NSLM Newsletter - Winter 2006

2006·8 MB·English

The National Sporting Library
NEWSLETTER
A RESEARCH CENTER FOR HORSE AND FIELD SPORTS MIDDLEBURG, VIRGINIA
NUMBER 78 1954 • FIFTY-Two YEARS • 2006 WINTER 2005/2006
Songs of Foxhunting
A
lexander Mackay-Smith, the
late author, foxhunter, and
NSL curator, would have
been pleased.
On December 10, Orange County
Hunt held a musical feast of hunt-
ing songs for its members and sub-
scribers in the Founders' Room
based on Mackay-Smith's book, The
Songs of Foxhunting (1974).
In the preface, Mackay-Smith
wrote, "Foxhunting and music are
as inseparable as bread and butter,
whether it be the music of the
hounds, or the horn or of 'John
Peel.' There is something about a
day in the saddle behind a pack of
foxhounds which impels those en-
joying it to gather after the hunt, to
eat, to drink, to be merry and to
sing."
The event was inspired by
Rebecca Tomlinson, former NSL
Acting Director, organized by Lena
Lundh, a member of Orange
County, and directed by William
Backer, also a member of Orange
County who spent a career in music Frontispiece in Henry Aiken's book Popular Songs (1822), which is in the NSL collection,
and Madison Avenue advertising. and Alexander Mackay-Smith used in his book Songs of Foxhunting.
Melvin Poe, former Orange
County huntsman, opened the con-
S
cert blowing his cow horn. Orange hare the joy and music of Orange
County's Songs of Foxhunting fea-
County Hunt's marvelous afternoon
tured six songs from Mackay-
concert of hunting songs. Songs of
Smith' s book, plus original songs
composed and performed by Foxhunting at the National Sporting
Backer. Other singers included staff, Library DVD is a 45-minute video
friends and members of the hunt.
recording of the event, which is avail-
Huntsman Adrian Smith blew a
heart-stopping "Going Home" to able for purchase for $25.00, including
conclude the program. shipping and handling.
Mackay-Smith was a founder of
the NSL and served as its intellec-
Please call 540-687-6542, ext. 23, to or-
tual driving force from 1954 until
his death in 1998. He was also edi- der. Visa and MasterCard accepted with
Son.gs
tor, then publisher of the weekly phone orders, personal check by mail.
magazine of record, The Chronicle of
Continued on page 2
Songs of Fox Hunting Continued from page 1
Backer Donates Book of
Hunting .Songs
James Symington, a soloist,
Williattt Backer, director of tjie
Jacqueline B. Mars, president of
"S?ngs of .F?xhunting" event, :re-
Orange County Hunt, and
Melvin Poe, former huntsman of Orange County William Backer, director of cently.donated his copy of Son~s
Hunt, blows the cow horn to start the concert. "Songs of Foxhunting." oft he. ~itahfield <:;aunty Hounds. t?:
Photo Karen Buckley, the Lib:t:~¥·J3acker;.a Chairmal}js·
Middleburg Life. founcil 1ll~l'.llb.er. and fonner N~~
board mem.b~r>' is perhaps··b ~t
kn:o~ ~s the writ~:i: ci£ ''I'd L~e
to Teach t~~ World to Sin¢'~
~~chwas]'~f~larized by Co~-
Cola.. •. ..... ··. ·. . .• .•<
In D~ceJ:n.b~Hacl<ei- receiv~~
tlie songl:mo:k frolll. I-tis·· long-fun~
friend and. weU-kn:own sporti~g
artist, HenrY Koehler, of N el'.V
Yotk1 who S!m:J;'ed l;llany a
foll<tWing ... t;he· Cpnnecticut
with Ba.cktj~, aµd the hunt l:>i-ea~
fasts that spa~ed these w?:lt-
~e:rfuLspn.gs, . .•.• . /. .. . . ··. .. ··:·•.·
:All .six· songs in·t ;he folio-siz~
bo<:>k.~e:i:e bdlliantly written ~Y
Backer a,nd :retlect the fOblJ,st lJ.J.l.~
m?r, b;'adition<and joy s? preya.-. ·
The three Orange County Hunt masters John Coles, James L. Young, and l~nt in fo11Lting songs. ~tJ_blishti~
Malcolm Matheson. iµ1953; he yvrotein t;he fbt~wot~:
"We.n put~ official'~C>ld h~~'·
on ariy. more :royv~y ·huntiryg
the Horse, for 25 years. He was a fox- played the violin and viola, and songs~.: ~e views repr~sente4
hunter and one of the foremost re- Alex took up these instruments at in the songs. are ryobody's anq
searchers and authors of books on age 12. At Harvard, he sang in the any.· similarity to persons, hors~
the history and humanities of sport. glee club and was president in his or hounds, ·living ot dead, is
While his The American Foxhound senior year. And he spent a year in purely. intention.al."
