Kit-Cat Club
2 of the 7 encyclopedias on this shelf carry an entry for Kit-Cat Club. Both are reproduced below, so you can see where they agree and where they differ.
Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)
a convivial association of London wits, painters, politicians, and men of letters. The club was founded during the reign of James II . It was Whig in politics. The source of the name is in dispute. The club met in the dining room of the house of a pastry cook named Christopher Cat, a famous maker of pies. Some derive the name of the club from the name of the keeper of the house, Kit being an abbreviation for Christopher. The ninth number of the Spectator says that his pies were known as kit-cats, whence the name of the club. Still another theory accounts for the name of the club by saying that its meetings were held in an inn called the Cat and Fiddle, kept by a person of the name of Christopher. There were thirty-nine members. The names best known to history are Marlborough, Halifax, Walpole, Congreve, Steele, and Addison. A number of portraits painted by Sir Godfrey Kneller, an important member of the club, have been preserved. The last meeting of the club was held in 1720. See Club
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
a society formed in London about 1700, consisting of 39 700, consisting of 89 noblemen and gentlemen favorable to the emen favorable to the succession of the House of Hanover, and ouse of Hanover, and whose ostensible object was the encourwas the encouragement of literature and the fine arts. and the fine arts. Jacob Tonson, an eminent publisher, was eminent publisher, was founder and secretary; and, not to mentary; and, not to mention dukes and ea earls, it included Sir earls, it included Sir Vanbrugh, Congreve, Robert Walpole, Vanbrugh, Congreve, nd Garth Before the Addison, Steele, and Garth. Before the club was dissolved (about 1720) each of (about 1920) each of the members presented to Tonson his cuted to Tonson his half-length portrait, painted a uniform it, painted a uniform size, by Sir Godfrey Kneller. Hence the Kneller, Henes the term is now applied generally to any portrait of kit-cat size-i. e., about 36 ini. e, about 86 inches long by 28 or 29 wide. 29 wide.