By Virginia Newton 

The Papillon club of America published its fifth handbook late in 1984, the most ambitious up to that date, representing 

a greatly increased membership since the previous issue in 1974. After the 1984 volume P.C.A. voted to bring out 

a new handbook every five years. Hence the present work.

In 1982 Mr. Paul A. Weick was President. His successor, Mr. Jerry Orr, presided over the business and festivities at 

the first specialty to be held in southern California, but he did not run for re-election. The next president was Dr. Martin

Manger who was elected for a two year term following an amendment to the by-laws. He was reelected in 1987. Mr. Orr

was involved in the planning for the 1986 show which returned after ten years to the Old Dominion KC. in Virginia.

In 1987 P.C.A. returned to Texas after an absence since 1961 and the following year to Illinois for the first time since

1960 when the specialty was held with the International KC. of Chicago. These travels bring up an interesting change 

in strategy. In the early years show sites were selected to give Papillons maximum exposure in cities where the breed

might appeal to the public. For as long as possible these shows were benched. The last of the line of benched

specialties may have been the 1966 event held with the Golden Gate KC. in San Francisco, although the 1964 show 

in Wausau, Wisconsin, was unbenched. Specialties did, of course, move around the country for the same reason they

do today, to give all members an equal opportunity to attend one near to home. This motive was secondary in the

breed's promotional years, but now that Papillons are verging on an excess of popularity, as some believe, site 

selection is determined both by geographical rotation and by the formation of local committees prepared to undertake 

the organization tasks involved.

Since the last handbook two more Honorary Life Members have been elected: Mr. E.E. Richards and Mrs. Lulie

Robinette. Mr. Richards still devotes much labor to P.C.A. Mrs. Robinette is confined to her home but cherishes her 

two surviving dogs and loves talking on the phone to friends. Of the other Life Members, Mr. Clayden has been remote

from Papillons for many years. Mrs. Gauss's Cadaga Kennel has been disbanded and we keep track of her only

indirectly. Mrs. Rosa Ionson and family have sold Wynfield but we understand she still has a few Papillons co-owned

with one of her granddaughters. The Mariposa kennel of Mrs. Virginia Newton exists today through only a single puppy

bitch co-owned and domiciled with her friend, Mrs. Diana Campbell.

The last handbook included a page of four photos which the editor captioned "Les Doyennes." Two were Mrs. Gauss 

and Mrs. Newton. One was Mrs. Irvine R. Cromwell who joined P.C.A. in 1948 when she bred and showed in partnership

with her mother, Mrs. Dallas Rupe. Mrs. Cromwell is not in good health but she breeds an occasional litter and keeps 

in touch with other Texas members. Mrs. Pat Stubbs, a member since 1953, breeds on a restricted scale and, unlike

any of her peers, exhibits her dogs locally.

The ever growing membership of P.C.A. has seen the growth of regional clubs. The first was the Papillon Club of

Northern California, started in 1968 which was active for only a few years. An attempt to revive it in 1981 failed but in

1988 it was relaunched and now has members over a broader area. Its newsletter, called as in the early days the

BUTTERFLY SPECIAL, comes out quarterly and makes lively reading. There have been three successful supported

shows but the members have not decided whether to work toward sanction status.

The second and third regional clubs, the Papillon Club of Greater Chicagoland and the Metropolitan Area Papillon Club 

of Washington D.C. (MAP) have been holding independent specialties, and the most recent sanctioned club is that 

of southern California which held its third specialty in 1990. These events are all attracting exhibitors from outside 

their own areas.

The Papillon Association of Puget Sound (PAPS) has held a sanctioned B match with another planned for January 1991,

after which they hope to be cleared for A matches. They publish a newsletter called PAPPY TALK The Delaware Valley

P.C. has given its B matches; it also publishes a newsletter. The Patriot Papillon Club in New England has had three

matches and is about to send the required documentation to A.K.C. for giving B matches. They, too, have a newsletter.

The Heart of Texas P.C. has not yet advanced to sanction matches. Its newsletter is called the BUTTERFLY

EXPRESS.

P.C.A. has continued with its annual awards although the Golden and Silver Butterflies have been replaced by other

mementos. By 1984 all but one winner of the top award had been dogs. Then in 1985 Ch. Cadaga's Chorinne won the

specialty, went all the way to B.I.S. the following day and took a second B.I.S. at Westchester in September. At last

another bitch being recognized, especially pleasing because Mrs. Gauss had worked thirty-five years for this recognition

and was at this time nearing the end of her career in Papillons. Another specialty of note came in 1989 when for the 

third time in history a veteran dog won. So much for all we read about how unsound toy dogs are.

When the position of P.C.A.'s delegate to the A.K.C. became vacant in 1979 the Club was pleased to elect Mrs. Gauss

to this position which had only recently become open to females. She served with honor until declining health caused

her to resign in 1986. Her successor was Mr. James L. Harwood who took his seat in September 1987.

The Trustees in 1987 approved the publication of a book on the breed to be written by Virginia Newton. She worked with

an advisory board consisting of Ms. Roseann Fucillo, Mrs. Pearl George and Mr. "Dick" Richards. This was for sale two

years later at the Tacoma specialty. The book's title is "The Papillon Primer" and in 1990 it won a Dog Writers of

America award. It was written for new owners or persons seeking general information about the breed. It is the first

Papillon book published in North America. When the next handbook appears in 1995 perhaps the much needed book 

for serious fanciers may be ready.

Meanwhile let us hope that the Papillon is not done in by its own success. What we need now is not more Papillons 

but more selective breeding. P.C.A. should improve the quality of its leadership. It is harder to reach an enlarged

membership, but at the same time there is a bigger pool from which to choose talented leaders. 

Let's all try harder.