1747-1967 is perhaps the most au- Paris to further his skills on the vio-
thoritative history of American sport lin between graduating from The verse to "Sweet Marie";
from the Colonial era, The Songs of Harvard and attending Harvard Yve a little Irish mare, SWEET
Foxhunting reflects his lifelong pas- Law School." MARIE,
sion for music. A professional video recording She's the devil ·of a tempe:t:,
Peter Winants, NSL Honorary in DVD of "Songs of Foxhunting" is don't you see,
Director, wrote about Mackay-Smith available for purchase at the NSL. Oh, her pedigree's all right,
in the fall 1998 edition of the NSL All proceeds will benefit the For I wrote itlast night,
Newsletter: "His brother became the Library. She's by Dangei- out of Spite,
head of the music division of the SWEET MARIE.
New York Public Libraries. His sister
-2 - The NSL Newsletter, Winter 2005 I 2006
Challenge Grant Announced
Chairn1an's
The National Sporting Library is force behind this Library for nearly Colin ell
honored to announce a new 50 years, is deeply meaningful. We
challenge grant, from an anony- are thrilled and extremely grateful Save the Date
mous donor, made in memory of for this extraordinary support."
George L. Ohrstrom Jr. Individuals interested in learning
A
The two to one challenge grant of more about the opportunity to pro- ll current members of the
$1 million is restricted for the pur- vide financial support to the Library Chairfoan' s Council .w ill he
pose of building the endowment for should contact Ms. Parsons. "I invited. to a festive· and. elegant
general operations as well as for look forward to discussing ways luncl1eon party at Spring .Hill
book acquisitions. The challenge that the challenge can increase the Farm, home of NSLBoard mem"
will be funded over a period of five value of multi-year pledges and ma- ber Edward. P. Evans. This party
years and will have a total value of jor gifts for the endowment," she offers a rar~ opportunity for the
$3 million when completed. said. "We are absolutely thrilled Chairman's Council to see this
11This gift represents philan- about this new challenge grant, spectacular farm, which is horrye
thropy, in the truest sense of the which will match other major gifts to th~ top Thoroughbred breeder
word," said Nancy Parsons, for endowment. in Virginia alld the nwnber
President and CEO of the National "We remain deeply grateful to Thoroughbred breeder.. . .i rt
Sporting Library. "Not only will the our members and donors at all lev- America.·.·• Mr. .. Evans. is. hosting
challenge generously support the els, particularly the Chairman's this very . sp~~ial •• ··event on
top priority of building our endow- Council, who provide critically im- Saturday, May 20fl-i; .• Individu.al~
ment, but it will also inspire and portant unrestricted funds annually wishing .to join tl;tE; .Shai.rman's
motivate others to support the for operations," added Parsons. Coun!=il snould cont~!=t tl}e. NSL
Library with major gifts. The fact The National Sporting Library is for mo.re· itjformation;rfovitations
that it is set up in memory of Mr. a 501(c)3 organization and all dona- will be mailed to all Chairman's
Ohrstrom, who was the guiding tions are fully tax deductible. Cotmcil·)~embers in April.
Emms Painting Donated
D
r. and Mrs. Timothy Greenan have generously do-
nated an oil painting by British artist John Emms to
the NSL's permanent collection. The Huntsman's Rest is
currently on view in the Mellon foyer.
