The Peregrine Fund Heritage Winter 2003-04

Heritage Number 2

Archives of American Falconry Winter 2003-04

New archives facility officially dedicated

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n the weekend of 15 March over 100 falconers and

Volunteer Staff CURATORS

friends made the trek to Boise for the official opening of the new Archives of American Falconry facility. They

came from 20 states and were treated to two days of reminiscing with old friends and examining the multitude of historical artifacts

S. Kent Carnie Archivist John R. Swift Books and Manuscripts RESEARCH ASSOCIATES Peter Barry Devers Eastern Region Natalie Nicholson Western Region GRAPHICS ASSOCIATES Donald Garlock, Jr. James B. Stabler PUBLICATIONS ASSOCIATE William G. Mattox

on display as well as exploring the new facility itself. The new building was officially occupied in September 2002 and moving The Archives’ materials was completed with the help of local falconers Jim Frazier and Warren Spencer and Curator John Swift. The next several months were spent in preparation for the March official dedication. A special Friday evening dinner was hosted by Bill and Pat Burnham for early attendees. About 35 attended the dinner at the Burnham home. It was a great evening visiting among many old friends. On Saturday The Archives was open all day with hosts John and Vicki Swift, Peter Devers and Natalie Nicholson, along with Kent, answering questions and serving appetizers. The walls were covered with art work by such as Renz Waller, George Lodge, Frank Beebe, Ross Matteson, Earl Poole and a special display of paintings by Andrew Ellis on loan from Robert Bagley and Bob Berry.

Above, right: Bob Berry, a major supporter of The Archives, addressing the guests. Below, from left: Bob Berry, Tom Cade, and Kent Carnie cut the ribbon at the Archives opening.

The entire archives were open so Kent was busy showing the guests whatever historic items they desired. Laughter could be heard around old pictures and “I haven’t aged a bit” was heard more than once. Others were heard saying: “I remember when I made that” or “I remember when I bought that.” Kent says that’s what is fun about The Archives: “It stirs up so

many fond memories.” Many friendships were rekindled and memories stirred. All falconers can find something they remember or something from which they will learn during a visit. NAFA leadership attending the festivities were Vice President Jim Ince, Director-at-large Dick Musser and regional Directors Kent Christopher, Bill Johnston, Bob Pendergrass and Kevin Suedmeyer.

Archives of American Falconry

Recent Acquisitions (To December, 2003)

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ew contributions arrive from falconers almost daily. They may be the result of a house cleaning or a recognized need to preserve an historic item; everyday when the postman arrives at The Archives, it can be like Christmas—we never know what treasures he will deliver. Books, art, equipment are the most often received and annually over 100 such gifts reach The Archives for preservation and future study. Some of the more noteworthy items to arrive this year were from: Frank Beebe: The complete collection of his original personal diaries/falconry notes, 19322002. Laura Belkin: William Lasky’s personal correspondence with numerous historic falconry figures. Above: Luff’s granddaughter, Deb Meredith, and Peter Devers. (Note his Dead Falconers Tour shirt!)

Geoff Nye (right) presenting his father’s Lodge Peregrine painting to the curator.

Tony Huston: A first edition of Beebe and Webster’s North American falconry and Hunting Hawks personally inscribed (extensively) to him from John Steinbeck, Nobel prize winning author (Grapes of Wrath, The Pearl, and Cannery Row). Unbeknownst to most, Steinbeck had a life long interest in the legends of King Arthur which, of course, included falconry. His personal acquaintance with Tony’s father, director John Huston, resulted in this unique Christmas gift to Tony which he has now so generously shared with us all. Henry Kendall: A beautiful mounting of Whitey the white Red-tailed hawk that he owned for over 30 years, flew in falconry and attempted to breed. He also donated custom made blocks, Mike Melvill swivels, original Otto Kals pencil drawings and correspondence, original Francis Golden watercolor paintings of the NAFA 1964 Centerville meet (which were subsequently published in Sports Illustrated) and 140 slides, with written narrative describing Henry’s 1967 trip to the Northwest Territories securing birds. Jed Lavitt: A very rare presentation copy of C.H. Fisher’s Modern Falconry from the Proceedings of the Cotteswold Naturalists’ Society. Stan Marcus: (former NAFA President) His personal copy of Schlegel and Wulverhorst’s Traite de Fauconnerie. Long considered to be the most magnificent falconry book ever produced, this copy was previously owned by Luff Meredith and Kent Carnie.

