Papillon Club of America's Historical Website

By Virginia Newton

Nineteen thirty-five was the year the Papillon Club of America came of age, and from that date we are celebrating our

Golden 50th Anniversary. In that year P.C.A. was accepted as a member of the American Kennel Club. The significance

of this anniversary needs to be considered in comparison with the origins of the Papillon Clubs of Belgium and

of England.

In Belgium interest was aroused in this native breed in the 1890s. In 1902 both the Schipperke Club and the Brussels

Griffon Club shows offered classes for Papillons. E. E. Richards, who has done exhaustive pedigree research, found

entries for Papillons and Epagneuls Nains ( the name Phalene for the latter was not officially accepted until 1955 )

as far back as 1908. The first champion was Carlos, born in 1914.

The First World War intervened, but in 1922 dogs appeared at the shows from lines which became the foundation of

the breed. Every Papillon in the world today traces back to them, so far as can be discovered. For some years a joint

Papillon-Griffon club existed, but in 1933 the Papillon fanciers organized the Club de l'Epagneul Nain Continental

( Clepnaco ) catering to both ear types. The next year a meeting was held in Lille to launch L'Union Internationale des

Clubs du Papillon (Unicleppa). The Standard was accepted by the F.C.I. (Federation Cynologique Internationale) in 1937.

In 1969 Unicleppa finally persuaded the F.C.I. to accept one amendment, clarification of the ratio of height to body

length. Otherwise the Standard is unchanged.

The Papillon (Butterfly Dog) Club of England celebrated its Golden Anniversary in 1973. Nineteen twenty-three was

the year, according to their records, when the first Papillons were registered with The Kennel Club (London), although

Mr. Richards found the earliest entries in the English Kennel Gazette in the February 1925 issue. Gamin de Flandre

became the first champion in 1925, the year Challenge Certificates were offered. In an article entitled "The Club" in

the Diamond Jubilee ( 1983 ) issue of their Handbook, the joint authors write, "On the 9th November, 1923, seven ladies

met at Holland Park Hall to form the Papillon ( Butterfly Dog ) Club." By 1938 there were thirty-three champions,

followed by a gap of ten years until the first post-war champion. In 1983 the club celebrated its Diamond Jubilee by

English reckoning - a Diamond Jubilee in the United States being a 75th anniversary.

Around the turn of the century a number of socially prominent Americans owned Papillons. Show history begins with

the championship of Joujou ( #192537 ), bred by Mrs. deForest Danielson, who gained his title in 1915. Mrs. Danielson

did not show again until the 1930s but she had owned Papillons again at least as early as 1928, and may possibly have

done so continuously. The second champion, owned by Mrs. William Goff, was reported in the A.K.C. Gazette for March

1927. Mrs. Goff finished at least six more champions by 1933. Thereafter there is no record of her activities. Mrs.

Reagle purchased a bitch and from then on bred Papillons until about 1956, descended largely from her original stock.

In 1930 a meeting was held at Mrs. Reagle's home in Springfield, N. J. to organize a breed club. The first officers were

Mrs. Danielson and Mrs. Reagle, President and Vice President; Mrs. Ruth von Hoegen, Secretary; and Mrs. Ellie

Buckley, Treasurer. We do not know who else was at this meeting, nor do we have the roster of Charter Members in

1935, the formal beginning of the Papillon Club of America, but from show records of the period we may assume that the more active exhibitors were

members. So far as is known, the above ladies continued to hold office

until the Club faded away as war spread over the world.

It has appeared in print that Felicity of Ardna was the first Papillon to win

a Toy Group. She did so in 1935, but the first such win was by another of

Mrs. Danielson's, Eng. and Am. Ch. Offley Coquette, in June 1934, quickly

followed by five more Groups. In August that same year Mrs. Goff won

a Group with Ch. Sunny Acres Fluffy Ruffles. Pictures exist of all these

bitches. In 1936 Mrs. Danielson won the first P.C.A. Specialty with Eng.

and Am. Ch. Offley Black Diamond, and four months later Diamond became

the first male Papillon to win a Group, from which he went on to

Best In Show. Many other Papillons were placing in Groups.

