The American Aberdeen-Angus Herd-Book: Containing a Record of Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Approved and Admitted for Registry Under the By-Laws of the American Aberdeen-Angus Breeders' Association, Volume 20

The American Aberdeen-Angus Herd-Book, Volume 20, is a foundational historical document issued by the American Aberdeen-Angus Breeders' Association. Published to standardize the lineage and pedigree of the Aberdeen-Angus breed in the United States, such volumes were essential instruments for 19th and early 20th-century agricultural expansion. By recording the ancestry of registered cattle, these books provided breeders with the scientific and genealogical framework necessary to maintain breed purity and promote the economic viability of the Aberdeen-Angus in the American cattle industry.

The design of these herd books reflects the functional, utilitarian aesthetic of professional agricultural record-keeping during this era. Compiled by the association's secretaries and administrative staff, the text prioritizes clarity and formal structure to ensure legal and pedigree accuracy for cattlemen across the country. These volumes were received as vital reference material by members of the agricultural community, serving as the official ledger of record that defined the growth and development of the breed's national population.