Born in Norfolk into a family of artists, John Emms
(1841-1912) is most famous for his outstanding paint-
ings of dogs, particularly hounds. His talent for por-
traying animals, as well as his competence in the hunt
field, ensured a steady stream of new subject matter and
satisfied clients. He was a prolific producer of oil paint-
ings as well as the occasional watercolor. But his wife
and four children were often destitute because he spent
his income freely as he painted for it. He sometimes had
to trade his pictures to pay his bills.
The Huntsman's Rest by John Emms, donated by
The Huntsman's Rest is characteristic of Emms's inti-
Dr. and Mrs. Timothy Greenan.
mate understanding of country matters, and his obvious
affection for dogs and the people who live and work the Chairman's Council. Dr. Greenan, co-founder and
with them. In the painting, a scarlet-coated huntsman Medical Director of Open MRI I Imagimed, is a neuro-
and his whipper-in stop for a few minutes to socialize radiologist and musculoskeletal radiologist. He is an
and enjoy a pint while their hounds relax at their feet. A avid collector of sporting literature and art, and fox-
broken-coated terrier monitors the exchange carefully. hunts with the Piedmont Fox Hounds.
Emms' s free, confident brushwork and strong palette Dr. Greenan is planning a research project using the
provide a freshness and charming texture to the scene to NSL' s archives and references, and in particular, to pub-
balance this slightly sentimental view of rural life. lish a collection of correspondence by Sir Alfred and
The Library is deeply grateful for this important gift Violet Munnings, donated to the Library by John and
from Dr. and Mrs. Greenan, who have recently joined Martha Daniels.
The NSL Newsletter, Winter 2005 /2006 -3 -
Daniels and Winants
Named Honorary Board Members
Directors of The National
Sporting Library
102 The Plains Road
Post Office Box 1335
Middleburg, Virginia 20118-1335
OFFICERS
Manuel H. Johnson
Chairman
Nancy H. Parsons
President & CEO
Jacqueline B. Mars
Vice Chairman
Clarke Ohrstrom
Treasurer
Karen Showalter
Assistant Secretary-Treasurer
DIRECTORS
Mimi Abel Smith
Thomas H. Anderson Jr.
Arthur W. Arundel
Donald G. Calder NSL Honorary Board Member John H. Daniels, in front of Jean Bowman's portrait of Alexander
John Coles Mackay-Smith, now displayed in the John H. and Martha Daniels Reading Room, with President and
CEO Nancy H. Parsons, and Librarian Lisa Campbell.
*John H. Daniels
T
Edward P. Evans he National Sporting Library tury. He kept careful records on each
Helen K. Groves Board of Directors named John book, a resource that is still used by
Manuel H. Johnson H. Daniels and Peter Winants hon- the NSL staff. In addition to other
Jacqueline B. Mars orary board members at the October books, Daniels authored Affection-
Clarke Ohrstrom 2005 meeting. Both Daniels, of ately H: A Tribute to Helen Burt
Jacqueline L. Ohrstrom Camden, S.C., and Winants, of Rec- Hennessey (1999), which details their
Wright R. S. Ohrstrom tortown, Va., had retired from the 20 years of correspondence, and
F. Turner Reuter Jr. board in 2004 and 2005 respectively. gives readers a real flavor of the
Joan Irvine Smith The board chose to honor them for hunt and the care that goes into col-
*Peter Winants their long and dedicated leadership lecting rare books. (Copies of this
to the Library. special book are for sale at the
*Honorary Daniels was a member of the Library.)
board of directors 1987-2004. He Winants was director of the
joined the Friends of the National Library from 1991 through 1998.