Two members judged Papillons. Mrs. von Hoegen had her first assignment

in 1935. Mrs. Buckley, who was also licensed for Bull Terriers, Dachshunds, and Dobermans, had her first assignment in Papillons in 1934, followed by three more including Westminster. In 1954 she resumed judging, her last Papillon assignment being in 1956. It was a long time before we had another

Mrs. DeForest Danielson and ( l. to r. )

ENG/AM CH. MONAMIE MARIE

ANTOINETTE, ENG/AM CH. OFFLEY

COQUETTE, and ENG/AM CH.

OFFLEY BLACK DIAMOND in 1936.

breeder-judge. Mrs. von Hoegen contributed occasional columns to the Member Clubs section of the Gazette.

Wartime imports, CH. MOORLAND KESTREL,

CH. GOLDTHORNE RED FLAME

and CH. MOORLAND LULU de la BASILIQUE

( l. to r .), whose ship was torpedoed soon after

leaving England in 1941 and was towed back

to port. They were later re-shipped and arrived

safely in the U.S. to join Mrs. Kemmerer's kennel.

Two members judged Papillons. Mrs. von Hoegen had her first

assignment in 1935. Mrs. Buckley, who was also licensed for Bull

Terriers, Dachshunds, and Dobermans, had her first assignment in

Papillons in 1934, followed by three more including Westminster. In 1954

she resumed judging, her last Papillon assignment being in 1956. It was

a long time before we had another breeder-judge. Mrs. von Hoegen

contributed occasional columns to the Member Clubs section of the

Gazette.

In 1935 Mr. Herman Fleitmann, a well known Doberman breeder, was

elected the Club's first Delegate. Mrs. Buckley was Mr. Fleitmann's

kennel manager; Mrs. Reagle and Mrs. von Hoegen were also Doberman

breeders, and the experience of these three ladies was of great help to

the Club. In 1937 Mrs. E. W. Kemmerer of Princeton was showing

a Doberman. At New Jersey shows she naturally became acquainted

with the Papillons, purchased one which became her first champion,

and decided with her husband that they simply must have more

Papillons and begin breeding them. The first period of the Club can be

said to have ended in 1943 when Mrs. Danielson finished her last two

champions. She died not long after. Mrs. Kemmerer showed Papillons

through 1962; the last three Dulceda litters were whelped in 1965. The only other pre-war breeders to continue into the

post-war era were Mrs. Reagle, then in Florida, and Mrs.Strayer in Indiana. Mrs. Strayer first showed in 1937, and was

still breeding as late as 1948, perhaps a bit longer.

At Westminster in 1948 a meeting was held to revive the Club. Mrs. Kemmerer was elected President and Miss Sallie

M. Pinckney, a new but totally dedicated recruit, Secretary-Treasurer. These two ladies were the only exhibitors at this

show so we have no record of who else was present but it seems safe to assume that Miss Estelle Bertine,

the Vice-President, attended. Others would have been a small number of persons owning dogs acquired from Mrs.

Kemmerer. Mrs. Buckley and Mrs. Reagle joined, as did Mrs. Strayer. Mrs. Catharine Gauss became a member in 1949,

Mrs. Virginia Newton and Dr. and Mrs. Henry C. Fleming in 1950. By then there were twenty-three members including

Dr. William Engel, Mrs. Dallas Rupe and her daughter, Mrs. Irvine Cromwell, in Texas, Mrs. Ruth Snyder in Chicago, and

a young Swiss, Miss Yvonne Auer, here showing her European dogs. As Mrs. Voegelin she is still active in Switzerland.

With such membership, activities necessarily centered in a limited area. Meetings were held either in Mrs. Kemmerer's

lovely home in Princeton or at the Flemings' New York apartment. By 1950 the Club issued its first handbook, a very

modest affair, and was informally supporting certain shows. Miss Pinckney contributed a column to the Gazette.

The 1935 Standard was felt to be inadequate. The members also voted to review the By-Laws, last revised in 1942,

and to bring out a second handbook. As none of the present members had experience organizing a Specialty, the A.K.C.

required the Club to hold two Sanctioned Matches. The first was held in Mrs. Kemmerer's garden in the spring of 1952,

and the second in 1953 in a hall in Princeton. P.C.A.'s second Specialty was held with Westchester K.C. in September

1954, with forty-two in competition, local except for one entry from California and four from Illinois. Besides Mrs. Gauss,

the only exhibitors who are still alive and with us are Mr. Francis Clayden and Miss Maureen Wegman, now Mrs. Dion.

