AKD 4.8 Bull Terrier Club of America collection

Transcription

1 This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on September 19, Describing Archives: A Content Standard American Kennel Club Library & Archives 260 Madison Avenue FL 4 New York, NEW YORK library@akc.org URL:

2 Table of Contents Summary Information... 3 Club and Breed History Note... 3 Scope and Contents Note... 4 Arrangement... 5 Administrative Information... 5 Related Materials... 6 Controlled Access Headings... 6 Collection Inventory Meeting Minutes Publications Page 2 -

3 Summary Information Repository: Creator: Source: Title: ID: American Kennel Club Library & Archives Bull Terrier Club of America Bull Terrier Club of America Bull Terrier Club of America records AKD.4.8 Date [inclusive]: Physical Description: Language of the Material: Language of the Material: Abstract: Preferred Citation 2.5 Linear Feet in 3 document boxes. English Materials are in English. This collection contains chronicles the activities of the Bull Terrier Club of America through its meeting minutes, publications, and show catalogs. Interspersed within the meeting minutes are clippings, correspondence, fliers, and reports related to the breed. [Identification of item, date (if known)]; Bull Terrier Club of America records, AKD 4.8, [Box and Folder number]; American Kennel Club Archives. Club and Breed History Note The Bull Terrier Club of America was officially founded and recognized by the AKC in 1897, after a false start and a disagreement with the AKC in 1895 over the issue of cropped ears, which the AKC opposed. Cropped ears quickly became a non-issue, though, as Bull Terriers were bred to ensure their ears pointed stiffly upwards. The first breed standard was adopted in Minor amendments, concerning weight and other issues, were added in 1926 and The issue of whether to recognize non-white Bull Terriers as legitimate was hotly contested among Bull Terrier fanciers. A majority refused to recognize colored Bull Terriers. - Page 3-

4 In 1936 the AKC ordered the BTCA to recognize a separate colored variety. A separate standard for colored Bull Terriers was adopted in The last major change to the breed standard came in 1957 when the Bull Terrier's personality was characterized as "full of fire but of sweet disposition and amenable to discipline." This change was made to counteract negative impressions of the breed, and dispel the common confusion of Bull Terriers with Pit Bulls. The issue of whether to combine the judging of the white and colored varieties of Bull Terriers continued to be a point of contention among members of the BTCA. They voted on the question in 1970 and The proposition was defeated both times. In England, the two varieties are judged together, but they remain separate in the U.S. The last minor amendment to the breed standard was made in The Bull Terrier Club of America publishes a bulletin entitled Barks. It was irregularly published beginning in the 1960's, became a professionally-produced quarterly in 1977, and is now published thrice annually. Since 1973 the Club has also published an annual entitled The Record, which chronicles the previous year's events. Prior to The Record, there was a publication called an annual which was only published six times between 1936 and The Club has also published pamphlets on Bull Terriers and on the health problem of slipping patellas, and books on Bull Terriers. Currently there are 30 regional clubs in the BTCA. The BTCA became a truly national organization, as opposed to a Northeast-centered organization, in 1970 with the institution of the annual Silverwood Competition. The Silverwood Trophy is awarded to the best American-bred Bull Terrier. The competition is hosted by different regional clubs each year, drawing Bull Terrier people together from all over the country and Canada. The ROM (recognition of merit) program, which began in 1978, also brings Bull Terrier people together, as their dogs compete to earn ROM points in different shows. During the 1980's the breed became suddenly popular due to beer commercials featuring a Bull Terrier named Spuds Mackenzie, and irresponsible breeders took advantage of the craze to sell to irresponsible owners. With $40,000. from the estate of Ethel Simpson Murray, the club spun off a separate non-profit Welfare Foundation, which had its hands full with rescue operations. Today the BTCA is thriving with a large, committed membership. The club continues to work on the welfare of Bull Terriers through its Welfare Foundation, and through its continued research into genetic defects. The Club also emphasizes its educational mission, countering misperceptions about Bull Terriers. Scope and Contents Note The collection chronicles the Club's decisions and actions and the development of the Bull Terrier breed, particularly within the fancy, via the Bull Terrier Club of America's Minutes and Publications. The Meeting Minutes provide an administrative overview of the Club's history, and reflect the concerns and politics of the Club's members and Boards of Directors over the years. The printed and publications material is not extensive but may have further accretions. It currently consists of four issues of The Record (including vol. 1, no. 1), one issue of Barks, two show catalogs, and one book. - Page 4-

5 Arrangement The collection is arranged into two groups: 1 Meeting Minutes, Publications, Administrative Information Publication Statement American Kennel Club Library & Archives 260 Madison Avenue FL 4 New York, NEW YORK library@akc.org URL: Access Restrictions This material is open to research without restrictions. Publishing and Use Restrictions Many of the materials in this collection may be under copyright and require written permission from the American Kennel Club and the copyright holder for publishing or use. Consult the Archivist. Provenance Gift of Hon. David Merriam, former President of the Bull Terrier Club of America, and member of the Board of Directors of the American Kennel Club. - Page 5-

6 Related Materials Related Collections Researchers interested in both the Breed and its Club may be interested in the Winkie (W.E.) Mackay- Smith papers (AKE 20.2) which contain a more in-depth look at some of the Bull Terrier Club of America's concerns and politics during the 1980's. The collection includes Mackay-Smith's copies of the minutes, correspondence to Mackay-Smith, drafts of articles by Mackay-Smith, articles by others clipped by Mackay-Smith (with a particular focus on genetic issues), correspondence on zinc metabolism syndrome (zinc deficiency) and other genetic issues, materials regarding BTCA elections and the Welfare Foundation, and materials related to Mackay-Smith's work for the BTCA on luxating patellas, the Bull Terrier video, the Illustrated Standard, and Silverwood. Controlled Access Headings Terriers (group) Bull terrier Catalogs Minutes Newsletters Bull Terrier Club of America Bull Terrier Club of America Collection Inventory 1. Meeting Minutes, Date [inclusive]: Physical Description: 2 Linear Feet in 4 document boxes. Arrangement The Minutes are arranged chronologically. - Page 6-

7 Scope and Contents Note The Meeting Minutes series contains photocopies or computer printouts of the Club's minutes from Board of Directors meetings, Delegates meetings, Membership meetings, and Special Meetings begginning in 1947, with gaps from and Title/Description Meeting Minutes, Date [inclusive]: Meeting Minutes, Date [inclusive]: Meeting Minutes, Date [inclusive]: Meeting Minutes, Date [inclusive]: Instances box 1 folder 1-2 box 1 folder 3-29 box 2 folder 1-19 folder Publications, Date [inclusive]: Physical Description: 0.5 Linear Feet in 1 document box. Arrangement The Publications series is divided into four sub-series, Books, Magazines, Show Catalogs, and Newsletters. Scope and Contents Note The bulk of this small series consists of the BTCA magazine The Record and the club's newsletter Barks. The Books sub-series includes the BTCA's publication Bull Terriers of Today which was an effort to flesh out the qualities of the breed in the 1950s. Title/Description Book. Bull Terriers of Today, 1951 Date [inclusive]: 1951 Magazine. The Record, 1972 Date [inclusive]: 1972 Magazine. The Record, 1996 Date [inclusive]: 1996 Magazine. The Record, 1998 Date [inclusive]: 1998 Instances Magazine. The Record, Page 7-

8 Date [inclusive]: 2001 Show Catalog. Specialty, 1997 Date [inclusive]: 1997 Show Catalog. Specialty and Obedience, 1998 Date [inclusive]: 1998 Newsletter. Barks, 2002 Date [inclusive]: Page 8-