General Roger Williams papers
Abstract
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- General Roger Williams papers
- Date
- 1823-1991 (inclusive)
- 1898-1929 (bulk)
- Creator
- Williams, Roger D., General (Roger de Coverly)
- Extent
- 62 Cubic Feet
- Subjects
- Kentucky -- Militia.
- Spanish-American War, 1898 -- Philippines.
- Iron industry and trade -- Kentucky.
- Photography, Military -- United States
- United States -- History -- World War, 1914-1918
- Dogs -- Breeding -- Kentucky.
- Military training camps.
- Dogs -- Diseases
- Kennel owners
- World War, 1914-1918.
- Arrangement
- Collection is arranged by subject and format into seven series: General, Lexington Engine and Boiler Works, Military Service and Involvement, Personal, Photographs, Publications, Rookwood Kennel papers.
- Preferred Citation
- 2008ms013: [identification of item], General Roger Williams papers, 1823-1991, bulk 1898-1929, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- Roger D. Williams descended from Roger Williams, founder of Rhode Island. His great-great-grandfather, George Williams, moved from Rhode Island to Virginia and fought in the Revolutionary War. George Williams' son, General Roger Williams was born in 1770. In 1794 he married Mary Kerfoot and they came to Kentucky in 1773 to establish a home in Bourbon County where Roger Williams' grandfather. Major George W. Williams was born in 1801. Major Williams was a graduate of Transylvania University, served more than twenty years in the state legislature, was a delegate to the Kentucky Constitutional Convention in 1849, was a Whig and member of the American Republican (Know Nothing) party, and was a strong abolitionist. Major Williams was made the first permanent president of the Republican State Party in 1864. Major Williams was also a candidate in 1868 for the Supreme Court. Major Williams died in Paris, Kentucky in 1870.
- Roger D. Williams' father, Benjamin Franklin Williams, was born in Bourbon County in 1827 and was an honor graduate of Bethany College in Virginia. He was admitted to the bar, but never practiced law. Instead he preferred to devote his time to manufacturing and mercantile. Benjamin Williams was married to Mary Gates Massie of Bourbon County; and Roger D. Williams was born on August 29, 1856. Roger D. Williams spent much of his childhood in Chicago because his parents moved there during the Civil War. On his return to Kentucky, he entered the University of Kentucky and was the youngest student to have attended at the time, 1872-1873. Williams served two years in the Pension and Internal Revenue Departments of the Federal Government. He was one of fourteen on a pioneer party to explore the Black Hills of the Dakotas. While in the Black Hills, he occupied stockades near present day Custer City. He was active in mining and prospecting and was well known in all of the leading camps. When the Battle of Little Big Horn occurred, Williams was a war correspondent for the San Francisco Chronicle and The Denver Tribune.
- Williams returned to Kentucky in 1879 and became involved in manufacturing. He established the Kentucky Copper Works and Iron Foundry in 1880 which was eventually known as the Lexington Engine and Saw Mill Works. Williams was active in civic and sports affairs. He was once commissioner of the Eastern Asylum for the Insane and was a park commissioner of Lexington. For thirty years Williams was an officer in the Kentucky National Guard where he was advanced from lieutenant to brigadier general. Williams was commanding colonel of the Second Regiment for fifteen years and for twenty-five years was one of the officers who commanded troops during mountain feuds and calming night riders. Theodore Roosevelt had requested his service during the Spanish American War, but the war was over by the time Williams organized a troop for the Rough Riders. In 1916, he commanded a sector on the Rio Grande from Fort Hancock, Texas, to Las Cruces, New Mexico. He served with General Pershing at Colonia-Dublan, Mexico. Williams was commissioned a brigadier general of the National Army and commanded the Indiana and the Kentucky troops in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. He was overseas from July, 1918 until March, 1919, and was with the headquarters of the first army of France. Williams retired from the National Army in 1919, but he was active in a veteran group retirement.
- Roger D. Williams was an avid hunter and was the owner of Rookwood Kennels in Lexington. Dogs from Rookwood were shipped all over the country. As a sportsman Williams was a member of Iroquois Hunt Club, Southern Fox Hunter's Association, National Fox Hunter's Association, and the American Fox Hound Association. He served as an officer in all of the hunting and hound associations. Williams was the author of Deer Hunter in the West Indies, Old Times in the Black Hills, The Greyhound, Wolf Coursing, The Bloodhound, Horse and Hound, High Ground in Fox Hunting, Training the Fox Hound, Running Hounds, and The Fox Hound. Along with these books Williams compiled a two volume work, The National Foxhunter's Association Stud Book 1898, which was published by the National Fox Hunter's Association. In his book, The Wilderness Hunter, Theodore Roosevelt said, "General Roger D. Williams, more than any other American is entitled to speak upon hunting big game with horse and hound."
