Accession Number

2012.007.001.049

Description

Sepia toned photograph of a young woman, seated, wearing a lacey dress and a large brimmed hat.

Narrative

This is an image of Elizabeth Maud "Bessie" Dunsmuir (1882-1962) taken in June, 1898 when she was 16 years old. The location where this photograph was taken is not yet known. 

History of Use

This photograph was taken in 1898 and placed in an album created by the James and Laura Dunsmuir family at Burleith, their home on Victoria's Gorge Waterway. In 1906 it was probably taken by the family to Victoria's Government House where they lived while James served as British Columbia's eighth Lieutenant Governor. From there it was taken to the family's new house, Hatley Park, in 1910.

Sometime after Laura Miller Dunsmuir's death in 1937, the album became the property of Dola Frances Dunsmuir (also known as Mrs. Dola Cavendish) and was kept at her house Dolaura in Colwood, B.C. After hear death, the album was owned by her sister Kathleen's daughter, Judith Humphreys (also known as Mrs. Judith Joy). Her daughter donated the album to Craigdarroch Castle in 2012.

Date

June 1898

Dimensions

10.2 x 6.2 cm

Support

Paper, Photographic paper

Country of Origin

Canada