Excerpts from the 1960 CFA Yearbook, Part 2

The History of CFA, Our Early Years, 1919-1932

From all known sources, the history of CFA has been brought up to 1919 in the 1958 and 1959 Year Books.

In 1919, CFA was incorporated with five clubs. Mrs. Ida J. Ketchen was elected President, serving six years; Mrs. Olive Gilbert was elected Recorder and served until 1930. At the first Executive Board meeting after incorporation, Oct 9th, the scale of points for Shows was set – 42 cats and kittens – 1 point; 85 – 2 points; 105 – 3 points; and 150 – 4 points.

The first Annual Meeting was held February 26, 1920, at the home of the President. Three clubs were accepted: Ohio State Cat Club (now the Ohio State Persian Club); the Texas Cat Club of Dallas; and the Toledo Cat Club. The Recorder was cautiously allowed one-third of the income taken in for Championship Certificates (a few), registry of Cattery names (fewer), and all registrations (more encouraging). Sale of Stud Books was included in the income, of course. But we may be sure that the salary of the Recorder was not too munificent. The Treasurer was granted a $25.00 a year salary.

Until this time, there had been a separate Kitten Register, but now that was discontinued and kittens were listed with their elders. Certified pedigrees were raised from sixty cents to one dollar each.

At the Annual Meeting, February 24, 1921, one important rule was made. Apparently up to now, judges hated to make important decisions, or perhaps were loathe to hurt friends’ feelings, so took the easy way out. How many times haven’t we heard this speech from a judge – “These males are all so lovely, I wish I could give each one a first.” Well, before 1921, they did – the same with 2nds and 3rds. Now it was decided to end that practice – only one first, one second, and one third!

1921 is an important year to the breeders of Blues, for it was then that Miss Hydon first imported a Blue Male, CH Lavender Sunny Lad, with such outstanding eye color that it is still carried on with Miss Hydon’s stock.

On February 23, 1922, the third CFA Annual Meeting was held. The Treasurer reported the really amazing sum of $1,077.43 on hand. Twenty clubs were represented. Mrs. Gerturde Taylor was elected Vice-President. In this year, the offices of Secretary and Treasurer were combined.

More good news for the Blue Breeders; in 1922 Miss Hydon imported a Blue Female, Ringside Gem, from Scotland, which helped make her stock famous through many, many years. Mrs. John Revington, too, had outstanding Blues, and took Best in on of the shows.

At the Annual Meeting in 1923, rules governing shows were further tightened, for the in the Minutes we read, “The Secretary was instructed to write Show Managers that the Judges’ Books must be made up before starting the judging.” Six new clubs were accepted during that year.

In 1924, it was decided at the Annual Meeting that judges slips shall be signed as soon as classes are judged, and immediately posted on the bulletin board. Also, awards as posted were to be final and could not be changed, neither by argument nor tears! It was in this year that the Recorder’s report was first included in the Minutes. CFA was growing – 876 cats were registered during the year as well as 48 Catteries. 22 Championship certificates were issued. Shows were being given with greater attendance. On December 5-6, the Empire Cat Club boasted 190 entries, with 45 being turned away because of lack of space. Cats were present from as far away as Cleveland and Chattanooga!

In 1925, Mr. Arch Horne was elected President, and a resolution was approved that the Show Rules must be included with every premium list sent to exhibitors. This point seems to have been overlooked. It is interesting to note that as yet the Recorder attended Board meetings by invitation only. Now she is welcome any time, sans invitation.

A protest from an exhibitor was read to the effect that a certain judge should be reminded to “follow the rules of the Association, and to penalize for a more tangible reason than that given the exhibitor concerning his cat, namely that said cat’s tongue was hanging out of his mouth a full inch and seemed unable to keep it in his mouth.” It was moved and seconded that the judge be so reminded.

The schedule of Show points was changed: 40 cats – 1 point; 60 cats – 2 points; 80 cats – 3 points; 100 cats – 4 points. Kittens were no longer counters, nor were cats in Champion classes.

1926 saw the first Annual Meeting in the McAlpin Hotel, New York. A show license form was adopted, Champions were again included in the count of cats present (although they were not allowed to compete for Best in Show), and 6,000 copies of Show Rules were ordered. With CFA growing, and consequently more work for the Recorder, it was voted to allow her 50% of registration income, and a third of all other income. The fee for the Secretary-Treasurer was set at $75.00. Annual dues for All Breed Clubs remained at $10.00, Specialty Clubs at $5.00.

It was decided to offer a cup to the cat winning Best Male or Best Female the most number of times under three different judges at CFA shows, with a ribbon to commemorate wins; the cup to be called the CFA Challenge Cup (expense to be limited to $25.00), and the ribbon colors to be yellow and Yale blue.

International interest in cats was growing. In December, 1926, Miss Hydon attended the Croydon and Crystal Palace shows in London. A brief article in Cat Review mentions the enthusiasm of the English cat fanciers.