- Roger D. Williams and Minnie Lyle Sayre, daughter of banker Ephraim Sayre and Mary E. Woodruff Sayre of Lexington, were married in November 1887. Roger D. Williams and Mary Sayre Williams had two children, Roger Jr., born in 1895 and Mary Sayre, born in 1892. Roger Jr. served with father in World War I and went on to have a military career. Roger Williams Jr. married the Countess Florence Marie Odenreld Ludric Forest Divonne, France, in 1919 and they had one daughter, Dorothy. Mary Williams married Lucas B. Combs, a son of Leslie Combs, in 1916 and they had one son, Sidney Sayre, who was born in 1917.
- Sources: Charles Kerr, editor. History of Kentucky. Chicago: American Historical Society, 1922.
- E. Polk Johnson. History of Kentucky and Kentuckians. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1912. accessed 2012 March 29, http://archive.org/details/historyofkentuck03injohn
- Scope and Content
- The General Roger Williams papers (dated 1823-1991, bulk 1898-1929; 62 cubic feet; 149 boxes, 1 folder) contain materials related to the businesses, investments, and military service of the prominent Kentuckian from 1898 until 1929. The bulk of the papers consist of correspondence between Rookwood Kennels and individuals trying to sell or purchase dogs. Williams' Kennel farmed out the breeding of hound dogs and had contacts with patrons throughout the United States and as far as Germany and China. The series includes materials from 1898 until 1929. Some of the correspondence is between patrons and Williams' daughter, Mary Sayre Combs, who took over the business after Roger Williams died. The collection also includes correspondence and receipts from the iron foundry founded by Williams in the Lexington Engine and Boiler Works series. The foundry bought and sold materials to other businesses in the Ohio River Valley region which the correspondence and receipts reflect. Materials related to Williams involvement in military affairs includes documents pertaining to his travels as a war correspondent through the American West; documents about various fundraisers and benevolent societies; and the operations of military training camps. Also in the series are several maps prepared by the military war school. The photographs in the collection relate to kennels and hunting, military service, and personal relationships of General Roger Williams. Some of the photographs were found loosely throughout the entire collection and others were on the pages of two bound photo albums.
Restrictions on Access and Use
- Conditions Governing Access
- Collection is open to researchers by appointment.
- Use Restrictions
- The physical rights to the materials in this collection are held by the University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Contents of the Collection
General, 1915-1925, undated
Scope and Contents
The General series contains materials not closely related to the other series in the collection. Included are newspaper clippings broadly related to personal and professional events in Williams' life. There are notes and fragments related to Williams' daily life like laundry receipts. Also there is a file of letters, mostly addressed to Ms. L. Hurley, who is of an unknown relation to General Roger Williams. There are the checkbooks of Williams' son-in-law, Lucas B. Combs, as well as, a personal letter from Roger Williams, Jr.
Blank supply forms, undated
Letters to Ms. L. Hurley and receipts, 1915-1921
Lucas B. Combs checkbook, 1919 March-1922 April
Lucas B. Combs checkbook, 1924 March-1925 September
Notes and fragments, undated
Roger D. Williams biography typed, undated
The Unwanted Child by Florence Edna May, 1923
Lexington Engine and Boiler Works, 1912-1926, undated
Scope and Contents
The Lexington Engine and Boiler Works series contains two ledger volumes, correspondence, and receipts from the iron foundry General Williams established in 1879 in Lexington, Kentucky. The foundry was named the Kentucky Copper Works and Iron Foundry, then the Lexington Engine and Saw Mill Works, and then the Lexington Engine and Boiler Works, Incorporated. Most of the documents within the series are orders and receipts for work and raw materials. Also included are related advertisements from business partners, business cards, and meeting minutes. Some of the correspondence is addressed to Mr. D.P. Galvin, the Secretary Treasurer of Lexington Engine and Boiler Works. The invoice books contain company sale and purchase receipts for 1914 and 1922. There is also a diagram of a Boring Bar, used for the machines in the foundry.
