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About Individual Cat Fanciers & Judges

"Be still pussy, we're being photographed"
Bamforth & Co, New York. Real Photo series postcard, printed in Germany. Postmarked 1908. Courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection.

Ever since the eminently successful Crystal Palace Cat Show of July 1871, the dream of raising the profile and dignity of the cat in society, once shared by Harrison Weir and a handful of his cat fancying friends, has expanded into a dream of worldwide proportions. It is now part of the culture of nearly every country on the planet, is managed by a plethora of large and small multi-national registries, with shows in nearly every major city, organized by thousands of clubs. For over 140 years, this dream has been carried by, contributed to, and touched, hundreds of thousands of lives.

Every individual chooses their own path and makes their own contribution, whether it be as a fancier, a breeder, an exhibitor, a club official, a judge, a feline politician, an artist, a groomer, a behaviorist, a herbalist, an author, a geneticist, a veterinary technician, or historian. Each has a role to play and a contribution to make.

This section of our site is dedicated to telling a brief story about many of those contributors of the distant and not so distant past. These are the fanciers, judges, authors and breeders, who have made an impact in some form or another, to the collective wealth of knowledge, and growth of the Cat Fancy.

Although some of the names listed here are already famous in some circles and may be very familiar to you, many will be new and unfamiliar; and it is hoped that from these pages, you will learn of the many fascinating links and working relationships between the individuals who helped to shape the fancy as we know it, either by their contribution to a specific breed, or to the fancy as a whole.
The Hon.Alethea Gardner, with her pet Sable Tabby Persian.
Born in 1893, the second daughter of Lord and Lady Burghclere, her mother is sister to the 5th Earl of Carnarvan. Photo: Richard Speaight; Front Page, 'The Tatler', Oct.9, 1901. Courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection

Harrison Weir was already a widely recognized naturalist and popular artist when he made a concerted effort to bring about a set of Standards by which cats could be measured when judged. In doing so, he simply drew upon his many years of experience and knowledge as a breeder and judge of pigeons, cage-birds and poultry. He had also played a part in suggesting the formalization of dog shows. So when he found it necessary to network amongst friends for the benefit of 'cats', it was from his connections in all of these fields that he pooled the experience of trusted colleagues, to turn his dream of a 'cat fancy' into reality.

And significantly, it did not hurt that in publishing and popular press circles, he was already renowned as an animal artist with an innate ability to render an accurate illustration of virtually any living creature!

From these pages, it is our fervent hope that, we will in some small measure at least, have created a permanent tribute to the individual lives whose histories we have recorded here. We also sincerely hope that we will assist to expand the reader's knowledge, of the depth of commitment and passion behind the contributions made by each of these individuals. Some of them have dedicated a significant part of their lives to the pursuit of advancing the prominence and dignity of the cat among their peers and the wider community. Others have been content to simply celebrate the sheer beauty of form of their beloved felines. Whatever the measure of their contribution, they have all 'added value' by their involvement in the Fancy, some less, some more, but all because they share one defining underlying reason, their love of cats!

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M
N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

A
ABBOTT
ABERDEEN
ABERG
ABRAHAM
Ms. Maureen Abbott
(1953)
Lady Aberdeen
(1903)
Almira Aberg
Mrs. Daphne Abraham
(1970)
 
AITKEN
ALEXANDER
ALEXANDER
AMBROSE
Alison Aitken
(1957)
Lady Alexander
(1903)
Sir Claud Alexander
(1900)
Mr. T.J. Ambrose
(1912)
 
AMOR
ANDERSON
ASHFORD
Mrs. Amor
(1901)
Mrs. G. Anderson
(1912)
Alison Ashford
(1980)
 
AVATA
Mrs. Anthony Avata
(1944)

B
BARKER
BARNINGHAM
BECHTOLD
BEDFORD
Mrs. E.N. Barker
(1903)
Mrs. Peg Barningham
(1903)
Mrs. Carl Bechtold
(1947)
Duchess of Bedford
(1901)
 
BELL
BELL
BERESFORD
BERESFORD
Edith Bell
(1941)
Mrs. W.C. Bell
(1913)
Lady Marcus Beresford
(1903)
Lord Marcus Beresford
 