Sporting Library in 1975, when Previously he was editor then pub-
Alexander Mackay-Smith inaugu- lisher of The Chronicle of the Horse
THE NATIONAL SPORTING
rated the membership drive during 1975 -1991. During Winants's tenure
LIBRARY NEWSLETTER
the Library's first exhibit - a celebra- at the NSL, plans were made and
(ISSN 1068-2007)
tion of the Library's first 20 years and carried out to construct the new fa-
Number 78, Winter 2005 / 2006 the history of the Upperville Colt & cility which now houses the collec-
Horse Show. Daniels made his first tion. The Library acquired the
Published by the
contribution to the Newsletter in 1983. Daniels collection and the von
National Sporting Library
But Daniels and his wife, Martha, Hi.i.nersdorf collection of sporting
Telephone [phone]
gave the NSL its biggest boost ever books, which date from the 16th to
http: I I www.nsl.org
when they donated their entire 5,000- the 19th centuries. Winants used the
Lisa Cam:ebell, Editor and volume sporting book collection in Library's collection of books, serials
Librarian the mid-1990s. With the help of book- and archives to write a definitive
Nancy H. Parsons, seller James Cummins, of New York, book on the history of American rac-
President and CEO Helen Hennessey, of Vermont, and ing over fences - Steeplechasing: The
others. He spent nearly 30 years Complete History of the Sport in North
Elizabeth Manierre,
amassing this collection of rare, anti- America (2000).
Art Curator
quarian, and unique sporting books, As honorary board members,
Karen Halver,
manuscripts and ephemera, which Winants and Daniels will continue
Assistant to the President
date from 1523 through the 20th cen- their close relationship to the NSL.
-4 - The NSL Newsletter, Winter 2005 I 2006
Fall Lectures
Mimi Abel Smith
presented to Ian
Balding this photo of
Gerald Balding (left)
and Jimmy Mills
competing at
Meadowbrook in 1936.
Peter Winants, Honorary Board Member.
I
n September, Jacqueline B. Mars,
Vice Chair of the NSL board,
kicked off the fall lecture series by
introducing Nancy H. Parsons, the
new President and CEO of the
Library, at the first event. Rob
Banner, publisher of The Chronicle of
the Horse, then gave a delightful in-
troduction for speaker Peter
Winants. duced Rowand, who is a former member, introduced Balding to a
Winants lectured on the life and lawyer and now business editor at packed room. Among Balding' s
art of Franklin Voss the subject of his the Fauquier-Times Democrat. clients were Queen Elizabeth, the
new book, The Sporting Art of In November, Bruce Smart gave a Queen Mother, and Paul Mellon. He
Franklin B. Voss. Winants is perhaps talk about his research and people began his career as an amateur
the most suited author to write on he met while writing The Commun- jockey but switched to training in
the prolific artist as he has long ad- ity of the Horse: Stakes and Stakehold- 1964. Horses under his guidance
mired Voss and his works. They ers. He had interviewed a wide won more than 2000 races, and one
were practically neighbors when variety of people who are responsi- of the most notable was Mellon's
Winants was growing up in ble for the day-to-day care and well- legendary champion Mill Reef.
Baltimore County. It is a well pro- being of racehorses, show horses, Balding concluded his presentation
duced book in quality of the repro- hunters and pleasure horses - the with a brief movie on Mellon and
duction of the paintings, the paper stable help, trainers, veterinarians, Mill Reef, which he then donated to
and binding. Winants researched the farriers, the owners and families. A the NSL. The film is available for
biography of Voss, and for each delightful and lively question-and- viewing during Library hours by
painting in the book, he wrote an es- answer session concluded the appointment.
say about the subject portrayed. evening. Smart was introduced by As a gift of appreciation, Mimi
In October, George Rowand Paul Cronin, an NSL Chairman's Abel Smith, member of the NSL
signed his new book, Diary of a Council member and author of board and Chairman's Council, pre-
Dream: My Journey in Thoroughbred Schooling and Riding the Sport Horse. sented Balding with a framed 1936
Racing. In his talk, he gave an enjoy- Later in November, Ian Balding photograph of her father, Jimmy
able overview of his foray into the presented a candid lecture about his Mills, playing polo with Gerald
world of Thoroughbred ownership. career, life, joys and disappoint- Balding, Ian's father.
Arthur W. Arundel, an NSL board ments as one of Great Britain's lead-
member and publisher of the Times ing race trainers. William Abel
Community Newspapers, intro- Smith, NSL Chairman's Council
The NSL Newsletter, Winter 2005 I 2006 -5 -
Forever in Full Cry:
Four Artists Portraits of Foxhunters
1
painters on both sides of the
Atlantic.
