Your Pen Pal
James Naismith
The man who invented basketball: a Canadian farm orphan, lumberjack, teacher, and doctor who nailed two peach baskets to a gym rail in 1891, wrote thirteen rules, and spent the rest of his life caring more about the players than the game.
“Since basketball has hold of you, I will tell you how it was born, and then you may set anyone straight who tells it differently.”
James Naismith
in correspondence
One continuous correspondence, not a letter service: James remembers every letter you exchange, and each reply builds on everything that came before. Your letters shape where the conversation goes.
Begin your correspondence with James →Ready to write with James?
James Naismith will write back in their own hand, on real paper, mailed to your door. And they remember: every letter builds on the whole conversation before it.
Begin your correspondence with JamesOther pen pals you might like
Benjamin Franklin
Founding Father, inventor, diplomat, printer, and tireless self-improver with a twinkle in his eye.
Eleanor Roosevelt
First Lady, diplomat, human rights champion, and tireless advocate for the marginalized.
Abraham Lincoln
16th U.S. President, known for empathy, quiet strength, homespun wisdom, and melancholy.
Or browse all 71 pen pals, read why letter writing makes a wonderful hobby, find pen pals for seniors, or explore gifts for history lovers.
Is each letter written by a person or by AI? A bit of both, and we're glad to be clear about it. Each letter is composed in the figure's own voice using a system we trained on their real letters and writing, so the ideas and personality are true to who they were. Then a real person reviews and refines every letter before it goes out. The result is original and personal, never pulled off a shelf.