NOTE:  The following is presented with minor grammatical and spelling corrections to insure its "readability" while preserving the "feel" of the original document:

Bench Show and Field Trial, Records and Standards of Dogs in America 1874-1891

The following is an excerpt from a letter written to James L. Vaughters, a past president of Memphis Kennel Club, from Dr. Braxton B. Sawyer of Fort Smith, Arkansas, on April 22, 1971, certifying the birthplace of dog shows in America:

"I'm sending you some information concerning Memphis, TN being the birthplace of dog shows in America. My research into this subject has turned up about 20 reference works but in this letter I will mention only two. One book, Bench Show and Field Trial, Records and Standards of Dogs in America 1874-1891, First Edition, published 1982 by Major J. M. Taylor. The other book, The American Kennel and Sporting Field, First Edition, (was) published in 1896 by Arnold Burges.

(1) Memphis, TN is the birthplace for dog shows and field trials in America. Mr. P. H. Bryson and brother David Bryson, Memphis furniture dealers and Dr. Saunders of Memphis, TN formed the 1st organization to promote field trials and bench shows in the United States. Mr. P. H. Bryson was the 1st man in America to put these ideas into print. They were 1st published in a magazine named Turf, Field and Farm, edited by F. G. Skinner. (See Taylor book mentioned above, pages 15, 16 and 17.)

(2) After the Memphis group had organized and after they had made their proposal in print, other groups with less organization and with no governing rules borrowed their idea from the published intentions of the Memphis Group and held a few informal meetings and tried to call them dog shows. Some respected scholars refused to refer to these as "dog shows." Instead referred to them as "bench show efforts." (See Burges book 189 last paragraph. Also see Burges book through page 197.) (See Taylor book mentioned above pages 232 through 234.)

(3) The Memphis Committee announced their first effort as a field trial and bench show to begin October 8, 1874. There were some bench show attempt(s) before that date. All research historians agree that the first "official" organized field trial and bench show took place at Memphis, TN beginning October 8, 1874. (Emphasis added.)

Note: (According to October 8, 1874 newspaper, Memphis Daily Appeal, a bench show of 95 entries was held with the 6th annual Fair of the Memphis Agriculture and Mechanical Society of Montgomery Park. (Present location of Fairgrounds.)

/s/ Jimmy Vaughters (James A. Vaughters)"

NOTE: On June 2, 1974, Memphis Kennel Club celebrated holding the club's centennial dog show, celebrating over 100 years of dog shows in America.

Attached to the above letter was the following article:

June 4, 1874

THE FIRST DOG SHOW IN AMERICA

by Dr. Braxton B. Sawyer

Box 21

Fort Smith, Arkansas 72901

The first officially recognized Dog Show in the world, according to this writer's previous article entitled, "The Origin of the Dog Show," took place in the New Cornmarket at New Castle-on-Tyne, in England, June 28-29, 1859.

That show as for Pointers and Setters only, and the Show Committee consisted of Mr. W. R. Pape, Mr. Tom Reed, and Mr. John Shorthose. Mr. William Arkwright, in his immortal classic, The Pointer and His Predecessors, quotes a letter he received from Mr. Pape; and in this letter, Mr. Pape says, "I got up the First Dog Show that was held in New Castle, 1859." Coming from that source, this information would safely enable us to label Mr. W. R. Pape as the "World's First Bench Show Chairman." Also, he must have been the "World's First Trophy Chairman" because he gave all the trophies, which were guns from his own gun factory.

We now mount our research vantage point and take a panoramic view of the first four Dog Shows ever held in America. Dog Shows had bee flourishing in England and Europe for fifteen years before any attempt or suggestion was made with respect to putting on Dog Shows in this country. This can be explained, in part, by the fact that during most of these years, the majority of Americans were preparing for, engaging in, and recovering from the Civil War. When the war was finally terminated, it was not long before the silence, with reference to Dog Shows in the United States, was broken.

P.H. BRYSON, FIRST ADVOCATE

Mr. P. H. Bryson, Memphis, Tennessee, the First Advocate of Dog Shows in America, was released after the Civil War ended and permitted to "go home to die so that he might have a decent burial." This wounded, weak, and emaciated soldier weighed only 110 pounds, and could not walk 100 yards without pausing to rest. When he reached home, his family physician, Dr. D. D. Saunders, advised that he take all the outdoor exercise he could stand. Specifically, Dr. Saunders recommended a Bird Dog and a gun, stating that that sport would be an incentive to outdoor exercise. The weak, but courageous, soldier acquired a "pin-fire gun" and a "bobbed-tail Pointer" and took off for the rolling fields and the gurgling streams.

At first, Mr. Bryson could not walk far. However, his strength began to increase gradually. He killed one bird, then several birds, then a small bag of birds. In time, he weighed 210 pounds and had completely recovered his health.

As Mr. Bryson became a more avid sportsman, for some undisclosed reason, he switched from Pointers to Setters. He and his brother, David Bryson, imported some of the world's finest setter bloodlines. The 'Bryson Setter Kennels' of Memphis, Tennessee, gained national recognition and acclaim. Then, the old soldier began to campaign for Dog Shows in America. Mr. Bryson was the first man in America to advocate, through sporting journals, the holding of dog shows in the United States. He did this through that highly respected sporting journal, Turf, Field and Farm. The Field Editor for this Journal at that time was Colonel Frederic Gustavus Skinner. Colonel Skinner was an avid outdoors man, himself, and one of America's greatest sporting editors. Consequently, he gave Mr. Bryson's articles top billing in his magazine.

