This page features views of African-American trainees at Great Lakes taking part in recreational activities and sports.

The following pictures feature African-Americans participating in sports and other recreational activities at Great Lakes during World War II.
For additional views of Wartime training and other activities at Great Lakes, see:
General Views
Graduation Ceremonies
Field & Military Training
Shore Patrol Training
Visiting Entertainers, Political Figures and Celebrities

Additional pictorial coverage of African Americans during World War II African Americans and the U.S. Navy - World War II

Pictorial coverage of other eras African Americans and the U.S. Navy

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: 80-G-294858 Naval Training Station, Great Lakes, Illinois African American boxing champions in training at Great Lakes, 3 March 1943. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, National Archives. Online Image: 67KB; 580 x 765 Reproductions may be available through the National Archives
Photo #: 80-G-294755 Naval Training Station, Great Lakes, Illinois Hartwell Simms working on a cartoon, while in training at NTS Great Lakes, 9 July 1943. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, National Archives. Online Image: 75KB; 590 x 765 Reproductions may be available through the National Archives
Photo #: 80-G-294911 Camp Robert Smalls, Naval Training Station, Great Lakes, Illinois Members of the camp drama group, 12 June 1943. They were then presenting the play "Freedom the Banner". Official U.S. Navy Photograph, National Archives. Online Image: 95KB; 740 x 605 Reproductions may be available through the National Archives
Photo #: 80-G-294841 Naval Training Station, Great Lakes, Illinois The station's African American swing band playing, April-December 1943. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, National Archives. Online Image: 89KB; 740 x 605 Reproductions may be available through the National Archives
Photo #: 80-G-294752 Naval Training Station, Great Lakes, Illinois Premier broadcast over the CBS radio network of the African American regiments' Sunday Evening Hour, 4 July 1943. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, National Archives. Online Image: 57KB; 740 x 600 Reproductions may be available through the National Archives

For higher resolution images see: Obtaining Photographic Reproductions