Accession Number

2012.007.001.057

Description

Black and white photograph of three young girls sitting on the ground surrounded by dolls. Trees are visible in the distance.

Narrative

Depicted (L to R) in this photograph are Joan Marion Dunsmuir (Marion), Kathleen Euphemia Dunsmuir (Kat), Jessie Muriel Dunsmuir (Moulie or Muriel). The dolls they are posing with are in the style of Jumeau Bébés, which were popular in the late 19th century and beyond. The heads and arms are often bisque, with real human hair and glass eyes. The bodies of the dolls are made from kid leather or cloth.

History of Use

This photograph was taken in about 1897 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

circa 1897

Dimensions

8.7 x 10.7 cm

Support

Paper, Photographic paper

Country of Origin

Canada