Helen Gamon's Legacy Remembering Helen in Chartreux History - CFA Chartreux Breed Council
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Helen Gamon's Legacy
Remembering Helen in
Chartreux History
By Orca Starbuck
In the summer of 1970, Helen and enormous gold eyes that looked into our
John Gamon made a trip to Europe to hearts and said, ‘Love me. I love you.’”
visit old friends. While in France, Helen John then asked if there was a male
mentioned to John her interest in the available. Louis Bastide went inside the
Chartreux breed. She had read about cattery, and came out with a ten day old
the Chartreux in Fernand Mery’s book, male with eyes just about to open. The
The Life, History and Magic of the Cat,
Gamons arranged a price, and since the
which she had given to John as a Christ-
male was too young to leave his mother,
mas present in December 1969.
arranged for both kittens to be shipped
At that time, there were only a hand-
ful of breeders of Chartreux in all of to California when the male was old
France, and Helen and John began their enough. Although Tornade has no de-
search unaware of just how rare the scendants today, the little male, Taquin
Chartreux breed was at the time. They de St Pierre, was to become the father of
searched for three weeks without suc- the breed in North America and would
cess. When they had almost given up exert a tremendous influence on our
their search, John was browsing at a breed and bloodlines.
newsstand and happened to find a small After returning to the US, Helen was
Helen Gamon with Taquin.
advertisement for Chartreux kittens in very surprised to learn that there were
the back of a magazine. They immedi- The following afternoon, they drove
no Chartreux registered at that time in
ately called the breeder to find out if she to the Bastides’ farm in Ambert, a village
the US or Canada. Breeding and show-
had a kitten available, and were thrilled in central France. Helen wrote later,
ing Chartreux was going to be a bigger
at her reply: “Yes, one female, aged four “Tornade de St Pierre, at four months of
project than she had expected! Helen
months”! Through great luck, the Ga- age, was the most beautiful kitten we
mons had found Suzanne and Louis Bas- wrote to the Bastides and to her friend
had ever seen, and at first sight we fell
tide, owners of the best Chartreux in in love with the Chartreux. She was a Robert Faivret for help finding other
France of 1967, Michou de Fernine. handful of silver bluegray lush fur with kittens in France and Belgium.
Gamonal Oliver, born 1978. Bred by Helen & John Gamon. Tornade de St Pierre (left), Taquin de St Pierre (right)
First Chartreux cats imported to North America, 1970.
The Chartreux 281
313
Helen arranged to buy a second Helen began to look for a suitable male
male, Tristan de Chantelauze, from a for Gen’s breeding program.
highly regarded breeder in France, and When Madame Ravel finally wrote
a second female, Thilda de St Marcoult, back with information about the stan-
sired by the best Chartreux in Belgium dard in 1971, Helen was shocked by
that year. her reply. FIFE no longer had a sep-
Helen also set to work on getting arate breed standard for the Chartreux,
the breed officially recognized in the Madame Ravel informed Helen, be-
US and Canada, and began to exhibit cause judges and officials from FIFE
her Chartreux at shows beginning in and GCCF had met three years before
October 1970. She needed an official and agreed to combine the Chartreux
Chartreux standard for the judges to and British Blue. Both were now to be
use in the new breed classes, so she registered with the same code and
wrote to Madame Marguerite Ravel, judged under the standard of the Brit-
Thilda de St Marcoult as a kitten, with Helen and John’s
Secretary General of the Paris Cat Club ish Shorthair.
daughter, Jon-Marie Gamon. and President of FIFE. It took several Now it became clear to Helen why
months to receive a reply. she was having so much difficulty find-
In the meantime, Helen used a ing breeders who had authentic Char-
breed description that had been pub- treux bloodlines. Many of the breeders
lished in a 1967 French article. The that she contacted had lines that were
judges were favorably impressed with close to 50% or greater British Short-
Helen’s cats, noting how they were hair by pedigree, even though the cats
both attractive and quite distinct from were registered as Chartreux. Some of
the British Shorthair. the breeders were also using Persian
The first litter of Chartreux was or Russian Blue as outcrosses. Helen
born in 1971 to Taquin and Thilda. had been extremely fortunate in stum-
Helen actively encouraged interest bling on the Bastides in the summer of
Vandale de St Pierre as a young adult, “praying.”
from potential new breeders and ex- 1970, as these were some of the most
hibitors in the United States and Ca- authentic and pure Chartreux to be
nada. The first breeder to buy one of found in France.
Helen’s kittens was Gen Scudder There were still some breeders in
(Arista cattery), who took a female France and Belgium who felt that the
kitten from Helen’s first litter, and Chartreux should be maintained as a
Gamonal kittens born in 1975.
Thilda de St Marcoult with litter of 6 kittens sired by Taquin, 1971. Taquin de St Pierre, pictured at 2 ½ years old. Vandale de St Pierre, born 1972
First Chartreux litter born in the US.
