Gar Wood, Jay Smith with Teddy and Bruin, Gold Cup, 1919

glass negative

PHOTOGRAPHS - GLASS NEGATIVES
Rosenfeld and Sons
USA, MI, Detroit
1919-08-30 - 1919-09-01
emulsion on glass
overall: 5 x 7 in.

5x7 glass negative photographed by Rosenfeld and Sons during the time of the Gold Cup Races at Detroit, August 30th, 31st, and Sept. 1st, 1919. Image of Garfield Wood (l.) and Jay W. Smith (r.), in a casual pose wearing coveralls and life preservers, holding two small stuffed teddy bears named Teddy and Bruin. Murlen Wood, wife of Garfield Wood, bought 2 stuffed teddy bears about 5" or 6" high which Garfield Wood stole and used as his mascots on his boats when racing for luck. The first boat to mascot on was Wood's LITTLE LEADING LADY and all others from then on. Wood would not race without them and if a boat sank the divers were told to bring up the bears first. Murlen Wood made outfits for them and the outfits fit the situation. They had life jackets, rain gear for rainy days, elegant formal wear with top hats, etc. Handwritten negative sleeve info.: "2989S / 8 / Gold Cup Races-1919 / Wood & Smith / Box 460". CREDIT LINE: Mystic Seaport, Rosenfeld Collection.

1984.187.2989F

Mystic Seaport, Rosenfeld Collection