In 1927 the Constitution was amended as to officers. There was the President, the Vice-President and the Treasurer. The Recorder and Secretary were combined into one office. The number of Clubs had risen to 32. At this time, the Cat Review lists the Clubs of the other Associations as ACA with 26 and CFF with 8.

Up until now, the Executive Board meetings had been closed to all but members of the Board, but this year the Presidents of the member Clubs were invited to attend. For some reason not quite clear, Mr. Horne resigned in December as President, and Mrs. Gertrude Taylor, the Vice-President, was appointed to fill the vacancy.

Shows were progressing – 19 were held – and at them Junior and Senior kitten classes were set up. Also, Blue Point Siamese were recognized and entered in Championship classes. The schedule of points for Siamese Specialty Shows was set: 5 cats – point; 8 cats – 2 points; 10 cats – 3 points; 15 cats – 4 points. One extra point was allowed for the Best of Breed, Male and Female, at all three point shows or more.

In 1929, 35 regular clubs and 1 associate club were listed. An associate club might have been a poultry club, a State Fair, or a club for the advancement of Budgies. This still holds true, for the present Constitution states, “A pet stock or other association organized with the purpose, among others, of holding a show or shows of cats in connection with shows of other animals may, upon election, become an Associate Member with annual dues of $10.00, but not a full member of this Association”. Mrs. Gertrude Taylor was elected President, and Miss Elsie Hydon, Vice-President. Listing fees were abolished for neuters.

In 1929 the treasury was in good shape – $2,018.79 being reported. It was even voted to pay Mrs. Taylor’s expenses of the trip from Detroit to attend the meeting! Miss Lillian Goodwin, an outstanding Silver breeder and a tireless worker for CFA for many, many years, was appointed to the Executive Board. 1,071 cats and 43 new Catteries were registered, and 48 Championships were granted.

Evidently, up until now, judges had been entering their cats in Specialty shows where they were judging the All Breed, or vice versa, and now this practice was frowned upon. We find in the Minutes, “Judges may not make entries at shows at which they officiate, nor shall a judge be permitted to judge a cat which has been his or her property within six months prior to the opening date of the show.”

In 1930, Grand Championships were established. These were awarded on completion of ten points, one point to be alloted for each three Champions in a show. Mrs. J. S. Hunter’s red tabby male, Eastbury Trigo, Imp, was the first cat to receive this honor.

58 Championships were granted – the largest number yet in a single year.

In 1931, the Foundation Record took the place of the old Register. Certificates for Stud Book were to be white, and Foundation Record blue. AOC classes were omitted, to be substituted by Household Pet classification. (Breeders were barred from this). Special classes for children not exceeding 15 years of age were set up. Other classes which were added: American Bred (for all cats bred in the United States or Canada, Champions barred); Bred by Owner; Color Bred (parents must be same color as entry); Brace (two cats as evenly matched as possible). Miss Lillian M. Goodwin was elected Secretary-Treasurer. Mrs. Olive Gilbert resigned as Recorder, and Mrs. A.H. McCarthy was elected to succeed her. It was moved and carried to present Mrs. Gilbert the CFA desk she had used for 12 years. A separate class was established for Grand Champions, to include all colors.

Sadly enough, in April of this year, the Cat Review which had so faithfully recorded CFA news for many years, ceased to exist.

Although not a CFA judge at this time, approval was granted for Mrs. Saxby Mabie to judge the Montreal Cat Club show.

At the 1932 Annual Meeting, there was dissatisfaction on the part of same as to the seating of the Board of Directors by appointment. Legal advice was sought regarding appointment versus election of Directors to the Executive Board. Mr. G. Evans Hubbard was employed, and the Annual Meeting was adjourned for one month to await his findings.

At the end of the month of adjournment, the Annual Meeting reassembled and received Mr. Hubbard’s report. His conclusion was that the seven Directors of the Association should be elected by the delegates from the member clubs “subject to the qualifications that each member of the Board must be a delegate from a member club, and that not more than one such delegate from a member club may be elected as a member of the Executive Board, which is in effect the Board of Directors.”

Rules were suspended, and Mr. Hubbard was seated as Chairman. Now, for the first time, seven members of the Executive Board were elected by the delegates. A committee was appointed to prepare amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws, and to revise the Show Rules. Miss Hydon was Chairman and Miss Goodwin, Secretary. The committee was authorized to employ Counsel at a cost not to exceed one hundred dollars.

It was voted that a recommendation be made to the Committee on Amendments to the Constitution that the activities of the Cat Fanciers’ Association, Inc., be restricted to the United States of America. Because of this action, the Montreal Cat Club and Humane Society, the Royal Canadian Cat Club, the Hamilton Persian Society and Cat Club, Inc., and the Buffalo Cat Fanciers Club resigned and formed the International Cat Council, a fourth Association.

On November 30th of the same year, Miss Goodwin resigned as Secretary-Treasurer, Mr. Arch Horne taking her place as she was leaving for an extended trip to Europe. We are happy to note in a following Treasurer’s report an expenditure of “$5.00 for a basket of fruit sent to the ship.” Bon Voyage, Miss Goodwin…