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Encyclopedia Dubuque

www.encyclopediadubuque.org

"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.




TAXIDERMISTS

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Photo courtesy: Angler Beaver Taxidermy

TAXIDERMISTS. The history of taxidermy includes the extremely unusual of Valerian, the emperor of Rome. Captured by the Persians, he was held in chains Sapor, king of Persia. After Valerian's death, of unknown causes, Sapor had the body of the dead emperor skinned and the hide tanned. After this the hide was stuffed, painted red, and then suspended in the chief temple of the capital. It was a popular sight at holidays and when Roman envoys came to the capital it was the custom to conduct official business in the presence of the former emperor. (1) Centuries later taxidermists were employed by museums to preserve specimens of animals and by hunters and fishermen to record their successes.

Perhaps the first public exhibit of taxidermy was in a bar operated by a Mr. McCoy at the corner of 8th and Bluff. Among the exhibits was a covey of quail, a young fawn, and an eagle feasting on a duck. (2) Dubuque residents in 2020 would relate this to the enormous range of displayed animals at PAUL'S TAVERN.

In 1902 a student at the State Teachers' College in Cedar Falls was found guilty of shooting six quail out of season and fined $130. He had plead guilt of shooting the birds, but claimed it was for scientific study as he was making specimens for the taxidermy department of the school. School authorities appealed the case to district court which overturned the sentence. (3)

Photo courtesy: Telegraph Herald

In 1908 one of the leading businesses in Dubuque advertised for taxidermists. EDE'S ROBE TANNING COMPANY made part of its business serving taxidermists around the country by tanning hides--a process which in 2020 continued to occupy much of the time between a hunter bringing in an animal to be displayed and receiving it months later.

Books on the subject seemed scarce in 1910. A newspaper reporter of the Telegraph Herald mentioned three firms which offered them: Cassell & Company 19th Street New York (Taxidermy); C.K. Reed 75 Thomas Street, Worchester, Massachusetts (Guide to Taxidermy), and David McKay 610 South Washington Square, Philadelphia (Methods in the Art of Taxidermy). (4)

By 1916 taxidermy was one of the many badges that could be earned by Boy Scouts. (5) For Harriet Beyer, a senior at DUBUQUE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, the subject of taxidermy led her to interview Carl Leuthold on taxidermy as a hobby. Her essay led her to being named one of ten winners in the International Quill and Scroll feature story group contest. (6) Encouraging students to enjoy activities outdoors, the Pheasants Forever Heritage Classic Youth Day sponsored activities including trapshooting, archery, an taxidermy at the Isaak Walton Club in Peosta. (7)

With sport fishing and hunting popular, the need for top quality taxidermy remained strong. Tom Pregler, owner of Tom's Taxidermy, was quoted as saying he would work with "anything that walks or crawls" but did not do people's pets. Most of his trade was working with hunters' white-tailed deer. Branden Post of Post Taxidermy considered it took about thirteen to fifteen hours of his time to complete a project, but that tanning could require six months to a year. He completed an estimated 250 pieces annually. While anyone could practice taxidermy, Post remarked, it took an artist to make the finished product look real and alive. (8)

In 2020 among the taxidermists in Dubuque were:

1. Tom's Taxidermy, 16806 Cherrywood Hills, Dubuque

2. Angler Beaver Taxidermy, 2700 Shetland Ct.

3. Drop-Tine Taxidermy, 630 W. 11th St.

4. Kern Taxidermy, 16670 Highway 20 W

5. Eiben's Taxidermy, 12869 Noble Ridge


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Source:

1. "A Stuffed Emperor," The Dubuque Herald, December 13, 1894, p. 3

2. "A New Museum," The Daily Herald, July 30, 1875, p. 4

3. "The Taxidermist, Telegraph Herald, April 12, 1902, p. 5

4. "Questions and Answers," Telegraph-Herald, February 27, 1910, p. 12

5. "Boy Scout Campaign to Wax Warm at End of Week--Outlook Bright for Troops," Telegraph-Herald, November 26, 1916, p. 11

6. "Dubuque High Girl Winner in Story Contest," Telegraph Herald and Times-Journal, February 6, 1934, p. 1

7. "Heritage Classic Set," Telegraph Herald, August 27, 2017, p. 27

8. "Hinga, Allie, "Taxidermists Turn Hunting Stories into Works of Art," Telegraph Herald, December 29, 2020, p. 1A