCOMB AND JORDAN WERE CONTESTANTS IN THE 1923 ST. PETERSBERG TOURNEY,
WHICH WAS WON BY JORDAN.
NO DOUBT, JORDAN'S REPUTATION AS AMERICA'S PERENNIAL EXHIBITION PLAYER, AND HIS ANNUAL PILGRIMAGE
TO FLORIDA, ASSISTED WITH THE SUCCESS OF ST. PETERSBERG'S ANNUAL TOURNAMENTS.
THE IMAGE ITSELF IS REPRODUCED HERE DIRECTLY FROM THE ORIGINAL, AND WAS JORDAN'S OWN PERSONAL PHOTO.
IT IS CURRENTLY IN THE POSSESSION OF KEITH BRANNEN, THE GREAT GRANDSON OF JORDAN.
SUBMITTED BY K. BRANNEN
EXHIBIT 144KB
"SMITH-McKEAN-SMITH PHOTO"
SHOWN IS A PHOTOGRAPH FROM THE PRIVATE COLLECTION OF ALFRED JORDAN, WHICH WAS HANDED DOWN TO THE CURRENT
OWNER, KEITH BRANNEN.
IT DEPICTS LUCY SMITH (SEATED LEFT) HUGH McKEAN (STANDING) AND JUNIUS SMITH (SEATED RIGHT) IN CROSSBOARD
PLAY AT SALT LAKE CITY, NEVADA.
THE INSCRIPTION ON THE REVERSE SIDE READS SALT LAKE CITY, AUGUST 23, 1923, WHICH WAS PROBABLY THE
DATE THAT IT WAS PRESENTED TO JORDAN, DURING A VISIT ON ONE OF HIS MANY TOURING EXHIBITIONS.
THE AMERICAN CHECKER REVIEW PROVIDES COVERAGE OF A TEN GAME MATCH BETWEEN THESE TWO PLAYERS FOR THE
SALT LAKE CITY CHAMPIONSHIP IN AUGUST OF 1922, WON BY LUCY SMITH 1-0-9 DRAWS, WHICH IS PROBABLY WHEN
THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN.
THIS IS AN EXTREMELY RARE IMAGE OF A WOMAN PLAYER IN COMPETITION DURING THIS ERA, AND IT IS UNKNOWN
IF THIS IMAGE HAS EVER BEEN PUBLISHED BEFORE.
SUBMITTED BY K. BRANNEN
CLICK IMAGES BELOW TO ENLARGE
EXHIBIT 145KB
"CEDAR POINT PHOTO 1910"
SHOWN HERE IS AN IMAGE FROM THE CEDAR POINT TOURNAMENT IN 1910.
THIS WAS THE GROUP PHOTO TAKEN AT THE TOURNAMENT, AND WAS PROBABLY PRESENTED TO ALFRED JORDAN AT A LATER
DATE, SINCE JORDAN HIMSELF DID NOT COMPETE IN THIS TOURNAMENT.
JORDAN, DURING HIS MANY EXHIBITIONS IN AMERICA, WAS GIVEN MANY PHOTOGRAPHS FOR HIS OWN PERSONAL COLLECTION,
AND THIS IS BELIEVED TO BE ONE OF THEM.
SHOWN WITH THE PHOTO IS AN EXCERPT FROM AN ARTICLE WHICH WAS PUBLISHED IN THE SEPTEMBER 1910
ISSUE OF THE CANADIAN CHECKER PLAYER, WHICH WAS PUBLISHED BY MANSON TEETZEL.
IN A REFERENCE TO THE IMAGE, MR. KEITH BRANNEN ,GREAT GRANDSON OF ALFRED JORDAN, WHO NOW OWNS
THE PHOTO SHOWN, WROTE...
"The image that I mentioned having no date and just some of the names on the back, that was a printed
image with a cardboard backing, is attached...."
THE PHOTO EXHIBITED IS OBVIOUSLY ONE OF THE PHOTOS FOR SALE AS DESCRIBED WITHIN THE TEXT OF
THE CCP ARTICLE.
THE CEDAR POINT TOURNAMENT IN 1910 WAS WON BY MR. LEE WARREN JAMES.
SUBMITTED BY K.BRANNEN
EXHIBIT 146KB
"JOLLY-FINLEY PHOTO 1922"
SHOWN IS A PHOTO OF TWO WELL KNOWN NEW JERSEY STATE
CHECKERISTS, CHARLES JOLLY, LEFT STANDING, AND JOHN FINLEY, SEATED RIGHT.
