Accession Number

983.138

Description

Nineteen songs in sheet music form bound into a red Morocco leather book with the name Laura Dunsmuir in incised gilded lettering at the bottom right of the front cover, the cover bordered in a single incised gilded line.

Narrative

Laura Miller Dunsmuir, also known and Mrs. James Dunsmuir, was known for her wonderful voice. She bought these individual pieces of sheet music in Victoria and San Francisco. Some of them bear her signature and are dated from 1888 to 1889. 

During the 19th Century, some people had their sheet music professionally bound into books. Laura Miller Dunsmuir had a similar book of songs that is also in Craigdarroch Castle's museum collection. (See: https://collection.thecastle.ca/Detail/objects/1188)  

History of Use

This book of sheet music was owned by Laura Miller Dunsmuir and used by her at Burleith, Government House, and Hatley Park. Some individual pieces of sheet music inside this book are dated 1888 in Mrs. Dunsmuir's hand, indicating that she used some of the music at the Departure Bay, BC house that she and her husband James Dunsmuir lived in until shortly after the death of Robert Dunsmuir in April, 1889.

This music book was used on the Dunsmuir Steinway piano. (See: https://collection.thecastle.ca/Detail/objects/6177)) The history of use of this book after Laura Miller Dunsmuir's death is unknown. It was given to Craigdarroch Castle in 1982¹. 

1. Written report to The Castle Society Board of Directors from President Dorothy Laundy, June 18, 1982.

Date

1888 – 1889

Dimensions

33 x 25.5 cm

Material

Paper; Leather; Metal, gold

Support

Cardstock

Inscription

Music; Mrs. James Dunsmuir

Country of Origin

Canada