…everyday when the postman arrives at

?

heritage • Winter 2003-04

Famous Falconry Artifact Acquired for Archives In a preliminary announcement, Archivist Kent Carnie has indicated that what is widely regarded as one of the most famous falconry artifacts now extant will permanently reside at The Archives. It is of such significance that before a formal announcement is made, a special display will be developed around it at The Archives. This treasure will be featured in the next AAF newsletter. What it is? Hints: over 200 years old; given to a famous falconer by falconry friends for his service to the sport, it has not been on public display for over 100 years and is depicted in one of J. E. Harting’s books. “Stay tuned for more details”—the announcement is forthcoming!! Hard-core book lovers: Kevin Suedmeyer, Natalie Nicholson, and Steve Heying. Bill and Anne Meredith: An oil portrait of their father, Luff Meredith, with a Gyrfalcon on the fist painted by Renz Waller. Dick and Marilyn Musser: A large custom-made modern tapestry depicting falconry in Alaska. Geoff Nye: Eight banker’s boxes of his father (Al Nye’s) personal papers, photos, records, tapes and memorabilia, together with an original George Lodge oil painting of a peregrine, the painting having been given Al by “Doc” Stabler. Ken Riddle: a 14’ x 20’ Arab falconers’ Majles tent, complete with carpets, cushions, and all the apparatus to make and serve Arabstyle coffee. Frank Serra: Numerous personally made Indian-style hoods along with home movies of his falconry experiences and a personal scrapbook.

Other groups and individuals contributing items were: Alberta Falconers Assn., Robert Bagley, Bob Berry, Frank Bond, Tom Boyd, Tom Cade, John Campbell, Kent Carnie, Abd al Aziz bin Clare, A. P. Clark, Kellie Cosho, John Craighead, Larry Crowley, Bryan Culbertson, Steve Duecker, Peter Devers, Ken Feller, Nick Fox, David Frank, Ken Franklin, Jim Frazier, Rod Gehrlein, Kenyon Gibson, Jim Grier, Julio Cesar P. Guerra, David Hancock, Jim Hansen, Clyde Hawley, Greg Hayes, Harold Hill, Peter Kluh, John Lindstrom, Diane Lynch, Bill Mattox, Bill MacBride, Brian McDonald, Gordon Mellor, Mike Melvill, Bill Murrin, Heinz Meng, Nebraska Falconers’ Assn., Carter Neimeyer, Norm Nelson, Natalie Nicholson, Bill Oakes, Glen Phillips, Tom Ray, Ken Riddle,

The curator plays host at Saturday night’s dinner. Gordon Robinson, Pete Rodas, Rob Rose, Clee Sealing, Karl Shank, Bill Shinners, Scott Struthers, John Swift, Mike Syring, Zenjiro Tagomori, Simon Thomsett, Peter Toot, Virginia Falconers Assn., Washington Falconers’ Assn., Barrie Watson, Lucy Widener, Wisconsin Falconers Assn., Brad Woods, Mike & Karen Yates, Reza Zand.

The Archives, it can be like Christmas…

Archives of American Falconry

DONORS –JAMES NELSON RI

LIFE PATRONS

Robert B. & Carol S. Berry.

PREMIER PATRONS

Frank M. Bond, S. Kent Carnie, Yvon Chouinard, Walter Clay Hill & Family Foundation, Stanley A. Marcus, Ross & Genny Matteson, Robert D. Mcintyre, Brian & Ruth Mutch, North American Falconers Association, Sally H. Spofford, Jeraldine C. Struthers, Scott Struthers, John & Vicki Swift, James D. Weaver (Grasslans Charitable Foundation), Lucy & Pete Widener, Jr. (Eyas Foundation).

