Accession Number

984.075

Description

One rectangular tin case with brown and black faux-alligator painted finish. Top lid hinged to bottom of case; there is no lockset, only two brass loops each attached to the lid on the front just in from the outside edge; seam along the top, vertical to the length of the case; in the centre is a brass plaque engraved "Lieut. Gov. James Dunsmuir"; left of the brass plaque an affixed paper label with a large printed letter "D" surrounded by the text, "CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY; ATLANTIC STEAMSHIP LINES" printed in green on white in upper case letters, to its right another affixed oval paper label of light blue and red design bearing the handwritten identification, "H. H. The Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, Liverpool, Empress of ? (indistinct), April 3", to the right of the brass plaque another shipping label affixed atop a rectangular one, the oval label of green ink on cream paper with the printing "CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY ATLANTIC STEAMSHIP 1 CLASS HOLD PASSENGER OFFICE ST. JAMES STREET LIV...(obscured)", that obscured section overlaid with a white paper on which is handwritten "1/6/08", the largely obscured cream-coloured rectangular label beneath the ovoid one printed with "BY PASSENGER TRAIN; LONDON W.".

Narrative

This travelling case once held the Vice-Regal uniform (also known as a Windsor uniform) made for and worn by Hon. James Dunsmuir, British Columbia's eighth Lieutenant Governor (see 2020.5.1-4). The labels affixed to its top indicate that the uniform was loaded on an Empress steamship bound for the United Kingdom on April 3, 1908. It was shipped back to Canada on June 6, 1908. This period coincides with the trip that James and Laura Dunsmuir took to Scotland to take delivery of their yacht, the TSSY Dolaura.¹

1. Terry Reksten, The Dunsmuir Saga (Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre, 1991), p.223.

History of Use

This case was made in 1906 to hold Hon. James Dunsmuir's Vice-Regal uniform. He used the case while travelling until resigning the Office of Lieutenant Governor in 1909. At an unknown date after 1909, the uniform and this case became separated. The empty case was donated to Craigdarroch castle in 1984. Its history of use between 1909 and 1984 is unknown.

Date

1906

Material

Metal, tin

Inscription

Lieut. Gov. James Dunsmuir
CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY; ATLANTIC STEAMSHIP LINES
H. H. The Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, Liverpool, Empress of ? (indistinct), April 3
CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY ATLANTIC STEAMSHIP 1 CLASS HOLD PASSENGER OFFICE ST. JAMES STREET LIV...(obscured)
1/6/08
BY PASSENGER TRAIN; LONDON W.