William P. Gilbert collection of dog show photography

Collection

Identifier: AKV-1-3

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This color negatives collection, dating between 1979 and 1984, includes Best-in-Show and Group winners from all-breed shows; all Breed, Group, and Best-in-Show winners from Westminster; and Winners Dog and Bitch, Best-of-Opposite, and Best-of-Breed winners from specialty shows, plus all breed and Best-in Show winners from Montgomery Kennel Club and the American Spaniel Club.

Many other AKC member club shows are chronicled, and listed in the collection inventory. Gilbert's geographic beat at this time was comprised of the northeastern United States and some northern areas of the American South. Chief states of operation include New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

Dates

1979-1984

Creator

Gilbert, William P. (Photographer, Person)

Access Restrictions

This material is open to research without restrictions.

Publishing and Use Restrictions

Copyright for these materials is held by the American Kennel Club. Please direct all inquiries regarding digital copies and/or permissions to the Archivist.

Biographical note

William S. Gilbert gave up his professional handler license in the mid-1960s to become a dog show photographer. He had been raised in New Jersey; his father, William J., was an exhibitor of Great Danes, with whom the young Bill got his early handling experience. At 12 years old, donning at Boy Scout uniform, Gilbert got his first experience in the ring at the Westminster Dog Show. Gilbery worked as a Navy photographer and later attended the School of Modern Photography in New York. He adopted the motto, going "from leash to lens," uttered by a friend upon his transition back to the photography trade, and often credited his handling experience with helping him obtain the most flattering shots of dogs.

“One of the things that makes a picture interesting is the dog's expression,” he said. “To get it, I'm following Bill Brown's technique in barking at the dog, throwing film packs or doing just about anything to catch the dog's attention. Without expression a picture usually is no good.”

He contributed images to the book "Dogs of America," by Francene and Louis Saban.

Somerville, NJ

http://www.nytimes.com/1964/11/26/news-of-dogs.html?_r=0

Physical Description

3.5 Linear feet (in 7 photo boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

A collection of color photographic negatives of win shots from memebr club shows in the northeastern region of the United States between 1979 and 1984. Chief states of operation include New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Includes all Breed, Group, and Best-in-Show winners from Westminster, plus all breed and Best-in Show winners from the Montgomery Kennel Club and the American Spaniel Club.

Arrangement

The negatives have been retained in their original order and sleeves, with information markings by the photographer.

The numbers on each negative label indicate Month of Show, Year of Show (single digit), and Number of Photo.

The negatives are arranged in show order within each month. Withine ach show, negatives are arranged in groud order.

Provenance

The negatives were donated by photographer John L. Ashbey in November 1999.

Related Materials

The AKC also holds negative collections of win shots photographed by John Ashbey (1974-2003); Tina Yuhl (1975-2002); and Luis Sosa (1991-2002).

Separated Materials

Two boxes of negatives photographed by John Ashbey, 1974-1979, originally included in the donation were transferred to AKV 1.2, The John Ashbey collection of dog show photography.