THE CIRCUMSTANCES REGARDING THE POSING FOR THIS PHOTO ARE UNKNOWN, ALTHOUGH IT IS KNOWN THAT FINLEY WAS
A GREAT PROMOTER OF THE ERA, AND JOLLY WAS CONSIDERED A PRODIGY OF THE GAME AT THE TIME THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN (1922).
IN THE YEARS AFTER THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN, JOLLY WOULD GO ON TO SUCCESS AS A CROSSBOARD PLAYER, AND FINLEY
WOULD BE MOST NOTABLE AS A PATRON OF THE GAME.
THE IMAGE HERE IS REPRODUCED DIRECTLY FROM THE ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPH, WHICH WAS PRESENTED AS A GIFT TO
ALFRED JORDAN BY JOHN FINLEY.
THIS REMARKABLE PHOTOGRAPH IS CURRENTLY IN THE POSSESSION OF MR. KEITH BRANNEN, GREAT GRANDSON OF
ALFRED JORDAN.
SUBMITTED BY K. BRANNEN
CLICK ON IMAGES BELOW TO ENLARGE
EXHIBIT 147KB
"ALF JORDAN EXHIBITION POSTER AND TICKETS"
EXHIBITED IS A POSTER ADVERTISING AN EXHIBITION BY ALFRED JORDAN.
ALSO INCLUDED ARE TICKETS FROM SEVERAL DIFFERENT EXHIBITIONS WHICH JORDAN GAVE DURING HIS TOURS.
WHILE ON TOUR, ALF JORDAN WOULD GENERATE ENOUGH INTEREST IN THE GAME TO DEVELOP THE SALES OF
TICKETS, WHICH WOULD BE NECESSARY IF ONE WANTED THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE AGAINST HIM IN A CROSSBOARD SETTING.
THE IMAGES SHOWN ARE SCANNED FROM THE ACTUAL DOCUMENTS THEMSELVES, AND HAVE BEEN PRESERVED BY
THE DESCENDANTS OF JORDAN AS FAMILY HEIRLOOMS.
THESE INCREDIBLE PIECES OF THE GAME'S HISTORY ARE CURRENTLY IN THE POSSESSION OF KEITH BRANNEN, GREAT
GRANDSON OF ALFRED JORDAN.
FROM KEITH...
".....The poster is an 8x11 piece of cardboard, which I assume he used
at fairs, etc. taking on all
comers."
REGARDING THE TICKETS...
"....These are actual tickets. Obviously Alfred Jordan liked to keep mementos of his tour. Fortunately,my
grandfather saw the value in this as well! From the fact these tickets say "draughts" instead of "checkers", I assume they
were printed and used before Alfred emigrated to the US."
SUBMITTED BY K. BRANNEN
EXHIBIT 148KB
"JOSEPH DROUILLARD PHOTO"
SHOWN IS AN ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPH OF AMERICAN CHECKERIST JOSEPH DROUILLARD.
DROUILLARD WOULD BE BEST REMEMBERED AS A CHALLENGER TO CHARLES FRANCIS BARKER FOR THE AMERICAN MATCH CHAMPIONSHIP
IN NOVEMBER, 1908, AT KANSAS CITY, KANSAS, WHERE HE WAS DEFEATED BY THE SCORE OF 10-2-31 DRAWS.
LATER, HAVING RELOCATED TO CALIFORNIA ,HE WAS PACIFIC COAST CHAMPION WHEN ALF JORDAN ARRIVED IN AMERICA
TO COMPLETE HIS WORLD TOUR.
HE TOOK A MATCH WITH JORDAN IN FEBRUARY 1911 AT SAN FRANCISCO, AND WAS SOUNDLY DEFEATED 7-0-11 DRAWS.
THE IMAGE SHOWN, WHICH IS REPRODUCED HERE DIRECTLY FROM THE ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPH, WAS PART OF ALFRED JORDAN'S
OWN PERSONAL COLLECTION, AND WAS PROBABLY GIVEN TO HIM BY DROUILLARD AT THE TIME OF THEIR MATCH.
THE ORIGINAL PHOTO REMAINS WITHIN THE JORDAN FAMILY, AND IS IN THE POSSESSION OF KEITH BRANNEN.
SUBMITTED BY K. BRANNEN.
