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1980
NM Bill Hughes, Unknown, and Robert Paul Smith unpacking boxes in the then-new Pittsburgh Chess Club facility in the Wightman School building in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh, presumably in the early 1980's. Credit: Pittsburgh Chess Club.
February 26 1990
The Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Monday, February 26, 1990
STANDING OUT
Montessori moves to chess to sharpen minds
By Doina N. Locke
For The Pittsburgh Press
A teacher's dream came true this fall when Yoland Sweenie made chess part of the curriculum at Montessori Centre Academy in Shaler.
“I've been wanting to do this since I was a young teacher,” said Ms. Sweenie. “It just took me 10 years to figure out how to do it.”
Ms. Sweenie has been at the private school for 22 years. For the past 10, she has been the administrator, a position previously held by her mother, Yolanda Glasso.
Ms. Sweenie said her aim is to make her students competitive in the “global village” of the future. “Chess, its strategies and tactics…gives them a stronger intellect to work with,” she said. She called the chess class “mental gymnastics to allow the intellect to expand.”
Bob Smith, who teaches the finer elements of the game at the Montessori Centre, agrees. “I think chess in schools is a very good idea. It increases self-control, concentration and persistence. Some say it increases critical thinking faculties, the ability to plan and calculate. Those who play chess well generally do well scholastically.”
Smith, a past president of the Pittsburgh Chess Club and currently the scholastic director, would like to increase the use of chess in all classrooms. “There are schools with chess clubs,” he said, “but no schools with chess as a part of the curriculum. This is the first time in the area.”
He hopes to introduce chess to Pittsburgh School District as a part of the New Futures Program.
Ms. Sweenie believes old classroom techniques, such as “fill in the blanks” and “skill and drill” exercises are inadequate for intellectual development. “We are not taught thinking skills because of the way curricula are written.”
She believes the best way to teach is to capture the children's universal interests. However, the things that do capture their attention in the popular culture are flawed, in her opinion.
“Nintendo is too structured,” she said. “It is very logical, but (the player) must be logical and rigid.”
Television does little to inspire imagination: “There are so many predictable sitcoms that little is left to the imagination in plot and character development. Where are the thinking skills?
Chess is a required subject for students ages 9 through 12. For those from 6 to 9 years old, admission to the class is by invitation only. “It's a real 'carrot' for the children,” said Ms. Sweenie.
Smith is “a find, in background and commitment,” said head teacher Barbara Carolblum, who teaches the 9-to-12-year olds in an “open classroom with a lot of structure.” She said he teaches them as he would teach teenagers or adults.
The children respond well to Smith's tutelage.
“Because he brings them something they don't have, they listen to him like a master. There is a hierarchy of respect,” Ms. Sweenie said.
Exam day in the chess class provides a good example of Smith's teaching style. The exam was designed for the students to “test their tactics.” The test is three pages long, but only two pages had to be completed.
Students are allowed to work together. Some students were silent, but one sang until a loud “Shh!” hissed across the room.
Questions were allowed. In fact, one little girl who apparently thought more clearly with bare feet danced up to check with Smith several times.
Smith uses teaching materials from the U.S. Chess Federation, but the discipline is his own.
With 24 chess sets in operation at once, imagine the chaos possible if pawns, bishops, queens and knights strayed from their appointed boards. He encourages deliberation, reminding the students, “If you touch it, you move it.”
Smith feels practice is important to develop skills. “You learn more by losing. You have to lose 100 times before you learn the game.”
He should know. Smith has taught most of the top-ranked young chess players in Pittsburgh. Six young Pittsburgh players are currently ranked by the U.S. Chess Federation in the top 50 young players nationally. Smith predicated that soon there will be even more top-ranked young Pittsburghers, perhaps as many as 10, surpassing the previous record of eight.
Setting up children's programs in clubs and organizing a scholastic chess league has occupied much of Smith's time for the past six or seven years. Retired from the Defense Department and a subsequent career as a private investigator, the 65-year-old has thrown himself enthusiastically into his new career as a scholastic chess advocate.