SUSTAINING PATRONS

Jed H. Lavitt, Robert & Bettie Winslow.

PATRONS

Alaska Falconers Association, M. Kevin Auld, Gary & Becky Boberg, Sterling Bunnell, Tom Cantella, Keith P. Carpenter, Ronald G. Clarke, Jim L. Cook, William E. Cornatzer, Peter B. Devers, Pete & Kristi Edmunds, James H. Enderson, Louis A. Feher, Stephen A. Gatti, Margaret B. Heiberg, W. A. Huston, Maine Falconry & Raptor Conservancy, Richard & Marilyn Musser. North American Raptor Breeders Association, Oregon Falconers Association, Timothy Sell, Will & Joby Shor, Peter T. Toot, Virginia Falconers Association.

BENEFACTORS

Arizona Falconers Association, M/M Lee Bondurant, E. K. Broberg, R. E. Brown, J. J. Craighead, T. Halter Cunningham, Tom Ennenga, James H. & Mildred F. Frazier, M. J. Gabriel, R. Gilbertson/K. Spanjian, Idaho Falconers Association, S. A. Martin, J. A. Meyers, J. W. Nelson, North Carolina Falconers Guild, R. H. Olcott, Pennsylvania Falconry & Hawk Trust, M. Perry, Marek L. B. Plater, Thomas D. Ray, J. Stoddart, J. Wilde.

COOPERATORS

American Falconry, Inc., Blair Anderson, S. T. Anderson, K. Barnard, A. J. Bullen, S. W. Chitty, Colorado Hawking Club, James Cowan, III, Danny D. Durrance, Florida Hawking Fraternity, D. Folch, David D. Frank, D. Frisby, R. F. Frock, Jr., Bret Gaussoin, J. S. Harrell, W. R. Hecht, R. L. Herrick, Idaho Falconers Association, Region 3, Jim Ince, R. R. Johnson, W. F. Johnston, Jr., R. Katona, R. F. Kennedy, Jr., H. P. Lee, III, Burt Loessberg, W. Mallon, G. & J. Marshall, R. L. Martin, A. S. Martinko, H. C. McElroy, H. Meng, Minnesota Falconers Association, New Mexico Falconry Association, Natalie G. Nicholson, Northwoods, Ltd., J. L. Oaks, Jr., P. Paillat, Duard Pederson, F. B. Renn, J. R. Shown, Edward B. Stabler, A. L. Thomason, W. E. Upton, D. B. Wadsworth, B. D. Watson, L. C. Woyce, Jr., M. & K. Yates.

heritage • Winter 2003-04

ICE

MEMORIAL WING 2002

SPONSORS

E. J. Anderson, D. A. Bianco, S. G. Black, B. Brown, R. & R. Brunotte, Bill & Pat Burnham, P. F. Burns, Robert P. Carson, D. M. Collins, R. J. Collins, E. A. P. Crownhart-Vaughan, R. M. Dalton, W. & C. Dickerson, Jamey P. Eddy, R. A. Escutia, D. K. Eslicker, N. C. Fairman, T. C. Farmer, Ken Feller, James R. Ferris, Jerry B. Gafford, R. J. Garrett, J. D. Garry, J. M. Graham, Jr., Walon Green, Bruce & Evelyn Haak, J. W. Hagan, Al Harmata, T. D. Head, J. S. Heffner, Jr., Hiester Family, Richard Howard, R. F. Hoyer, P. D. Hutcheson, Idaho Ink Spots, P. V. W. Kennedy, A. P. Kramer, D. W. Lass, E. W. Levine, W. C. MacBride, III, G. A. Maka, P. G. Mascuch, Massachusetts Falconry & Hawk Trust, Joan B. & William G. Mattox, M. W. Maynard, G. T. Mellor, Michigan Hawking Club, John A. Milan, B. Mitchell, Nebraska Falconers Association, New York State Falconry Association, D. Q. Nicholson, Bill & Marcie Oakes, K. M. Orlenko, D. A. Pineo, M. R. Reindel, R. R. Rogers, W. R. Rose, C. E. Sandfort, L. J. Sego, M. Sharky, R. A. Sharpe, S. K. Sherrod, Texas Hawking Association, C. G. Thelander, B. & C. Tintinger, W. C. Tuthill, Benedicte Valentiner, R. K. Wallace, G. D. Weddle, R. B. Welle, Hal & Meg Williams, Wisconsin Falconers Association, J. W. Yoson.

