Robe
Object number2016.100.2
Retailer
Pittsburgh Sport Shop Inc.
Date1936-1940
OriginPittsburgh, PA
MediumSilk; Fabric
Credit LineGift of Frederick W. Lenn, Jr.
DescriptionBlue and yellow silk boxing robe with replica belt. Floor length. Open down front. Blue silk with yellow trim along neck and front opening, around cuffs, and along top of each pocket. Proper left breast pocket and one hip pocket on each side. One belt loop on each hip; belt is not intact. On back at top is yellow embroidered name and city with United States Marine Corps symbol patch at center; the patch is sewn over the same USMC symbol embroidered in yellow and blue. Size 42.Dimensions19.75 x 49 in. (50.2 x 124.5 cm)InscriptionsOn back at top is yellow embroidered text "FREDDIE LENN / PITTSBURGH".
Yellow and black fabric tag inside robe at top center has text "PITTSBURGH / SPORT SHOP Inc. / 306 SEVENTH AVE. PITTSBURGH, PA."; smaller size fabric tag below with red embroidered "42".
Historical NotesThe boxing robe is from Freddie Lenn's post-China years when he returned to Pittsburgh and went pro after signing with promoter Art Rooney. Part of a collection that documents the military boxing career of donor Frederick W. Lenn, Jr.'s father, Freddie Lenn. Lenn was born Frederick Walter Lenkoski on December 29th, 1914, in Pittsburgh's South Side neighborhood. He learned to box at the boxing program set-up by Father Cox, the famous social activist priest from Pittsburgh. He began to amateur box in 1930, at the Frawley Athletic Club. At age 17, he won the lightweight championship in the Golden Gloves. A year later he enlisted in the Marines. He spent 1934 to 1936 in Shanghai where he continued to box for the military. He won the "Light Heavyweight Champion of the Orient" at the All Asiatic match. He returned to Pittsburgh and went pro after signing with promoter Art Rooney. His last pro fight was in 1940. After Pearl Harbor he was called from the reserves and went on active duty in the South Pacific where he began his coaching career in the Marine Corps. He was a boxing trainer for the 1959-1960 Pan Am games where Cassius Clay participated. He was the first military trainer to become a head Olympic boxing coach for the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo. He retired from the Marines in 1968.
Previous owner
Fredrick Walter Lenn Sr.
(born 1914)
Related institution
United States Marine Corps
Related person
Arthur Joseph Rooney Jr.
Related institution
Frawley Athletic Club
Terms
On View
Not on view
1941-1953
1847-1969
c. 1950
1936
Jantzen