February 29 1932
The Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Monday, February 29, 1932
18 Babies Born as Others Mark 1-in-4 Birthdays
Twins Among Leap Year Newcomers; Boy, 8 But Only 2, Glad Christmas Is on Steady Schedule
Eighteen babies, including a set of twins, were born in Pittsburgh district hsopitals today, Leap Year's extra day—all doomed to birthday anniversaries only once in each four years.
The 18 newcomers join a sizeable group of Pittsburghers whose birthdays fall on the odd day of February's calendar.
Among those celebrating this one-in-four birthday with parties are Betty Bruce, of McKeesport, and Robert Paul Smith, of Oakland.
The twin babies, who must wait four years until they have a birthday party, are boys born to Mrs. Eleanor Farkas, 145 Freeland Street, in Allegheny General Hospital.
Robert Paul Smith, 231 Oakland Avenue is 8 years old—but it's only his second birthday.
“I'm glad Christmas comes every year anyway,” Robert Said, “because it would be mighty bad when you have to wait four years for a birthday. But then when it does come it means something to you.”
May 06 1997
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Tuesday, May 06, 1997
SMITH, ROBERT PAUL
Robert Paul Smith, age 73 a Pittsburgh native, died on March 5, 1997. He was an aerospace engineer by profession, but his consuming interest was chess, especially for the purpose of the intellectual development of children.
He held every office in the local chess club. As a boy, he played chess with a Canadian by post card, leading to a security investigation by the authorities, who did not understand at first what the notations meant.
After graduation for Carnegie Tech (now Carnegie Mellon) in 1944, Mr. Smith was drafted into the U.S. Army, where he was assigned to the Manhattan Project, which developed the atom bomb. Upon discharge from the Army he studied for a short period at California Tech, but left to begin his career as an aerospace engineer.
Mr. Smith leaves his sister, Helen Corcoran Schlenke of Pittsburgh, two nephews, Thomas B. Smith of Ross Township and James Blaine Smith III of Ann Arbor, MI; a grandnephew Ian Smith & a grand-niece, Rachel Smith both of Kent State College in Ohio.
A Memorial Service will be held for Mr. Smith at the First Unitarian Church, at Ellsworth Ave. 8. Morewood Ave., on Saturday, May 10, at 2:00 P.M. Memorial contributions to the ASH (Action on Smoking and Health), 2013 H. St. N.W., Washington, D.C. Mr. Smith died from emphysema. He was a chain smoker. Arrangements by THOMAS D. ENGLISH FUNERAL HOME.
February 15 1921
The Associated Press.
February 15, 1921.
To Whom It May Concern:
Mr. Hartwig Cassel has been assigned by The Associated Press to cover the approaching Capablanca-Lasker chess match at Havana. This will necessitate his going to Havana, from which city he will file his messages.
Anything done for Mr. Cassel to aid him in the carrying out of this assignment will be appreciated.
Very truly yours,
Harold Martin
Superintendent.
February 17 1921
September 19 1903
The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Saturday, September 19, 1903
ROOSEVELT GIVES PRIZE FOR CHESS
Will Be Contested For at International Tourney to Be Held at Cambridge Springs, Pa.
NEW YORK. Sept. 18. By appointment, Hartwig Cassel, of the Manhattan Chess Club, and Hermann Helms, a member of the American Cable chess team, the two managing directors of the forthcoming international chess masters' tournament at Cambridge Springs, Penn., called on President Roosevelt at Oyster Bay to-day in order to enlist the President's interest in the contest.
The President will give a special prize to go to the prize winner of the tournament. He will receive Aristides Martinez, the president of the Manhattan Chess Club, and president of the International Congress, at the White House and has authorized the committee to state that, as he would be prevented from going to Cambridge Springs, he will give a special reception at the White House in honor of the players in the tournament and of the committee.
February 15 1893
The Indiana State Sentinel, Indianapolis, Indiana, Wednesday, February 15, 1893
CLEVELAND AS PATRON
Will Bestow a Medal at the International Chess Contest.