CONTRIBUTORS W. P. Ahern, G. R. Alten, R. T. Bachman, D. R. Bishop, C. M. Campbell, J. V. Canby, B. Culbertson, C. H. Cyrus, W. G. English, M. A. Faircloth, D. Fleming, D. E. Fulks, R. H. Glass, T. C. Gossard, J. J. Gwiazdzinski, P. L. Harrington, A. F. Heath, S. G. Herman, Kevin G. Hils, N. Johnson, V. Kevorkian, T. F. Kusiak, P. Kustra, G. Landfather, W. Lauer, Jr., L. Merrick, J. B. Mussell, Northwest Gamebirds, LLC, B. G. Ohlander, M. L. Ottersbach, E. H. Paxton, J. H. Peaden, J. R. Pendergrass, J. W. Postlewate, Jr., Noel Quinn, Phil Quintenz, K. A. Quitugua, J. L. Ruos, Bill Satterfield, L. D. Shaffer, K. J. Shank, W. E. Shank, W. L. Spencer, G. R. Stewart, D. J. Sutton, E. C. Tabb, J. & N. Testa, R. Thomas, M. J. Tomas, III, R. Waite, B. E. Walker, F. A. Webster, M. W. Wolters, J. & P. Woody.

FRIENDS

J. L. Ambrus, V. A. Avara, F. A. Baldridge, R. Barcenas M., M. & D. Bilsland, S. J. Bodio, P. Capainolo, K. T. Carroll, A. R. Chavez, L. J. Christiansen, M. G. Churchill, R. L. Ciochon, Lawrence D. Crowley, Roy Lee DeWitt, J. W. Dirks, Donald A. Fisher, K. H. Francis, E. P. Franz, J. P. Gilbert, A. P. Goddard, L. R. Grater, J. E. Grissinger, P. F. Harrity, W. R. Heinrich, G. M. Henningsen, C. S. Heying, K. L. Holkestad, R. Edgar Howard, C. L. Jones, Maggie Jones, P. A. Kearns, Perry H. Knowlton, D. J. Knutson, M. J. Kovach, Jr., A. D. Lang, J. D. Leyda, D. E. Marchiondo, J. A. Marshall, V. G. Maxson, S. A. McNeff, W. L. Moon, R. F. Morton, Dan J. Muir, D. J. Noble, E. K. O’Connell, M. S. Orr, S. K. Patterson, G. K. Peterson, D. Pickens, A. Pires Pocas, R. Posuniak, D. S. Rimlinger, P. Ritenour, M. J. Roper, C. Ruiz, J. H. Russell, B. Schroeder, P. T. Simonet, A. Stokes, D. A. Tennyson, D. W. Ulaszewski, R. Updegrave, R. D. Voegele, K. W. Walters, E. B. Wheeldon, W. Wilde, G. J. Windtberg