Artists strive to please the eye as
they express particulars. The four
painters represented in this exhibi-
tion skillfully incorporate diverse
elements of light and color, line and
composition, conformation and an
illusion of speed onto canvasses
that capture all the excitement of
the pursuit so close to their clients'
heart. Their seemingly limitless
dedication to foxhunting - an ad-
diction that can border on fanati-
cism - has led many of its devotees
beyond the simple acquisition of
generic hunting pictures to the com-
"Orange County Hunt, A Scurry, 1988" by Jean Bowman.
mission of portraits of individuals
in the hunt field. Though these
paintings span more than two cen-
turies, they exhibit several common
elements that can provide special
insight into the artists' considera-
tions when portraying the foxhunt,
and the foxhunter, on canvas.
The works on display are por-
traits of an individual or a recogniz-
able group. In most cases, each
painting also represents a particular
place. The activity of foxhunting is
deeply embedded in its local land-
scape, and crossing the countryside
on a horse is the best way to learn
the local geography. Areas offering
especially good sport become fa-
vorites of those that hunt.
Therefore, the artist must also paint
a recognizable landscape.
The high spirits of the chase arise
from swift movement over the
ground and flying over challenging
Exhibit poster for "Forever in Full Cry" is a painting by John F. Herring Sr., "Gentleman
obstacles. In fact, many will claim
on Horseback Jumping a Fence." The poster is available for purchase at the Library.
that foxhunting is most fun when
one is just this side of terrified.
A
new exhibition of sporting art, ing and the people who love it," Speed is clearly an attractive part of
"Forever in Full Cry: Four said Art Curator Elizabeth (Betsy) the package for the subjects of these
Artists' Portraits of Foxhunters," is Manierre. pictures, so the illusion of motion
on display in the Founders' Room. Since the first days of foxhunting was very important for these artists
Included in the show are works by in the mid 1700s, many a fine lady to convey, even after the invention
John Frederick Herring Sr., Franklin and gentleman have spent count- of photography.
B. Voss, Lionel Edwards, and Jean less joyful hours on horseback, gal- The works in the exhibit were
Bowman. Visitors may enjoy identi- loping over fields, ditches and graciously loaned to the NSL by the
fying Middleburg locals in fences, following a crying pack of Westmoreland Davis Memorial
Bowman's famous "Orange County hounds in pursuit of the wily fox. Foundation in collaboration with
Hunt Scurry, 1988." Over the past two and a half cen- the Museum of Hounds and
"I chose these pictures for their turies, foxhunts in particular have Hunting, and also from Mrs. Nancy
quality, and for what they say to the become a favorite subject of the Redmond Manierre and Mr.
viewer about the sport of foxhunt- most accomplished sporting Geraldyn Redmond.
-6 - The NSL Newsletter, Winter 2005 /2006
Recent Book Donations
Narranganset Pacer papers - Marilyn Mackay-Smith, of thored. Full of history, facts and biographical information,
Boyce, Va., donated three large boxes of her late husband's this is a wonderful reference book to have at the NSL.
research material on the Narranganset Pacer, a foundation
sire of American trotting horsesg. A lexander Mackay-Smith, Doc Bar biography - Helen K. Groves, of Baird, Tx., do-
had amassed 21 large binders notes and copies of origi- nated the recently published book about the renowned
nal material dating from the 17 century. The unpublished Quarter horse sire, Doc Bar Revisited by Gala Nettles,
work is just waiting for the right person to use the papers, which is an excellent biography of this famous halter and
sufficient for a full-size book. cutting horse.
Auction catalog - Rick Stoutamyer, of Marshall, Va., do- Ph.D. dissertation - Perky Beisel, of Nacogdoches, Tx.,
nated a rare copy of the 1948 auction catalog, "Library of donated a published copy of her dissertation, The American
the late Harry Worcester Smith comprising of Sporting Upper Class and the American Horse Industry from 1865-1929.
