Kendall's 1920s Photo Albums
According to Leah Grandy, “Harness racing in the Maritimes and New England in the nineteeth century demonstrated the social and economic cohesion of the region and helped to solidify group and personal identities” (2013, 95). When Portland, Maine photographer Guy Kendall began his career as a race track photographer, “The sport of harness racing…exemplified the ideals of progress, speed, and efficiency…” (2013 Grandy, p. 97).
Kendall’s growth as a race track photographer can be appreciated as one compares his early remote, static documentary photos of horses and drivers to the images he captured in the 1930s. As he became a regular on the race circuit, it is possible to see his work become more fluid and natural as he stated to capture the energy and excitement of the horses in action.
In this decade, as throughout this collection, the viewer can shadow Kendall’s travels through the race track score cards preserved in his albums. By clicking on the event titles one may read a brief abstract describing the race event(s). At the bottom of each page, a preview of each scanned score card is available to the user. By following the linked names of race horses, one may view the photographs taken of those animals by Kendall, most often at the event(s) noted on the score cards and programs.
Source
Grandy, Leah. (2013). “Yankees” and “Bluenosers” at the Races: Harness Racing, Group Identity, and the Creation of a Maine-New Brunswick Sporting Region, 1870-1930. Maine History, 47(1), 95-110.
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Rifle Grenade
Owner: Unknown
Driver: A. Martin
Race: 2.09 Class Pace, Sage Park, Windsor Connecticut -
Silkworm — Pottle up
Owner: F. W. Woodman
Driver: Irving Pottle
Race: Portland Press Herald 2.30 Trot -
Silver Weather
Owner: Unknown
Driver: A. Conewell
Race: 2.09 Class Pace, Sage Park, Windsor Connecticut -
Sir Roch--Loomis up
Owner: Unknown
Driver: G. Loomis
Race: Free for all, Sage Park, Windsor, Connecticut -
Thompson Dillon
Owner: Unknown
Driver: W. Leese
Race: 2.09 Class Pace, Sage Park, Windsor Connecticut -
Alliewood the Great
Owner: William Ackerman
Driver: Irving Pottle
Race: Pine Tree Circuit Races, Maine State Fair Grounds, Lewiston, Maine -
Andora Girl
Owner: Frank R. Hayden & Co.
Driver: Unknown
Race: Oxford County Fair 2.17 Trot and Pace
