COLLECTING DOG SHOW MEMORABILIA LEARNING THE HISTORY OF OUR SPORT WHILE PRESERVING IT by Pat Bullard
C ollecting dog show memora- bilia started with the search for meaningful gifts for a Maltese regional show that I was working on with a friend. That’s when I caught the “time travel” bug. With each piece that I found, there was more mys- tery to solve and the research has felt much like time travel for me. It’s not the sterling silver trophies or the fine art that draws my attention. Instead, it’s the bits and pieces of our history— saved by those who came before us— that tell the story of the remembered and treasured moments of dog show history in America. From candid photos to win photos, letters, tickets, children’s books, mag- azines of the past, and show catalogs, the evolution of the sport of pure- bred dogs in our country is told. Of course, my own breed, the Maltese, is one of my favorite subjects to col- lect. However, I am also intrigued by the people who started kennel clubs and dog shows. Returning lost his- tory to the all-breed clubs for their ar- chives is part of the joy of collecting. What started as a way to fill a boring afternoon has become a mission and a passion. Historical collections don’t do anyone any good by sitting in a dusty drawer or in boxes in the attic. Collections are only as valuable as you make them; by sharing them with the younger gen- eration of dog fanciers. Many items can be scanned so that the original is able to stay with the collector. It’s also
Ladies Kennel Club Letter
Rae with Judge, 1969
San Francisco Kennel Club Exhibitor’s Ticket
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