2006:001
AKD 1.4
2.5 Cubic Feet
Collection processed by Norma Rosado-Blake
PROVENANCE
A gift from Linda Ford, President (2006) of the American Water Spaniel Club, Inc. (AWSC)
ARRANGEMENT
The collection is arranged into five series and several sub-series including:
(1) Constitution/By-Laws; (2) Newsletters; (3) Publications, National Specialty and Obedience Trials, National Specialty Hunt Tests, Pictorials, Various Publications; (4) Photographs, National Specialty Shows; (5) Videotapes. The Constitution/By-Laws contains one recent copy of the AWSC's constitution. This series also contains the article of incorporation published in 1986. Newsletters from 1986 to 1992 are housed together in an oversize box starting with the oldest on top. Thereafter, the newsletters changed format and are contained in folders and boxes. Publications include catalogues, premium lists, and pictorials of top-winning dogs. The photograph series is very small but contains personal color photographs from dog shows and trials. The videotape series contain a tape of the national specialty shows, including the first in 1994.
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
The Club
As one of only five American-bred breeds, the American Water Spaniel has had official recognition from the AKC since 1940. The American Water Spaniel Breeder's Association (AWSBA) was the breed's first parent club, which was formed in the 1930s but was inactive for almost 30 years after World War II. However, beginning in 1985 the American Water Spaniel Club (AWSC) took on the role as the parent club for the breed.
The first meeting of the AWSC was held in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, on 23 February 1985. Vaugh Brockman lead the first meeting with guidance and historical context about the breed. Those in attendance felt the formation of the club was necessary for the following reasons: to "improve the breed; share and disseminate information; get together and enjoy our dogs; record individual dogs' accomplishments; promote the AWS in field trials; make decisions regarding their status as retrievers or flushing spaniels; and gather enough dogs for the show ring." In addition to these issues, they also elected temporary officers including, John Hattram, president; Carolyn Kraskey, vice president; Sue Liemohn, Secretary-Treasurer; Tom Olson, Corresponding Secretary.
For the next several years, the club worked diligently to gain recognition from the AKC. And in response, the AKC accredited the club to hold Plan B (OB) matches in May 1990. Further advancement for the club occurred in June of 1993 when it was accredited to hold Plan A (OA) matches. Finally, in October 1993, the club was licensed to hold specialty shows. It held its first national specialty show on 12 August 1994, where Ch. Waterway's Bodee-O-Do, WDX won Best of Breed. Judge Dorothy MacDonald described the dog as "�a lovely size, sound as he could be. Beautiful type, lovely tail, good topline, carried it well, moving and standing." The club was eventually elected as a member of the AKC in December 1996.
During the 1990s, the AWSC was challenged with mounting opposition from another club, the American Water Spaniel Field Association. According to the AWSC newsletter, its purpose, among other things, was the advancement of the breed. In fact, the AWSFA asked for recognition to hold hunting tests, but in response, John V. Carroll, AKC Director of Operations stated, "The breed is presently represented by the American Water Spaniel Club, and there is little possibility of a second national club being recognized to represent the same breed." The issue of who would represent the breed was settled.
The Breed
The combination of retrieving waterfowl and flushing upland game makes the breed unique. The dog's tenacious ability to search for crippled game, intelligence and size make it ideal in the field. In addition to its hunting prowess, it also makes an excellent family dog. The breed's history has been shrouded in mystery, but there are certain unmistakable facts about its development in the United States.
The breed was initially developed during the late 1800s in the Midwest by market hunters who needed a dog small enough to retrieve pheasant out of heavy thicket, solid enough to retrieve game over and over and to retrieve waterfowl. Its curly coat was useful during long and harsh Midwestern winters. It was and solid enough to withstand heavy, thorny thicket in the field and waterproof for retrieving waterfowl. Its stamina and size proved useful for canoe hunters who would be out for days hunting in the field.
During the 1920s and 1930s, Dr. Fred J. Pfeifer, a physician and surgeon from Wisconsin, was the first person to begin breeding the American Water Spaniel. He owned Wolf River Kennels, which was awarded a purple ribbon from the United Kennel Club in Kalamazoo, Michigan, for his breeding. Thereafter, the breed received recognition from the AKC in 1940. The breed, popular in Midwestern states, particularly in Wisconsin, was made the official state dog in 1986 by the then-Governor Anthony Earl.
The breed inherits many of its traits from its ancestors, including the Irish Water Spaniel, English Water Spaniel (now extinct) and the Curly Coated Retriever. According to its standard, "The breed's emphasis is placed on proper size, and a symmetrical relationship of parts, texture of coat and color."
SCOPE AND CONTENT The AWSC newsletters contain a wealth of information, including articles; photographs; conformation, obedience, hunting statistics; new titleholders, and beginning in the 1990s, board meeting minutes. The first newsletter, published in 1986, took on a newspaper format, in terms of paper content and appearance. However, beginning in 1993, the format took on that of a newsletter type of publication, and in 1996 it was renamed the AWS Review. It was initially published quarterly. However, beginning in 2004, due to increasing printing costs, the AWS Review was only published biannually in May and October. The 'mini' Review replaced the Review as the sole newsletter for the club.
