Please read this before contacting us to do research or to ask for permissions. Please understand we have to charge a fee for these services.
Research
We get many requests to research when a trophy was listed in our record books. It is not at all unusual for someone to write us to ask “if a kudu shot by Mr. Hoestieman” was ever listed in our book . . . or whether a Marco Polo sheep was first listed in the 7th or the 10th edition. As you know, Rowland Ward Ltd. was founded in 1870, and its first record book was published in 1892. It is now 2016, so our data now go back almost 140 years through 29 editions. That’s a lot of information to search through in order to find a specific entry . . . that may or may not be there.
Archive Available for Research
We have the entire collection of Rowland Ward’s Records of Big Game books available for research. This includes the 1894 expanded edition as well as all the addendum lists of the 1960s. In addition, we have all of Rowland Ward Ltd.’s other publications (by Count Potocki, Prince Demidoff, Sir. Powell-Cotton, Richard Lydekker, etc.) as well as an extensive archive of early Rowland Ward Ltd. brochures, correspondence, entry forms, and images submitted for the record book. While the entire database of Rowland Ward’s Records of Big Game is digital, it is huge, so it takes time to find specific information.
Game Record, Illustration Research
If you want us to research a particular trophy that (you think) is listed in Rowland Ward’s Records of Big Game, we can do so. If we find data and a specific photo, we can make a Xerox copy and send it to you. Depending on the condition of the archive, we might be able to scan the item and e-mail it. Please understand that the more information you provide to us, the quicker we can find the item. A query such as “My grandfather told me he shot a large elephant that is listed in Rowland Ward” will cause a lot more work than a request such as, “Can you please scan or Xerox the first time a kudu from Tanzania was recorded under the name of Ivor A. Jamison.” The minimum charge is one hour. For rates see below under the heading “Rates.” Please understand that this fee is for research only; we do not guarantee that we will be able to find the record, and the fee does not grant you the right to reproduce any item we might find for commercial purposes.
Specific Releases Generated by the Requesting Party
In some cases we are asked to sign specific releases for the use of a record book and/or data in a movie. These requests must be reviewed by our lawyer. Currently our law firm charges $375.00 an hour; to review and sign a release typically takes four hours. Should you wish us to sign a release, please send us a copy of the release and a check for $1,500 made out to Rowland Ward Ltd.
Rates
The cost of finding an article or illustration or photo by our in house staff is $125 per hour with a minimum charge of one hour. It takes 5 to 10 working days to do this research. Please send a check (no credit cards) made payable to Rowland Ward Ltd. to the address below. If the research goes over the time period you have paid for, we will stop and ask you for a second payment. We will not run up additional research hours without your authorization. Please understand that our fees are for research, and payment of a fee does not grant you the right to reproduce for commercial purposes any item we might find.
Please put your request in writing, enclose a check, and mail to:
Rowland Ward Ltd.
15621 Chemical Lane, Bldg. A
Huntington Beach, CA 92649-1506, USA