In 1956 the Club's third Specialty was held, again at Westchester. In 1954, Mrs. Kemmerer had asked to be relieved of

the presidency; she was followed in January 1955 by Dr. Fleming. Mrs. Danielson, Mrs. Kemmerer and Dr. Fleming had

all been presidents rather in the French style. They, particularly the two women, rightly belong in our pantheon. But for

various reasons these presidents presided; it was the secretaries who developed and carried out the agendas. A change

was about to occur. In 1956 the Club had thirty members: four in California, one in Oregon, two in Texas, two in

Michigan, and two in Florida, with the balance in the New York-New Jersey area. Since the Specialty two years earlier

a strong undercurrent of dissatisfaction was flowing. Pictures and payments had been collected for a new handbook

which had not appeared, and the proposed new Standard was stalled. Members across the country received neither

agendas ( often not even notices ) nor minutes of meetings. No one could doubt the Secretary's devotion to breed and

Club, but she was not a person who could accept either assistance or advice.

The 1956 Specialty attempted a Puppy Sweepstakes. For reasons no longer remembered, the Sweeps sparked a bitter

row, and by the end of the day Dr. Fleming had graciously resigned in favor of the Vice-president, Mrs. Gauss. Miss

Pinckney had tendered her resignation as Secretary-Treasurer and Mrs. Gauss had accepted it. Mr. and Mrs. Clayden

took over her offices. Mrs. Gauss, not until then deeply involved in Papillon activities, took control, and despite having

to cope with much unpleasantness at first, guided the Club for thirteen years, and continued to serve on the Board

through 1982. Mrs. Newton took over the handbook which was issued in 1957. Revision of the Standard had been

pending so long that Mrs. Gauss felt she must get it moving. So much controversy raged around its adoption that some

members felt it was absorbing too much time of President and Secretary and should await a calmer epoch. In hindsight,

this Standard was premature, given the collective inexperience of the membership, but the new version did eliminate

some absurdities from the 1935 Standard. The A.K.C. approved the document in 1958.

A winter Specialty late in 1957 was poorly attended. A 1958 Specialty at Westchester was canceled because the

California Specialty in January of 1959 would follow Philadelphia by only thirteen months. Golden Gate was no doubt

selected in part to place the show well away from the East Coast in neutral territory, but it inaugurated a policy, adhered

to ever since, of rotating the Specialty around the country, Also beginning in 1959, there has been a Specialty every year,

and in 1974 there was a second, Independent Specialty. Starting with the 1960 show the members began voting for the

site--by 1962 by written ballot. Now in the 1980s the members still vote for the city but the rotation is by region in set

progression. In 1972 the Board rejected a proposal that the membership vote for the Specialty judge; the following year

the Board drew up a list of judges from which the membership could choose. Due to poor planning this list was not

utilized for the Independent Specialty in Memphis. The top choice was secured for the Golden Gate show. Unfortunately

this man died shortly before the event and a judge from the all-breed show's panel had to be accepted. Not until 1975

was the judge elected by universal suffrage, although sometimes the top pick is not available.

At the 1960 Specialty held with Chicago International, P.C.A.'S handsome medals were awarded for the first time.

In the early days these were offered lavishly, but as precious metals rose in price the Club became more thrifty.

The meeting here inaugurated Junior Memberships. Mary Masero, now Mrs. Vadeboncoeur, was the second Junior.

Other former Juniors who continue as adult members are Debbie Dion, Carla Vradenburg, Tracy Halverson, and Nancy

Herman Simon.

In 1962 Sweepstakes were revived and have become a permanent feature. Mr. E. G. Russell Roberts, who judged the

Sweeps, brought with him the Picaroon Trophy presented for Best of Winners. Six years earlier Mrs. Cromwell honored

her mother with the Rupe Memorial Trophy for Best of Breed. Gradually the Club acquired challenge trophies for all five

of the top spots, some of which have been retired and replaced.