New York, Feb. 7.—[Special.]—Mr. Cleveland has consented to accept the honor of first patron of the international chess tournament to be held in this city during May or June of the present year, and will also present a medal to the winner of the first prize. It is intended to make this one of the distinctly great chess events of the year, and its promoters confidently expect that the most noted chess players of the world will participate in it. The fact that it is to be held while the world's fair is open at Chicago will give it an unusual importance, and the lovers of the royal game everywhere will doubtless be drawn here to take part in it, either as spectators or as players. The work of arranging the details of the tournament here has been in the hands of Mr. D. Frederick Minz, vice-president of the Manhattan chess club, and of Hartwig Cassel, the chess editor of the New York Staats Zeitung.
August 13 1892
The Standard Union, Brooklyn, New York, Saturday, August 13, 1892
THE OSWALD OTTENDORFER CHESS CUP TROPHY.
The chess players of New York State are greatly indebted to Oswald Ottendorfer, editor of the “New Yorker Staats-Zeitung,” for a handsome silver trophy which he presented to them in 1890, the engraving of which we publish to-day. The cup is valued at $500 ([$16706.11 in 2022]) and was made by Fattorini & Sons, London, England, from a design furnished by Arthur North, of Bradford, England. The management of the preparation and presentation of the cup was in the hands of the able sporting editor of the “Staats-Zeitung,” Hartwig Cassel, a gentleman who has done much to further chess interests in this country and in England.
The trophy is about eighteen inches high, and represents a castle. On the cover is the crowned figure of a king, with his royal robes draped artistically about him. Around the base are arranged, in relief, figures of all the pieces used in chess. On one side the dedication inscription is on a shield, and on the other an engraving of two mounted knights, engaged in battle. Above this is a chessboard, in the centre which the coat of arms of the Empire State is very neatly delineated. There are a number of shields about the base, upon which the names of the clubs winning the trophy can be engraved. The cup is to be competed for each year by the chess clubs of the State, each club to be represented by a champion. A club winning the trophy three times consecutively, or five times non-consecutively, can retain it.
The tournament held last week is the second contest for the possession of the cup, and its progress was watched with great interest by chess players throughout the country. In 1891 there were representatives from the Brooklyn, Manhattan City, Albany and Staten Island chess clubs. It was won by Major J. M. Hanham, of the Manhattan Chess Club. In the tournament just ended W. F. Eno represented the Brooklyn, C. C., Emil Kemeny the City C. C. of New York, J. M. Hanham Manhattan C. C., George H. Thornton Buffalo, C. C. and Prof. W. L. Deyo Albany C. C. Mr. Kemeny won in the tournament, and the City C. C. of New York will hold the cup for a year. The surprise of the tournament was the good playing of the Albany and Buffalo representatives.
June 1929
On the Roof of the Hotel La Reine.
Seated (left to right)-Alexander Kevitz, Hartwig Cassel, Victor Spark, Dr. Alexander Alekhine, Dr. Norbert L. Lederer, Frank J. Marshall and Abraham Kupchik.
Standing (left to right)-George P. Northrop, I. S. Turover, Rafael Cintron, Herman Steiner, Lajos Steiner, H. Ransom Bigelow, Maurice Fox, Hermann Helms and J. Edmund Lister.
Alexander Alekhine (first row, middle chair) surrounded by the participants and officials of the Bradley Beach tournament in 1929. The World Champion took first place with eight wins and only one draw. Original b/w credits, David Delucia Collection.
The Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Wednesday, June 12, 1929
Alekhine Wins Title.
BRADLEY BEACH, N. J., June 12. Dr. Alexander Alekhine of Paris Tuesday won the International Chess Masters' Tournament which has been in progress here for the past nine days. Alekhine did not lose a game. Lajos Steiner, of Budapest, won the second prize, losing only to Dr. Alekhine.
July 18 1929
The New York Times, New York, New York, Thursday, July 18, 1929
Hartwig Cassel Dies; Noted Chess Editor
With Staats-Zeitung for 40 Years—Was a World Authority on the Game.
Hartwig Cassel of 610 West 118th Street, for forty years chess editor of The New Yorker Staats-Zeitung and during most of that time a promoter of international, national and State chess activities, died late Tuesday night at the Monmouth Memorial Hospital, Long Branch, N. J.
