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The Cat Fanciers' Association Foundation, Inc. (CFA Foundation) was created in 1990 by the Cat Fanciers' Association, Inc. (CFA) as a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization to collect and record the history of the cat and the cat fancy. Today, the mission of the CFA Foundation is to "acquire and conserve the history of cats and show the development of the cat fancy through the acquisition of fine art, artifacts, and literature."
The collection began in 1990 with 100 books, stud books, copies of the CFA Yearbook and various magazines about cats.
One of the long-standing wishes of the Foundation was a permanent home. For numerous years, our library books were on exhibit in the Jean B. Rose Library at CFA's Central Office in Manasquan, New Jersey. The majority of collectibles were kept in storage facilities. This goal to establish and maintain a museum where our artifacts can be displayed has been realized through the opening of our museum in Alliance,Ohio in 2011.
Since those humble beginnings, the Foundation's collection has flourished through the acquisition of an unprecented number of books and magazines. Today, our library includes over 8,500 books about cats and we have a separate room dedicated to historical cat magazines and breed histories. In addition, the collection holds a significant amount of cat show memorabilia ... important pieces from our past, such as the 1895 Cosey collar, and an engraved 1883 pewter nut bowl for 1st prize at the Boston Cat Show.
Educational displays throughout the museum trace the history of cats in "From Fancy Cats to Cat Fancy." Occasionally, the museum will have a special breed presentation. And, once in a while, we even have live cats running around!
Everyone is welcome to visit the CFA Foundation's Feline Historical Museum, which even includes a special library room dedicated to children. If you are interested in visiting with a group or as part of a tour, please contact us during business hours to make arrangements.
There is currently no admission charge to visit the museum during July 2021; instead, we rely on donations to fund our endeavors and the growth of our collection.
Donations, monetary or material, may be sent to The CFA Foundation, Inc., 260 East Main Street,Alliance, OH 44601.
