THE STATE HISTORCIAL SOCIETY OF MISSOURI RESEARCH CENTER-KANSAS CITY K0265 American Royal Records ca. 1899-1991 161 cubic feet, oversize materials, 17 scrapbooks (microfilmed) Organizational records of a premier livestock and horse show, parade, rodeo, and barbeque contest. Contains correspondence and working files, photographs, scrapbooks, magazines, programs, ledgers, motion picture film, videotape, and other items. HISTORY: Following the Civil War and with the advent of the railroads, Kansas City became a leading place for the cattle herders to gather. Stockyards and packing houses became big business. In order to promote various breeds of cattle and to try and better their quality, livestock shows were held. In October 1899, a National Hereford Show was held at the Kansas City Stockyards. The next year, Shorthorn cattle were included in the show. On January 1, 1901, an editorial "Call It the American Royal" was written by Walter Neff, editor of an agricultural newspaper, the Drovers Telegram. Neff wrote the editorial after hearing Dean C. F. Curtiss of Iowa State College say that he thought that the livestock at Kansas City's show was better than livestock he saw at the British Agricultural Royal in England. The new name was given to the 1901 show. Also added that year were other breeds of cattle, plus sheep, swine, poultry and draft horses. For the first time, in 1905 a horse show was part of the American Royal. It was in a tent in the stockyards at night. Over the next several years, the Royal was held in various places including Convention Hall, Electric Park, and the stockyards. In 1922, a building was constructed with money raised by contributions. It burned in February 1925 but was rebuilt and was ready by the fall of 1925. SHSMO-KC April 7, 2015 REVISED K0265 American Royal Records Page 2 The show continued to be held during the Depression years. At the time of World War II, only a small livestock show was held, not the horse show. Even the flooding of the Kaw and destruction in the West Bottoms area in 1951 failed to stop the Royal. The Governors Building was built in the early 1970's and added space for exhibits. With the completion of the Crosby Kemper Memorial Arena in 1974, much of the show was moved there and rodeo activities were added. Along with the Horse Shows which include Quarter Horses, Arabian/Morgans, a 4-H Horse Show, Hunter/Jumpers, and Saddle Horses, and Livestock Show, there is an American Royal parade through downtown Kansas City and the coronation of a queen elected from the Future Farmers of America State Sweethearts. The American Royal is supported by a Board of Governors of almost 1000 members, the BOTARs (Belles of the American Royal) the Saddle and Sirloin Club and many volunteers. PROVENANCE: The American Royal Collection was received from the American Royal Association as accession KA0614 on December 12, 1990. Additions were made on April 18, 1991 as KA0627, December 10, 1991 as KA0662, February 4, 1993 as KA0739, August 5, 1996 as KA0917, and April 5, 2000 as KA1063. Accession KA2256 was received from Kate Anderson on November 4, 2014. Accession KA2274 was received from the Association on April 7, 2015. COPYRIGHT AND RESTRICTIONS: The Donor retains copyrights held in the Records, with the understanding that researchers are free to use and quote from any of the Records. PREFERRED CITATION: Specific item; folder number; American Royal Records (K0265); The State Historical Society of Missouri Research Center-Kansas City [after first mention may be abbreviated to SHSMO-KC]. CONTACT: The State Historical Society of Missouri Research Center-Kansas City 302 Newcomb Hall, University of Missouri-Kansas City 5123 Holmes Street, Kansas City, MO 64110-2499 (816) 235-1543 [email protected] http://shs.umsystem.edu/index.shtml SHSMO-KC April 7, 2015 REVISED K0265 American Royal Records Page 3 DESCRIPTION: The collection contains papers, photographs, scrapbooks, magazines, programs, ledgers, motion picture film, videotape, and other items relating to the American Royal Horse and Livestock Show, as well as to the American Royal Rodeo and Barbecue Cook-off. The seventeen scrapbook volumes were separated from the collection and microfilmed (see listing and description below). Note: Most of the photographs have been removed from their original location and arranged topically in Boxes 78,79 and 80 (in office). INVENTORY: BOX 001 History 1899-1960 Facts, Figures and History American Royal Livestock, Horse Show and Rodeo--Lists of year, president, general manager, attendance, ticket income, comments and photographs. Historical Notes, Trophy Winners Information, newspaper articles and news releases. Folder 1 American Royal Queen Candidates -1966, photographs removed from scrapbooks Folder 2 