Correspondence and receipts, 1912-1926, undated
undated
1912 March
1912 September
1914 January
1914 April
1914 July
1914 August
1914 September
1914 October
1914 November
1914 December
1915 January
1915 February
1915 March
1915 May
1915 June
1915 July
1915 August
1915 September
1915 October
1915 December
1916 January
1916 February
1916 April
1916 May
1916 June
1916 July
1916 December
1917 January
1917 February
1917 March
1917 May
1917 June
1917 July
1917 August
1918 January
1918 February
1918 March
1918 May
1918 June
1918 July
1918 August
1918 September
1918 October
1919 April
1919 May
1919 June
1919 July
1919 August
1919 September
1919 October
1919 December
1920 January
1920 February
1920 March
1920 April
1920 May
1920 June
1920 July
1920 August
1920 September
1920 October
1920 November
1920 December
1921 January
1921 February
1921 March
1921 April
1921 May
1921 June
1921 July
1921 August
1921 September
1921 October
1921 November
1921 December
1922 January
1922 February
1922 March
1922 April
1922 May
1922 June
1922 July
1922 August
1922 September
1922 October
1922 November
1922 December
1923 January
1923 February
1923 March
1923 April
1923 May
1923 June
1923 July
1923 October
1923 November
1923 December
1924 January
1924 March
1924 March
1925 January
1925 February
1925 May
1925 July
1925 August
1925 September
1925 October
1925 November
1926 January
Business papers found with Correspondence, undated
Expansion Boring Bar Detailed Diagram by Manufacturers Equipment Company, 1922 September 6
Fragments, undated
Pamphlets and materials from other companies, undated
Military Service and Involvement, 1898-1928, undated
Scope and Contents
The Military Service and Involvement series includes documents from General Williams' military service as well as his involvement in military affairs after his retirement. The series primarily covers the years 1914-1925 with the strongest representation from the years 1916-1917, when General Williams was serving on the U.S.-Mexico border. Documentation from his formal service includes military orders, maps, supply lists, enlistment lists. Materials related to Williams involvement in military affairs include documents pertaining to his travels as a war correspondent through the American West; documents about various fundraisers and benevolent societies, such as Victory loans and military training camps; and memorials, such as a Roosevelt tree planting ceremony. The series also includes documents providing insight into the life of a former soldier, such as information about war-risk and veterans' health and life insurance. Additionally, the series includes letters between General Williams and his son, who was involved in military service before and during WWI as well as maps created by war schools in Washington, D.C. featuring the west, civil war battles, and trench construction.
Correspondence, 1898-1928
1898 June
1898 April
1899 May
1899 June
1899 July
1899 August
1899 September
1899 October
1899 Novemeber
1899 December
1901 January
1908 October
1910 July
1910 September
1911 March
1911 June
1911 September
1911 October
1911 October
1911 November
1911 December
1912 July
1912 January
1912 February
1912 March
1912 April
1912 May
1912 June
1912 December
1913 July
1913 November
1914 February
1914 April
1914 July
1914 November
1915 June
1916 September
1916 November
1916 December
1917 June
1917 October
1918 August
1918 September
1918 October
1919 July
1919 December
1920 January
1920 February
1920 March
1920 May
1920 June
1920 July
1920 August
1920 September
1920 December
1921 February
1921 April
1921 May
1921 June
1921 July
1921 August
1921 September
1921 October
1921 December
1922 January
1922 February
1922 March
1922 April
1922 May
1922 June
1922 July
1922 August
1922 September
1922 October
1922 November
1922 December
1923 January
1923 February
1923 March
1923 April
1923 May
1923 June
1923 July
1923 August
1923 September
1923 October
1923 November
1923 December
1924 January
1924 February
1924 March
1924 April
1924 May
1924 June
1924 July
1924 August
1924 September
1924 October
1924 December
1925 January
1925 February
1925 March
1925 April
1925 May
1925 June
1925 July
1925 August
1925 September
1925 October
1925 November
1926 July
1926 August
1927 July
1928 June
General, 1916-1924, undated
Blank forms, undated
Handwritten notes, undated
List of lieutenants, undated
List of service men, undated
Maps, pamphlets, and reports, undated
Memorandums, undated
Fragments, undated
Newspaper clippings, undated
Newspaper clippings, 1916-1924
Reports, undated
Maps, 1913-1917, undated
Conventional Plan and Typical Section of Part of A Modern Intrenched Line, Prepared at Army War College, 1917 March
Maneuver Map Camp of Instruction, 18th US Infantry, Owensboro Kentucky, 1915 July 15-23
Map of Mexico, undated
Position Sketch 10th Division Maneuvers in Las Cruces, New Mexico by Ohio Engineers, 1916 October 9
Topographical Map of Antietam at Gettysburg Prepared by the Engineer Department of the Army Service School/Map of Samalayuca, Mexico, 1913, 1915
Typical Supporting Point Trench Map, Prepared at War College Division in Washington, D.C., 1917 March
Personal, 1899-1928, undated
Scope and Contents
The Personal series contains correspondence, receipts, and money orders for business and financial ventures involving General Williams independently of Rookwood Kennels and the Lexington Engine and Boiler Works iron foundry. The series includes materials related to stock shares, tobacco sales, real estate investments, executions of wills, and the sale of pets (monkeys and kittens). It also includes documents relating to Williams' involvement in Lexington businessmen's clubs. There is a large blueprint of a water tank, presumably for his real estate investments.