Catalogues and premium lists from the first national specialty in 1994 are contained in the collection along with subsequent catalogues and premium lists.
There are a few photographs taken during the 2000 National Specialty and other years, which are not identified. Many of the individuals and dogs can, however, be identified through their newsletters and catalogues. The photographs are a variety of informal win shots, action, and candid photographs.
Of note is the publication on champion dogs from 1994 to 1997 and three videotapes from the first three national specialty shows.
American Kennel Club Archives
American Water Spaniel Club, Inc. (1986-2006)
AKD 1.4
INVENTORY
| Constitutions/By-Laws | ||
| Box 1 | FF 1 | Constitution and By-Laws, June 1996 |
| FF 2 | Articles of Incorporation, July 1986 | |
| Newsletters | ||
| Oversize 1 | January-March, 1986 | |
| April-June, 1986 | ||
| July-September, 1986 | ||
| October-December, 1986 | ||
| January-March, 1987 | ||
| April-June, 1987 | ||
| July-September, 1987 | ||
| October-December, 1987 | ||
| January-March, 1988 | ||
| April-June, 1988 | ||
| July-September, 1988 | ||
| October-December, 1988 | ||
| January-March, 1989 | ||
| April-June, 1989 | ||
| July-September, 1989 | ||
| October-December, 1989 | ||
| January-March, 1990 | ||
| April-June, 1990 | ||
| July-September, 1990 | ||
| October-December, 1990 | ||
| January-March, 1991 | ||
| April-June, 1991 | ||
| July-September, 1991 | ||
| October-December, 1991 | ||
| January-March, 1992 | ||
| April-June, 1992 | ||
| July-September, 1992 | ||
| October-December, 1992 | ||
| Box 1 | FF 3 | 1993 |
| FF 4 | 1994 | |
| FF 5 | 1995 | |
| FF 6 | January; April, 1996 | |
| AWS Review (newsletter) | ||
| FF 7 | July; October, 1996 | |
| FF 8 | 1997 | |
| FF 9 | 1998 | |
| FF 10 | April-December, 1999 | |
| FF 11 | 2000 | |
| FF 12 | 2001 | |
| FF 13 | 2002 | |
| FF 14 | January-September, 2003 | |
| Box 2 | FF 1 | April, 2004 |
| The ‘Mini’ Review (newsletter) | ||
| FF 2 | January-July, 2004 | |
| FF 3 | January-July, 2005 | |
| FF 4 | May; October, 2005 (AWS Review) | |
| FF 5 | January-March, 2006 | |
| FF 6 | May; October, 2006 (AWS Review) | |
| Publications | ||
| National Specialty Show and Obedience Trial | ||
| Catalogues | ||
| FF 7 | 12 August 1994 | |
| FF 8 | 25 August 1995 | |
| FF 9 | 9 August 1996 | |
| FF 10 | 15 August 1997 | |
| FF 11 | 13 August 1998 (2) | |
| FF 12 | 19 August 1999 (2) | |
| FF 13 | 17 August 2000 (2) | |
| Box 3 | FF 1 | 16 August 2001 (3) |
| FF 2 | 15 August 2002 (2) | |
| National Specialty and Hunt Tests | ||
| Informational newsletters | ||
| FF 3 | 1998-1999 | |
| FF 4 | 2000-2003 | |
| Catalogues | ||
| FF 5 | 1998-2000 | |
| FF 6 | 2001-2002 | |
| Premium Lists | ||
| FF 7 | 1999-2002 | |
| Judging Programs | ||
| FF 8 | 1999-2000 | |
| AWS Breed Pictorials | ||
| FF 9 | 1994 | |
| FF 10 | 1997 | |
| FF 11 | 1997 | |
| FF 12 | 2000 | |
| FF 13 | 2000 | |
| Various publications | ||
| FF 14 | Retrieving Certification Test Rules Booklet, 2005 | |
| FF 15 | Register of Merit, 1 July 2003 | |
| FF 16 | National Hunt Test Results, 2002 | |
| FF 17 | Notepad, Ephemera, 1999 | |
| Photographs | ||
| National Specialty Shows | ||
| Box 4 | FF 1 | Conformation, In-the-ring photographs, c. 1999 |
| FF 2 | Hunting - retrieving in the field photographs, c. 1999 | |
| FF 3 | Hunting - retrieving in the water photographs, c. 1999 | |
| FF 4 | Win shots, awards and candid shots, c.1999 | |
| FF 5 | Retrieving in the field photographs, 2000 | |
| FF 6 | Retrieving in the water photographs, 2000 | |
| FF 7 | candid shots, 2000 | |
| FF 8 | "Curly" photographs; Anne Pfeifer, 2000 | |
| Videotapes | ||
| FF 9 | First National Specialty, 12 August 1994 | |
| FF 10 | Second National Specialty, 25 August 1995 | |
| FF 11 | Third National Specialty, 9 August 1996 | |