He had been taken there after a sudden relapse while vacationing at the Hotel La Reine in Bradley Beach, N. J., the scene of the most recent international tournament.
Mr. Cassel was in his seventy-ninth year, having been born in Konitz, Germany, on Nov. 2, 1850. He was one of the leading authorities of the world on chess, and his advice was constantly sought. His activity as chess journalist covered forty-eight years, of which eight were spent in Bradford, England, where he first established a reputation as a chess writer.
In this country he was foremost in organizing tournaments, of which the international congress at Cambridge Springs, Pa., in 1904 was the most conspicuous. He was the first to suggest the international cable matches and helped create the Triangular College Chess League, now the Intercollegiate Chess League, of which he was long the tournament director. From 1904 to 1917 he was one of the publishers of the American Chess Bulletin of this city, which he helped to establish.
Funeral services will take place at 2 P.M. on Sunday at the Meyer Funeral Parlors, 458 West 145th Street. The body will be cremated at Fresh Pond, L. I.
April 22 1915
CHESS MASTERS OFF ON THREE WEEKS' GRIND
With Capablanca and Marshall showing the way, the eight experts in the chess masters tournament are playing their third round at the Hotel Grenoble, in Manhattan, today. In the photograph herewith, showing the opening of the congress, the following well known players and enthusiasts appear: Seated in front (left to right) J. R. Capablanca, Eduard Lasker, J. Bernstein, F. J. Marshall. Seated in rear (left to right) A. Kupchik, O. Chajes, A. B. Hodges, E. Michelsen. Standing (left to right) G. Koehler, R. J. Brown, L. Rosen, F. P. Beynon, John L. Clark, Hermann Helms, Frank I. Cohen, Julius Finn, Hartwig Cassel, W. M. de Visser, A. Martinez, Frank Rice Marshall, Mrs. F. J. Marshall. (Courtesy of Pathe News.)
December 04 1910
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Sunday, December 04, 1910
Chess Editor “New York Staats-Zeitung” and “American Chess Bulletin.”
'til the world understands why Robert J. Fischer criticised the U.S./British and Russian military industry imperial alliance and their own Israeli Apartheid. Sarah Wilkinson explains: Tweets by swilkinsonbc |
 “What a sad story Fischer was,” typed a racist, pro-imperialist colonial troll who supports mega-corporation entities over human rights, police state policies & white supremacy. |
To which I replied: “Really? I think he [Bob Fischer] stood up to the broken system of corruption and raised awareness! Whether on the Palestinian/Israel-British-U.S. Imperial Apartheid scam, the Bush wars of ‘7 countries in 5 years,’ illegally, unconstitutionally which constituted mass xenocide or his run in with police brutality in Pasadena, California-- right here in the U.S., police run rampant over the Constitution of the U.S., on oath they swore to uphold, but when Americans don't know the law, and the cops either don't know or worse, “don't care” -- then I think that's pretty darn “sad”. I think Mr. Fischer held out and fought the good fight, steadfast til the day he died, and may he Rest In Peace. Educate yourself about U.S./State Laws -- https://www.youtube.com/@AuditTheAudit/videos After which the troll posted a string of profanities, confirming there was never any genuine sentiment of “compassion” for Mr. Fischer, rather an intent to inflict further defamatory remarks. |
This ongoing work is a tribute to the life and accomplishments of Robert “Bobby” Fischer who passionately loved and studied chess history. May his life continue to inspire many other future generations of chess enthusiasts and kibitzers, alike.
March 9, 1943 - January 17, 2008The photograph of Bobby Fischer (above) from the March 02, 1956 The Tampa Times was discovered by Sharon Mooney (Bobby Fischer Newspaper Archive editor) on February 01, 2018 while gathering research materials for this ongoing newspaper archive project. Along with lost games now being translated into Algebraic notation and extractions from over two centuries of newspapers, it is but one of the many lost treasures to be found in the pages of old newspapers since our social media presence was first established November 11, 2017.