BERTHOLD
BICKFORD
BIERDERMAN
BIGGS
Julie Berthold
Mrs. Mabel Tice Bickford
(1905)
Mrs. Beulah Biederman
(1958)
Mrs. Russell Biggs
(1900)
 
 
BLOEM
BOULE
BRACE
BRAY
Mrs. Lilias Bloem
Miss Carol Boule
(1928)
Mrs. ELizabeth Brace
(1905)
Mr. Clive Bray
BRICE-WEBB
BRIDGEWATER
BROOKE
BROOKE
Mrs. Brice-Webb
(1962)
Mary Bridgwater
(nee Gresham)
(c1890)
Mr. H.C. Brooke
Mrs. H.C. Brooke
(1902)
 
BROOKS
BROWN
BROWN
BROWN
Mrs. Brooks
(1961)
Mrs. Brian Brown
(c1901)
Mr. T.C. Brown
(1904)
Mrs. George Reis Brown
(1913)
 
BUTTERY
Mrs. Buttery
(1964)

C
CAREW-COX
CARRAWAY
CATHCART
CHAMPION
Mrs. Carew-Cox
(1912)
Mrs. H. Carraway
(1931)
Jane Cathcart
(early 1900s)
Miss Dorothy Champion
(1909)
 
CHAMPION
CHANDOHA
CHEETHAM
Mrs. Florence Champion
(1900)
Mr. Walter Chandoha
(c1951)
Miss Gladys Cheetham
(1912)
 
CHITTENDON
CHULALONGKORN
CICHOWICZ
COCA
Mrs. Ruth H. Chittenden
(1941)
King Chulalongkorn
(1905)
Lonlina Cichowicz
Miss Imogene Coca
(1924)
 
COCEA
COCKANE
COLBURN
COLLINGWOOD
Mme Alice Cocea
(1954)
Miss Evelyn Cockane
(c1936)
Mrs. Colburn
(1903)
Mrs. Collingwood
(1902)
 
COLLINGWOOD
CORNELIUS
CRATTY
CROSS
Mrs. Greta Collingwood
(1958)
Mrs. Alfa Cornelius
(1958)
Miss Elizabeth Cratty
(1898)
Mr. Price Cross
(1959)
 
CRUFT
CUMMINGS
Mr. Charles Cruft
(1894)
Mrs. Helen Cummings
(1904)

D
DALLISON
DALY
DALY
DAVIDSON
Mr. Peter Dallison
(1961)
Miss Esther Marie Daly
(1916)
Mrs. Virginia Daly
(1967)
Mrs. Mabel David son
(1959)
 
DAVIES
DAVIES
DAVIS
DAWE
Mrs. D.J. Davies
(1962)
Mrs. Fred J. Davis
Lucille Davies
(1950)
Mr. John Dawe
 
DE WITT
DECIES
DECIES
DEHARME
Miss De Witt
(1898)
Lady Gertrude Decies
(1900)
Lord Decies
(1901)
Mme Lise Deharme
(1951)
 
DIORIO
DOUGHTY
DOWNEY
DUFFY
Mrs. Frances Diorio
(1965)
Mrs. Edna B. Doughty
(1927)
Mrs. Bernice Downey
(1954)
Catherine Duffy
(1928)
 
DUGDALE
DUNN
DUNVALD
Mrs. Christina Dugdale
(1964)
Mrs. F.C. Dunn
(1916)
Miss Dunvald
(1961)

E
EDWARDS
ELLEDGE
ELLIOTT
EUSTACE
Mrs. Bambi Edwards
Mrs. Elizabeth Elledge
(1941)
Mrs. Marjorie Elliott
(1957)
Mrs. May Eustace
(1966)
 
EVANS
Miss Nancy Ellen Evans
(c1932)

F
FAIRCHILD
FAWELL
FIELD
FOCKLER
Mrs. Helen Fairchild
(1950)
Mr. Denys Fawell
(1964)
Mrs. Edna Field
Miss Irene Fockler
(1898)
 
FOLEY
FORTESCUE
FOSBURY
FRANCE
Miss Bernice Rita Foley
Mrs. Ruby Fortescue
(1963)
Mrs. Fosbury
(1913)
Mrs. Lillian France
 
FREUDENTHAL
Mrs. Frank Freudenthal
(1944)

