BRIEFCASE

Description: CASE IS GREY LEATHER WITH BRASS FITTINGS. MAIN PART OF CASE CLOSES WITH A BRASS LATCH THAT HAS "STRONGHOLD PAT. 2707505" ON IT. A FLAP OF LEATHER, ATTACHED TO BACK OF CASE, ATTACHES TO A LOCK MECHANISM ON FRONT OF CASE. IMPRESSED INTO LEATHER IN GOLD, BELOW LOCK, IS "W.M.W.". THERE IS A HANDLE ON TOP OF CASE THAT IS COVERED IN GREY LEATHER. BACK OF CASE HAS A SMALLER COMPARTMENT, THAT HAS ZIPPERS ON BOTH SIDES AND A FLAP AT THE TOP THAT ALSO HAS A LOCKING MECHANISM. A BRASS PLATE ON FLAP IS ETCHED WITH "PRESENTED TO W.M. WOOLHOUSE BY BRANTFORD OPTIMIST CLUB 1964". INSIDE, THE SMALLER COMPARTMENT IS DIVIDED INTO 3 SECTIONS. BOTTOM OF CASE HAS 2 BRASS SNAPS, WHICH ALLOWS CASE TO BECOME MORE COMPACT. ONE OF THE SNAPS IS CORRODED. LEATHER IS WEARING AT THE EDGES.

History: PRESENTED TO DONOR IN 1964 BY THE OPTOMIST BOYS CHOIR, OF BRANTFORD, ONTARIO, IN APPRECIATION FOR LEADING THEM TO SUCCESS IN VARIOUS FESTIVALS. BETWEEN 1956 AND 1960 (APPROXIMATELY) DONOR FORMED A BOY'S CHOIR ASSOCIATED WITHT HE BRANT AVENUE UNITED CHURCH IN BRANTFORD, ONTARIO. IN 1964 HE LEFT HIS POST AND WAS PRESENTED THIS CASE. FROM BRANTFORD HE TRAVELED TO TORONTO'S ISLINGTON UNITED CHURCH. AT THE DONOR'S WIFE'S REQUEST, THE FAMILY MOVED WEST TO SOUTHERN ALBERTA IN 1968. THE DONOR ACCEPTED LETHBRIDGE SOUTHMINSTER UNITED CHURCH'S POST OF DIRECTOR OF MUSIC, WHERE HE REMAINED FOR SEVENTEEN YEARS. THE DONOR SAYS THE ATTACHE CASE WAS USED WEEKLY, AT MINIMUM, BUT OFTEN DAILY TO TRANSPORT HIS MUSIC MATERIALS BETWEEN HOME AND CHURCH. IT ACCOMPANIED HIM, ADDITIONALLY, TO RECITALS IN SPOKANE, GREAT FALLS AND TORONTO. AT HOME, IT CARRED MUSIC HE WAS ARRANGING FOR ORGANS, HAND BELLS, AND CHOIR. DONOR GAVE UP POSSESSION OF CASE IN JULY 2002 WHEN HE WAS HOSPITALIZED.