282
314 The Cat Fanciers’ Association 2021 Yearbook
distinct breed without indiscriminate thrived in the harsh climate on the island,
crossbreeding, and did not want to accept the sisters began to breed these cats. The
FIFE’s ruling. In fact, at the very same time first results of their breeding program did
that Helen was introducing the Chartreux well at some of the early French shows in
to North America, Jean Simonnet (Vaumi- the late 1920s and early 1930s. In 1935,
chon cattery) and a few other breeders Suzanne Léger published an article in the
were forming a group to save the breed in French magazine La Vie à la Campagne,
France. Helen learned about their efforts describing how she and her sister had re-
because she was a member of the Paris Cat stored this historic, native French breed.
Club, and received their newsletter, La Vie Her article included many photographs, as
Feline. well as a detailed breed standard, describ-
Simonnet had published a passionate ing the Chartreux as both powerful and
letter to Madame Ravel in a 1971 issue of elegant in type.
IC Jimmbo, born 1960.
La Vie Feline, arguing that the Chartreux Another group of breeders, members Sire of Michou de Fernine.
had been a distinct breed for centuries, of Madame Ravel’s own Paris Cat Club,
and giving detailed references back to the started breeding Chartreux in the mid
eighteenth century. In this letter, Simon- 1930s. Although they may have been in-
net also summarized the known history of spired by the success of the Léger sisters,
selective breeding, mentioning the Léger these breeders had a different vision for
sisters of Belle Île. the breed. For the first generation, they
The modern history of the Chartreux used a Persian crossed to a native blue cat,
began in the mid 1920s, when two sisters, in order to give their line of Chartreux
Suzanne and Christine Léger (Guerveur more impressive eye color, body mass, and
cattery) moved to Belle Île, an island off heavy coat. They wrote their own breed
the coast of France. They had just gradu- standard, emphasizing the more massive
ated first and second in their class from body type of the cats from these hybrid
the National School of Horticulture at Ver- lines, and this was the standard that pre-
IC Michou de Fernine, born 1963.
sailles, and planned to make their living in vailed when FIFE was formed in 1949. Sire of Taquin, Thilda, and Vandale.
farming and raising animals. Upon their Over the years, the Paris Cat Club
arrival, the sisters were fascinated to find breeders gradually bred out much of the
a large colony of blue cats living near the Persian influence. In later generations,
hospital of Le Palais, the main town on the they used additional foundation Chartreux
island. Having studied the history of the from the countryside, while still making
natural sciences, they immediately recog- occasional outcrosses to other breeds, in-
nized these blue cats as the Chartreux cluding the Persian. In 1960, a very im-
mentioned in the 18th century works of portant cat, Jimmbo, was born from a
Buffon. female from the Cat Club lines bred to a
Impressed by the beauty, fine tempera- male out of two foundation Chartreux;
ment, and robust health of these cats that Jimmbo was to become an International Taquin de St Pierre as a young adult,
about 1 year old.
Chartreux bred by the Léger sisters on Belle Île in the early 1930s. These cats show the breed type of the original Chartreux native to France, before a Persian outcross was used in
1936. From La Vie a la Campagne (French magazine), 1935.
The Chartreux 283
315
Champion, and was regarded as the In 1973, Simonnet helped Gen Scud-
ideal Chartreux of his era. His son, Mi- der to import a kitten directly from Belle
chou de Fernine, was owned by the Bas- Île, Ixion de Guerveur, to be a stud male
tides, and was the sire of Helen’s first for Gen’s breeding program. The follow-
two Chartreux. ing year, Simonnet helped Helen to im-
Meanwhile, the Léger sisters had port a female, Jasmine de Guerveur, as
continued to breed Chartreux for over Sidonie had to be spayed. Together with
40 years on their island. Although they the cats Helen had already imported,
had exchanged stud males with other these cats formed the initial foundation
French breeders a few times in the for the Chartreux breed in the US. As
1950s and 1960s, the Léger sisters’ more breeders became involved, several
bloodlines still largely represented the cats of Simonnet’s breeding were im-
native French Chartreux. This made ported (Menine and Nina du Vaumichon,
their lines very precious to Jean Simon- and later on, Titania and Colette du Vau-
net and others who believed in the Char- michon), as well as another male from
Arista Nadia of Gamonal, born 1977 treux as a native French breed. Belle Île (Pif-Paf de Guerveur), and fol-
Sired by 1973 import, Ixion de Guerveur. Like Helen, Simonnet had bought his lowing that, additional cats from the
Breeder: Gen Scudder
first female cat, Pivoine de St Pierre, breeders in Simonnet’s circle.
from the Bastides, but as she was unsuc- During the 1970s, breed devel-
cessful in motherhood, he then bought a opment in North America and in France
female from the Léger sisters, Sidonie de proceeded in parallel in many ways.