G
GEBHARDT
GILLESPIE
GLOVER
GOFORTH
Richard Gebhardt 1| 2
Miss Elizabeth Gillespie
(1913)
Mrs. P. Glover
(1957)
Mrs. Marguerite Goforth
(1961)
 
GOODEVE
GORDON
GREGG
GRESHAM
Mrs. Lindsay M. Goodeve
(1934)
Mr. Graham Gordon
Miss Edytha Gregg
(1904)
Mr. Fred R. Gresham
(1901)
 
GREY
GRISWOLD
GROOM
GUGGENBUHL
Frau Dr. Ruth Jenny Grey
(1958)
Mrs. R.C. Griswold
(1961)
Dr. W. Groom
(1977)
Mrs. Guggenbuhl
(1958)

H
HACKMANN
HADEN-GUEST
HADEN-GUEST
HAIDY
Frau Annaliese Hackmann
Mrs. Marjorie Haden-Guest
(1957)
Mr. Richard Haden-Guest
(1957)
Dr. Haidy
(1956)
 
HALL
HAMILTON
HANLON
Mrs. Thelma Hall
(1950)
Mrs. G.S. Hamilton
(1933)
Mrs. H.J. Hanlon
(1958)
 
HARBAUGH
HARPER
HARRIS
HERBERT
Miss Peggy Harbaugh
(1946)
Miss Harper
(1900)
Miss Jane Harris
(1932)
Mrs. Rae Herbert
(1957)
 
HERMS
HERRING
HILDYARD
HILL
Mrs. H. Herms
(1932)
Mrs. Louisa Herring
(1904)
Mrs. D'arcy Hildyard
(1903)
Mrs. Hazel Hill
(1957)
 
HILYER
HIRSIG
HJELDE
HOAG
Mr. Roy Hilyer
(1941)
Mrs. Samy Hirsig
(1957)
Frau Maina Hjelde
(1961)
Mrs. Merald Hoag
(c1958)
 
HOFSTRA
HOPWOOD
HORNER
HOUSE
Mrs. W.S. Hofstra
Mrs. C. Hopwood
(1913)
Nikki Horner
(c1960)
Mr. Charles A. House
(1901)
 
HUNTER-BERG
HUNTER
HUNTER
HYDON
Miss Elizabeth Hunter-Berg
(1932)
Mrs. Julia Hunter
(1956)
Mrs. L. Hunter
(1957)
Miss Elsie G. Hydon
(1953)

I
INGRAM-COTTOM
IRVING
Mrs. Ingram-Cotton
(1937)
Mrs. Margaret Irving

J
JACKSON
JANOTHA
JANUS
JOHNSON
Mrs. Alfred Jackson
(1905)
Miss Janotha
(1901)
Mrs. J.P. Janus
(1937)
Mrs. May Johnson
(1923)
 
JOHNSTON
JOSEPH
Mrs. Walker K. (Pat) Johnston
(1963)
Mr. Michael Joseph
(1958)

K
KACHEL
KARR
KAUFFMAN
Werner Kachel
(1991)
Leigh Karr
(1970)
Mrs. M. Kauffman
(1941)
 
KEEP
KESSLER
KIMBALL
KIRKPATRICK
Mrs. Keep
(c1900)
Mrs. George D. Kessler
(1921)
Mrs. Mauade D. Kimball
(1901)
Miss Kirkpatrick
(1900)
 
KLINKHAMMER
KOEPP
Mrs. Chris Klinkhammer
(1959)
Mr. Richard Koepp
(1969)

L
LANDOR
LANE
LANG
Mr. E. Landor
(1901)
Mrs. Charles H. Lane
(1901)
Mrs. Vera Lang
(1963)
 
LANTRY
LAUGHNER
LEA
LEITER
Mrs. Maud Lantry
(1937)
Mr. Gordon Laughner
(1958)
Miss Henrietta Lea
(1912)
Nancy Leiter
 
LOCKE
LOCKE
LOCKE
LOVEJOY
Mrs. Clinton Locke
(1902)
Mrs. Robert Locke
(1903)
Rev. Clinton Locke
(c1903)
Miss Ruby Lovejoy
(1957)
 
