American Museum of Fly Fishing’s Top 50 Objects, Part 2: #35–#26
For more than 50 years, the American Museum of Fly Fishing has been preserving the history of fly fishing across two physical locations—in Manchester, Vermont, and Springfield, Missouri—and through their award-winning quarterly journal, The American Fly Fisher. This year, AMFF and MidCurrent have teamed up to count down the 50 most interesting objects in the museum’s permanent collection, which currently includes more than 25,000 objects in total. Each month will feature a variety of historically significant items, with brief descriptions from AMFF curator Jim Schottenham.
In the first installment of this series, we counted down objects #50—#36. This month, we’re counting down the next ten, which includes another fascinating mix of rods, reels, flies, and other ephemera.
#35
Col. Joseph D. Bates Jr’s Military Cap, c. 1943
AMFF permanent collection (1998.025.031)
In addition to being the foremost authority on the history of streamer flies and Atlantic-salmon flies, Col. Joseph D. Bates, Jr. (1903-1988) was also a highly decorated military officer. During World War II, he served on the staff of General Douglas MacArthur. As noted by his daughter and biographer, Pamela Bates Richards, he was awarded the Philippine Liberation Medal with three battle stars. After a distinguished career, he retired from the Army Reserve in 1968 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Bates earned the admiration not only of the fly-fishing world but of his country as well.
#34
Presentation of flies tied by Helen Shaw, featured in Esquire Magazine, 1960
Gift of Jane Gingrich (1976.072.033)
Featured in the May 1960 issue of Esquire magazine, these 100 flies were tied by the legendary Helen Shaw as a presentation set. Arranged by her husband, Herman Kessler, who was then the art director for Field & Stream magazine, this set was given to Arnold Gingrich, the founder of Esquire, for the magazine’s 50th birthday. Gingrich was quoted as proclaiming “I have never had a Helen Shaw fly; now I have a hundred. Nobody’s worth that much.”
#33
John Atherton’s Edward Hewitt Reel, c. 1945
Gift of Maxine Atherton (1976.045.010)
Edward Ringwood Hewitt (1866-1957) is one of the great figures of 20th century angling. He wrote voluminously on trout and salmon fishing, developed the Bivisible and Neversink Skater dry flies, popularized nymph fishing in this country, was an early exponent of dry fly fishing for salmon and was also one of the first to help promote catch-and-release fishing. It is currently believed that Hewitt built 22 fly reels, mainly for friends and fellow members of the Anglers Club of New York. At present, only seven Hewitt reels are known to exist, including this one, once owned by Maxine Atherton, wife of artist and author John Atherton.
#32
First Prize Centennial Exposition medals presented to William Mills & Son
for Leonard’s rods, 1876
Framing by William Cushner
AMFF permanent collection (1985.001.050)
The craftsmanship of Hiram L. Leonard was recognized during the 1876 Centennial Exposition, held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Leonard’s bamboo fly rod was among other tackle makers receiving a bronze medal in what was described as “GROUP V. FISH AND FISH PRODUCTS-APPARATUS OF FISHING.” Acquired by William Cushner when he famously purchased the remaining inventory of William Mills & Son, the medals were framed by the noted artist.
#31
Dean Sage collection
Gift of Julie Sage Day (2005.009)
This collection is an important assemblage of fishing tackle owned and used by Dean Sage, and subsequently Dean Sage, Jr., housed in a wooden travel trunk. The senior Mr. Sage was the founder of Camp Harmony on the Restigouche River in New Brunswick, Canada, where he spent his time fishing, writing and privately publishing The Ristigouche and Its Salmon Fishing in 1888. Among the items housed in his travel trunk included a number of early salmon rods, Vom Hofe salmon reels and countless flies, lines and terminal tackle.
#30
Fly rod used by Daniel Webster, 1847
AMFF permanent collection (1979.030.001)
Daniel Webster (1782-1852) was known as a life-long angler in addition to his professional career as an American lawyer and statesman who represented New Hampshire and Massachusetts in the U.S. Congress. He served as the 14th and 19th U.S. Secretary of state under presidents William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, and Millard Fillmore. His rod, built by the New York tackle house of B.D. Welch, was one of just three made1 for the noted statesman, and remains the only surviving example. Until its accession into the museum’s collection, the rod’s provenance shows it never left the
Webster family.
(Footnote 1: Forgotten Fly Rods, pg. 12, Larson,Todd E.A., 2009)
#29
Streamer flies tied by Carrie Stevens, c. 1925
Mounted on a map drawn by Carrie Stevens
Gift of Polly Damon (2020.018.030)
These flies constitute a rare collection of one dozen streamer flies tied by the famous Upper Dam, Maine resident Carrie Stevens. Included are rare never-before-seen patterns from the first lady of streamer flies, in addition to recognizable patterns such as the Gray Ghost, what would become the Col. Bates fly, Wizzard, FRS Fancy, Gray Ghost, Green Drake, Carrie’s version of the Supervisor, and a Mickey Finn. All of these flies were tied by Carrie without the use of a vise; she chose to use nothing but her hands.
#28
Handwritten manuscripts for Trout and Nymphs by Ernest G. Schwiebert, c. 1970s
AMFF permanent collection (1999.009.007)
These important hand-written manuscripts for the books Trout and Nymphs came from author, angler, and artist Ernie Schwiebert (1931-2005). His book Trout is widely recognized as perhaps the best ever on the subject, covering every aspect of fly fishing for trout and salmon, from biology, behavior, and history to the evolution of the techniques and gear used in their pursuit. An architect by trade, Schwiebert earned his PhD from Princeton University and was commissioned in the Air Force, but he found angling to be his life’s passion.
#27
Orvis Price List for Fishing Rods and Reels, 1878
AMFF permanent collection (2021.209.1795)
As one of the oldest mail-order businesses in the US, Charles F. Orvis is best known today for its premier angling products. This dated 1878 catalog features eight unique rods, from trolling to fly casting, ranging in price from $10 to $25, a princely sum for the era. The famous Orvis 1874 patent reel is featured on the back page, offered in both nickel-plated brass for $5, or for an additional $5 the reel could be ordered with a “heavy gold plate” finish. Very few of these early catalogs have survived but the copies that exist provide tackle historians with important information about the early Orvis-branded products.
#26
Wm. Billinghurst Birdcage Fly Reel, 1873
Gift of Earl Worsham (1993.032.001)
Granted the first U.S. patent for what could be considered a fly reel, the invention of Rochester, New York gunsmith William Billinghurst was first introduced in 1859. This example, additionally stamped with “1873” was the result of a patent renewal, issued to Billinghurst to protect his invention from copyright infringement. It is now known that fish culture specialist Seth Green had a role in the reel’s initial design.