Correspondence, 1899-1928, undated
undated
Letter from Roger Williams, Jr., undated
1899 June
1905 October
1912 July
1911 October
1912 January
1912 August
1913 March
1913 June
1914 January
1914 February
1914 July
1914 August
1914 September
1914 October
1914 November
1914 December
1915 January
1915 February
1915 March
1915 April
1915 May
1915 June
1915 July
1915 August
1915 September
1915 October
1915 November
1915 December
1916 January
1916 April
1916 May
1916 December
1916 June
1916 September
1917 January
1917 March
1917 May
1917 June
1917 July
1917 August
1917 September
1917 December
1918 January
1918 May
1918 July
1918 August
1918 September
1918 October
1918 November
1919 March
1919 April
1919 May
1919 June
1919 December
1920 January
1920 February
1920 March
1920 April
1920 May
1920 June
1920 July
1920 August
1920 September
1920 October
1920 November
1920 December
1921 January
1921 February
1921 March
1921 April
1921 May
1921 June
1921 July
1921 August
1921 September
1921 October
1921 November
1921 December
1922 January
1922 February
1922 March
1922 April
1922 May
1922 June
1922 July
1922 September
1922 August
1922 October
1922 November
1922 December
1923 January
1923 February
1923 March
1923 April
1923 May
1923 June
1923 July
1923 August
1923 September
1923 October
1923 December
1924 January
1924 February
1924 March
1924 April
1924 May
1924 July
1924 October
1924 August
1924 November
1924 December
1925 January
1925 February
1925 March
1925 April
1925 May
1925 June
1925 July
1925 August
1925 September
1925 October
1925 November
1925 December
1926 November
1927 January
1928 January
Photographs, 1899-circa 1917
Scope and Contents
The Photographs series contains photographs found loosely throughout the collection as well as photographs from two albums. Most of the photographs are related to kennels and hunting, military service, and presumably personal relationships of General Roger Williams. Photographs found loosely and in the albums related to Kennels and hunting includes images of men about to begin hunting, particularly in the west, and images of horses and dogs. Most commonly pictured dog breeds are bloodhounds, and Russian and Irish Wolfhounds. A number of photographs were sent to Rookwood Kennel by individuals hoping to sell dogs to them for resale; those photos remain with the original correspondence in the Rookwood Kennel series.
Photographs related to the Military Service appear to be primarily from three events: the assassination of Senator Goebel of Kentucky (Kentucky National Guard, Second Regiment); military life along the Rio Grande, including a few from Mexico (1916-1917); and life in Camp Beckham, Kentucky, with the possibility of some from Camp Shelby, Hattiesburg, Mississippi (Seventy-sixth Brigade; 19171918). Some photographs could be from Gen. Williams' time with the Red Cross in France. Additional images include the building which later became the Lexington Engine Boiler Works and one full length portrait of William Woodard, Jr. of Kentucky.
Loose photographs, 1900, undated
Six negatives of family and animals, undated
Hound dog, undated
Dog in field, undated
Two dogs, undated
English bloodhound owned by David Kennedy in Amherstburg, Ontario, undated
Dog, child, and man on farm in Arkansas, undated
Two dogs, child and man on farm in Arkansas, undated
Man and dog, undated
Dog, undated
Photo album two loosely found with Page 26 soldiers throwing man in the air, undated
Men on horses at military camp, undated
Group of soldiers throwing man in the air, undated
Man on horse, undated
Camp Beckham in Jackson, Kentucky, undated
Men in tents at camp, undated
Men at camp, undated
Men standing on horses, undated
Two men and one woman at laundry wash buckets, undated
Group of dogs and man, undated
Two Norwegian bear dogs in Wisconsin studio owned by Rookwood Kennel, undated
Roger Williams portrait, undated
Two dogs attacking dead fox, undated
Horses at camp, undated
Roger Williams outside of tent at camp, undated
General Roger Williams and soldiers by tent, undated
Men loading cannon, undated
Machinery in factory, undated
Camp of Major Nelson F. Edwards in Frankfort, Kentucky, 1900 February 10
Sergeant J.K. Groghan and Kentucky group, undated
Soldiers at provost guard tent, undated
Parade of soldiers and crowd, undated
General Roger Williams on horseback, undated
Two men at postal telegraph tent, undated
Soldiers on horseback, undated
Men standing in front of tents, undated
Soldiers with rifles outside of tents, undated
General Roger Williams with horse, undated
Line of soldiers on a field, undated
Model T cars and American flag, undated
General Roger Williams portrait, undated
First Regiment Kentucky Infantry camp in Owen Bieme, Texas, undated
William F. Woodard, Jr. in Kentucky, undated
- Box 147, folder 36
Scope and Contents
The Loose Photographs subseries includes photographs found throughout the collection and were placed in envelopes for preservation reasons. Most of the photographs are images of potential candidates for dog breeding. There are also photographs of servicemen and military camps. Also in the subseries are portraits of General Roger D. Williams' and William F. Woodard, another serviceman. Finally there is a portrait of a child which printed onto cloth. Presumably the child is part of Williams' family.
