Today is Memorial Day, which gives us an opportunity to showcase a Pit Bull Terrier representing American values. Specifically, artwork of an American Bull Terrier on a 1915 WWI poster.
If you notice, the word ‘pit’ was excluded from the breed name American Pit Bull Terrier, as this was at a time when registries were uncomfortable allowing a dog with known fighting ability into their prestigious fraternity.
The United Kennel Club (UKC) – founded in 1898, and American Dog Breeders Association (ADBA) in 1909, were formed because they were shunned by the already established clubs. The American Kennel Club (AKC) version of the pit bull – the American Staffordshire Terrier wouldn’t happen for another couple decades.
One of the many attempts at rebranding was to remove Pit from its name, reducing it down to American Bull Terrier. Ultimately, that proposed change didn’t stick, but there was a period in the early 1900s when the American Pit Bull Terrier name was sorta up in the air.
This piece is an original lithograph by well-known artist of the time Wallace Robinson, whose work regularly focused on American patriotism during the war. And, the American Bull Terrier was commonly found in his art to signify the United States position on foreign policy.
Front and center with old glory draped around his shoulders, other world powers symbolized by dog breeds sit on each side beside him.
This is an example of propaganda posters of the time period, that were meant to give the American people something to be proud of, and rally around. This piece was published by the Henry Heinenger Co. of New York.
The Archives is a special blog series that looks at the complicated history of pit bull dogs through photographs, newspaper articles, and other historical items. This blog is part of the documentary film – Once In A Lifetime.
with this original artwork depicting American patriotism, digitally preserved on a 36″ x 12″ canvas.
Read all “The Archives” blog entries, and learn about their controversial past, but also the important role they played in the development of the United States.
