I have posted this listing before, but wanted to send it out again in case anyone is interested in registering for this exciting symposium which will take place next Saturday, October 23, at the National Sporting Library & Museum in Middleburg, Virginia, just an hour west of Washington, D.C. It is an incredible opportunity to learn more about the history of hounds and hunting. Seats are still available, and you may register online (see web link below). Please pass this along to any students or colleagues who might be interested in attending. Best, Liz Tobey Symposium: "Lives of Dogs: Origins & Evolution of Hunting & Sporting Breeds," Saturday, October 23, 2010, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., National Sporting Library & Museum, Middleburg, Va., $60 registration, $40 students, pre-registration required, seating limited. Contact Elizabeth Tobey at [log in to unmask] or 540-687-6542 x 11 or visit http://www.nsl.org/dogsymposium.html The National Sporting Library & Museum will host a full-day symposium "Lives of Dogs: Origins & Evolution of Hunting & Sporting Breeds" from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, October 23. An international panel of six speakers, moderated by Timothy J. Greenan, M.D., will trace the history of hunting with dogs from prehistory through the present day. The symposium, made possible by the gift of an anonymous donor, is part of the Library's Public Lecture Series, and coincides with the exhibition "Lives of Dogs, Viewed through Literature, Art, & Ephemera" on view through December 11, 2010. The symposium features several distinguished speakers, each experts in their fields. Dr. James Serpell, who has written on early domestication of dogs, is a Professor at the University of Pennsylvania. Historian Dr. Emma Griffin of the University of East Anglia in England is the author of a history of hunting in England. Benjamin H. Hardaway, III, is a nationally-recognized authority on foxhounds and is the Past President of the Masters of Foxhounds Association of America. Dr. Martin Wallen, a former Daniels research fellow at the NSL, teaches English literature at Oklahoma State University. Dr. Harriet Ritvo, a historian from MIT, has written extensively on animals and dogs in Victorian England. Nelle Wyatt, a veterinary technician and dog breeder from Knoxville, Tenn., has worked extensively with coursing dogs. Since dogs were first domesticated by humans 15,000-30,000 years ago, they have served as companion animals but also as skilled hunters and workers. Distinct types of dogs were developed over centuries for specific kinds of hunting, including scent hounds for pursuing deer, foxes, and other quarry; sight hounds for hare coursing; pointers, spaniels, and retrievers for hunting birds; and terriers for rousing small animals from their dens. In ancient Greece, Rome, and Egypt, hunters bred swift sight hounds for coursing which could pursue game over long distances. In medieval and early modern Europe, hunting with dogs developed into a courtly pasttime for members of the ruling class. In eighteenth-century England, the rise of foxhunting led to the creation of the foxhound, a scent hound which could pursue its quarry at great speed over open countryside. Queen Victoria's love of dogs in the nineteenth century fueled widespread enthusiasm for dog ownership, leading to the creation of the Kennel Club, formalization of breeds, and dog shows. Distinct strains of American Foxhounds were developed to adapt to a variety of North American hunting territories and customs. Elizabeth Tobey, Ph.D., Director of Research & Publications National Sporting Library & Museum P.O. Box 1335 (102 The Plains Rd.) Middleburg, VA 20118-1335 540-687-6542 x 11 [log in to unmask] http://www.nsl.org/ ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).