LOVEMORE
LYON
Mrs. C.M. Lovemore
(1958)
Mrs. B. Lyon
(1966)

M
MACDONA
MACK
MACKENZIE
MACY
Rev. J. Cumming Macdona
(1894)
Miss Janet Mack
(1944)
Sir Compton MacKenzie
(1963)
Miss Carroll Macy
(1913)
 
MAITLAND
MASON
MASON
MATEER
Viscountess Maitland
Mr. T.B. Mason
(1901)
Mrs. T.B. Mason
(1913)
Mrs. June Mateer
 
 
MATURIN
MAXWELL
MAXWELL
MCCABE
Mrs. Maturin
(1913)
Mrs. L. Maxwell
(1913)
Mrs. Mary Ann Maxwell
(1958)
Twink McCabe
MCEACHERN
MCGOWAN
MCKAY
Mrs. Zoe H. McEachern
Mrs. Grace McGowan
(1934)
Miss Billie MacKay
 
MCPHEE
MCVADY
MEANY
MILLAR
Mrs. Edith McPhee
(1967)
Mrs. L. McVady
(1957)
Mrs. K.W. Meany
(1962)
Mrs. P. Millar
(1913)
 
MILLER
MILLER
MOREY
Mrs. Marjorie Miller
(1957)
Mrs. Joan Miller (Wastlhuber) (Keys)
(c1989)
Mrs. R.W. Morey
(1932)
 
MORRISON
MULLER
MURRY
MYERS
Hon. Mrs. McLaren-Morrison
(1893)
Mr. J. Muller
Mrs. Nevora Murry
(1932)
Mrs. G.R. Myers
(1957)

N
NEAR
NEVILL
NEWTON
NEWTON
Jan Near
(1947)
Lady Dorothy Nevill
(1897)
Mr. William Newton
(1907)
Mrs. J.M. Newton
(1958)
 
NICHOLS
NORRIS
NORTON
Mrs. Herbert B. Nichols
(1923)
Mr. Frank Norris
(1912)
Mrs. Leland Norton
(1898)

O
OGLETHORPE
OLIVER-SASSON
ORMEROD
Mrs. M.E. Oglethorpe
(1937)
Mrs. Molly Oliver-Sasson
Mrs. Ormerod
(1902)

/tr> /tr>
P
PALLADY
PALMER
PAYNE
PEACE
Mrs. Marge Pallady
(c1958)
Mrs. H.B. Palmer
(1903)
Miss Louise Payne
(1904)
Mrs. Joyce Peace
(1973)
 
PEARCE
PELTZ
PETTIT
PLACONA
Mr. F.W. Pearce
(1958)
Dr. Rosemonde Peltz
(1968)
Mrs. Pettit
(1903)
Mrs. Nunzio Placona
(1941)
 
POLLOCK
PORTER
POWELL
PRATHER
Mr. Hayden Pollock
(1957)
Mrs. Langley Porter
(1916)
Mrs. Irene Powell
(1958)
Mrs. Foster Prather
(1958)
PRATT
PREBLE
PRIKKEL
PRIKKEL
Mrs. Irene Pratt
(1957)
Mrs. Walter E. Preble
(1923)
Mr. Harry Prikkel
Mrs. Judy Prikkel
 
PUCKETT
PUTNAM
Mrs. Francine Puckett
(1959)
Mrs. Putnam

Q
QUINN
Mrs. Elsie Quinn
(1941)

/tr>
R
RALEIGH
RAMSDALE
RANSOME
RATHBURN
Miss Virginia Raleigh
(1955)
Jeanne Ramsdale
(1900)
Mrs. Herbert Ransom
(1900)
Mrs. Harold Rathburn
(1956)
 
RAUCH
REEDINGTON
REVINGTON
Miss Mary Rauch
(1976)
Miss Claire Reedington
(1928)
Mrs. John H. Revington
(1958)
 
RICHARDS
RICHMOND
RIFFE
RIPPY
Miss A.K. Richards
(1914)
Mrs. Henry Richmond
(1939)
G. Princess Riffe
(1942)
Mrs. Lila Rippy
(1985)
 
ROCHFORD
ROMAINE
RONNER
ROTTER
Mrs. Rochford
(1963)
Miss Emilie Romaine
(1944)
Mde Henriette Ronner
(1892)
Mrs. Matil Rotter
(1941)
 
