A Brief History
of our School
Located in the heart of the business district at 12th and Howard Street in Omaha Nebraska. This six-story building is owned and occupied exclusively by us. All the activities of the school are carried on here.
Our school is one of the most famous Taxidermy institutions in the world. Why was it organized? Why has it prospered and grown until today it is a world-wide institution with students in practically all countries?
Because the Northwestern School of Taxidermy fills a real need and demand; because the art it teaches may be classed with painting, sculpuring and the other experessions of creativity; because those who love the beauty of nature have learned to preserve some of that beauty with Taxidermy.
Taxidermy Doubles the Sportsman's Pleasures
True sportsmen have learned that they can double their interest in hunting an fishing by saving the fine trophies they take. They have learned the measure of a day afield is not in the size of the bag but in the pleasure of working with a good dog, sharing the experiences with firends, perhaps introducing a son or a neighbor's boy to these great outdoor sports. A knowledge of Taxidermy makes it possible to preserve a bird or a fine fish taken . . . as a permanent memory of great days afield.
J. W. Elwood, who founded the school in 1903, was trained as a Taxidermist as a boy. He was an active sportsman, and taught his knowledge to many of his friends. His hunting trips took him to the far corners of the world and he met many of the world's most famous sportsmen, All wanted to know Taxidermy for themselves, and encourage him to open a school. If it could be taught by correspondence, people from even the most remote places could learn this art.
At this time Taxidermy was known only to a few, the methods had been kept secret. But Mr. Elwood believed he could teach it by mail just as effectively as he had done it with his friends in his home.
Courses an Immediate Success
At first the outlook was anything but hopeful. The cost of preparing the courses, the time spent in making up models for the lesson-diagrams, the expenses of printing and advertising, took all of his savings. Within a few months, when people found out about his course, the picture changed. The first year brought an enrollment of 200 students, the second year 1,000. Since then some single year enrollments have been as high as 12,000! The total number to date is over 500,000. . . and enrollments come to us from all over the world!
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