Etching by F Barlow 1671
Object ID 2003.68.1

Founded by S. Kent Carnie as "The Achives of American Falconry" at The Peregrine Fund
Early image of The Archives of American Falconry

With the passing of pioneer American falconers, important historic correspondence, photos, books, and artifacts were being lost. To meet the need for a repository to preserve this heritage, the Archives of American Falconry (AAF) was established with strong support of The Peregrine Fund founders.

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1986
Moved into the James N. Rice Memorial Wing
Early image of The Archives of American Falconry - James Rice Wing

The AAF, having outgrown several Peregrine Fund facilities, builds a new wing onto The Fund offices, named in honor of Peregrine Fund co-founder Bob Berry's mentor Jim Rice.

home
1992
Published "American Falconry in the Twentieth Century" by R. Luff Meredith
Book - American Falconry in the Twentieth Century by R. Luff Meredith

AAF commenced its Heritage Publications Series (AHPS) to make available unique, historic but previously little-known falconry works. First to be published was this 1930's manuscript penned by R. Luff Meredith, commonly acknowledged as "The Father of American Falconry."

book
1999
Published "Life with an Indian Prince" by John J. Craighead & Frank C. Craighead Jr.
Book - Life with an Indian Prince by John and Frank Craighead

AAF publishes the second volume in the AHPS - a previously unknown diary by young American falconer-twins John and Frank Craighead recounting an epic falconry adventure hosted by an Indian prince, chronicling an era immediately preceding the end of the British Raj.

book
2001
Moved into the Herrick Collections Building
Early image of The Archives of American Falconry - Herrick Collctions Building

Having outgrown the first "Rice Wing," AAF raises funds from the falconry community, again with great support from Bob Berry, to construct the "Collections Building" facility ("Rice Wing II") at the Peregrine Fund's World Center for Birds of Prey.

home
2002
Received the Thornton Urn for permanent display
The Thornton Urn

Failing to attract British financing, AAF is gifted a significant memento of falconry history, an ornate 1781 tea urn associated with the revival of falconry in the UK. In the same year AAF receives an Arab hunting tent from a royal family in the United Arab Emirates.

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2003
Name is changed to "The Archives of Falconry"
Original Logo - The Archives of Falconry

Recognizing that the majority of falconry memorabilia received from our 1930's pioneers was of foreign origin –– the Archives of American Falconry changes its name to The Archives of Falconry (TAF).

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2004
Published "A Short Discourse of Hawking to the Field" by Sir Thomas Sherley
Book - A Short Discourse of Hawking to the Field by Sir Thomas Sherley

TAF adds to the list of AHPS offerings this reprinting of the first book written by a practicing British falconer (1603). Until this reprinting, the work was known only from a single copy in Yale University's Beinecke Library.

book
2004
David Wells became the first professional administrator

Necessitated by an increasing number of accessions and expanded administrative requirements, TAF hires its first "employee:" David Wells, as "Administrative Assistant."

portrait
2005
Opened the Sheikh Zayed Arab Falconry Heritage Wing
Scene from the Sheikh Zayed Arab Falconry Heritage Wing

Through the generosity of our supporters in the UAE, TAF opens a new exhibit wing to explore the rich falconry heritage of the Arabian Peninsula.

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2006
The Wall of Remembrance dedicated and public tours begin
Statue at the Wall of Remembrance
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2007
John Resler Swift becomes Curator

Founding Director S. Kent Carnie retires as "Curator Emeritus," and John Resler Swift, formerly volunteer Curator of Books and Manuscripts, becomes volunteer Curator.

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2007
TAF library holdings are recognized as the most extensive collection of English-language falconry books in the world.
Bibliotheca Accipitraria II by John Resler Swift
book
2011
Published "Bibliotheca Accipitraria II" by John Resler Swift
Bibliotheca Accipitraria II by John Resler Swift

TAF adds Curator Swift's extensive Bibliotheca Accipitraria II to its AHPS. This large annotated bibliography of English-language falconry books, filled a long-standing gap since its namesake, published in Britain in 1891.

book
2011
Published "An Ancient Sport In The New World" by S.Kent Carnie
Book - An Ancient Sport in the New World by S. Kent Carnie

Curator Emeritus Kent Carnie publishes An Ancient Sport in the New World, an extensive and long-researched book on falconry history in the Western Hemisphere. It is the most recent (to date) addition to the AHPS.

book
2013
Falconer and attorney Robert Collins Curator becomes volunteer Curator.
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2013
The Wall of Remembrance
Statue at the Wall of Remembrance

Under the leadership of Collins, the Wall of Remembrance and associated Book of Remembrance achieves increasing participation and support from the American falconry community.

tour
2013-2020
Separated from the Peregrine Fund and became a stand-alone non-profit organzation
New Logo - The Archives of Falconry

Major financial support from the Wolf Creek Charitable Foundation enable TAF to separate from The Peregrine Fund and become a stand-alone non-profit organization, adopting a new Strategic Plan stressing expanded accessibility for the falconry community.

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2021
Museum professional and falconer John Goodell accepts the role of professional Executive Director and Chief Curator.
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2021
TAF launches a large digitization initiative to increase global access to its collection, exhibits, and other programs.
Cameras for digitization of 3D items
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2021

Learn more about our history – and our future – in these episodes from our video series.


Watch a conversation with founding curator Kent Carnie.
Learn more about our digitization effort in our series "Ask the Curator."