General Roger Williams portrait, undated
Unidentified child printed on cloth, undated
Photograph album one, undated
Unidentified man's portrait, page 1, undated
Men posing comically in military uniforms, page 2, undated
Soldiers with Union Jack uniforms posing at studio, page 4, undated
Soldiers on a trail in a forest, page 6/Soldiers group posing with flag and gatling gun, page 7, undated
View of cabins, page 8/Group of soldiers at tent, Page 9, undated
Two studio photos of men in military and western costumes, page 10/Line of soldier at camp, page 11, undated
Man on horse, page 12/Soldiers marching and crowd, page 13, undated
Men firing cannon in field, page 14/Exterior of Kentucky Copper Works Iron Foundry and Machine Shops, page 15, undated
House on a town block, page 16/Lexington courthouse, page 17, undated
Two portraits of men, page 18, undated
Soldiers in tree with scenic view of village, page 20/Five men at military camp tent, page 21, undated
Soldiers at tent, page 22/Soldiers in line pointing rifles, page 23, undated
Men firing gatling gun, page 24/Soldiers at mess tent, page 25, undated
View of entire military camp, page 26/Soldiers in line with rifles, page 27, undated
Men and women on horse on country road, page 28, undated
Soldiers on ground with unassembled gatling gun, page 30/Line of soldiers, page 31, undated
Soldiers in forest, page 32/Line of soldiers at camp, page 33, undated
Group of men at camp, page 34/Group at mess area, page 35, undated
Group at tent, page 36/Soldiers with a cannon, page 37, undated
Soldiers in front of large building, page 38/Two men standing in a tent, page 39, undated
Soldiers with backpack and rifle, page 40/Men and women playing tennis, page 41, undated
Men and women at tennis court, page 42/Line of soldiers at camp, page 43, undated
Boy on pony with dog, page 44, undated
Man on horse, page 46, undated
Photograph album two, 1899, undated
Men riding donkeys and yak with dog and rifles, page 1/Man with Irish wolfhounds, page 2, undated
Photos of soldier camp, men, and children, page 3/Men in uniforms with musical instruments and soldier with rifle facing two girls in a field, page 4, undated
Camps and soldiers, page 6/Soldiers at camp and fort on island, page 7, undated
Military camps and foreign country, page 8/Military camps and soldiers, page 9, undated
Military camps and soldiers, page 10/Military camps and soldiers, page 11, undated
Town, fort, Roger D. Williams, and camp, page 12/Military men in two photos, military camp and decorated tree, page 13, undated
Military camps, page 14/Military camps, photo of Roger Williams with Filipino children, page 15, undated
Military camps and soldiers, page 16/Military camps and military medical servicemen, page 17, undated
Military soldiers, scenic foreign country, page 18/Military soldiers, sunken ship, man riding horse with dog, portraits of unidentified men, page 19, undated
Soldiers on horseback, page 20/Soldiers throwing man into the air, military camp, page 21, undated
Soldiers, page 22/Aerial view of village in mountains, soldiers, page 23, undated
Men in winter coats, page 24/Line of soldiers, page 25, undated
Group of men on horses with native americans, page 26/Dogs and men on horseback, page 27, undated
Groups of soldiers Page 28/Civilians, soldiers, military men, medical office, page 29, undated
Civilians, family at log house, page 30/Building, parade, unidentified man, soldiers, page 31, undated
Dogs, group on stage, page 32/Child riding horse, dog, poet scout, B. McCauley portrait, page 33, undated
Dogs, page 34/Soldiers riding on horse, page 35, 1899 September 12, undated
Dogs and horses, page 36/Men with dogs and horses, page 37, undated
Soldiers, civilians, buildings, page 38/Dogs and buildings during winter, soldiers in studio, page 39, undated
Men with dogs, women on horses, page 40/Horses, children, and women, page 41, undated
Adults with horses, dogs, and children, page 42/Gun case, houses, men with dogs, women with children, page 43, undated
Men with dogs or horses, page 46/Men in plains on horses, page 47, undated
Soldier in groups or portraits, page 48/Medical camp, soldiers on horseback, soldiers with cannon, page 49, undated
Horses, soldiers, view from inside train tunnel, child, page 52/Donkey, town crowd, large ship, page 53, undated
Dogs, hunters, and dead bear, buildings, page 54/Dogs, child riding horse, dead animals, page 55, undated
Soldiers, scenic view of bluffs, page 58/Soldiers with women, horses, page 59, undated
Military camp, YMCA tent, waterfall, men on horseback, page 60/Cannons, waterfall, military camp, civilians, page 61, undated
Men with women, men on horseback, page 62/Native american with donkeys, dogs Page 63, undated
Men with horse and dogs, page 64/Group of adults and girl outside, portraits, horses, page 65, undated
Mountain lion skins, boy riding pony, soldiers, men on horseback, page 66/Fort on island, soldiers at camp, page 67, undated
Publications, 1823-1991, undated
Scope and Contents
The Publications series contains fifty volumes primarily related to dog breeding or hunting. Some of the books were in General Roger Williams personal collection. Other books were owned by members of his family, particularly Williams' daughter. Also, the publications series includes brief introductions to homes of the Blue Grass written by Roger Williams' grandson, Sydney Sayre Combs, as well as, research notes from the mid twentieth century about the history of Fayette County, Kentucky.
