Accession Number

2016.014.002.002

Description

Black wool suit vest

Narrative

This tailcoat with matching vest was made in the last quarter of the 19^th century and worn by the donor’s grandfather, John William Bryden (1869-1954). Bryden was raised in Nanaimo, BC and studied mine engineering and metallurgy with his cousin Robert William Dunsmuir in 1898 at Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg (usually translated from German to Freiberg University of Mining and Technology or Freiberg Mining Academy), a German university founded in 1765.

Bryden was a larger than average man according to his granddaughter, a fact born-out by an 1899 photograph taken of him with 11 other men from university’s Anglo-American Club (see Craigdarroch Collection 2014.14.20 at http://104.198.19.107/Detail/objects/8653). This tailcoat is about size 44.

History of Use

The donor inherited the tailcoat and matching vest from her father, and was told by her grandmother (Mrs. John William Bryden), that it had been worn by her grandfather Bryden. John William Bryden was the first-born grandson of Robert & Joan Dunsmuir.

Date

1875 – 1890

Material

Fabric, wool

Technique

Sewn