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Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lewis Wiel Collection of Lakeland, Kerry Blue, and Fox Terrier photographs

 Collection
Identifier: AKV-1-7

Scope and Contents

The Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lewis Wiel photograph collection (1948-1965) is comprised of images from 19 albums, originally composed around breed -- Lakeland, Kerry Blue, and Fox -- and/or a specific show dog. While win shots constitute the bulk of the collection, there are also portraits (of the Wiels and of individual dogs), candids, and snapshots depicting the Wiels' travel and leisure time with their dogs. Reknowned handler Harry Sangster is prominently featured throughout the collection, as is the work of esteemed West Coast dog show photographer Joan Ludwig. Highlights include behind-the-scenes images of Sangster grooming dogs, posing in front of a trailer, appearing on Art Linkletter's "House Party" with a Lakeland (inscribed on the back by Linkletter), and with Mrs. Wiel and even Zsa Zsa Gabor. The occasional appearance of clippings and ephemera, including a "Best of Breed" Lakeland sign from the Westminster Dog Show, are noted in the collection inventory.

Albums were originally labelled with the breed or the call name of the dog(s) featured. Formal show names -- including Ch. Tithebarn Limelight, Ch. Westcrag Warrior, Ch. Kere's Candy Lamb, Ch. Vixen's Show-Off, Ch. Foxhill's Topper, and Ch. Promoter of Wireheart -- are noted in the collection inventory when determined. These dogs may also appear in the albums labelled by breed.

Photographs are varyingly captioned on the verso.

Dates

  • 1948-1965

Creator

Biographical note

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lewis Wiel were well-reknowned exhibitors, judges, and breeders upon whom numerous awards, including Ken-L honors for three consecutive years, were bestowed. They began dabbling in dog breeding around 1922 and established Kerryall Kennels, based in the San Francisco area, in 1945. They specialized in terriers and had many BIS winners in the breeds Kerry Blue (Ch. Vixen's Show-Off, Ch. Gered's Candy Lamb, Fox Hill's Topper), Lakeland (Ch. Aristocrat of Greeba, Ch. Tithebarn Replica, Ch. Limelight), and -- to a lesser extent -- the Wire Fox (Ch. Torontina, Ch. Promoter of Wirehart), Smooth Fox, and Irish Terriers. Wiel (d. 1967), an investment broker, served as a top officer in clubs including the San Mateo Kennel Club, Stewards Club of California, Golden Gate Kennel Club, United States Lakeland Terrier Club, United States Kerry Blue Terrier Club, and the Kerry Blue Terrier Club of Southern California. He was an AKC judge of Kerry Blues beginning in 1950, and of Fox Terriers beginning in 1952, operating chiefly in the Northern California and Pacific Northwest area. He also penned the Lakeland Terrier breed column of the AKC Gazette. Wife Margery (d. 1965) was a fixture of the society pages and regarded as "one of the loveliest ladies of the fancy" (Popular Dogs). In the early 1950s, she was listed as one of the ten best-dressed women of the year, appearing appeared with a Kerry Blue in the pages of Life magazine (in which she was featured again as a member of an opera committee sponsoring culture). Both Wiels judged shows on a vacation to South America and ran the Golden Gate Kennel Club Show, which vastly grew in prestige during their tenure.

Physical Description

3.67 Linear Feet (in 3 flat photo boxes and one document box )

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The photograph collection (1948-1965) of prominent exhibitors Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lewis Wiel, of Kerryall Kennels, is comprised of photographs from 19 albums. Albums were composed around breed -- Lakeland Terrier, Kerry Blue Terrier, and Fox Terrier -- and/or a specific show dog -- including Ch, Vixen's Show-Off, Ch Foxhill's Topper, and Ch. Gered's Candy Lamb. While win shots constitute the bulk of the collection there are also select portraits (of the Wiels and of their dogs), candids, and snapshots. Handler Harry Sangster is prominently featured throughout the collection, as is the work of esteemed West Coast show photographer Joan Ludwig. Images are varyingly labelled on the verso. Select clippings, correspondence and ephemera are present.

Custodial History

Photographs were removed from the acidic sleeves of their original albums, many of which were coming unbound, with each individual album now respresented by a folder. Three albums deemed of aesthetic and/or artifactual value, as well as an original AKC Library bookplate created specifically for the collection and affixed in the original albums, were preserved.

Digitized Contents

Selections from the Lakeland Terriers series have been digitized and are available for reference. Please consult the Archivist.

Separated Materials

General dog volumes and show catalogues from the library of Robert L. Wiel were added to the AKC Library rare books collection. For more information, consult the library OPAC and perform an advanced search by "Collection Type" for the "Robert L. Wiel collection."

Creator

Title
Guide to the Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lewis Wiel Collection of Lakeland, Kerry Blue, and Fox Terrier photographs
Status
Completed
Author
Brynn White
Date
2017
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the American Kennel Club Library & Archives Repository

Contact:
101 Park Ave
FL 5
New York NEW YORK 10178 United States