All About Dogs by Henri Vibert, 1921
Animal Management prepared by the Veterinary Department [England], 1923
Bloodhounds and How to Train Them by Loon F. Whitney, 1947
Blue Grass Homes by Sydney S. Combs, 1948
Care For Your Dog by Tina Hearne, 1980
Chase Magazine No. 5, Vol. 6, 1980 November
David A. Sayre History Symposium collected lectures, 1985-1989 edited by Kevin Simon, 1991
Diseases of Dogs and Their Treatments by Hugh Dalziel, 1897
Dogcraft by A.F. Hochwalt, 1908
Dogcraft by A.F. Hochwalt, 1920
Dog Fanciers' Directory and Medical Guide by Charles Hallock, 1880
English Foxhound Kennel Stud Book of America, 1909-1914, 1915
Green's Book on Dogs by C.W. Green, 1914
House Dogs and Sporting Dogs by John Meyrick, 1912
Hunting Dogs by Oliver Hartley, 1909
Kennel Secrets by Ashmont, 1893
Kennel Secrets by Ashmont, 1904
Methode Berlitz by M.D. Berlitz, 1906
My Dog and I: A Treatise on Dogs by H.W. Huntington, 1897
Night Hunting by J.E. Williams, 1911
Norfolk Hunt Club, 1905
Observations on Borzoi by Joseph B. Thomas, 1912
Old Homes of the Blue Grass by Sydney S. Combs, undated
Old Limber or the The Tale of the Taylors by DeLong Rice, 1921
Official Awards BlueGrass Kennel Club , 1891, 1893
Our Proud Heritage by Sydney S. Combs, undated
Poodles in America by William H. Ivers, Jr., 1959
Principle of Dog Feeding by "Great Dane", 1905
Principles of Dog Training by W.C. Percy, 1886
Radnor Hunt, 1891
Rockaway Hunting Club , 1898
Research Note Cards on Fayette County History, undated
Science of Trapping by E. Krepps, 1909
Sporting Anecdotes by Pierce Egan, 1823
Standard of the Breeds published by Field and Fancy Corporation, 1922
Stud Book compiled by R.D. Williams, 1895-1896
The Diseases of Dogs by Hugh Dalziel, undated
The American Foxhound by Haiden G. Trigg, 1890
The American Foxhound by Thurston J. Rosted, 1905
The Complete Book of Dog Obedience by Blanche Saunders, 1954
The Coonhound by Robert Legare, 1924
The Dog by H. Stone, 1872
The English Foxhound Kennel Stud Book by Frank L. Wiles, 1909
The Greyhound by Hugh Dalziel, 1887
Training the Hound by William A. Bruette, 1908
Travels of An Unofficial Attache by Frank Wiborg, 1904
Wolf and Cayote Trapping by A.R. Harding, 1909
Wolf Days in Pennsylvania by Henry W. Shoemaker, 1914
Rookwood Kennel papers, 1898-1929, undated
Scope and Contents
The Rookwood Kennel paper series is predominately composed of letters related to the sale of dogs, primarily hunting hounds, to and from the kennel. Many of the letters offer dogs for sale to the kennel and include photographs of the dogs in question. Many of the letters also address Williams' books; information on registering or shipping dogs, including through customs; and the training and medical care of dogs. Of particular interest are letters dealing with a newly recognized disease, apparently epidemic in dogs in the southeast, called "fit" or "fright" disease. Most of the dogs sold by Rookwood were "farmed out," rather than housed in the kennels proper, so some of the correspondence deals with contacting area residents who are interested in raising puppies for the Kennel "on shares."
