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PHOTOS FROM THE HISTORY OF ARBA
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and description |
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LOGOS OF THE PAST |
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FIRST LOGO
1910 - 1917
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National
Pet Stock Association of America was founded
on January 10, 1910 by Charles S. Gibson at
his home at 1045 West Warren Ave., Detroit,
Michigan with a total of 13 people present
which became charter members. Charles Gibson
was elected as the Secretary/Treasurer. It
is not known who designed the first national
emblem, but it was common place for the time
to use the head of Lady Liberty with the
laurel leaves in her hair along with the
crossed flags as part of an American symbol. |
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SECOND LOGO
1917 - 1924
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The organization changes their name to the National
Breeders and Fanciers Association of America. The
emblem you see was created by the George Lauterer
Company of Chicago, Illinois. There is once again
the crossed US flags, eagle with her stretched
wings, double maple leaves (no doubt to recognize
our neighbors to the north’s membership), plus the
heads of four animals; top is a raccoon, right a
cavy (guinea pig), bottom a fox and finally a
rabbit. In January, 1918 the first national
convention and show is held in Kansas City, Missouri
with a total of 540 entries. The organization splits
in October, 1919 and Charles Gibson incorporates the
new slip branch in January, 1920 as the National
Breeders and Fanciers Association, Inc. Gibson is
replaced as secretary in 1921 by Raymond L. Pike and
the national headquarters is moved to
Crawfordsville, Indiana. Pike is replaced by Arthur
Weygandt as secretary in 1923 and the national
headquarters is moved once again to Weygandt’s home
at 3166 Lincoln Ave., Chicago, Illinois, then
shortly after to 7408 Normal Ave., Chicago. |
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THIRD LOGO
1925 - 1952 |

FOURTH LOGO
1944-1947 |
The organization became
more specialized with the small stock that they
promoted and once again changed their name
officially on January 20, 1925 to the American
Rabbit and Cavy Breeders Association, Inc. Before
this change, the association catered to not only
rabbits, cavies, raccoons, and foxes, but most all
furred animals including rats, mice and even skunks.
Oddly enough the association did not have an
official logo until the 1940’s. Arthur Weygandt
proved to be an outstanding choice for secretary and
served the organization well for 20 years until he
was forced to resign in early 1943 due to a stroke,
being replaced by Mr. Lewis S. J. Griffin.
A new logo appeared only in the 1940’s which touted
the domestic rabbit for it’s meat, fur and wool,
with special emphasis placed on the cavy as an
important laboratory animal, which indeed it was.
The scalloped border is believed to be designed
after a rosette ribbon showing that both species
were highly popular as show animals. The war years
were hard on the organization, but the meat of the
domestic rabbit received a huge boost for its quick
growth and high nutritional values by the United
States government. Griffin as secretary moved the
national offices to his home at 812 East Costella,
Colorado Springs, Colorado and then to rental
facilities for a short time in 1945 at 25 East
Colorado St., Colorado Springs. Due to failing
health Griffin resigned in 1945 and James Blyth
moved the offices to 5941 Baum Blvd., Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania when chosen as the new secretary. A
milestone was reached when affiliated clubs of the
national and her membership pitched in together and
purchased a permanent headquarters at 4323 Murray
Avenue, in Pittsburgh.
Not pleased with the
design of the previous emblem of the national
association a new design appeared in the late
1940’s, however this designer was unknown as with
previous designs. The scalloped edges were increased
to be more in style with a prize rosette and the
emphasis of what the species were mainly used for
were removed. |
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FIFTH LOGO
1953 - 1992
During
the 1952 national convention and show the association
decided to change the name of the association for the final
time to American Rabbit Breeders Association, Inc. It was
the consensus that the national mainly existed for the
promotion of the domestic rabbit, however cavies would
continue to be sponsored by the ARBA. With a brand new name,
came a brand new logo and this time we do know the designer,
Edward H. Stahl of Missouri. He retained the scallop border,
included the words, Food, Fancy and Fur and the heads of two
rabbits looking to the right, or as Edward Stahl once said,
“Always towards the Future.” The rabbits used in the logo
were actually real animals; the top a Standard Chinchilla
buck called Chin Champ was Best Standard Chinchilla at the
1924 Lima, Ohio Convention and the bottom rabbit a New
Zealand White buck called White Champ that won Best of Breed
at the 1932 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Convention.
Secretary James Blyth retires in
December 1972 after a remarkable service of 27 years in the
position under no less than 6 presidents. Ed Peifer, Jr.
became secretary from 1973 until December, 1984. He moved
the national headquarters to rental facilities at 1006
Morrisey Dr., and then to 2401 E. Oakland Ave. both
locations in Bloomington, Illinois. In 1976 the ARBA
purchased their own facilities at 1925 South Main in
Bloomington. Upon Ed Peifer’s retirement, Glen C. Carr of
Ohio was appointed secretary, but instead of moving the
national offices he was the first secretary to move to where
they were located. Peifer had begun to bring the association
into the modern era of the internet age and Glen Carr
certainly continued to improve and streamline all office
operations.
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SIXTH LOGO
1992 - Present
Because of the
changing times and the attitude of people,
it became very apparent that the words “Food
and Fur” was no longer the primary focus of the fancier's organization. Although the American Rabbit
Breeders Association, Inc. recognizes the
many valuable benefits of the domestic
rabbit; meat, laboratory, fur, wool, fun,
pet and fancy (exhibition) the words “Food,
Fancy and Fur” were removed from the emblem.
Kevin Whaley created the current logo to bring it into the 21st
century as the ARBA continues to adapt to a
changing country and world from it’s nearly
century of existence. With the continued
growth of the ARBA it quickly became
apparent that a much larger facility was
needed. A modern 10,000 square foot facility
was located by Secretary Carr at 8 Westport
Court in Bloomington which the ARBA
purchased. In 1999 construction began for
the Hall of Fame Library within the
headquarters, which quickly became the
world’s largest single collection of rabbit
and cavy publications. In 2003 the name of
secretary seemed out of place for what the
position had evolved into and was renamed
Executive Director.
Executive
Director Glen C. Carr retired on
December 31, 2006 and was succeeded by
Executive Director Brad Boyce.
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AMERICAN RABBIT
BREEDERS ASSOCIATION, INC.
P. O. Box 5667, Bloomington, IL 61702
Office hours: Monday - Friday 8 a.m.-noon and 12:45 p.m.
- 4:30 p.m. CST
Phone: 309.664.7500 Fax: 309.664.0941
Email: ARBAPOST@aol.com |
| ARBA Library website originally created by Teri Reymann Copyright 2006-2009 ARBA
Last update 2/27/2009 by Kevin Whaley |
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