Craigdarroch Castle : Artwork : photograph [2022.007.011]

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Artwork

Accession Number

2022.007.011

Description

One black and white photograph of thirty-three girls and boys in lightly-coloured theatrical costume , some of them standing and kneeling on the ground, others standing or sitting on a four-tiered bleacher or stage. The oldest and tallest girl stands in the centre of the stage and holds a white shepherd's crook in her left hand, and flowers in her right hand. Four other children hold white shepherd's crooks.

Narrative

Mary Jean Dunsmuir (also known as Mrs. Henry Croft) was a keen supporter of the arts in Victoria. She often made the grounds of her home Mt. Adelaide available to arts groups and charitable organizations. Theatrical performances by children often occurred during the spring and summer. The production depicted in this image is probably "The Rose Festival" held on June 25, 1914 which was held on the grounds of Mt. Adelaide.

The girl sitting 4th from left in the second row from the ground with two distinct ringlets hanging to mid-chest level bears a strong resemblance to Bryden children. She might be Elizabeth Joan Bryden (born April 1, 1906) or Lucy Lenore Bryden (born March 21, 1907).

In December 2022, Elizabeth and Lucy Bryden's niece, Susan Mary Bryden, asserted that Lucy is in the third row from the bottom, fourth from right, with the larger flower in her hair on the side of her head. She further asserts that the little boy seated between the two floral rings at the far left is her uncle John (AKA "Jack") Tarbell Bryden, b. February 28, 1908. On February 24, 2023, the daughter of Elizabeth Joan Bryden, Jacqueline Pearl Marriot (nee Clelland) stated that her aunt Lucy is in the third row from the bottom, fourth from right, with the larger flower in her hair on the side of her head

City of Victoria Archives image "M00132 Garden fete at Mrs. Croft's (Mt. Adelaide)" (see: https://archives.victoria.ca/garden-fete-at-mrs-crofts-mt-adelaide) appears to have been taken on the same day. There are significantly fewer children in this VCA photograph, and this is likely because not all the 50+ children participating in the event could fit into one photograph. Dola Frances Dunsmuir is in the VCA photograph, fourth from left.

The Rose Festival was described in the Victoria Daily Times on June 26, 1914, page 11. The headline read, "Hundreds Attend The Rose Festival".

History of Use

This photograph was in the possession of its photographer, Ernest Crocker, until shortly before his death in 1968. It was given by him to his friend who later gave it to the donor's late husband. It has been on Vancouver Island since its creation.