Accession Number

2009.018

Description

A personal journal hand-written in 1912 or 1913 describing a fishing trip from Esquimalt Harbour to northern Vancouver Island and back again aboard the James and Laura Dunsmuir yacht TSSY Dolaura. The cover is hard-backed and the interior printed pages are lined.

Narrative

This journal was written by Ivan Chinnery in about 1912 or 1913 and describes a fishing trip to British Columbia's Nimpkish River aboard the James and Laura Dunsmuir yacht TSSY Dolaura. At 218 feet long and with quarters for 29 crew members, Dolaura remains one of the largest yachts ever to ply the waters of coastal British Columbia. Chinnery’s account describes the journey from Esquimalt Harbour to northern Vancouver Island and back again. Fishing exploits are chronicled as are his numerous observations of those in the party and those they encounter: James and Laura Dunsmuir; Major Guy Audain; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Little; Mrs. Cecil; Marion and Elinor Dunsmuir; the author Ivan Chinnery; the ship’s steward; Fenton, the female servant recruited to row Mr. Chinnery up and down rivers; indigenous guides at Alert Bay; farmers and livestock encountered enroute; and finally, characters in Chemainus. This journal is the only known first-person account of life aboard the Dolaura. It eloquently reveals a young British upper-class gentleman’s view of life in the colonies and his impressions of the Dunsmuirs and their friends.

History of Use

This journal was created by Ivan Chinnery in 1913. Its history of use after its creation in unknown. It was purchased by The Castle Society from an EBay seller in England in 2009.

Date

1913

Dimensions

22.5 x 19 cm

Material

Paper