Guerveur. He felt that the most authen- Both the North American breeders and
tic Chartreux were to be found by com- Simonnet’s group believed strongly in
bining the Paris Cat Club lines with the the Chartreux as a native French breed
cats of Belle Île. with its own history. While Helen and
Helen was inspired by Simonnet’s the other North American breeders
obvious knowledge and passion for the were importing cats, trying to establish
breed. She began corresponding with the breed, and putting together a breed
Simonnet in 1972, hoping to get a kitten standard, the French breeders in Simon-
Moumoune’s Ombrage, born 1978 from Sidonie or another cat from the net's group were selecting the few cats
Sire: Gamonal Noctambule
Dam: Arista Nadia of Gamonal
Léger sisters’ lines. She also requested from authentic lines, trying to re-estab-
Breeder: Andrea Hawkins help from Simonnet in developing the lish the breed, and rebuilding the breed
Chartreux breed standard in the United standard. Each group had to put to-
States. In the meantime, she also ar- gether a strong argument in favor of the
ranged to purchase two more kittens Chartreux as a distinct historic breed
from the Bastides, a male (Vandale de St with its own characteristics, while si-
Pierre), and a female (Valse de St multaneously doing the practical work
Pierre). of pulling together the strains of
Moumoune Trouvaille of Belleisle, born 1982
Sire: Moumoune’s Ouragan
Dam: Bo-Wood’s Orchidee of Moumoune
Breeder: Andrea Hawkins.
Chartreux Association ribbon
GC Sheenahs Beauregard of Minoux, born Moumoune’s Toujours Amoureuse (left), born 1982, breeder Andrea Hawkins.
from the CFA Foundation
1986. Breeder: Shirley Rosenberg. Bo-Wood’s Orchidee of Moumoune (right), born 1978, breeder Ottie Wood.
collection.
284
316 The Cat Fanciers’ Association 2021 Yearbook
Chartreux that were the least mixed with able job in founding the breed here. Look-
British Shorthair, and least influenced by ing back, it is hard to imagine anything
Persian and other breeds. Each group did they could have done better. They im-
this by combining the best lines of the ported a relatively large number of Euro-
Paris Cat Club with the cats of Belle Île.
pean cats from the very best bloodlines
In 1977, Simonnet and Madame Ravel
available, recruited many breeders across
even asked for Helen's help in writing to
the United States and Canada, developed
FIFE in support of separating the Char-
treux from the British Shorthair once and breed standards based on the old French
for all. At this point, the Chartreux breed standards and comments from Jean Si-
was already on a firm footing in North monnet, and rapidly expanded the
America, with established breed stan- number of Chartreux being bred and ex-
dards and registration rules forbidding hibited. They formed a Chartreux Associ-
crossbreeding. Perhaps in some part due ation, fostering cooperation and unity
Gamonal Oliver, born 1978
to Helen’s help, Simonnet’s group was ul- among the breeders. They rapidly Sire: Gamonal Iredell
Dam: Gamonal Istra
timately successful, and the status of the achieved acceptance in all registries, en- Breeder: Helen & John Gamon
Chartreux in France was finally assured. suring that the breed standards were
It is now fifty years since Helen first nearly the same in all.
brought the Chartreux to the US, and the In 1978, Helen retired from breeding
breed is in a much stronger position in at her doctor’s orders, due to a heart
both North America and France. In Eu- problem. She kept a whole male from her
rope, there are now hundreds of breeders,
last litter, Gamonal Oliver, allowing other
with thousands of kittens registered each
breeders to use him with their females for
year, and Chartreux regularly achieve the
many years. Oliver is behind many of our
highest wins in competition. In North
Chartreux today. Helen passed away on
America, Chartreux have achieved many
December 15, 1993 at the age of 80.
national and international wins in all as-
sociations. In CFA, the breed has now Helen was committed to preserving
been accepted for Championship compe- this historic breed and establishing it on
tition for over 30 years, and has had many our continent. Her passion for the Char-
winning cats, including 18 National treux shines through all her correspon-
Winners. dence and writing. Our North American
Belleisle Velours Bleu, born 1984
The early North American breeders, bloodlines owe everything to Helen and Sire: Gamonal Oliver
Dam: Moumoune Trouvaille of Belleisle
including the Gamons, did a truly remark- her work. Thank you, Helen!s Breeder: Penny Rice
Sheenah’s St Tiffany, born 1982 Litter of kittens bred by Suzie Tell. Born 1984
Breeder: Shirley Rosenberg Sire: Gamonal Oliver, Dam: Sheenahs St Tiffany
Two of these kittens became CFA grands, GC Tellacats Volvo of Ashmanor and GC Tellacats Vulcan.
The Chartreux 285
317
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