Material Type

Artifact

Other Name

FRATERNAL JACKET

Date Range From

1900

Date Range To

1950

Materials

FABRIC, METAL, THREAD

No. Pieces

1

Length

94

Width

53

Description

BLACK JACKET WITH TWO ROWS OF BUTTONS ON THE FRONT. THE RIGHT SIDE OF BUTTONS GO INTO THE LEFT SIDE BUTTON HOLES. WHILE THE LEFT SIDE ARE 9 BUTTON HOLES. THE TOP BUTTON ON THE RIGHT PROPER SIDE IS MISSING AND THERE IS GREYISH TORN FABRIC WHERE IT WAS ATTACHED. ON THE LEFT PROPER SIDE, THE SIXTH BUTTON FROM THE TOP IS MISSING. THERE IS BLACK THREAD WHERE IT WAS ATTACHED. ALL THE BUTTONS ARE IN VARIOUS STATES OF WEAR AND TEAR, WITH THE METAL UNDERNEATH THE THREAD COVERING SHOWING ON 5 OF THE BUTTONS ON THE RIGHT PROPER SIDE. ON THE COLLAR OF THE JACKET ON EACH SIDE NEAR THE FRONT THERE IS A COPPER COLOURED METALLIC EMBROIDERY DESIGN. THE DESIGN LOOKS LIKE A PATRIARCHAL CROSS, ALSO CALLED A CROSS OF LORRAINE. THE EMBROIDERY IS ON A SMALL PIECE OF BLACK FABRIC AND IS STICHED ON WITH BLACK THREAD. THERE ARE LOOSE BLACK THREADS ON THE OUTER EDGES OF THE SHOULDER. THE SLEEVES EACH HAVE THREE SMALLER BUTTONS WITH BLACK THREAD COVERING AT THE CUFF. 9 CM ABOVE THE CUFF THERE IS A PIECE OF BLACK FABRIC ATTACHED WITH ANOTHER EMBROIDERED METALLIC CROSS DESIGN. THE CENTRE OF THIS DESIGN HAS BLACK VELVETY MATERIAL AT THE CENTRE. THERE IS A WAIST SEAM AT THE MIDPOINT OF THE LOWEST BUTTON. ON THE BACK THERE IS A TAIL SLIT THAT GOES UP 45 CM TO THE WAIST SEAM. AT THE MIDDLE OF THE SLIT, ON ITS OUTER EDGES THERE ARE 2 BUTTONS ON A DIAGONAL FLAP. THE TOP WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE WAIST THERE ARE TWO MORE BUTTONS, ONE ON EITHER SIDE. AT THE WAIST SEAM NEAR THE HIPS ON THE BACK THERE ARE METAL BELT HOOKS WITH A HOLE IN THE CENTRE. ABOVE THE RIGHT PROPER BELT HOOK THERE IS A SMALL PULLED THREAD. ON THE SHOULDER OF THE RIGHT SIDE THERE ARE LOOSE THREADS. THE INSIDE OF THE JACKET HAS A GREYISH GLOSSY LINING. THE INNER POCKET ON THE RIGHT PROPER SIDE HAS A CREAM WHITE TAG INSIDE THAT SAYS “RIDPATH CASH TAILOR LETHBRIDGE ALTA.” AND “MR. J. E. RANNARD” AND “DATE FEB 1925” ON IT. THE NAME AND DATE ARE TYPED ON DOTTED LINES. THE TAG HAS A SLIT ON THE TOP LEFT. THE INSIDES OF THE SLEEVES HAVE A CREAM COLOURED LINING WITH A GREY AND BROWN PINSTRIPE DESIGN. THE NECK COLLAR HAS A FABRIC HANGING LOOP ON THE INSDE. AT THE EDGE OF THE COLLAR THERE IS A METAL HOOK ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND LOOP ON THE LEFT FOR CLOSING. THERE IS SOME DEBRIS ON THE FRONT AND BACK.