DONORS

R. R. Adams, T. Amaro, M. J. Avidan, D. T. Barnett, D. A. Bell, R. M. Bottomley, G. D. Brooks, J. L. Brown, F. A. Buffo, III, R. Burcham, D. J. Cacciatore, J. & T. Coulson, R. D. Crandall, L. L. Culley, Chris Davis, J. J. Deckert, B. H. duPont, L. D. Estell, T. Evans, T. L. Fleming, S. P. Gallagher, D. F. Garvin, Robert J. Giedeman, A. M. Gomez, J. & L. Green, J. Gustafson, S. H. Haber, Clay Hagewood, W. E. Halstead, J. M. Hendricks, W. K. Hix, K. G. Hooke, R. P. Hudgell, Richard R. Hulten, James M. Ingram, III, M. Alan Jenkins, T. Jessen, S. M. Jones, T. C. Julio, J. Kercher, K. G. Kerster, W. M. Lake, Jr., L. E. Lewis, J. M. Licinit, J. A. Lindstrom, M. Lopez, M. P. Maguire, J. Morrow, J. E. Mull, J. O’Keeffe, W. F. Pennington, D. A. Perfetti, D. A. Perkins, J. Puccinelli, P. T. Redig, E. W. Riggen, T. Riordan, Oscar Ruiz, D. Sembello, S. M. Shaw, E. B. Shimkus, S. Tamberg, T. E. Tarr, L. N. Taxiarchis, P. Totten, R. L. Tucker, R. Tuttle, Ronald P. Walker, John Wennergren, S. M. Westman, D. R. Williamson.

Archives of American Falconry

Funds sought to restore monuments

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Remains of Lascelles’ gravestone.

Its handsome six foot marble column has

uring the Dead Falconers Tour in 2002 we discovered two famous falconers were not recognized properly. Those of us who saw the monuments (gravestones), and several British falconers who have viewed them as well, all feel these deserve to be appropriately repaired. The monument to the Hon. Gerald Lascelles, who was instrumental in keeping the sport of falconry alive in Britain as Manager of the Old Hawking Club through the 20th century, has fallen into serious disrepair. Its handsome six foot marble column has broken off at the base and has lain covered by high grass for decades. The inscriptions have seriously deteriorated, some to the point of being barely legible. The marble perimeter paling has cracked and sunk into the ground. E. B. Michell, famous for his expertise in flying Merlins and his classic book on our sport, has no monument at all. According to burial records he was buried in Wyke Champflower, Somerset at the church where his father had been a vicar. Though we scouted every stone in the small cemetery no memorial was found. It is our feeling this should be rectified. Peter Devers, the Archives Associate who directed the restoration of the monument to William Brodrick (the artist of Falconry in the British Isles) monument in 1998, Brian Bird of the British Falconers Club, and Paul Beecroft of the British Hawking Association will coordinate the restoration project. The estimated cost of restoring both monuments is $5000. Plans are to have the work completed by the spring of 2004. On the Saturday before the Falconers Fair (early May) we hope to have a rededication ceremony for both Lascelles and Michell, possibly followed by an evening dinner for all those who attend. Contributions from North American falconers can be sent to The Archives. Those from US citizens are tax deductible. Note clearly on the check that it is designated for the monument fund. These contributions are for a special fund over and above what you would normally contribute to The Archives itself. Please don’t forget to be generous here! If contributions from North Americans to the monument fund exceed expenses the difference will be kept for similar future Archives’ projects.

broken off at the base and has lain covered by high grass for decades.

Your help still needed

T

hanks to all of you, the Archives of American Falconry has enjoyed numerous successes since its inception in 1986. The completion of our new facility is only the most recent example of the generous support of the falconers of North America. When The Archives was founded we felt an endowment fund of some $350,000 would be sufficient to maintain the collections and administer our preservation programs as then envisioned. The present archives, however, is more than triple the size originally projected. Despite current reduced stock values and interest rates, however, our daily operational expenses don’t drop. This would be problem enough if we simply stood still but our collections continue to grow; the amount of historical material preserved at The Archives increases, literally, daily. Our collections have now reached an estimated value well in excess of one $million. Despite our growth, we can’t anticipate any interest growth or increased investment return in the near future. We need your continued help to ensure the preservation of these historical materials and to help keep pace with the growing volume of items to be maintained. We hope that you will want to help us preserve our—really, YOUR history—with an annual contribution (an envelope for your convenience is enclosed).

