Historical Artifact - Cosey collar

This silver collar and medal was awarded to COSEY, a neutered Maine (Coon) cat, exhibited at the cat show held at Madison Square Garden, New York City, in May, 1895.

The collar and medal are on display at the Feline Historical Museum in Alliance, OH alongside a copy of the original show catalog.

CFA's Early Registration System

Sixty years ago, this was CFA's "state of the art" registration system.

A Children's Cat Library

Did you know that the Feline Historical Museum has a library dedicated for use by children?  Over 1500 children's books of cat stories are available for reading, along with lots of plush and stuffed cat toys, cat puzzles, etc.

The artwork on the walls is illustrations by Louis Wain, printed by Tuck & Sons in 1895. There's also a variety of Jamie S. Perry's whimsical artwork too.

Lots for children to see and do!

CFA Scoring

CFA's "Scale of points" in the 1954-1955 show season scoring system, as explained in the 1955 Cotton States Cat Club show catalog.

Cotton States Cat Club

The Cotton States Cat Club has been producing CFA cat shows in Georgia since 1938. This is the show catalog for their 16th show, held in Atlanta on Nov 20-21, 1954.

Legends of the Cat Fancy - Lady Aberdeen

Lord and Lady Aberdeen, with some of their Champion Skye Terriers and Persian Cats ready for a show.
Photo: by Brown, Inverurie. From 'We Twa' (1925) by Lord and Lady Aberdeen.
Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection

Lord Aberdeen was appointed Governor General of Canada in 1893 and served for five years. While in Canada, Lady Aberdeen helped to establish the Victorian Order of Nurses.

Lady Aberdeen's father was largely responsible for developing the Golden Retriever breed, her husband bred Skye Terriers, and Lady Aberdeen herself bred Persians in a variety of colors.

'Lady Aberdeen and Ashtaroth of Haddo'
Photo: J. Auld, Ellon Cassell's Magazine. c.1903.
Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection

 
The story of her SILVER TABBY PERSIAN, Ashtaroth of Haddo, http://cat-o-pedia.org/ashtaroth-of-haddo.html, includes numerous photos of the ancestral home and the pomp of the British aristocracy.

FEATHERS - a bicolor Persian

This is 'FEATHERS', an early 20th century bicolor Persian (described as "tortoiseshell and white smoke tabby") photographed with an antique Chinese headrest.

The photo was taken by Harriet V. Furness, who also did the charcoal drawing of 'Don Giovanni' on display at the Feline Historical Museum in Alliance, Ohio. 

Feathers was owned by Carl van Vechten, and the photo is from his book The Tiger in the House, 1936 (3rd printing).