A Tail Through Time: Dogs in the Museum’s Collection

Each year, the unique bond between human and dog is celebrated by observing National Dog Day on August 26. Though the official holiday was founded in 2004 by animal behaviorist Colleen Page, people have memorialized their dogs in a myriad of ways throughout history. In fact, dogs have become so synonymous with American culture that they are represented in some of our most recognizable toys and important buildings.  

Take these toys, for example: the Museum’s Architectural Toy Collection holds items that teach children principles of design, architecture, and engineering through play. When learning about the most fundamental rules of physics and structure through alphabet blocks, toymakers included references to things and places young children would find familiar. A for Ape, B for Bear, C for Clock, and D for Dog. The exterior of toy boxes, intended to entice parents and children alike to choose this specific toy over another, featured happy images of children at play and their loyal dog companions participating joyfully. It’s clear that these pups were seen as integral to the quintessential childhood experience. 

Dogs aren’t only historically represented in the abstract, either. The Museum’s collection has several photographs of children, teenagers, and adults with their loyal companions both in public and in private. Dogs can be seen in rural areas, suburban areas, and even on their way to school (see if you can spot the dogs in the photos below)! These photographs range in date from 1905 to the 1950s, demonstrating that this connection between human and dog is timeless.  

This bond is so profound that dogs are featured on several buildings in the United States. While doves, lambs, and serpents may be the animals one would expect to find in the Washington National Cathedral Construction Archives Collection, our furry friends make an appearance there as well. These undated sketches are attributed to sculptor Heinz Warneke and depict energetic pooches keeping their owners company while fur trading and pulling a sled after a hunt. Dogs are represented in the stained glass windows, as seen in this detail shot of a proposed window design. The faithful bulldog of Canon Charles Martin, who served as the headmaster of St. Alban’s School at the Washington National Cathedral for 28 years, can be found carved in stone on the building itself. The Museum has the plaster maquette used by the stone carvers to put Cleo’s adorable face on the Cathedral forever.  

In the Raymond Kaskey Collection, there is a patriotic pup on this plaster mock-up of the World War II Memorial panel for the European Theater. Kaskey also featured one of the most famous dogs from Greek mythology, the three-headed Cerberus, at the top of his Orpheus-and-Eurydice-inspired pediment design for Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center.  

This National Dog Day, give your pooch a hug and enjoy these fun pieces from the Museum’s permanent collection. Though they come in many different forms, from plaster to paper, one can be certain they’re all very good dogs.