Books and Prints." This catalog details the books and Beisel used material at the NSL on several occasions to
prints which belonged to the renowned sportsman, who complete her research.
competed in the Great Hound Match of 1905 in northern
Virginia, pitting Smith's American hounds against Thoroughbred references - John Kent Cooke, of
Alexander Henry Higginson' s English hounds. Middleburg, Va., donated eight books on Thoroughbred
breeding, racing, and racing law.
Veterinary books - E. T. Alessio, DVM, of Medina, OH,
donated the majority of his collection of veterinary refer- Thoroughbred books - Helen C. Wiley, of Middleburg,
ence and horsemanship books, 107 volumes. Va., donated three volumes of the Racing in America series
by John Hervey, and Thoroughbred Types 1900-1925.
Foxhunting book-Jacqueline L. Ohrstrom, of The Plains,
Va., donated a copy of newly published The Glorious Chase: Irish Foxhunting book - Karen Wild, of Boston, Va., do-
A Celebration of Foxhunting, edited by Michael Clayton. nated a new copy of Hunting in Ireland: A Noble Tradition,
Beautifully produced, like other Clayton books, this book edited by Dr. Claude Costecalde and Jack Gallagher. This
gives an overview of hunting in England in art and pho- book contains beautiful color photographs which capture
tographs. the history, magic and excitement of following the differ-
ent packs in Ireland.
Polo book - Horace A Laffaye, MD, of Norwalk, Conn.,
donated a copy of The Polo Encyclopedia, which he au-
DVD Review
American System of Forward Throughout the DVD, French and Scot narrate the
Riding, Vol. I & Vol. II. R. Scot schooling sessions as they teach amateur riders the cor-
Evans & Shelby French. rect controls and techniques in schooling the
Affiliated National Riding hunter I jumper horse using examples of horses and rid-
Com-mission, P.O. Box 1065, ers at different levels of ability. The demonstration
Sweet Briar, Va., 24595. 2- horses are superb representatives of the riding system
DVDs ea. vol. $89. ea. vol. used, living proof that the system produces co-opera-
American System of Forward tive, calm, and responsive equine partners. I would be
Riding presents visual images happy to take anyone of them home.
and guidance for the rider While not a learn-to-ride video, experienced amateur
seeking a rider rating from the riders could make good use of the DVDs to visually re-
Affiliated National Riding inforce the principles of good horsemanship to comple-
Commission. The mission ment their lessons with instructors who use similar
statement in the accompany- teaching theory. - Lisa Campbell
ing workbook states: "The overall goal of the ANRC is
to promote a contemporary, systematic approach to rid-
ing, training and teaching the hunter I jumper discipline
that is appropriate for horses and riders at various
stages of learning ... Riders may use the series as a guide
for 'home schooling' and may submit videos to ANRC
instructors for feedback and evaluation."
Shelby French, education chair of the ANRC and di-
rector of the riding program at Sweet Briar College (Va.),
worked with hunter I jumper trainer R. Scot Evans to
produce this series. Both are highly respected experts in
training horses, riders, and teaching future instructors
and trainers in the sport.
The NSL Newsletter, Winter 2005/2006 -7 -
A Good Season for Bath County Hounds
H
untsman Melvin Poe reports
that foxhunters enjoyed an
exceptional season at Bath County
Hounds this past fall. Foxes were
plentiful with no blank days,
and the weather was perfect each
morning.
Thanks to the generosity of Mrs.
George L. Ohrstrom Jr., MFH of
Bath County, foxhunting members
of the Chairman's Council and
members of the NSL' s Bath County
Hounds Sponsorship enjoyed the
privilege of good sport following
the pack behind the legendary
huntsman, feasting on hearty
home-cooked meals prepared by
Peggy, Melvin's wife, and resting in
comfortable accommodations at
Ohrstrom's Fassifern Farm.
John Coles, Jt.-MFH Orange Bath County Hounds joyfully move off with huntsman Melvin Poe at Fassifern Farm.