EXHIBIT 149
"JOLLY-FINLEY-BELL-JORDAN POSTCARD"
SHOWN IS AN IMAGE CONTAINING A CROSSBOARD MEETING BETWEEN CHARLES JOLLY (LEFT OF BOARD) AND ALFRED JORDAN
(RIGHT OF BOARD), WITH JOHN FINLEY (LEFT OF CENTER) AND STEWART S. "SURE SHOT" BELL (RIGHT OF CENTER) AS
ONLOOKERS.
THE PHOTO ITSELF WAS PRESUMABLY SHOT AT LUNA PARK,CONEY ISLAND, ON MAY 25 1924, PROBABLY DURING AN
EXHIBITION BY JORDAN, AS HISTORICAL RESEARCH SHOWS NO TOURNAMENTS BEING PLAYED IN THIS AREA AT THAT TIME PERIOD. THIS WAS
VERY SHORTLY AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THE AMERICAN NATIONAL TOURNAMENT, AFTER WHICH JORDAN WAS KNOWN TO HAVE WENT ON AN EXHIBITION
TOUR.
THIS IMAGE IS REPRODUCED DIRECTLY FROM WHAT APPEARS TO BE A POSTCARD, AS CAN BE SEEN FROM THE IMAGE OF
THE REVERSE SIDE.
THIS POSTCARD WAS PART OF THE PERSONAL COLLECTION OF ALFRED JORDAN, AND IS CURRENTLY IN THE POSSESSION
OF KEITH BRANNEN.
SUBMITTED BY K. BRANNEN
EXHIBIT 150KB
"ST. PETERSBERG POSTCARD"
SHOWN IS A POSTCARD FROM THE PERSONAL COLLECTION OF ALFRED JORDAN, WHICH HAS BEEN HANDED DOWN TO ITS CURRENT
OWNER, KEITH BRANNEN, GREAT GRANDSON OF JORDAN.
IT DEPICTS A SCENE AT AN EXHIBITION IN ST. PETERSBERG, FLORIDA IN 1924 OF ALF JORDAN AND NEWELL BANKS
SIMULTANEOUSLY PLAYING CHESS AND CHECKERS AGAINST ALL COMERS,WITH A RATHER LARGE CROWD LOOKING ON.
THIS POSTCARD CAPTURES A MOMENT IN TIME FROM THE ERA, AND DEMONSTRATES THE INCREDIBLE POPULARITY OF THESE
TWO LEGENDARY CHECKERS PLAYERS (BANKS AND JORDAN), WHO, EVEN THOUGH FIERCE RIVALS ACROSS THE BOARD, WERE OBVIOUSLY WILLING
TO PUT ASIDE THEIR DIFFERENCES FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROMOTE THE GAME AND THEIR ABILITIES, AS WELL AS GENERATE SOME REMUNERATION.
SUBMITED BY K. BRANNEN
CLICK IMAGES BELOW TO ENLARGE
EXHIBIT 151KB
"NEWARK, OHIO PHOTO 1911"
SHOWN IS A PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN AT NEWARK, OHIO, WHERE ALFRED JORDAN WAS VISITING AS PART OF THE LAST LEG
OF HIS WORLD TOUR IN 1911.
THIS IMAGE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE JUNE-JULY 1911 ISSUE OF THE CANADIAN CHECKER PLAYER. (IMAGE INCLUDED
IN EXHIBIT)
THE CCP GAVE EXTENSIVE COVERAGE OF JORDAN'S EXHIBITION, WHICH STATES THAT ON JUNE 15-16, HE
VISITED THE YMCA, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. HE PLAYED A TOTAL OF EIGHTY GAMES, OF WHICH
HE WON 66, LOST 0, AND ALLOWED 14 DRAWS.
THE ORIGINAL PHOTO, AS SHOWN, WAS ALF JORDAN'S OWN PERSONAL PHOTO, AND IS NOW IN THE POSSESSION OF
KEITH BRANNEN, GREAT GRANDSON OF ALF JORDAN.
SUBMITTED BY K. BRANNEN
EXHIBIT 152KB
"BROWN-SHELCUTT MATCH PHOTO 1908"
SHOWN IS A PHOTGRAPH DEPICTING THE 1908 MATCH BETWEEN HERBERT "WONDER" BROWN (SETATED RIGHT) AND THOMAS
SHELCUTT.