Subjects

CLOTHING-OUTERWEAR

Historical Association

ASSOCIATIONS

FINE ARTS

History

THE NAME J. E. RANNARD APPEARS ON THE TAG OF THE FRATERNAL JACKET. IN A DECEMBER 24, 1948, LETHBRIDGE HERALD ARTICLE ON J. E. RANNARD’S RETIREMENT, HIS BIOGRPAHICAL DETAILS WERE PROVIDED: “AFTER ALMOST 39 YEARS SERVICE WITH THE C.P.R, JOHN EDGAR RANNARD OF 642 TWELFTH ST. S., WILL RETIRE ON PENSION EFFECTIVE JAN. 1, 1949. MR. RANNARD, WELL KNOWN IN THE CITY, HOLDS ONE OF THE MOST DISTINGUISHED RECORDS IN SOUTHERN ALBERTA IN THE MASONIC ORDER. BORN IN LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, IN 1883, MR. RANNARD CAME TO CANADA IN 1908, COMING DIRECTLY TO THE CITY. HE WAS WITH THE OLD ALBERTA RAILWAY AND IRRIGATION COMPANY FOR ABOUT A YEAR, WORKING IN THE SHOPS. FROM THE A. R. AND I. HE MOVED TO THE C.P.R. ON SEPT. 20, 1909, IN THE FREIGHT DEPARTMENT. HE SERVED AS A BRAKEMAN, TRAINMAN, WITH THE BRIDGE AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT AND IN 1936 WAS BACK IN THE FREIGHT OFFICE AS CAR SERVICE CLERK. HE HAS BEEN A SERVICE CLERK EVER SINCE. MR. RANNARD IS AN OLDTIMER IN THE MASONIC ORDER AND HAS HELD NO LESS THAN NINE IMPORTANT POSITIONS. HIS LONG, FINE RECORD IN THE ORDER HAS BROUGHT HIM MUCH ACCLAIM. HE SERVED AS MASTER OF LETHBRIDGE LODGE NO. 39. A F. & A M. IN 1918 [AND] HAS BEEN PAST DISTRICT DEPUTY GRAND MASTER, PAST GRAND FIRST PRINCIPAL OF THE ROYAL ARCH MASONS OF ALBERTA, HONORARY PAST GRAND FIRST PRINCIPAL OF SASKATCHEWAN AND MANITOBA. HONORARY PAST HIGH PRIEST OF MONTANA, HONORARY PAST GRAND MASTER OF THE ROYAL AND SELECT MASTERS OF MONTANA, PAST GRAND MASTER OF THE ROYAL AND SELECT MASTERS OF WESTERN CANADA. PAST GRAND COMMANDER NOAH OF THE ROYAL ARK MANNERS OF WESTERN CANADA, PAST PROVINCIAL GRAND PRIOR OF SOVEREIGN GREAT PRIORY OF CANADA KNIGHTS TEMPLERS, AND PAST GRAND VICEROY OF THE GRAND COUNCIL OF THE RED CROSS OF CONSTANTINE OF CANADA. BESIDES HOLDING THOSE POSITIONS, MR. RANNARD IS A CHARTER MEMBER OF THE LETHBRIDGE LODGE OF PERFECTION OF ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED SCOTTISH RITE, MEMBER OF DELTA SOVEREIGN CHAPTER OF ROSE CROIX ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED SCOTTISH RITE, A MEMBER OF THE NOBLE OF THE MYSTIC SHRINE OF CALGARY AND A CHARTER MEMBER, MAPLE LEAF CHAPTER ORDER OF THE EASTERN STAR NO. 7 AND PAST PATRON OF THE SAME.” JOHN EDGAR RANNARD’S INTEREST IN PLANTS WAS ALSO OUTLINED IN THE DECEMBER 24, 1948 LETHBRIDGE HERALD ARTICLE: “A GREAT LOVER OF FLOWERS AND PLANTS, MR. RANNARD IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE LETHBNDGE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY AND HAS WON