 American Humane Education Society circular, 1890 | |
| Abbreviation | AHES |
|---|---|
| Merged into | Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals |
| Formation | 1889; 137 years ago (1889) |
| Founder | George T. Angell |
| Dissolved | 2010; 16 years ago (2010) |
| Purpose | Promotinghumane education |
| Location |
|
President | George T. Angell |
Main organ | Our Dumb Animals (1889–1970) |
TheAmerican Humane Education Society (AHES) was an American organization founded in 1889 byGeorge T. Angell inBoston, Massachusetts, to promotehumane education and encourage kindness toward animals. It worked in partnership with theMassachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA), andOur Dumb Animals served as an official publication of both organizations. The society was merged into the MSPCA in 2010. It is included in the online exhibition "Be Kind: A Visual History of Humane Education, 1880-1945" by the National Museum of Animals & Society.
George T. Angell (1823–1909) founded the AHES in 1889 with the stated aim of carrying "unsectarianhumane education" beyond Massachusetts and supporting the creation ofBands of Mercy and other humane societies.[1][2] The Society's motto was "Glory to God, Peace on Earth, Kindness, Justice and Mercy to Every Living Creature".[3]
On its establishment, AHES membership categories included life memberships and annual memberships with different fee levels.[1]
The AHES worked in partnership with theMSPCA, andOur Dumb Animals served as an official publication of both organizations.[1]
The Society promotedBlack Beauty as a humane education text in the United States, and the society printed an American edition in 1890 and distributed large numbers, with Angell arguing that the book could reduce cruelty to horses.[4]
The AHES distributed pamphlets and other humane education texts and promoted humane education through activities including poster and essay competitions, illustrated lectures, and advocacy for humane education in school curricula. Fieldworkers operated across the United States and in other countries including Canada, Turkey, Greece, Switzerland, Holland, France, Mexico, and Cuba.[1]
In 1914 AHES began a "Be Kind to Animals" campaign, using promotional items such as a metal button.[1] The MSPCA's historical timeline records the first national observance of "Be Kind to Animals Week" in 1915.[5]
In 1918 the AHES and MSPCA formed the Jack London Club in response to concerns about the use of animals in entertainment. Club members received copies ofJack London's novelsJerry of the Islands (1916) andMichael, Brother of Jerry (1917). By the 1920s the club had about 750,000 members.[1]
In 2010 the AHES was merged into MSPCA-Angell.[5]
In 2012 the National Museum of Animals & Society launched the online exhibition "Be Kind: A Visual History of Humane Education, 1880-1945", curated by Keri Cronin, which includes a section on the AHES and reproduces selected material associated with its work, including items from the MSPCA-Angell collections such as circulars, brochures, posters, and campaign ephemera.[1]
Media related toAmerican Humane Education Society at Wikimedia Commons| International | |
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