RUSSACK
Miss Judith A. Russack
(1962)

S
SAVORY
SAXBY-MABIE
SCHLESWIG-
HOLSTEIN
SEDCOLE
Miss Savory
(1912)
Mrs. Marguerite Saxby-Mabie
(c1940)
Princess Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein
(1893)
Mrs. Sedcole
(1967)
 
SEVENING
SIMPSON
SINKINS
SKILLING
Miss Nina Sevening
(1905)
Frances Simpson
(1911)
Mrs. L. Sinkins
(1913)
Mrs. Ann Skilling
 
SLADE
SLINGSBY
SMITH
SMITH
Mr. Clarrie Slade
(1975)
Mrs. Helen Slingsby
Mrs. Anne Smith
(1963)
Senator Margaret Chase Smith
 
SNYDER
SOWERBY
SPRINGER
STABLES
Miss Jane Snyder
(1905)
Mr. F. Sowerby
(1900)
Mrs. Doris Springer
Dr. William Gordon Stables
(c1887)
 
STEWART
STEWART
STIRLING-WEBB
STREETMAN
Connie Stewart
Mrs. MacKenzie-Stewart
(1901)
Mr. Brian Stirling-Webb
(1957)
Christine Streetman
(1963)
 
SURI
SWENSON
Suri
Mrs. Rita Swenson
(1959)

T
TAYLOR
TEMPLE
TILLOTSON
Mrs. Gertrude Taylor
(1913)
Mrs. W.R. Temple
Mrs. Edith Tillotson
 
TOWE
TOWNEND
TRAPP
Mrs. E. Towe
(1964)
Mr. J.B. Townend
(1902)
Mrs. Annie Trapp
(1905)
 
TURNEY
Mrs. Mollie Turney
(1957)

U
U'REN
U'REN
Mr. Rod U'Ren
Mrs. Cheryle U'Ren

V
VALLANCE
VAN VECHTEN
VIZE
Mrs. Vallance
(1901)
Mr. CaRl Van Vechten
(c1920)
Mrs. Ann Vize
(1962)

W
WAIN
WALKER
WARD
WARWICK
Louis William Wain
Mrs. Geo. H. Walker
(1903)
Mr. A. Ward
(1901)
Mrs. John Warwick
(1957)
 
WARWICK
WASH
WATSON
WATSON
Countess of Warwick
(1903)
Mrs. M.C. Wash
(1964)
Mr. Watson
(1912)
Mrs. Watson
(1912)
 
WAWRZYN
WEIR
WEIR
WELBURN
Mrs. Georgette Wawrzyn
(1968)
Harrison William Weir
Mr. John Jenner Weir
(c1890)
Mr. Enoch Welburn
(1901)
 
WELLBYE
WEST
WESTERN
WESTON
Mrs. Wellbye
(1900)
Miss N.M. West
(1905)
Mr. F.W. Western
(1903)
Mrs. Lois Weston
(1967)
 
WHITE
WHITNEY
WILLIAMS
Mrs. Charles A. White
(1903)
Miss Whitney
(1903)
Kathleen Williams
(1963)
 
WILMOT
WILSON
WILSON
WIRTH
Lady Eardley Wilmot
(1937)
Mrs. Fred J. Wilson
(1948)
Miss Kit Wilson
(1956)
Mrs. Wirth
(1949)
 
WITT
WOLFRAM-SMITH
WOODIWISS
WOODIWISS
Mr. C.W. Witt
(1901)
Mrs. Blanche Wolfram-Smith
(1957)
Major E. Sydney Woodiwiss
(1897)
Mr. Samuel Woodiwiss
(1899)
WRIGHT
Mrs. LeVona Wright
(1958)

X

Y
YARNELL
YEATES
YEATES
YORK
Celeste Yarnell
Mr. Cyril Yeates
(1949)
Mrs. Gretta Yeates
(1949)
Miss Kathleen Yorke
(1956)

Z

A note from the Editors:

This resource is an ongoing work in progress. New stories about exhibitors of the past are being added continually. If you have any material which can provide details of the history of people involved in the cat fancy, we welcome submissions or data, photos, illustrations or ephemera, through the Contacts page.


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