In 1960 and '61 the members gathered for dinner informally. At the Portland Specialty in 1963 there was a "Judges

Dinner," with a planned program. At Wausau in 1964 Mrs. Ruth Wilson showed her slides of Old Master paintings,

the only time we have been privileged to see these, but now that Mrs. Gauss has purchased and donated them to the

new A.K.C. Art Museum we may have another opportunity. In subsequent years there has always been a dinner

scheduled, sometimes with nothing but food on the menu, in other years with entertainment. Sometimes the judges

could make it and sometimes not.

By 1964 the Standard was up for revision once more. The most far-reaching change in the Standard finally approved by

A.K.C. in 1968 had to do with color and marking. For the first time liver was made a disqualification. We soon

discovered that although Spaniel judges know what color liver is, others

were confused. The disaster, however, was the disqualification for

mismarks. Some exhibitors over-reacted and found disqualifications

where none had been intended by the framers of the Standard.

A committee mandated to revise only this section reported to the 1973

Annual Meeting and their formulation was accepted by the A.K.C. in

February 1975. There have been no changes since

The 1966 Specialty returned to Golden Gate, and for the first time we had

a judge who was not a member of the all-breed show's panel, but a P.C.A.

member selected by our Club. This was Mrs. Dorothea Daniell-Jenkins.

To defray her travel expenses local members held raffles and put on

a "Round-Up" to which every known Papillon owner in the area was invited

to compete in classes designed so that everyone could win something.

From this seed three years later sprouted the Papillon Club of Northern

California. This first regional club had a strong nucleus of P.C.A. members.

Because of a schismatic club started in the East in 1959, Mrs. Gauss

was worried about this development, but the Board Meeting in 1969

decided P.C.N.C. deserved P.C.A. support. During its existence P.C.N.C.

was totally supportive of the National Club, not always the case with

regional clubs. P.C.N.C. was highly innovative. It is sad to record its

demise. An attempt was made to revive it in 1981, but the Papillon

population in its area is now too small. The Papillon Club of Greater

1970 P.C.A. Specialty Dinner, Green Bay WI.

Two days before this Specialty, a tornado

destroyed the headquarters motel !

Other accommodations were found and the

event was held as scheduled.

( l. to r. ) Catharine Gauss, P.C.A. Pres. Lois Bitter,

Muriel Wickeham (Specialty Chairman),

unidentified guest, Father Brier.

Chicagoland was organized in 1972, held its first Specialty in 1982 and since has progressed to independent Specialties.

The Papillon Club of Southern California, also founded in 1972, is now holding sanction matches, as is MAP, originally

formed in 1976 as the Mid-Atlantic Papillon Club, now the Metropolitan Area Papillon Club of Washington, D. C.

There had been two attempts to sustain a Club newsletter, the first in 1960 and the second three or four years later. At

the 1967 Annual Meeting Mrs. Helen Paine volunteered and co-opted Virginia Newton to assist her. The first issue

appeared in October 1969. The membership selected the name PAP TALK, to the disappointment of its editors. After

Helen resigned in 1970, her co-editor carried on, and during this period some issues were missed. Later Martin and Betty

Manger served as joint editors, and then for several years Pearl George carried on. In 1983 through mid-1984 the editor

was Mrs. Jerrilin Naylor, and most recently Miss Tracy Halverson. PAP TALK has always been a mixture of social

notes, show news, comment and education. Its tone has varied with its editors, as has its more or less professional

appearance, but it has always been lively, provocative and the envy of many other breed clubs. PAP TALK is free to

members, has neither subscribers nor advertising, so cannot afford photographs other than Best in Show and Specialty

winners, this latter category recently extended to include Best in Sweeps and other top placings. Because the members

wanted more pictures and the Club did not feel ready to issue another handbook (until the present volume), during the

Mangers' regime a "Gravure issue," later known as "The PAP TALK Pictorial," was brought out annually until it was

decided to put all effort into another handbook. The Pictorial carried no material other than photos of dogs, paid for by

their owners.

In 1968 Mrs. Gauss announced that she would not accept the presidency again. Her successor was Mr. William T.

Flarity. Although forced to be absent from the 1969 Specialty in Denver, he pre-planned the agenda for the first Board

Meeting in ten years, chaired by the Vice-President, Mrs. Lois Bitter. From then on, the Directors ( known after

incorporation in Ohio in 1973 as Trustees ) have met before each Annual Meeting to dig seriously into the business

of the Club. Mr. Flarity served only one term, but during that year the Board worked on a Code of Ethics ( later slightly

revised, now known as "Guide Lines for Members," acceptance of which has become part of the admission procedure) ;

a workbook on "How to Organize a Specialty"; and a paper on the Genetics of Color and Marking, studied at the 1970

Board meeting as a guide for revising that section of the Standard. Mr. Flarity was succeeded by Mrs. Bitter with whom

he had worked closely.

