Material Type

Artifact

Other Name

SUIT JACKET AND PIN

Date Range From

1986

Date Range To

1995

Materials

POLYESTER, WOOL, BRASS

No. Pieces

2

Description

1. SUIT JACKET, LIGHT BLUE, POLYESTER/WOOL BLEND. LIGHT GREY LINING. THREE FRONT POCKETS AND THREE INSIDE POCKETS. OUTER LEFT BREAST POCKET HAS CREST WITH WHITE DESIGN ON BLACK CIRCLE. TEXT READS “MINERS – LIBRARY CLUB, LETHBRIDGE". INSIDE RIGHT BREAST POCKET HAS LABEL WITH, "BLACK’S MEN’S SHOP, LETHBRIDGE, ALBERTA". LEFT BREAST POCKET HAS LABEL WITH “55% POLYESTER 45% WOOL, DRY CLEAN ONLY, PRESS WITH COOL IRON ONLY, CA00750 ”. TWO BUTTONS AT FRONT CLOSURE; FOUR BUTTONS AT EACH CUFF. NOTCHED LAPELS; SINGLE-BREASTED. (67.5 CM WIDE, 76.5 CM LONG, 5.3 CM HEIGHT). 2. PIN, BRASS CREST. READS, "MINERS' LIBRARY CLUB, LETHBRIDGE" TEXT IS ON A PAINTED RED BACKGROUND. ATTACHED TO JACKET WITH A BRASS DISK THAT SCREWS ONTO THE THREADED METAL PIN. (1.2 CM WIDE, 1.4 CM LONG, O.8 CM HIGHT).

Subjects

CLOTHING-OUTERWEAR

Historical Association

ASSOCIATIONS

History

JACKET AND TIE WERE WORN BY LOCAL RESIDENT AND FORMER MINERS’ LIBRARY CLUB PRESIDENT ROBERT “BOBBIE” BROWN FROM APPROXIMATELY 1986 TO 1995. BOBBIE BROWN WAS ATTRACTED TO THE CLUB AS A 17 YEAR OLD ADOLESCENT AROUND 1948, BUT ACCORDING TO HIS WIFE MARLA BROWN, HE WAS TOO YOUNG TO DRINK AND CONSEQUENTLY WAS “ONLY ALLOWED TO GO DOWN INTO THE BASEMENT, WHERE HE MET FRIENDS AND PLAYED CARDS”. BY THEN, HIS FATHER JACK “JOHN” BROWN AND BROTHERS JIM AND ANDREW “BUCK” WERE ALL DEDICATED MEMBERS OF THE MINERS. MARLA FELT THAT HER HUSBAND’S DEVOTION TO THE CLUB AND ATTENDANCE AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE REFLECTED HIS COMMITMENT TO HIS FAMILY AND THE PLEASURE HE GOT FROM BEING AROUND HIS BROTHERS AND FATHER. ON 18 AUGUST 1950, BOBBIE ENLISTED IN THE ROYAL CANADIAN ARMY, SERVING IN KOREA AS A SAPPER WITH ENGINEERS. HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED ON AUGUST 6, 1952 AND RETURNED HOME TO LETHBRIDGE. ONCE BACK, BOBBIE WAS OLD ENOUGH TO BE UPSTAIRS IN THE MINERS. IN JUNE 2010, HE RECALLED THAT THERE WERE NO WOMEN ALLOWED IN THE CLUB AND THAT A DRAFT BEER WAS 10 CENTS A GLASS. NO HARD LIQUOR WAS ALLOWED TO BE SERVED IN THE CLUB AT THE TIME. IF WOMEN WERE FINALLY ALLOWED TO VISIT THE CLUB, THEY WERE REQUIRED TO PATRONIZE A “SEPARATE SIDE” OF THE BAR. ACCORDING TO BOBBIE, “THE LIBRARY WAS VERY SPORTS-ORIENTED”. IT DONATED FUNDS TO MANY CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS AND ACCORDING TO MARLA, “BUILT QUITE A FEW PARKS IN LETHBRIDGE”. BOBBIE’S DEDICATION TO THE CLUB AND HIS APPRECIATION OF THE CLUB’S IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY, LED HIM TO SERVE AS BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN 1986. AFTER A 3 YEAR TERM AS DIRECTOR, HE WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT, WHICH HE OCCUPIED UNTIL 1995. FOR HIS SERVICE, HE WAS AWARDED A LIFE MEMBERSHIP. IN 1995, HE DECIDED TO TRANSFER HIS ENERGIES TO THE ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION NO. 4 BRANCH AND ITS EXECUTIVE, A DECISION MADE FOLLOWING A SECOND, BUT UNSUCCESSFUL BID FOR THE MINERS’ PRESIDENCY. BOBBY WAS EQUALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT HIS SERVICE WITH THE LEGION, BUT ULTIMATELY HIS HEART REMAINED WITH THE MINERS WHICH CLOSED IN 2003. IN BOBBIE’S OPINION, THE CAMARADERIE IN THE MINERS WAS WITHOUT EQUAL. THE CLUB BLAZER WITH CREST WAS WORN BY BOBBIE TO EVERY BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING AND TO FUNCTIONS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, CHEQUE PRESENTATION AND SPONSORED SPORTING EVENTS (AKA. SPORTS HALL OF FAME). HE OWNED NO BLAZER BUT THIS ONE PROVIDED TO HIM WITHOUT CHARGE BY THE CLUB IN 1986. BOBBIE’S FONDEST MEMORIES OF TIME SPENT AT THE MINERS INCLUDE HIS DAILY VISITS TO THE MINERS FOR BEER FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF HIS WORK DAY AS A CARRIER WITH CANADA POST. FROM EARLY AFTERNOON UNTIL 4:00 HE SHARED TIME WITH FRIENDS CORRIDO SANTONI AND WORK COLLEAGUES BILL HARCUZ AND ANDY PONECH – EACH ONE VOLUNTEERING IN SUCCESSION TO PAY FOR THE NEXT DAY’S ROUNDS. IN 2010 BOBBIE’S WIFE MARLA CLAIMED, “THAT WAS HIM AS A MEMBER (AFTERNOONS), BUT AS A BOARD OF DIRECTORS, HE SPENT HIS WHOLE LIFE AT THE MINERS”. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE SEE PERMANENT FILE

Catalogue Number

P20100021001

Acquisition Date

2010-06

Collection

Museum

Less detail