COVERAGE OF THIS MATCH WAS PRESENTED IN THE CANADIAN CHECKER PLAYER MAGAZINE, MARCH 1908. (ARTICLE INCLUDED
IN EXHIBIT)
THIS PHOTO WAS PART OF ALFRED JORDAN'S PERSONAL COLLECTION, AND IS REPRODUCED HERE DIRECTLY FROM THAT
ORIGINAL.
JORDAN WAS NOT PRESENT AT THIS MATCH, AS HE DID NOT ARRIVE IN AMERICA FOR HIS TOUR UNTIL SEVERAL YEARS
LATER.
WHILE TOURING IN JULY OF 1911, JORDAN DID VISIT INDIANAPOLIS FOR AN EXHIBITION, AT WHICH TIME HE
PLAYED A TWENTY GAME EXHIBITION MATCH WITH BROWN, JORDAN WINNING 4-0-16 DRAWS.
IT WAS PROBABLY AT THIS TIME THAT JORDAN WAS PRESENTED WITH THIS PHOTO AS A GIFT.
THE ORIGINAL PHOTO, WHICH IS BELIEVED TO HAVE NEVER BEEN PUBLISHED, IS IN THE POSSESSION OF KEITH
BRANNEN, GREAT GRANDSON OF ALF JORDAN.
SUBMITTED BY K. BRANNEN
EXHIBIT 153KB
"CEDAR POINT GROUP PHOTO 1911"
SHOWN IS THE GROUP PHOTO TAKEN AT THE 3RD ANNUAL CEDAR POINT OUTING WEEK, AUGUST 6-13,1911.
THE TOURNAMENT WAS WON BY MR. HOLLAND C. MILES OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.
IT WAS AT THIS FUNCTION THAT THE AMERICAN CHECKER ASSOCIATION WAS ORGANIZED, WITH FRANK FITZPATRICK
BEING ELECTED AS PRESIDENT, MANSON TEETZEL AS SECRETARY, AND FARR L. SCOTT AS TREASURER.
THE AUGUST 1911 ISSUE OF THE CANADIAN CHECKER PLAYER MAGAZINE CONTAINED EXTENSIVE COVERAGE OF THIS MAJOR
EVENT.
THE FOLLWING IS EXCERPTED REGARDING THE EXHIBITIONS....
"NEWELL W. BANKS, THE AMERICAN CHAMPION, AND ALFRED JORDAN, THE ENGLISH CHAMPION, ASIDE FROM A SERIOUS MATCH
AT CEDAR POINT, FILLED THE EVENINGS OF OUTING WEEK IN SIMULTANEOUS EXHIBITIONS IN THE LOBBY OF HOTEL BREAKERS....ON ONE OCCASSION,
JORDAN PLAYED SOME 20 BOARDS SIMULTANEOUSLY. ON ANOTHER, HE AND BANKS TOGETHER PACED AROUND SIMULTANEOUSLY PLAYING ALTERNATELY
SOME 20 BOARDS...NO WINS WERE SCORED OFF OF EITHER CHAMPION IN ANY OF THE FOREGOING EXHIBITIONS."
THE FOLLOWING IS EXCERPTED REGARDING THE PHOTO....
"WE REGRET OUR INABILITY TO PRESENT BEFORE OUR READERS THE PANORAMIC PHOTOGRAPH THAT WAS TAKEN DURING THE
OUTING. IT COMPRISED TOO LARGE A GROUP FOR REPRODUCTION HERE. BUT, WE HAVE IT STRETCHED ACROSS THE PAGE OF OUR NEW CHECKER
COLUMN IN THE TOLEDO SUNDAY TIMES, ISSUE OF AUGUST 20, AND WOULD ASK READERS INTERESTED THEREIN TO WRITE TO TOLEDO FOR
A SAMPLE COPY."
THE IMAGE SHOWN HERE IS REPRODUCED DIRECTLY FROM ALFRED JORDAN'S OWN PERSONAL
COPY, WHICH IS DATED AUGUST 8, 1911. JORDAN HIMSELF CAN BE SEEN KNEELING, FOURTH FROM LEFT, AND BANKS IS KNEELING, FOURTH
FROM RIGHT.
THIS PHOTO IS IN THE POSSESSION OF KEITH BRANNEN, GREAT GRANDSON OF ALFRED JORDAN.
FROM KEITH....
"Cedar Point photo 1911,....no names on the back. Unfortunately, it is a large scroll, and very
fragile, so I only unrolled it enough to scan in the centre part (the ends being the most fragile)."