American Royal General Scrapbooks v.3-11, 1965-1976, photographs removed Folder 3 American Royal Scrapbooks-Advertising Series v.1-5, 1950-1968 BOX 002 History 1961-1985 (See BOX 001 for description.) BOX 003 Photographs--1970's-early 1980's (also see BOX 004) Shows--people, animals Slides--1980-General; 1982-General BOX 004 Photographs--1970's-early 1980's (also see BOX 003) Shows--people, animals Slides Adult Slide Show ca. 1970's; Entertainers 1970's, 1980's (?); Mounties, Sheplers 1970's, 1980's (?); Bob Hitch 1978, 1982; Miralda Project 1981 SHSMO-KC April 7, 2015 REVISED K0265 American Royal Records Page 4 BOX 005 Publications Newspaper articles 1929, 1936, 1961, 1962, 1984, 1986 American Horse Sportologue 1946 (Magazine) Kansas City Livestock Market History 1871-1946/ International Horse Show Program London 1952/ Musical Ride Program--Royal Canadian Mounted Police 1969 Photocopies of Articles; 1913 American Royal Livestock Program-1905, 1913, 1933, Undated Information on Publishing Books for American Royal 1984 News Releases and Articles 1974-1982 American Horse Show Association Rule Books 1975-1982 (also see BOX 013) Various Articles, Historical Photos & Written History of American Royal 1927, 1949, 1968, 1982, Undated Articles about American Royal 1933, 1952 Photographs--after 1960's Entertainers 1960's Show Managers 1915, 1960's Programs--Saddle and Sirloin Club 1981; "Brief History of Philanthropy in Kansas City" 1980 Photographs 1920's, 1930's, 1950's, 1960's, Undated (also photograph of old American Royal building) Catalog--American Hereford Cattle Breeders Assn. 1882-1932 BOX 006 History A-R and American Royal--Photos (parade), newspaper articles 1950's, 1960's History ca. 1899-1983-newspaper articles, notes and copies of articles. Correspondence-origin years of Kansas City businesses, journalism services, Jackson County Historical Society correspondence. History of American Royal 1978, 1983, 1984 (KCAA Dusty Shelf); correspondence of American Royal 1979. Interviews 1970's, 1980's. Oral History transcripts and information about various American Royal presidents and cattle people. Information on American Royal Presidents 1920's-1970's. Lists--Market Buyers 1982; Horse Show Results 1948-1951, 1955; Shelf List of American Royal Stuff at State Historical Society of Missouri 1983; New Horse Divisions of Show 1975 Information on Past Presidents (2 f.) SHSMO-KC April 7, 2015 REVISED K0265 American Royal Records Page 5 History of American Royal and Stockyards Information on Various Breeds of Cattle and Hogs 1970's BOX 007 Photographs from American Royal Scrapbooks--Advertising, General, 1966 Queen Candidates Information on Various Breeds of Cattle and Hogs 1970's Information on Horse Breeds Horse Show and Livestock Programs and Premium Lists List Program K C Horse Show 1914 American Royal Horse Show Programs 1924, 1927-1935 Horse Show and Sportsmen's Exposition Program 1938 [sponsored by Police Department] American Royal Horse Show Program 1939 BOX 008 American Royal Horse Show Catalogues 1940-1941, 1946-1965 BOX 009 American Royal Horse Show Catalogues 1966-1974 American Royal Livestock, Horse Show & Rodeo Catalogue 1975 American Royal Horse Show Catalogues 1976-1990 Saddle and Sirloin Horse Show and Quarter Horse Show, June 10-11, 1966 Saddle and Sirloin Horse Show and Quarter Horse Show, June 4-5, 1976 BOX 010 1980 Teachers Guide, News Releases 1981 Teachers, Media and Volunteers Guides, News Releases, Poster, Western Art Show Catalogue, Coloring Book 1982 Newsletter, Coloring Book, Teachers and Media Guides, Poster, News Releases 1983 Teachers and Media Guides, Coloring Book, Western Art Catalogue, Flyers, Poster, Newspaper Article 1984 Media Guide, Entertainers, Flyers Invitation--Dinner American Royal Committee and Kansas City, Kansas Chamber of Commerce 1946 (Darby) Advertising Flyers, Coronation Ball 1948 (Darby) American Royal Kansas Day Luncheon 1949 (Darby) Advertising Flyers, Program of Events, Events Committees Lists 1953, Undated (Darby) American Royal Coronation Pageant and Ball Program 1954 American Royal Queen Judging and Coronation Dinner 1975 (Darby) Official Class Schedule (Horse Show) 1948 Official and Tentative Class Schedules 1983, 1984 (Horse) SHSMO-KC April 7, 2015 REVISED K0265 American Royal Records Page 6 American Royal Dairy Cattle Show and Rodeo Programs 1949-1952 (Rodeo was discontinued from 1953 until 1965) American Royal Rodeo Program 1965-1990 American Royal Horse Show Premium Lists 1940-1941, 1946-1956, 1958-1969. Quarter Horse Sales Catalogues 1959-1964. BOX 011 American Royal Horse Show Premium Lists 1970-1990 American Royal Horse Sale Catalogues 1965-1970, 1983 American Royal Livestock Show Catalogues 1911, 1913, 1916, 1917, 1922, 1924, 1926, 1929-1931, 1933, 1934 American