Accession Number

992.017.009

Description

A black and white photograph of Dola Frances Dunsmuir (also known as Mrs. Henry Cavendish) on the front (south) porch of her residence named Dolaura, in the foreground a large bush above a row of large rocks bordering a garden bed, Dola standing outside on the lattice-fenced deck, her light-coloured hair in bob-cut style, and wearing a long light-coloured coat partially open to reveal a full length white slip underneath, the background a light-coloured house (Dolaura) with three multi-paned windows covered in large shutters clipped back beneath a cedar shake overhanging roof.

Narrative

This photograph was taken for a series intended for publication in Canada’s Chatelaine magazine. The image is of Dola Frances Dunsmuir in front of her Colwood, B.C. house named Dolaura. The house was built on 23 acres of Hatley Park land that she acquired partially as a gift from her father and partially from purchasing land from the Dunsmuir estate following the death of her mother in 1937. Dola lived in Dolaura off and on until her death in 1966. 

History of Use

This 1961 photograph was inherited from the estate of Dola Dunsmuir by Robin James Dunsmuir (1912-1990). He kept it at his house at Victoria’s 10-Mile Point. It was next inherited by his widow, Kathleen Dunsmuir (d. 1992, AKA “Kay”, nee Dunderdale Hall). This photograph and several other objects and documents were then gifted to The Castle Society by the niece and beneficiary of Mrs. Robin James (Kathleen) Dunsmuir. 

Date

1961

Dimensions

20 cm x 25.2 cm

Photograph Type

Gelatin silver process

Subject/Image

Dola Frances Dunsmuir (also known as Mrs. Henry Cavendish)

Medium

Photographic

Support

Paper, Photographic paper

Technique

Printed

Country of Origin

Canada