P. H. Bryson, his brother, David Bryson, and Mr. W. A. Wheatley planned a combined Bench Show and Field Trial near Memphis, Tennessee, for November of 1874. The articles which Mr. Bryson had been writing were so challenging and convincing that they motivated other sportsmen in other parts of the country to plan Dog Shows.

FIRST SHOW - JUNE 4, 1874 - CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

The Illinois State Sportsmen's Association, very obviously borrowing their idea from Mr. Bryson, announced a Show for June 4, 1874. This was five months ahead of the Show that P. H. Bryson, his brother, and Mr. Wheatley had planned for Memphis, Tennessee. The Illinois Show was for Setters and Pointers only; and since it was the first Dog Show of any kind ever staged in the Untied States, this writer feels it should have a rather full report. The report of this first Dog Show has been overlooked too long and by too many able researchers and writers. Some even stated that "no records were kept of the Show; " but, fortunately, this writer has found a more complete report of this Show than we have of some of the subsequent Shows. A magazine, then called Field and Stream, which this writer found on file in the American Kennel Library and in the New York City Library (both of which have complete files of this magazine), reported this Show two days after it happened!

A word concerning the above mentioned magazine must be given here. On February 21, 1874, a sporting journal began publication in Chicago, Illinois, called Field and Stream. On March 27, 1875, the name of this magazine changed to The Field. On June 3, 1880, the name was changed to Chicago Field. Then, on June 2, 1881, the name was changed to The American Field, and the Journal has maintained that name to this day.

Field and Stream, in the June 6, 1874, issue, carried a full report of that first Dog Show in the Untied States. It must be remembered here that at that time there was no American Kennel Club, no rules, no regulations, no breed Standards, no precedents, and no program to follow. These men were blazing a new trail...(the article goes on to describe the association hosting the show, the Illinois State Sportsman Association, and the show itself at great length. These details are not included herein for brevity’s sake.)

SECOND SHOW, JUNE 22, 1874, OSWEGO, NEW YORK

The New York State Sportsman Association planned a Dow Show to be held as Oswego, New York, June 22, 1874. The report of this show was as follows:

"As there was no competition, there being but two dogs and one bitch entered, the committee deem it advisable to return the entrance money to the exhibitors, Mr. A. L. Sherwood and N. W. Nutting. The committee desire to express the highest commendation of Mr. Sherwood’s orange and white pair of Setters, and also of a beautiful litter of puppies, their progeny, ten in number. All showing in a high degree all of the most valuable points in form and breeding. Mr. Nutting’s black and tan Setter dog is a magnificent animal in all points but having a white spot on throat as well as upon the breast, he cannot be admitted as a thorough-bred Gordon."

THIRD SHOW, OCTOBER 7, 1874, MINEOLA, NEW YORK

The third Show was at Mineola (Long Island), October 7, 1874. The Show was judged by the English Kennel Club rules. (Again, for brevity’s sake, the details are not included herein.)

FOURTH SHOW, OCTOBER 8, 1874, MEMPHIS TENNESSEE

We now return to the home town of our old soldier, P. H. Bryson, where original plans were made for the first Dog Show in America. This was a combined Field Trial and Bench Show, sponsored by the Tennessee Sportsmen’s Association. The Show was governed by the English Kennel Club rules, and the Field Trial was conducted according to the rules of the English Field Trials. Since this was a combined Field Trial and Bench Show, present space will permit only the Best of Breed and Best of Show winners be given here. This writer will give this Show and Trial a complete report in a subsequent article, "The Origin of Field Trials." (Currently unavailable on this site.)

The Best of Breed and Best in Show judging at this Show reached an emotional pitch that probably has not been reached since at a Dog Show. When the judge was through sorting out the Pointers, he selected for Best of Breed a Pointer Bitch named "May," owned by Dr. D. D. Saunders. When he was through examining the Setters, he selected for Best of Breed a Setter Bitch named "Maud," owned by P. H. Bryson.

Then came the big moment - - the earth, seemingly stopped moving and the spectators stopped breathing as the old soldier and his physician moved into the center of the ring to compete against one another for BEST IN SHOW. The solemn faced judge stepped into the ring, fully conscious of his responsibility. Dr. Saunders and his Pointer moved about the ring as one. The old soldier and his Setter moved with the same military precision they would had Generals Lee and Grant been sitting at the ringside. After thoroughly examining both exhibits, the judge walked over to the Pointer, stopped, and ran his hands over the length of her back and down her thighs. He then turned to the Setter and did the same. Suspense mounted as the judge walked to the table to record his decision. In his book he wrote, "Cup for best Setter or Pointer of any age or class of the Show, Maud, P. H. Bryson."

He then stepped back to the center of the ring with the cup in his hand and pointed to the old soldier and Maud. Thunder sounded as the ringside exploded with cheers and shouts of applause!

____________________________

In September of 1916, the Memphis Kennel Club, which had been giving shows regularly since its first show in October of 1874, was incorporated under the laws of the State of Tennessee, by the following individuals:

R. Galloway

W. C. Wilkerson

T. G. Vinton

R. Brinkley Snowden

W. B. Stafford

Geo. T. Vance, Jr.

Henry C. Loeb

W. B. Elliot

Edw. Foster

Other than a couple of shows during the World Wars, Memphis Kennel Club has continued its proud tradition of holding regular Dog Shows in the Memphis area...