heritage • Winter 2003-04

An Historic T Opportunity The First-Time Reprinting of the World’s Rarest English-Language Falconry Book

he Archives of American Falconry is pleased to announce the publication in late spring 2004 of Volume III in its Archives Heritage Publication Series: Sir Thomas Sherley’s A Short Discourse of Hawking to the field with high flying long-winged Hawkes, together with the sorting and ordering of Spaniels (1603). This work is the third book printed on the sport in English and the first such written by a practicing falconer based on personal experience. Only a single copy of this work is known to exist, presently in the Wagstaff Collection of Yale’s Beineke Library. As such, it is clearly the rarest printed book on our sport in the English language. The famed falconry scholar and bibliographer J. E. Harting, unaware of its existence, failed to list this work in his otherwise exhaustive Bibliotheca Accipitraria (1891). It has never been reprinted. Authors of a catalogue of ornithological books in Yale’s libraries were unable to identify the author of this work and it is only through the exhaustive biblio-detective efforts of Archives Research Associate Peter Devers that we can now identify the author. The account of Sherley’s personal history and his identification as author is fascinating in itself and is included in the forthcoming volume. Like Latham and Bert after him, Sherley was a practicing falconer. Suffice it to say that he writes with an obvious deep understanding of the sport based upon his personal experience. The choice of an English book as a part of the Archives of American Falconry’s Heritage Series reflects both our attempt to provide service for the world’s falconry community and the increasingly international scope of The Archives’ ever-expanding collections, all of which indeed represent the world-wide foundation upon which “American” falconry is based. Certainly Sherley’s work was one of the few books on the subject available to Thomas Morton when he set forth from England to become America’s first falconer. Because the fragility of the single original volume precludes flattening sufficient for a photo-facsimile, the coming edition appears in modern typeface, meticulously transcribed from the original by Archives Associate Devers. Included in the Heritage volume, however are facsimile reproductions of the title page (left) and a page of the original text. The AAF has added a selection of color illustrations depicting Sherley, his contemporaries and family seat, and scenes from the neighborhood where Sir Thomas practiced his sport. The coming reprint is almost identical in detail to Heritage Series Volume I, Meredith’s American Falconry in the Twentieth Century. As in previous volumes, Vol. III is offered in both Subscribers’ (standard) and Patrons’ (de luxe) formats. As with Volume I, an edition of only 500 numbered copies is planned unless that number is exceeded by pre-publication orders. Matching numbers are reserved for those who have already subscribed to both Volumes I and II. Note: copies of Vol. II remain available. Make your subscription reservation NOW!!

Please send me Volume III of the Archives Heritage Publication Series. ___ copies of the SUBSCRIBER’S EDITION: $80 US. . . . . . . . . . . $_____ Overall dimensions 6.25” by 9.25” by 0.75” (16 by 23.5 by 2 cm). Hardcover. Case bound with fine quality book cloth in half rich brown on hunter green with embossed gold foil stamping. Archival paper. Hand-sewn binding. Numbered, with a list of Subscribers and Patrons bound in. ___ copies of the PATRON’S EDITION: $210 US . . . . . . . . . . . . . $_____ Same as above, plus: finest natural dark brown half leather case binding on hunter green book cloth, English handmade marbled endpapers, and custom matching slipcase. Shipping: $10 for U.S. orders; $25 outside U.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . $_____ TOTAL AMOUNT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $_____

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AMERICAN FALCONRY COLLECTIONS

Founded and operated by falconers for falconers 17 Years of Continuous Service

INCLUDE


Books
Periodicals
Photographs and Slides

Tax-deductible Charitable Organization Located at The Peregrine Fund’s World Center for Birds of Prey Official repository for NAFA and several state clubs’ records


Correspondence
Journals and Diaries
Films and Videos
Oral-history Tapes
Equipment
Art and Prints
Memorabilia

See your history–visit your Archives! Please call (208) 362-3716 to arrange a tour.