While planning the 1969 Specialty, the Chairman wrote A.K.C. for permission to divide the Open Classes into Drop Ear

and Erect Ear, and after some reluctance A.K.C. capitulated. Entries have never been large, but indirectly they may

have encouraged the showing of Phalenes at other shows. A bitch finished in 1976, thought to be the first since two

George Farner winning the Open

Dog ( Drop Ear ) class at the 1969

Specialty with TAR BABY OF

CAROUSEL - the first year this

class was offered at a

P.C.A. Specialty.

finished in 1957, and there have been several more since. The reorganized Club of

1948 had retained Herr Fleitmann as Delegate for want of another candidate although

he then resided abroad, but about 1951 or '52 Dr. Fleming was elected. Later

Delegates were Mr. Francis Clayden (1958-68), Mr. Paul A. Weick (1969-76),

Dr. Harry Kingsley ( 1977-78 ). One project which Bill Flarity had urged on P.C.A.

was the campaign to induce A.K.C. to accept women Delegates. While sympathetic,

the other Directors felt purely Papillon matters took precedence. It would please Bill

that Catharine Gauss has served as our Delegate since 1979.

From 1948 to some time in the mid-60s, the Annual Meeting was held with

Westminster, but popular pressure moved it to the Specialty weekend. Westminster

retained one function, to tally votes in the annual election. A By-Laws amendment in

1968 provided that the Election Meeting might be held either at Westminster or with

Golden Gate. The most recent revision in 1982 changed the terms of office from one

year to two and entrusts counting the ballots to an outside agency. By 1968 the

Club had grown so much larger that the number of Directors was increased from

seven to nine. Annual Meetings at Specialties met in the President's motel room

until 1969 when more spacious quarters became necessary.

Mr. Albert Mayle was elected President and served during 1973-74. During his second

year the Club's fourth handbook was published, a much more ambitious effort than its predecessors. Bud Mayle's

successor in 1975 was Mr. E. E. Richards under whose administration the annual publication of all Obedience scores

began in PAP TALK, a system of Sires and Dams of Merit and Distinction was inaugurated and these inscribed in an

Honor Roll book along with other unique achievements and "firsts," and a roll of Best in Show Papillons ( growing rapidly

since 1970 although it is never large enough ). A point system for show awards was devised with the top dog and bitch

of the year receiving the Golden and Silver Butterfly Awards - in that order so far, but a bitch again at the top after more

than ten years would be delightful. The traditional Specialty Dinner became an Awards Banquet in 1976. Dick Richards,

as a private hobby, has become an unequaled pedigree researcher with all his data computerized, and his volumes

covering the first 1500 A.K.C. Champion Papillons are available for purchase, as well as volumes of British and

Canadian champions. President since 1982 has been Mr. Paul A. Weick.

A By-Laws revision in the mid-50s created a category of Honorary Members, persons who had served the Club with

distinction but who no longer were active. These paid no dues and received PAP TALK after this began publication.

They also, by some contorted logic, possibly in confusion with organizations which confer honorary membership on

outsiders, could not vote. This absurdity was revoked in 1982 when the only two Honorary Members then living, Mr.

Clayden and Mrs. Ionson, had their franchise restored, and Mrs. Gauss now accepted the honor. A few months later Mrs.

Newton and Mrs. Farner were added. The latter was pleased by the nomination but did not live to be added to the roster.

During these fifty years the Papillon Club has not grown in a vacuum. The American Kennel Club, its publications and

its shows have altered so greatly that if someone who died in 1935 could return today he would find things changed

as the world has changed. Some of us may regret the passing of old institutions, but in view of the many improvements

we would not want to go back. The average age of the membership of P.C.A. has been decreasing with the years.

Surely we have members who will gather to celebrate our Diamond Jubilee in 2010, and perhaps a few will be around

for the Centennial.

By Virginia Newton

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From the PCA 1985 Handbook

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