RARE ORIGINAL 1932 UKRAINIAN SSR PHOTOGRAPH, very likely taken in MYKOLAIV (NIKOLAEV), documenting the ALL-UKRAINIAN CENTRAL TSOAVIAKHEM SCHOOL-KENNEL FOR SHEPHERD AND GUARD DOGS.
The large original UKRAINIAN-LANGUAGE INSTITUTIONAL SIGN visible behind the group identifies the organization as:
“ВСЕУКРАЇНСЬКА ЦЕНТРАЛЬНА ШКОЛА-ПИТОМНИК ТСОАВІАХЕМУ ПАСТУШИХ І СТОРОЖЕВИХ СОБАК”
with “УКРСОЮЗСКОТОВОДТРЕСТ” appearing below.
TSOAVIAKHEM (ТСОАВІАХЕМ) was the contemporary Ukrainian form of OSOAVIAKHIM (ОСОАВИАХИМ) — the Soviet Society for the Promotion of Defense, Aviation and Chemical Construction.
Historical accounts of Soviet working-dog breeding specifically record the establishment of SHEPHERD-DOG TRAINING SCHOOLS IN NIKOLAEV (MYKOLAIV) AND KUIBYSHEV as part of a program supported by OSOAVIAKHIM and Soviet agricultural authorities.
Since the institution shown in this photograph is explicitly identified as ALL-UKRAINIAN, bears a Ukrainian-language TSOAVIAKHEM sign and is associated with UKRSOYUZSKOTOVODTREST, the documented school in MYKOLAIV, UKRAINIAN SSR is the most probable identification.
The photograph is dated 1932, placing it directly within this important early period of organized Soviet Ukrainian working-dog breeding and training.
The image shows approximately eleven people, apparently staff, trainees and/or people associated with the school-kennel, standing directly in front of the institution.
The reverse retains PERIOD HANDWRITTEN INSCRIPTIONS AND AN ORIGINAL PURPLE CIRCULAR INSTITUTIONAL STAMP.
Date: 1932
Probable location: Mykolaiv (Nikolaev), Ukrainian SSR
Institution: All-Ukrainian Central TSOAVIAKHEM School-Kennel
Specialization: Shepherd and Guard Dogs
Organization: TSOAVIAKHEM / OSOAVIAKHIM
Associated organization: Ukrsoyuzskotovodtrest
Dimensions: 114 × 167 mm (4.49 × 6.57 in)
Original: Yes
A particularly unusual photographic document relating to EARLY UKRAINIAN WORKING-DOG / K9 HISTORY, TSOAVIAKHEM / OSOAVIAKHIM AND SOVIET AGRICULTURAL HISTORY.
Please examine all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the description.
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