The documents also include a large amount of correspondence with newspapers and magazines, which carried advertisements for the Kennel. There is also much correspondence with various drug manufacturers, as the Kennel had frequent problems with, or requests for information about and remedies for, diseases including distemper, mange, black tongue, various types of worms, and others. Additionally, many of the clients of the Kennels write for information, and to express their concern for the dogs' health.
The series also includes many of the Kennel's formal publication, including copies of the Kennel's "highly-illustrated catalogue," which was published biennially, complete with inserts and "bargain" lists; order forms, forms for describing dogs offered for sale to the kennel; pedigrees; and receipts from Rookwood Kennel. Also included are letters and receipts from suppliers to the kennel, for products ranging from crates (for shipping), straw (for bedding), and various food products (macaroni, shredded wheat, cracklings, etc.) There are also some shipping tags from dogs sent or returned to the kennel. There are newspaper clippings and correspondence about dog shows, hunts and competitions (derbies or field trials) in which General Williams or dogs have participated, as judge or contestant, respectively.
Also represented in Rookwood kennel correspondence series are documents addressed to Mr. Bonnie (or Barney) Stone, who served as kennel manager and acted for Williams during his absences from the kennel for military service. As well as, letters sent to Williams' daughter, who managed the kennel and its sale to Capt. Milliken after the death of General Williams. She continued breeding Irish Wolfhounds and Norwegian Bear Dogs on her own before the sale.
Breeds represented in this collection, including unmet requests, include: Beagles, Belgian Police Dogs (Belgian Sheppard Dog, Malinois), Bloodhound (English), Boston Terriers, Bulldog (American), Bulldog (English), Chow Chows, Collies, Dachshund, fox terriers, foxhound (American-usually Walker Strain), French Deer Hounds (possibly Porcelain or other French breed), German Sheppard's, Great Danes, Greyhound, Husky (Alaskan), Irish Setter, Irish Stag Dogs, Irish Wolfhound, Newfoundland, Norwegian Bear Dogs/Norwegian Elkhounds (sometimes referred to as "Umea dogs," after a particular individual dog, Umea, at Rookwood Kennel), Old English Sheep Dogs, Pit Bull (English Pointer, Poodle (Toy), Pug (English), Redbone Coonhounds, Russian Wolfhound, Schipperke (sic. In letter of request), St. Bernard, Terrier (Bedlington), Scotch Deerhounds/Stag Hounds, St. Bernard, Terrier (Bedlington), Terrier (Rat), Water Spaniels, and various cross-breeds, most often foxhound/bloodhound. The majority of dogs requested and sold are bloodhounds, and foxhounds.
The Rookwood Kennel papers have been arranged into subseries based on the format of the materials. The correspondence in the collection is arranged chronologically according to month and year. Found throughout the correspondence were order blanks, applications to breed for the kennel, receipts, and dogs on hand at the kennel lists, notes on shipping and other tasks performed by the kennel, and other materials related to the kennel but not the same material type as the other subseries like newspaper clippings and charcoal drawings of dogs. The original provenance of the materials is unknown; therefore, the papers were grouped according to format type and divided into subseries.
The series also contains some of the kennel's ledgers (1902-1903, 1904, 1907, 1909-1911, 1915-1919, 1926 and some undated leaves from an unknown ledger). There are numerous lists of dogs, their breeding, and potential clients with in the ledgers.
