Members of the Colorado Air National Guard pose next to an airplane with 'Jeff,' the mascot of the 120th observation squadron of the Colorado Air National Guard. Jeff is shown here outfitted with a parachute. He made several successful jumps with his guardsmen before he was killed on August 16, 1924 when his chute failed to open.

From the Western History/Genealogy Dept., Denver Public Library.

During the golden age of illustration, celebrity artists such as Norman Rockwell worked with models to stage photographs which were used as reference for their paintings. Fishing themes were common in illustrations in the Saturday Evening Post and other publications 1920's. On the back of this photo is a message, "With much love, Aunt Celia." 

From BADRAP's personal collection.

Photo caption: "A dog that wandered through the open door of a Greyhound bus at a rest stop between Cincinnati, Ohio and Chicago, IL.

A passenger declined to share his seat with the dog and ejected him." 

Photographed by Esther Bubley. 

From the Library of Congress.

These happy kids are having a really great day. Someone has rounded them up to snap their photo with the brownie, and their dog is obviously an important part of the action.

Their big smiles, adorable clothes, shiney trikes (with the bells on the handle bars!) and very cool vintage harness on the dog makes this one of our favorite-ever photos. 

From BADRAP's personal collection.

BAD RAP Barn Manager Nancy Groom was inspired to look at her family albums when we announced our vintage photo project. Surprise! It was filled with treasures, including several photos of her grandfather as a young boy with their family pit bull. 

This is Frederick Kennerley in the early 1900's. Photo taken in the Mojave Desert. 

All rights owned by the Groom family.

From internet friend Kitra Nelson. She told us, "Here is a photo of my grandpa (Jerome Johnson) and his dog. He was born in 1930, so this photo was taken in the 1930's in rural North Dakota. He is holding onto his very best friend! The other little dog is pretty cute, too. I didn't know until recently that my grandfather was a bully lover- made me pretty proud!"

It took quite a bit of effort and expense to have a photographer capture family images back in the day, especially in rural areas where the task involved hauling heavy, fragile equipment in carriages over bumpy unpaved roads. Knowing that, it warms our hearts to see how often the family and farm dogs were included in the big event.

We imagine the photographer had no trouble convincing this handsome dog to jump up on the stump for this portrait!

What a handsome crew. This team was smart to sign this dog on as their mascot.

Note the dog's studded collar and fashionably high ear crop. 

Based on the date on the basketball, this shot was taken in 1908.

We have no info on this Victorian trio, but we just love her "girl in charge" attitude. Maybe she grew up to be a dog trainer? 

This gal put on her favorite hat and announced, "I want my photo taken with my best friend."

Not much has changed! Our facebook fan pages explode with thousands of contemporary photos of gals and guys who are proud to show off their dogs. 

Captured by noted Naval photographer Enrique Muller, this 1907 postcard reads: '1312 - Beauties on Board United States Warship.'

The best notation is the name "Arthur," carefully scripted by hand next to the head of the white dog. Arthur may have been called a 'Bull-and-Terrier' or even a 'Hinks Bull Terrier' by breeders in that era, but it's likely the sailor who loved him would tell you that he and his boxer-ish brindle friend were "just dogs." 

Jack Dempsey was an American boxer who held the world heavyweight title from 1919 to 1926. He was said to have been an "enthusiastic" pit bull advocate. 

Chicago Daily News negatives collection. Courtesy of Chicago History Museum.

The student is holding a pennant for Wesleyan University, located in Middleton Connecticut.

Look at the wonderful old harness on the dog. He was somebody's pride and joy.

Ladies have been sweet on poodles and pit bulls for a very long time!

So many pit bull type dogs have shown up in old WWI photos. They certainly gave comfort and companionship to the soldiers of that era.

This decorated little guy is listed as a WWI mascot with the Library of Congress. War dogs were on the front lines during the heat of battle and were used to relay messages as well as bring comfort to their human troops. Taken in 1918, we can only guess what his story was or what he meant to the man who fashioned him with a little jacket.

How many times have you seen this exact same dog waiting patiently to be somebody's hero again at our city animal shelters? 

Boston Terriers and their mixes show up regularly in old timey photos. They were bred down in size from 'pit bull' stock as well as White English Terrier stock by folks who liked sporty, spirited bulldogs, but in a smaller package. They became very popular and were standardized enough to be admitted into AKC registry as their own separate breed in 1893. 

Western History/Genealogy Department, Denver Public Library

You have to wonder how much trouble this handsome trio got into together!

Every happy childhood seems includes a favorite dog, and hopefully a dog photo or two to help share those good memories with the grandkids.

You can imagine that this boy's parents were beaming proudly as they stood behind the photographer during this sitting.

Getting your picture taken 'back in the day' marked a very special occasion. We love that this family made sure to include the boy's lovely pricked-eared friend in the big event. 

Members of Sells Floto Circus and Bill's Wild West Show sit with their pit bull. We have to wonder what role the dog played in the troop's performances. Note the stagecoach and tent in the background. Listed as having been photographed between 1910-17.

From the Western History/Genealogy Dept., Denver Public Library.