Material Type

Artifact

Date Range From

1950

Date Range To

1970

Materials

RAYON, LACE, ALUMINUM

No. Pieces

2

Length

145.5

Description

SHEER BEIGE DRESS. HAS A YOKE OF BEIGE LACE AROUND SHOULDERS. A FLOWER MADE FROM SAME MATERIAL AS DRESS IS ON CENTER FRONT OF NECKLINE. THERE IS A V-SHAPED PANEL IN FRONT AND BACK, DIRECTLY UNDER WAISTLINE. NEAR BOTTOM OF DRESS ARE 2 BEIGE LACE INSERTS THAT START NEAR CENTER AND GO AROUND TO BACK OF DRESS. BOTTOM OF DRESS IS FLARED IN FISHTAIL STYLE. DRESS OPENS AND CLOSES WITH 6 METAL SNAPS ON LEFT SIDE OF DRESS. THERE ARE 2 BELT LOOPS ON DRESS MADE OF CROCHETED THREAD. A SIMPLE BELT IS MADE OF SAME MATERIAL AS DRESS, AND HAS A SILVER, PLASTIC BUCKLE, IN A LEAF PATTERN, ON IT. THERE IS A BRASS SAFETY PIN HOLDING BELT TOGETHER.

Subjects

CLOTHING-OUTERWEAR

Historical Association

PERSONAL CARE

History

ITEMS BELONGED TO DONOR'S (WALT) MOTHER & FATHER, ADA MAY HOLT AND HERBERT HOLT. SOME ITEMS ALSO BELONGED TO HOLT CHILDREN: GORD, RALPH AND WALT. ADA PRODUCED MUCH OF THE HANDIWORK IN COLLECTION. ALL ITEMS WERE USED IN LETHBRIDGE. HERBERT HOLT, WAS BORN IN NORTH WALES AND SERVED IN THE KING'S LIVERPOOL REGIMENT DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR. HE CAME TO CANADA IN 1922 AND IN JANUARY 1923 JOINED THE STAFF OF THE FORT SASKATCHEWAN PROVINCIAL JAIL AS A GUARD. HE BECAME DEPUTY WARDEN THERE IN NOVEMBER 1936, AND SERVED IN THAT CAPACITY UNTIL HIS PROMOTION TO WARDEN AT THE LETHBRIDGE JAIL IN 1940. HERB'S VISION OF REHABILITATION INCLUDED "MEANINGFUL" WORK FOR PRISONERS, RESULTING IN FIELD WORK GROWING VEGETABLE CROPS AND WHEAT, RAISING CATTLE AND HOGS, AS WELL AS WORKING IN THE PRISON BUTCHER SHOP, BAKERY, CANNERY, AND CREAMERY. IN ADDITION, PRISONERS BEAUTIFIED THE GROUNDS BY WORKING ON FLOWER BEDS AND BUILDING STONE FENCES, CREATING AN ATTRACTIVE PARK IN THE "FRONT YARD" OF THE JAIL. HERB WAS MADE AN HONOURARY CHIEF BY THE PEIGAN NATION IN 1949 FOR HIS EFFORTS TO PROVIDE MEANINGFUL WORK TO NATIVE INMATES. HERB WAS APPOINTED MAGISTRATE IN AND FOR THE PROVINCE OF ALBERTA IN AUGUST 1950, AND HELD THIS POST UNTIL HIS DEATH IN 1959. ADA HOLT (NEE MOYER) WAS BORN IN ONTARIO IN 1907; HER PARENTS MOVED OUTSIDE FORT SASKATCHEWAN IN 1909 WHERE THEY HOMESTEADED ON A FARM. AS A YOUNG WOMAN ADA WORKED FOR FIVE YEARS AT THE GENERAL STORE. ADA MET HERB IN FORT SASKATCHEWAN, AND THEY MARRIED IN 1935. ADA CONTINUED TO CALL LETHBRIDGE HER HOME AFTER HER HUSBAND'S DEATH UNTIL 1998 WHEN SHE SUFFERED A STROKE. SHE PASSED AWAY AT THE BEVERLY CENTRE IN JANUARY OF 2000. SEE PERMANENT FILE FOR FURTHER HISTORY ON FAMILY AND LETHBRIDGE GAOL.

*UPDATE* IN 2021 TWO COLLECTIONS ASSISTANTS, RYLEY GELINAS AND O. E., CONDUCTED AN AUDIT OF THE ROLLED TEXTILE COLLECTION, INCLUDING OTHER ARTIFACTS WITHIN THIS COLLECTION. RESEARCH CONDUCTED LED TO CONTACT WITH THE DONOR AND/OR NEXT OF KIN, HOWEVER, NO FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE ARTIFACT WAS PROVIDED.

FOR MORE INFORMATION FROM THE EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE, SEE PERMANENT FILE.

Catalogue Number

P20000038021

Acquisition Date

2002-11

Collection

Museum

Less detail