General, 1905-1927, undated
Advertisements of dogs for sale, undated
Charcoal drawing by Gregson, undated
Charcoal drawing of dog, undated
Charcoal drawing of dog named Champion and owned by Rookwood Kennels, undated
Kennel and medical pamphlets, 1907-1916, undated
Kennel license, 1920-1921, 1927
List of Foxhounds at Blue Grass Fair, 1925
Newspaper clippings, undated
Newspaper clippings, 1905
Newspaper clippings, 1906
Newspaper clippings, 1907
Newspaper clippings, 1921
Newspaper clippings, 1927
Notes, cards, and tickets, undated
Rookwood Kennel catalogues, undated
Protested checks, 1921 July
Correspondence, 1902-1929, undated
undated
- Box 110, folder 11
- Box 99, folder 1-4
- Box 97, folder 1-8
- Box 98, folder 1-12
- Box 96, folder 6-13
1902 March
1904 April
1904 December
1906 January
1906 October
1907 May
1907 October
1910 January
1910 October
1911 June
1911 October
1911 November
1912 January
1912 February
1912 March
1912 July
1912 November
1913 January
1913 September
1913 October
1913 December
1914 January
1914 February
1914 March
1914 April
1914 May
1914 June
1914 July
1914 August
1914 September
1914 October
1914 November
1914 December
1915 January
1915 February
1915 March
1915 April
1915 May
1915 June
1915 July
1915 August
1915 September
1915 October
1915 November
1915 December
1916 January
1916 February
1916 March
1916 April
1916 May
1916 June
1916 July
1916 August
1916 September
1916 October
1916 November
1916 December
1917 January
1917 February
1917 March
1917 April
1917 May
1917 June
1917 July
1917 August
1917 September
1917 October
1917 November
1917 December
1918 January
1918 February
1918 March
1918 April
1918 May
1918 June
1918 July
1918 August
1918 September
1918 October
1918 November
1918 December
1919 January
1919 February
1919 March
1919 April
1919 May
1919 June
1919 July
1919 August
1919 September
1919 October
1919 November
1919 December
- Box 21, folder 1-20
- Box 22, folder 2-8
- Box 93, folder 13
- Box 95, folder 28
- Box 20, folder 13-16
1920 January
- Box 95, folder 29
- Box 24, folder 1-11
- Box 22, folder 9-13
- Box 93, folder 14
- Box 23, folder 1-26
1920 February
1920 March
- Box 27, folder 1-20
- Box 95, folder 31
- Box 26, folder 18
- Box 28, folder 1-11
- Box 93, folder 15
1920 April
1920 May
- Box 29, folder 18-22
- Box 31, folder 1-5
- Box 30, folder 1-16
- Box 95, folder 32
- Box 93, folder 16-17
1920 June
1920 July
1920 August
1920 September
1920 October
1920 November
- Box 95, folder 35
- Box 93, folder 26
- Box 37, folder 16-17
- Box 39, folder 1-13
- Box 38, folder 1-22
1920 December
1921 January
1921 February
1921 March
1921 April
1921 May
1921 June
1921 July
1921 August
1921 September
1921 October
1921 November
1921 December
1922 January
1922 February
1922 March
1922 April
- Box 61, folder 18-21
- Box 95, folder 47
- Box 63, folder 1-5
- Box 62, folder 1-27
- Box 94, folder 3
1922 May
1922 June
1922 July
1922 August
1922 September
1922 October
- Box 69, folder 12-29
- Box 110, folder 12
- Box 70, folder 1-4
- Box 94, folder 13
- Box 95, folder 53
1922 November
1922 December
1923 January
1923 February
1923 March
1923 April
1923 May
1923 June
1923 July
1923 August
1923 September
1923 October
1923 November
1923 December
1924 January
1924 February
1924 March
1924 April
1924 May
1924 June
1924 July
1924 August
1924 September
1924 October
1924 November
1924 December
1925 January
1925 February
1925 March
1925 April
1925 May
1925 June
1925 July
1925 August
1925 September
1925 October
1925 November
1925 December
1926 January
1926 February
1926 March
1926 April
1926 May
1926 June
1926 July
1926 August
1926 September
1926 October
1926 November
1926 December
1927 January
1927 February
1927 March
1927 April
1927 May
1927 June
1927 July
1927 August
1927 September
1927 October
1927 November
1927 December
1928 January
1928 February
1928 March
1928 April
1928 May
1928 June
1928 July
1928 September
1928 October
1928 November
1929 January
1929 February
1929 March
1929 April
1929 May
1929 June
J.R. McGill, Judge of Carter County Court in Olive Hill, Kentucky to Roger Williams, 1919 May-1920 June
H. Toussaint, Agent of the American Foreign Insurance Association in Shanghai, China to Roger Williams, 1921 December
Franz Blachian, Dog Breeder in Munich, Germany to Roger Williams, 1922 July
Mrs. Edith Vanderbilt in Biltmore, North Carolina to Roger Williams, 1924 March-August
Alfred A. Knopf, President of Knopf Publishing in New York City to Roger Williams, 1924 September
Fragments, undated
Dogs On Hand lists, undated
Ledgers, 1902-1926, undated
Order blanks, 1920-1926, undated
Pedigree charts, 1898-1926, undated
undated
1898
1899
1900
1903
1906
1907
1908
1909
1910
1911
1912
1913
1914
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
1926
Receipts, 1914-1928, undated
undated
1914
1915
1917
1918
1919
1920
1921
1922
1923
1925
1926
1928
Shipping lists and other business notes, 1914-1922, undated
Stud or mother applications, 1919-1926, undated
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UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.
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You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.
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