SUBMITTED BY K. BRANNEN
EXHIBIT 154KB
"MAORIS LEAF"
DURING HIS WORLD TOUR IN 1910-1911, ALF JORDAN VISITED NEW ZEALAND. AT ONE OF HIS EXHIBITIONS, HE
ENCOUNTERED, IN HIS OWN WORDS...."A FULL BLOODED MAORI".
AS FULL COVERAGE OF HIS TOUR WAS BEING RECORDED AND SENT TO THE "DRAUGHTS WORLD" MAGAZINE FOR PUBLICATION,
AN ACCOUNT WAS GIVEN IN THIS MAGAZINE IN THE DECEMBER 1910 ISSUE. (INCLUDED IN THE EXHIBIT)
INCREDIBLY, THE FERN MENTIONED HAS MANAGED TO SURVIVE THROUGHOUT THE YEARS AND IS NOW IN THE POSSESSION
OF KEITH BRANNEN, WHO CONSIDERS THIS ITEM TO BE THE MOST UNUSUAL MOMENTO WITHIN HIS COLLECTION OF JORDAN FAMILY HEIRLOOMS.
SUBMITTED BY K. BRANNEN
EXHIBIT 155KB
"JORDAN AUSTRALIA PHOTO 1910"
SHOWN IS A PHOTOGRAPH OF ALFRED JORDAN FROM 1910, TAKEN WHILE ON TOUR IN SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA.
PERHAPS THE MOST STRIKING COMPONENT OF THIS PHOTOGRAPH IS THE TIE TACK PIN PROUDLY DISPLAYED
ON JORDAN'S TIE, THE SQUARE AND COMPASSES. THIS IS THE SINGLE MOST IDENTIFIABLE SYMBOL OF FREEMASONRY, A SUBJECT WHICH
HAS RARELY, IF EVER, BEEN MENTIONED IN REGARDS TO THE NATURE OF JORDAN'S CHARACTER IN CHECKERS/DRAUGHTS
LITERATURE.
IT CAN REASONABLY BE ASSUMED THAT IT WAS MEMBERSHIP IN THIS ORGANIZATION WHICH GAVE JORDAN THE CONFIDENCE
AND SECURITY TO ENGAGE ON HIS WORLD TOUR, IN KNOWING THAT EVEN THOUGH HE WOULD BE TRAVELING TO STRANGE AND FOREIGN LANDS,
IF HE EVER NEEDED GUIDANCE OR ASSISTANCE ON HIS JOURNEY, IT WOULD MOST LIKELY BE AVAILABLE THROUGH HIS FELLOW MASONS THROUGHOUT
THE WORLD.
THIS REMARKABLE PHOTOGRAPH IS IN THE POSSESSION OF KEITH BRANNEN, GREAT GRANDSON OF ALF JORDAN.
SUBMITTED BY K. BRANNEN
EXHIBIT 156KB
"ALF JORDAN TROPHIES"
SHOWN HERE ARE TWO OF ONLY A FEW REMAINING TROPHIES FROM THE CAREER OF ALFRED JORDAN.
ALTHOUGH MANY OF JORDAN'S TROPHIES WERE REPORTEDLY LOST DURING THE AUSTRALIAN LEG OF HIS WORLD TOUR,
THESE TWO REMAIN IN THE JORDAN FAMILY, AND ARE CURRENTLY IN THE POSSESSION OF KEITH BRANNEN.
KEITH HAS CLEANED AND POLISHED THESE TROPHIES FOR DISPLAY, AND HAS ADDED THE FOLLOWING....
"As you can see, the cups did shine up really well ! I arranged them in the same position as the original
photo.
The inscriptions are, on the small cup:
"SUBSCRIPTION CUP, WON BY, Mr. ALFRED JORDAN, in a match of 20 games of draughts, with Mr. William Belcher,
Sept. 26 1895"
On the large cup:
"WON BY, Alfred Jordan, 12 times during the years, 1903-1907".
SUBMITTED BY K. BRANNEN
WE HOPE YOU HAVE ENJOYED
THE ALFRED JORDAN EXHIBIT
THE ONLINE MUSEUM OF CHECKERS HISTORY
WOULD LIKE TO THANK MR. KEITH BRANNEN FOR ALLOWING THESE INCREDIBLE PHOTOGRAPHS AND ARTIFACTS TO BE DISPLAYED HERE.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON THE ITEMS CONTAINED WITHIN THIS
EXHIBIT, OR HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE VISIT AND JOIN THE OMOCH FORUM BY CLICKING THE LINK BELOW.
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