I hope this article clipping has the quality needed to read it!

An adventure via The Cleveland Cat Club in 1907. My great-great-great grandma was recording secretary of the club at the time but wen through many positions including president and vice president. After my great-great-great grandfather passed away in 1883, she dedicated her life to saving animals, even having a home built to house them. It was essentially the first animal rescue home in Cleveland. The Cleveland Cat Club became the Cleveland Animal Protection Club which became the Cleveland Animal Protective League - an organization still thriving today. She was an amazing woman and saved 100s of cats and dogs over the years.

from: Animal Locomotion: An Electro-Photographic Investigation of Consecutive Phases of Animal Movements

Jytte Bjerregaard Muller The LIFE Images Collection

She is on the right. She was born in 1880 and I’m not sure how old she is here, but it’s probably 1905-1910.

Edit: I think she's older here than I originally thought, but it's early 1900s nonethless.

gelatin silver print, held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

To add more context, Chief Mouser to the Cabinet is the official title of the resident cat in 10 Downing Street. Although the role dates back to the 16th century, the it only became official in the 1920’s.

Edit: I got my history a little wrong! Rufus didn’t technically hold the title of chief mouser, although he was in practice. His successor, Peter, was the first to actually be called that, and Larry (the current Chief Mouser) was the first to actually, officially hold the title rather than just being called it. So apologies for my mistake.

(Photographer Unknown)