Читать книгу Picturing Dogs, Seeing Ourselves - Ann-Janine Morey - Страница 10

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We are so bombarded with communication that it’s difficult to find time to read or consider pictures at length, much less reflect upon what we’ve encountered. So it took me a long time to write this book, because thinking doesn’t always happen on a convenient schedule. I have been fortunate to have colleagues and friends who encouraged me to protect that reflective space and take my time. My writing group—Melissa Aleman, Erica Bleeg, Dolores Flamiano, and Laurie Kutchins, all gifted writers—were wise, kind, and critical in just the right proportions, and I am grateful for their support and encouragement. Julie Caran was a sounding board for early material, and her sensitivity to visual and verbal nuance encouraged me to improve my own encounter with the pictures. Kristi McDonnell recovered one chapter for me, and rescued several others from my formatting. She also improved a scruffy image of Buster Brown whose rehabilitation was beyond my skills. Kristi tactfully offered cheerful support and know-how when she heard muttering coming from my office, a considerable contribution to the book as far as I was concerned.

Many people volunteered their own pictures, bought me pictures, or looked at my pictures with me, and every single such instance became part of my education for this book. For keeping me company with pictures, I thank Mary Handley, Kathleen Newcomb, David Dillard, Alton Mosley, Susan Ghiacuic, Laney Lindor, Don and Mart Morey, Heidi Collar, Vince Drumheller, Tom Barr, Gina Niemi, Kristi Shackelford, Melissa Aleman, Rachel Bowman, Maureen Shanahan, Scott Jost, Mark Tueting, and Paul Bogard. In particular, I want to note my sister’s support for this project. Laney Lindor started looking for pictures for me, and the first one she sent me contained a dog statue, not a living dog. I had been ignoring these, but when I held the picture in my hands, the import of the fake dog jumped out at me, because the dog in this particular picture was so small (see fig. 34). Because of Laney, chapter 2 took far better shape than it would have otherwise, and I am so fortunate in the dog love and sister love Laney has shared with me.

Colleagues near and far lent their considerable knowledge to my project. I laughed in surprise when Kevin Borg commented enthusiastically on the automobiles in the pictures, which I had barely noticed. He kindly set me straight, and applied his car expertise to several dating questions. Tom Barr was disappointed that I didn’t want to learn how to shoot a gun, but he generously took time to identify weapons in the hunting pictures. Jo-Ann Morgan, Mary Zeiss Stange, Ross Kelbaugh, Robert Bogdan, David Kidd, Mark Parker, Ken W. Goings, and Patricia Hills communicated with me about my pictures and/or my writing. Their combined interest and expertise helped me write a better book.

Additionally, I contacted many public libraries and historical societies, looking for information about photographers or subjects that would assist me in dating or placing my images in their original context, and I want to list here the kind people who responded, even when they couldn’t turn up information for me: Carolyn Etchison at the Tipton County Heritage Center (Indiana), Lyn Martin at Willard Library (Evansville, Indiana), Kelly Halbert at the Des Moines County Historical Society, Shannon Simpson at the Ellis County Museum (Texas), Darlene Grams at the Blooming Prairie Branch Library (Minnesota), Karen Davis at the Sylvester Memorial Wellston Public Library (Ohio), Craig Pfannkuche and Holly Haupt at the McHenry County Historical Society (Illinois), Nancy Claypool at the Marshall Public Library (Illinois), Paul W. Schopp, John McCormick, and Gary Saretsky at the Riverton Historical Society (New Jersey), a thorough correspondent for the Chicago History Museum, and Chris, who responded on behalf of the Southwest Michigan Business and Tourism Directory. After Picturing Dogs is published, I will be donating photographs with studio identification to local historical societies.

I also want to acknowledge the array of colleagues affiliated with Pennsylvania State University Press, starting with the readers whose reviews educated and encouraged me. I appreciate the collegiality extended to a newcomer in visual studies and animal studies. Laura Reed-Morrisson and Robert Turchick, Penn State Press production and editorial staff, were always prompt and helpful, and I was so reassured to have such able colleagues at the other end of the line. Getting copyedited is an educational and humbling experience. I want to thank Suzanne Wolk for her care and diligence in making my prose as clear and lively as possible. It was a pleasure working with her. Editor-in-chief Kendra Boileau’s sense of humor and creativity in moving my manuscript toward approval and publication proved a powerful ally in helping me keep perspective, and I am grateful for her professionalism and humanity at every stage of the journey.

Officials at James Madison University provided subvention support, which I gratefully acknowledge: David Jeffrey, dean of the College of Arts and Letters; Ken Newbold, director of Research and Development; A. Jerry Benson, provost; and Mark Parker, chair of the Department of English.

As I was completing the manuscript, our family dog, Rascal, was suddenly taken ill. He was my daughter’s dog, a sweet-natured retriever-collie mix that she raised from puppyhood. She came home from college to be with him and us when we made the difficult decision to put him to sleep. I have not altered the textual references to him, however, wanting to keep him alive a little longer that way.

My husband, Todd Hedinger, managed to keep his composure when I kept buying pictures, and he was often the first admiring audience for a new find. He also endorsed my unexpected request to adopt two older dogs—dachshunds—after Rascal died. Now I wonder how we lived without Louie and Cobe. Todd, for your loving support of my creative bents, which certainly required an adventuresome spirit in our marriage, thank you!

Finally, I include a warm acknowledgment to Anneke Schroen, Carmel Nail, Christiana Brenin, and Amanda Lane at the University of Virginia’s Emily Couric Clinical Cancer Center. Their combined skills in 2004 and subsequent years made it possible for me to be writing these words.