County Hunt, organized six trips
from September through November
this season, and looks forward to "I want the followers right behind me, know where they're at. This way,
doing it again next fall. For informa- th~y get a much better chance to see what's going on. To view a fox in my
tion on the 2006 season, please con- mmd equals a two-mile gallop." - Melvin Poe, in Foxhunting with Melvin Poe,
tact Coles at 540-687-6500, ext. 17. by Peter Winants (2002).
30 ~e~s k)f •s dtola~tic collabor(l~
lion, Doug}as ;~,fartin -wrote i;n Th~
t-lem Yo~~· Tim~~. {!?e¢.1S; 2005)~.
<~ 'I)t, .<?ro\lwe¥ t>:ecame •professor)·;
•• k)~ :Ae.pean ~chaeo~~gy. ·· at. the •
?:f
.U -~versity :Amster~am~ Mrs~.
Litt~U.e~ gaio;ed.·. :fam~• . as.<tg~·:
.·the ··•·.
Gra:n.de •• Pa:mt!. ·•·Qf shf~~·· of\
.··h()~ses. ·The W9W!()te•~l>(>u~ 6~··.
axa~les for acadellli~~lj~ 1.~~ \
.. ·· .•••···
~\lallY ~tht~cn· ~~····· .gll·
The National Sporting Library sometime~i •W-!fh ·1 ofh~T· ~piaj$·
Drive 2004 DVD is available for ~d·.s()metip;i~~ i;no.i':i~ual1¥~·•~·
purchase for $25.00, which typical t~t!e• '.'ql.e B~rli~$!}
Eyidence for MetallJricUe P8ft~:''"· ;
includes shipping and handling.
Mrs. Littauer ~t'ldPr.Cr~-wtill ·
This nicely produced documen-
publisb_ed i;\\To bouks whi¢h b~
tary covers each day of the
historic drive which took place .· ca:me st~d<ttd reference.wo
Wheeled >Vehicles •.. .a nq
October 22-24, 2004, and in-
Animals in the Ancient "fVea.t Bas
cludes information on each of the
(19'ZQ) and Chariots and Related
30 participating coaches, their
}Equipment from the .. Tomb of.
whips (drivers), and horses.
Tutankha~n (1985) .•B oth i;ooks
Please call 540-687-6542, ext. 23, are shelved mtheNSL coll~clion.
to order. Visa and MasterCard MJ:s. Uttatier is surviv~~i }>y
accepted with phone orders, her son Andrew L~~uer, Pritlce-:
ton,N.J::, and twogr(lndsons.
personal check by mail.
-8 - The NSL Newsletter, Winter 2005/2006
Book Review
Nicolas W. Proctor. Bathed in by such organizations as Ducks
Blood: Hunting and Mastery in the Unlimited. In later years,
Old South. University Press of N orthemers were known to come to
Virginia, P.O. Box 400318, the South to such elite places as the
Charlottesville, VA 22904. Illus. Whale Head Club at Corolla, re-
Bibliography. 208 pp. $45 hard- cently restored, on the Outer Banks
back. $16.50 paperback. of North Carolina. The game pre-
Nicolas Proctor, a professor of serves of South Carolina are popular
history Simpson College, attacks the to this day for carefully regulated
task that he sets for himself with ad- hunting. What made the South dif-
mirable thoroughness. The text is ferent, however, was the "peculiar
well documented and illustrated institution" - slavery - a major con-
from the original sources, which he centration for this study.
