Accession Number

2008.015.004

Description

A blue leather picture frame with the name "DOLAURA" printed in incised gilt lettering. A calendar page placed inside the frame is for the month of February, 1929.

Narrative

This calendar holder  was acquired from the family of former Dunsmuir employee John Frederick William Jamieson. Mr. Jamieson was a rig driver for R. Dunsmuir & Sons during a rail construction project taking place around 1906. As work was coming to a close, James Dunsmuir asked him to be a footman for him at Government House. He accepted the position and continued in that role when the family moved to Hatley Park in 1910. But when he married the governess for the children of Robert William (aka "Robin") Dunsmuir and started his own family, Laura Dunsmuir grew concerned that his footman duties would force him to be away from his family in the evenings. He was therefore re-assigned to drive a truck around the estate, stocking buildings with firewood and moving things as required.

Whether he ever travelled with the family on TSSY Dolaura is unknown, but he probably did, and so this calendar holder may have held special significance to him.

History of Use

The Dunsmuir family used this calendar holder aboard the TSSY (twin-screw steam yacht) Dolaura. It was given by the Dunsmuir family to employee John Jamieson, who had been a footman at Government House and a footman and estate worker at Hatley Park. The calendar stayed with his family on Vancouver Island until it was acquired by The Castle Society in 2008.

Date

1908

Dimensions

14 cm x 18 cm

Material

Leather; Paper; Metal, gold

Technique

Gilt

Country of Origin

Scotland