Material Type

Artifact

Other Name

SOUTHMINSTER PERFECT ATTENDANCE

Date Range From

1955

Date Range To

1967

Materials

BRASS, VELVET, CARDBOARD

No. Pieces

1

Height

.4

Length

19.6

Width

2.5

Description

SET OF 4 SOUTHMINSTER PINS ATTACHED TO PINK RIBBON. 1. RIBBON, VELVET, PINK. TOP END OF RIBBON FOLDED OVER. BOTTOM END OF RIBBON COMES TO AN INVERTED "V". VERLVED IS SOILED THROUGHOUT. 2. ATTACHED TO RIBBON ARE FOUR SOUTHMINSTER PINS. EACH PIN IS BRASS AND DEPICTS A CROSS THROUGH A CROWN. THE CROSS IS FLANKED BY THE LETTER "S" ON EACH SIDE. A BANNER READS "SOUTHMINSTER". THE FIRST PIN IS BRASS COLORED, THE SECOND IS RED, THE THIRD IS BLUE. THE FOURTH PIN IS WHITE SURROUNDED BY A WREATH MARKED "FIFTH YEAR". HANGING FROM THE WREATH ARE BANNERS MARKED "SIXTH YEAR" THROUGH "TWELFTH YEAR".

Subjects

CLOTHING-ACCESSORY

Historical Association

RELIGION

History

ACCORDING TO THE DONOR, WENDY AITKENS IN AN INTERVIEW CONDUCTED BY NICOLE HEMBROFF, COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT, IN JULY OF 2011, THESE PINS WERE AWARDED TO HER FOR PERFECT ATTENDANCE IN SUNDAY SCHOOL (AND POSSIBLY CHOIR) AT SOUTHMINSTER UNITED CHURCH (1011 4 AVE. S, LETHBRIDGE, AB) AND LATER NORTHMINSTER UNITED CHURCH IN CALGARY (FROM 1960 ON). SHE SAID, "EACH YEAR AS WE ATTENDED SUNDAY SCHOOL WITH PERFECT ATTENDANCE THEY GAVE US THESE PINS." SHE STARTED GOING TO SUNDAY SCHOOL IN GRADE 1 AND WOULD HAVE GOTTEN ALL OF THE PINS UP TO THE FIFTH YEAR IN LETHBRIDGE. THE REST OF THE BARS WOULD HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED AT NORTHMINSTER. YEAR 1 WAS BRASS, YEAR 2 WAS RED, YEAR 3 WAS BLUE, YEAR 4 WAS WHITE, YEAR FIVE WAS REPRESENTED BY THE WREATH AND THE REMAINING YEARS WERE REPRESENTED BY THE BARS HANGING FROM THE WREATH. THE PINS WOULD HAVE BEEN HANDED OUT ON THE LAST SUNDAY SCHOOL OF THE SPRING. AITKENS SUSPECTS HER MOTHER PUT THE PINS IN THE BOX AND ON THE PINK RIBBON. SHE DOESN'T REMMEBER WEARING THEM. AITKENS REMEMBERS GETTING DRESSED UP FOR CHURCH. THE FAMILY WOULD HAVE WORN HATS ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS AND THEY WOULD HAVE WORN NEW OUTFITS AT EASTER. SUNDAY SCHOOL INVOLVED SINGING AND LEARNING VERSES. AITKENS SAID, "WE'D GET A PIECE OF PAPER WITH A [BIBLE] VERSE AND WE'D HAVE TO LEARN THEM FOR THE NEXT WEEK. USUALLY THE VERSES WERE RELATED TO THE LESSON TAUGHT IN SERVICE THAT DAY." WHILE ATTENDING SOUTHMINSTER CHURCH, AITKENS LOVED TO SING IN THE CHOIR UNDER ANNE CAMPBELL'S DIRECTION. SHE PARTICIPATED IN THE OPERETTA ENTITLED "AUNT DRUSILLA'S GARDEN". THROUGHOUT THE DONOR'S PRIMARY SCHOOL YEARS, AITKEN'S MOTHER, KAY JAMIESON NEE FARRIES, CONTINUED TO TAKE HERSELF AND HER KIDS TO CHURCH. SOMETIMES HER FATHER, WALLY JAMIESON, WOULD STAY HOME FROM CHURCH. AITKENS STOPPED GOING TO CHURCH AFTER HER 12TH YEAR. SHE SAID, "I FOUND I COULDN'T ACCEPT A LOT OF THE INFORMATION IN THE BIBLE. I REALIZED I WAS IN CHURCH ONLY BECAUSE I LIKED TO SING IN THE CHOIR. THE FINAL STRAW CAME WHEN THE MINISTER WAS CAUGHT SLEEPING WITH YOUNG WOMEN WHO CAME TO HIM FOR HELP... EVEN MOM STOPPED GOING AFTER THE INCIDENT WITH THE MINISTER." AITKENS CONTINUED TO ATTEND CHRISTMAS EVE CAROL SERVICES TO "ENJOY MUSIC IN A LOVELY SETTING" EVEN AFTER SHE AND LANNY WERE MARRIED. FOR FAMILY HISTORY SEE P20090030001.

Catalogue Number

P20090031005

Acquisition Date

2009-09

Collection

Museum

Less detail