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Iris de la Torre Bueno collection of Pekingese Club of America materials

 Collection
Identifier: AKD-5-16

Scope and Contents

The collection documents the early through mid-century administrative and event history of the Pekingese Club of America and is rich in rare ephemera. It is comprised of materials collected by Iris de La Torre Bueno, the bulk of which predate her tenure as secretary of the Pekingese Club of America, but were likely compiled from her mother Celia, a former PCA board member, and other club members. Club administration materials include meeting minutes from the founding year of 1909, as well as the mid-1930s; a small amount of correspondence, chiefly related to club resolutions and rule provisions; various club circulars and pamphlets from the 1920s and 1930s, such as annual reports, yearbooks, announcements, and ballots; and a range of Bueno's member ID cards and event tickets from 1936 to 1985. Dog show materials include clippings and handouts from the club's inaugural specialty show, a society event held at the Plaza Hotel; license applications for the 1919 specialty; 1936 and 1937 ribbons; and winners, trophies, and premium lists from subsequent shows [non-inclusive]. Of particular note is the original 1912 announcement to members of the $500 sterling silver cup donated by John Pierpont Morgan for presentation to the BOB at the PCA spcialty, a trophy which remains on permanent display in the AKC Library & Archives. Also present is a small selection of clippings on club events and other breed news.

Dates

  • 1909-1985

Creator

Language of Materials

Materials are in English.

Biographical note

Judge, exhibitor, and breeder Iris de la Torre Bueno (1911-1989) was regarded as one of the driving forces of the Pekinnese Club of America since 1950, when she commenced her 49 consecutive year term as the club's secretary, a position which only ended in death. She also served terms as the president of the American Brussels Griffon Association (1954-1989) and the secretary of the Progressive Dog Club, which ran an all-Toy annual show.

Bueno was raised in New Rochelle, New York by her mother Celia, who founded All-Celia Kennels in 1917 and chiefy ran Peke and Brussels Griffon breeding programs based on foundation stock imported from Belgium. Bueno graduated high school early at the age of 15 and worked as a private secretary on wall Street. She became a PCA officer at the age of 16, her mother having been a member of the PCA Board of Governors. She was also certified as an AKC judge by her late teens, eventually approved for Toy, Non-Sporting, and Best in Show.

Bueno contined her mother's prolific breeding program from the 1940s to 1970s and enjoyed showing her dogs, winning 20 BOB in total. She contributed breed columns on both of her preferred toy types to the AKC Gazette, Popular Dogs, and more.

Source: Fernandez, Amy. "Icons of the Sport," Dogs in Review, May 2011 (5:16).

Physical Description

.21 Linear Feet (in 1 legal-sized half-width doc box and one shared oversize flat box)

Processing Information

Contents were originally placed in plastic sleeves within a binder, in loose chronological order. They were removed for preservation purposes and rearranged according to content.

Creator

Title
Guide to the Iris de la Torre Bueno collection of Pekingese Club of America materials
Author
Brynn White
Date
2017
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the American Kennel Club Library & Archives Repository

Contact:
101 Park Ave
FL 5
New York NEW YORK 10178 United States