uses with immensely detailed and disseminated periodicals are partic- A matter of interest to this re-
convincing results. ularly rich for learning about guns, viewer is the degree to which some
The thesis is essentially a socio- nature, dogs, and horses, which of the traditions, which Proctor so
logical one: the stratified society of were devoured by 19th-century vividly describes in the Old South,
pre-Civil War South can be seen sportsman-readers and contributors. still characterize the New South. As
through the prism of the blood Proctor's work includes descrip- a 65-year-old male, I was brought
sports of the well-to-do, the poor, tions of the game hunted, the geog- up in what, in many ways, were
and the slaves. In reference to the raphy of the South, legal questions, similar hunting and fishing tradi-
social stratification, much is made of descriptions of the hunters in both tions in Southern Virginia, includ-
the difference between hunting for domestic and field situations, male ing an oral tradition around a fire
sport and hunting for food, and identity tested on the hunt includ- with a few libations after a day in
how certain methods of hunting ing inclusion and exclusion of hunt- the field, or on the gum tree-shaded
came to be acceptable and unaccept- ing peers, the /1 grandiose and mill pond in a club of elected mem-
able for each group. bombastic" tall tale results in the bers. The tall tales and the pictures
Sixteen periodicals are used, "rapture of the chase," and the vari- on the fireplace probably go back to
many familiar to the amateur histo- ous ways in which the institution of as early as the 1890s, when gates
rian of field and stream sports, such slavery was incorporated into the had to be opened at county lines
as American Turf Register and hunting experience. and travel was on plank roads. The
Sporting Magazine and the New York All parts of the country were hunting in recent years was, and is,
Spirit of the Times. In addition, guilty of radical decimation of game for sport and camaraderie, but occa-
twelve manuscript collections are and in some instances the extinction sional traps may be found set by
mined for lore making this un- of species, or at least reduction of poachers and moonshine liquor
doubted the definitive study of this game territory, which is still being along the mill tail overflow stream.
fascinating subject. These widely corrected today by nature itself and - Pegram Johnson III
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The NSL Newsletter, Winter 2005 / 2006 -9 -
Lida Fleitmann Bloodgood Papers
L
ida Fleitmann Bloodgood (1894-
1982) was a renowned horse-
woman in both America and
Europe. In addition to being a side-
saddle enthusiast, she was a show-
ring rider, member of the New York
Ladies' Four-in-Hand Club, and
MFH of the Smithtown Hunt on
Long Island. She also served as a
judge at hunter and jumper shows
in the U.S. and England between
World War I and IL
The author of several books on
horses and art, she was a frequent
contributor to The Chronicle of the
Horse, and other well-known sport-
ing periodicals of the English-
Battle of the Gauls depicted on a Roman sarcophagus at the Capitolian Museum, Rome.
speaking world. She spent many
years residing in Rome, Italy.
The material in the Bloodgood
Collection spans from 1906-1982.
The collection is divided into three
series, based on distinct activities.
The first and largest of the three
series, ·Equine Art Research
Materials, consists of Bloodgood' s
collection of equine art clippings,
photographs, and reproductions.
She apparently began collecting this
material while researching her book
The Horse in Art (1931). However,
many of the clippings and artwork
reproduced are dated post-1931,
suggesting that she continued to
add ·to the collection after the
book's publication.
Bloodgood acquired a number of
excellent photographs during her
stay in Rome. Some are from the
city's art museums including the
Vatican Museum. Many images de-
pict events in Roman history, which
also provide equestrian researchers "The Horse Show as the Romans Knew It."
details of horses and saddlery of the
era. Students of equine art history
would find a great deal of artwork
represented in various media, dat- with the cover of the original port- also of Long Island, and a member
ing from prehistoric times to the folio in which Bloodgood kept the of the NSL board of directors until
1970s, representing a variety of cul- materials. his death in 1981.
tures and regions. The short second series, Personal The third series is the Piero
This series is arranged into sub- Correspondence and Clippings, Santini Papers. This series, which
series which preserve the original contains mostly letters between consists of writings and corre-
order and categorization of the ma- Bloodgood and Harry T. Peters. A spondence of Bloodgood' s friend
terial imposed by Bloodgood. An few letters to the editor are also in- Major Piero Santini (1881-1960), is
alphabetical index for the entire se- cluded. The materials in this series arranged into five subseries:
ries was created by her and is are divided into Clippings and "Caprilli Papers," Articles and
housed before the rest of the materi- Personal Correspondence and then Other Writings, Photos, Personal
als; in addition, indexes for each are arranged chronologically there- Correspondence, and Scrapbooks.
subseries are located in the first after. Harry T. Peters was MFH of A significant part of Fleitmann' s
folder of each subseries, along Meadowbrook Hounds, 1925-1946, archive collection consists of mate-
Continued on page 11
-10 - The NSL Newsletter, Winter 2005/2006