AKD 2.20 Otterhound Club of America Collection
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AKD 2.20 Otterhound Club of America collection This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on September 02, 2016. English Describing Archives: A Content Standard American Kennel Club Library & Archives 260 Madison Avenue FL 4 New York, NEW YORK 10016 [email protected] URL: http://www.akc.org/about/archive/ AKD 2.20 Otterhound Club of America collection Table of Contents Summary Information .................................................................................................................................... 3 Biographical / Historical ................................................................................................................................ 4 Scope and Contents ........................................................................................................................................ 6 Arrangement ................................................................................................................................................... 7 Administrative Information ............................................................................................................................ 8 Controlled Access Headings .......................................................................................................................... 9 Collection Inventory ....................................................................................................................................... 9 1. Hugh Mouat papers ................................................................................................................................. 9 2. Club Administration .............................................................................................................................. 10 2.1 Secretary Files .................................................................................................................................. 10 3. Print Publications and Ephemera .......................................................................................................... 16 4. Photographic Materials ......................................................................................................................... 20 5. Videos .................................................................................................................................................... 21 6. Show Ribbons and Notable Dogs ......................................................................................................... 21 - Page 2 - AKD 2.20 Otterhound Club of America collection Summary Information Repository: American Kennel Club Library & Archives Creator: Otterhound Club of America Source: DeShon, Louis C. Source: Otterhound Club of America Creator: Mouat, Hugh R. Title: Otterhound Club of America collection ID: AKD .2.20 Date [inclusive]: 1931-2007 Physical Description: 18 Linear feet in 35 boxes [and mixed collections oversize storage] Language of the English Material: Language of the Materials are in English. Material: Abstract: The collection contains records of the club and breed history beginning with the personal papers and records of Dr. Hugh Mouat, conductor of the first Otterhound breeding program in America. Club administration documentation includes secretary's files, meeting minutes, correspondence, specialty show files, and more. Print publications such as specialty show catalogs and a run of the club's newsletters from 1971 to 2001 are present, in addition to a video collection of show footage and other Otterhound specials. Photograph albums and negatives document notable early dogs, kennels, and figures in the breed. Preferred Citation [Identification of item, date (if known)]; Otterhound Club of America, AKD 2.20, [Box and Folder number]; American Kennel Club Archives. ^ Return to Table of Contents - Page 3- AKD 2.20 Otterhound Club of America collection Biographical / Historical CLUB HISTORY The Otterhound Club of America was founded on 13 August 1960 by thirteen Otterhound owners. These owners gathered at Dr. Hugh Mouat’s home in Amsterdam, NY following the judging of the Southern Adirondack Dog Club Show. At this meeting, officers were elected: Dr. Mouat as president, Leon Fry as vice president, Margaret Bloomer as Secretary and Samuel Schiller as treasurer. Part of the club’s purpose was to “encourage and promote the breeding of OH’s, striving as nearly as possible for perfection”. Other goals included creating an AKC approved standard for the breed, holding shows under the rules of AKC and the general protection and advancement of the breed. Dr. Hugh Mouat, known now as “Mr. Otterhound,” was the leading arbiter of Otterhounds in the US, his interest originally peeked by a 1934 visit by two breeders in 1934. He subsequently started the country’s first ambitious breeding program in 1937. Alhough there are AKC records of the exhibition of six Otterhounds in a show in Claremont, Oklahoma in 1907, the first breed champions did not appear until Ch. Bessie's Countess and Ch. Bessie's Courageous, Otterhounds from Dr. Mouat’s first litter, earned the title. On 13 December 1950, Dr. Mouat was presented the award of honor by Dog World Magazine for his efforts to preserve the Otterhound. He kept close records of his famous kennel, Adriucha Kennel and wrote “How to Raise and Train an Otterhound” which was published in 1963. The first Otterhound fun match was held at Dr. Mouat’s home in 1971. This event has been held annually since and has become a favorite OHCA gathering. Dr. Mouat was a profound influence on the presence of Otterhounds in the US and on the OHCA. The OHCA submitted their constitution and by-laws to the AKC in December 1961, but the AKC deemed them unacceptable due to lack of individuality; there were only 57 members of the OHCA and only 45 AKC registered Otterhounds. In an attempt to strengthen the breed, two dogs were imported from the UK in that year. These imports were likely from one or both of the two most famous packs of Otterhounds in the UK, Dumfriesshire in Scotland and Kendal and District in the Lake District of England. In 1968 the Western Otterhound Fanciers (WOHF) was founded by ten Otterhound owners on the west coast. The organization aimed to increase awareness and presence of the breed on the coast and support show entries. A monthly newsletter, the WOHF Whistle, was also a function of the club. WOHF and OHCA collaborated to create a standard for the Otterhound which they completed in 1971. The standard was approved by AKC and published in the AKC Gazette in November, 1971. WOHF was a successful regional club until 1973 when it was dissolved by vote in order to give full support to the OHCA. A new constitution and by-laws for OHCA were voted on and accepted in the spring of 1974. These were sent to the AKC on 14 June 1974 and were formally accepted by AKC on 22 August 1974. The club held its first national specialty in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1981. At this event, Ch. Follyhoun First in Line was Best of Breed and Ch. Follyhoun Fair Warning went Best of Opposite. The club has also held a regional specialty in Louisville, Kentucky every year since 1994. There was continued work put into the first Illustrated Standard, originally published in 1971. One change includes the name of the breed itself from Otter Hound to Otterhound in 1987. Thereafter, - Page 4- AKD 2.20 Otterhound Club of America collection continual debate over phrasing took place and minor wording revisions were made several times in the 1980s. The most recent standard was approved in 1995. Another activity the club participates in is Otterhound rescue. This is not a big undertaking due to the small number of unspayed and unneutered Otterhounds in the US. The club does voice frustrations over being contacted for the rescue of shaggy strays that are not actually Otterhounds. However, the OHCA has successively rescued several Otterhounds in the last few years. The club has also conducted two health surveys, which were distributed to Otterhound owners across the US in 1996 and 2003. These surveys indicated that most Otterhounds are in relatively good health and have no major health problems until old age. The club encourages DNA testing for all Otterhounds in order to eliminate health issues in breeding stock. The club now consists of about 100 members in the US and some international members living in Canada and Europe, especially the UK. There is no Otterhound Club in Canada, though there is one in the UK with which the OHCA corresponds. Today, there are less than 1000 Otterhounds worldwide and less than 350 in the US. BREED HISTORY There are references to “otter dogges” as early as the 12th century, but these dogs may not have bore much resemblance to the modern-day Otterhound. There were ten “Master of Otterhounds” beginning with King John who reigned from 1199-1216. Queen Elizabeth I, who reigned from 1558-1603, became the first “Lady Master of Otterhounds”. However, these dogs were so called because of the purpose they served and may not necessarily be closely related to the Otterhound of today. In the times of Edward II, who reigned from 1307-1327, a huntsman named William Twici left the first description of the kind of dogs that made up otter packs. He describes them as “a rough sort of dog, between a hound and a terrier”. This sounds a bit like the modern-day Otterhound, but the description is too vague to draw any conclusions about what kinds of dogs these early otter trackers were. The Otterhound as we know him today probably took shape in the late