The art of the 'silly cat photo' so beloved by the internet dates back to the 1870s. Cats have been seen dressed up in suits (one even had a monocle on!) and were often accompanied by silly captions. 

This cat doesn't look at all pleased to be in it's photograph. As an image it lacks technical polish- the shadow of the photographer intrudes into the image. A hand (soon to be scratched, maybe?) holds the unwilling feline still. The whole thing is overexposed. 

While it wouldn't win any awards, snapshots like this are some of the most pure slices of life ever to be recorded. Even better, it is a magic lantern projector slide- it took effort to make it. So someone, somewhere saw the photo and thought 'that is worth keeping'. 

But it probably wasn't the cat.

Cat at thermal area Rotorua

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Unidentified family group, under very large umbrella in back yard.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Stamped on back with black ink: “Horowhenua Historical Society. Acc. No. 483 Date. 10/2/98”

Staff (group portrait), 1950’s. Formal group portrait, taken outside a building.

Back Row – Bob Gallagher, Axel Jorgenson, Alan Shaw, Doug Boyer, Ted Thompson.

Front Row – John Bolton, Joe Griffith, Stuart Richardson (with Claude, the cat), Jim Dobson, Bruce Mills.

1 B&W photo print copy, mounted

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Inscription on reverse reads: “Mr W Thorley’s mother. Photographer W Thorley. Negative Turnbull Libarary”

Mr W Thorley’s mother, in a dark dress with a spotted apron over it holds out a piece of meat to her tabby cat who stands on his hind legs.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Typed on paper glued to back: “W.G. Adkin & Family 1913. Leslie, Clare, Gilbert, Dora, Cliff, W.G. Adkin, Mrs W.G. Akin, Vivian, Marjorie. Photographed by Frank Denton. Lent by Mrs J. Aitchison. Copied by Mr F. Bryce, March 1979.”

Stamped on back with black ink – Horowhenua Historical Society. Acc. No. Date Prov N0.2

Semi-formal photograph of the family of W.G. Adkin at ‘Cheslyn Rise’, 1913. The four eldest children (Leslie, Clair, Gilbert and Dora), stand behind their parents and two of their siblings (Cliff to the left and Marjorie to the right) sit alongside their parents’ chairs. Their youngest sister, Vivian, is seated at the feet of her parents and is holding a tabby kitten. Mr W G and Mrs Anne Adkin are seated in wicker chairs.

1 B&W photo print copy, mounted

See also 1979.134.0005

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Penciled on back: “4 SCH

Mrs R Fitzherbert and her daughter Miss M Fitzherbert stand on the porch at the at the rear of this group of pupils from the Norwood School, Queen Street, Levin, 1904. Twenty-one of the twenty three pupils are girls with only two boys appearing in this photograph. The school was on the site of today’s ‘Village Green’ (2001) and was also known as Mrs Fitzherbert’s School.

1 B&W photo print copy, mounted

See also 2000.317.0002 (original) with names of pupils listed, and 2000.317.0003 duplicate copies}

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Written on back with red ballpoint pen: “Aitchison’s milk truck. late 1930’s”

Stamped on back with blue ink: “Reproduction Peter Sinclair Photos Shannon”

Aitchison’s milk truck, with tabby cat on roof, late 1930’s.

1 b/w photograph (copy)

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

HHS No. 5. Caption: Adkins family ‘Cheslyn Rise’ Queen St East. Standing Leslie, Clare, Gilbert, Dora. Seated Cliff, Mr W G Adkin, Vivian, Mrs W G Adkin, Marjorie”.

Formal photograph of the Adkin Family taken at ‘Cheslyn Rise’. The family is dressed semi-formally and the four eldest children (Leslie, Clare, Gilbert and Dora),stand behind their parents and two of their siblings (Cliff to the left and Marjorie to the right). Their youngest sister (Vivian) is seated at the feet of her parents and is holding a tabby kitten. Mr and Mrs Adkin are sitting in wicker chairs.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Have a look at some of the success stories of animals rehomed by the Horowhenua Animal Rescue Society - thank you Cindy.

An unidentified girl with long blonde hair, and wearing a dark jacket and skirt, is pictured sitting in a wicker chair holding a kitten.

1 B&W postcard

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”