Material Type

Artifact

Other Name

BROOCH, CORONATION ANNIVERSARY SOUVENIR

Date

1962

Materials

METAL, RHINSTONE, PEARL

No. Pieces

1

Height

1

Length

2.25

Width

2

Description

CROWN-SHAPED, GOLD-COLOURED BROOCH, WITH A CENTRAL RED RHINESTONE, FLANKED BY TWO GREEN STONES AND FIVE FAUX PEARLS ALONG EDGE. PIN MECHANISM AT BACK.

Subjects

ADORNMENT

Historical Association

COMMEMORATIVE

PERSONAL CARE

History

THIS BROOCH ORIGINALLY BELONGED TO THE DONOR’S GRANDMOTHER, DOROTHY SHAW, OF REGINA, SASKATCHEWAN. IN CORRESPONDANCE PROVIDED TO GALT MUSEUM COLLECTIONS TECH KEVIN MACLEAN IN SEPTEMBER 2013, THE DONOR, DORY ROSSITER, STATED: “MY GRANDMOTHER, ON MY FATHER’S SIDE, WAS BORN IN MAIDENHEAD, ENGLAND AND EVENTUALLY BECAME A NURSE. SHE IMMIGRATED TO CANADA IN 1915 AT THE AGE OF TWENTY. ONE YEAR LATER, SHE MET AND MARRIED MY GRANDFATHER, HENRY DOWLING, WHO WAS AN RCMP OFFICER IN SASKATCHEWAN. THE REST OF HER FAMILY REMAINED IN ENGLAND. HER SISTER, ROSE SHAW, WAS ONE OF THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO LINED THE STREETS SURROUNDING BUCKINGHAM PALACE ON THAT CORONATION DAY IN 1952... [THIS] BROOCH, THE LITTLE CROWN WITH THE STONES AND PEARLS, WAS A SOUVENIR THAT WAS AVAILABLE, IN LONDON, ON THE OCCASION OF THE QUEEN’S 10TH ANNIVERSARY IN 1962. MY GRANDMOTHER’S SISTER MANAGED TO GET ONE AND SENT IT TO HER [JUST AS SHE HAD WITH THE SOUVENIR BROOCH FROM THE CORONATION, P20130003001]. GRANDMA GAVE THAT PIN TO ME AFTER WE ROTATED BACK TO CANADA, IN DECEMBER OF 1966 WHEN OUR THREE YEARS IN GERMANY WERE COMPLETED [ROSSITER'S FATHER WAS STATIONED IN GERMANY AS A MEMBER OF THE RCAF FROM 1962-1965]. WE LANDED IN TRENTON, ONTARIO AND DROVE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, STOPPING IN REGINA TO SEE MY GRANDPARENTS, ON OUR WAY TO OUR NEW POSTING AT CURRIE BARRACKS, IN CALGARY. SHE SAID THE SECOND PIN WOULD “KEEP THE OTHER PIN COMPANY” [P20130003001]. MY FATHER’S FAMILY WERE AND ARE STAUNCH SUPPORTERS OF THE MONARCHY. PERHAPS IT WAS BECAUSE OF THEIR ENGLISH BACKGROUND, BUT I ALSO THINK IT HAS TO DO WITH A REVERENCE THEY FEEL FOR OUR HISTORY AS A PEOPLE. IT IS A REVERANCE THAT I, TOO, FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT. WHEN I MADE THE DECISION TO INQUIRE IF THE GALT MUSEUM AND ARCHIVES WOULD BE INTERESTED IN HAVING MY TWO, LITTLE, INEXPENSIVE PINS… IT WAS MONTHS PRIOR TO FINDING OUT THAT I WAS TO RECEIVE THE QUEEN ELIZABETH DIAMOND JUBILEE MEDAL. ON JANUARY 24, 2013, I WAS PRESENTED WITH THE MEDAL BY THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF ALBERTA. THE PRESENTATION TOOK PLACE AT THE GALT MUSEUM AND ARCHIVES. ON THAT DAY, UNKNOWN TO ANYONE, INSIDE MY RED SWEATER, WAS MY LITTLE CORONATION BROOCH [P20130003001]. IT HAD SORT OF COME FULL CIRCLE. MY GRANDMOTHER WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY PROUD.” FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND DONOR BIOGRAPHY, SEE PERMANENT FILE.

Catalogue Number

P20130003002

Acquisition Date

2013-02

Collection

Museum

Less detail