FIVE MEDALS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY FOR WINNING THE MOST POINTS IN A SHOW. HE GROWS MANY UNUSUAL PLANTS, SPECIALIZING IN TROPICAL PLANTS. MR. RANNARD IS BELIEVED TO BE THE ONLY ONE IN THE CITY WHO HAS GROWN ORCHIDS. AMONG THE SPECIES OF PLANTS HE GROWS IN A LOCAL GREENHOUSE ARE ORANGES, LEMONS, FEJIOAS, GUAVA AND MANY KINDS OF CACTUS. HE IS LOOKING FORWARD TO SPENDING MORE TIME DEVELOPING HIS PLANTS, AND IS ALSO PLANNING TRIPS ATTENDING VARIOUS GRAND LODGES OF HIS ORDER IN CANADA AND IN THE UNITED STATES. WELL LIKED BY ALL, MR. RANNARD WAS NEVER MARRIED… MR. RANNARD HAS TRAVELLED ALL OVER THE U.S. AND CANADA AND SAYS ‘LETHBRIDGE IS AS GOOD AS ANY CITY I'VE SEEN.’ HE PLANS ON STAYING IN THE CITY AND DEVELOPING HIS PLANTS…” A LETHBRIDGE HERALD OBITUARY STATED J. E. RANNARD PASSED AWAY IN NOVEMBER 1952. IN 2017, THE LETHBRIDGE MUSICAL THEATRE/PLAYGOERS OFFERED TO DONATE ITEMS FROM THEIR COSTUME COLLECTION WHEN CLEANING OUT THE BASEMENT OF THE YATES CENTRE FOR RENOVATION. IN A MARCH 3RD, 2020, INTERVIEW, COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT KIRSTAN SCHAMUHN INTERVIEWED THREE LETHBRIDGE PLAYGOERS MEMBERS—GEORGE MANN, LINDA JOHNSON AND ELAINE JAGIELSKI. THEIR COMMENTS ON THE DONATED OBJECTS ARE PROVIDED BELOW. WHEN ASKED IF THEY REMEMBERED THE JACKET BEING USED IN ANY OF THE THEATRE PRODUCTIONS, LINDA SPECULATED: “[IT] KIND OF LOOKS LIKE SOME THINGS THAT WERE WORN IN FRAN’S PRODUCTION OF ‘ALL IS CALM’." LINDA ADDED: “...I DEFINITELY CAN’T CONFIRM THAT IT WAS IN A PRODUCTION.” LINDA SPOKE ABOUT HOW THE PLAYGOERS RECEIVED THE COSTUME PIECES AND WHY THEY OFFERED THE ITEMS TO THE GALT MUSEUM: “I THINK HOW WE CAME ABOUT THESE [COSTUME PIECES] WAS ON A REGULAR BASIS- BECAUSE WE HAVE…GENERAL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT HAVE THESE ITEMS IN THEIR CLOSETS AND DECIDE THAT MAYBE, SOME ORGANIZATION COULD USE THEM IN SOME WAY… I THINK THAT’S HOW WE BECAME OWNERS OF THESE… OF COURSE, WE ONLY HAVE SO MUCH ROOM FOR STORAGE SO WE HAVE A CAGE CLEAN OUT PERIODICALLY AND IT JUST PROBABLY CAME TO THE FACT THAT WE PROBABLY WEREN’T GOING TO BE USING THESE ANY TIME SOON BUT DON’T THROW THEM OUT. I MEAN THERE IS HISTORY INVOLVED WITH THESE. ALSO SOME OF THE COSTUMES, THE ACTUAL UNIFORMS WERE QUITE SMALL IN SIZE. DIDN’T REALLY FIT ANYONE.” LINDA SAID: “…SO IT ISN’T EVEN ON RECORD WHERE WE GOT THESE COSTUMES FROM.” ELAINE ADDED: “...SO ODDLY WE’VE HAD THESE THINGS IN OUR CARE BUT HAVEN’T REALLY UTILIZED THEM AND MAYBE THEY WERE USED ONCE AT SOME POINT BUT THAT’S EVEN QUESTIONABLE.” LINDA TALKED ABOUT THE PLAYGOERS COSTUME STORAGE IN THE GENEVIEVE E. YATES MEMORIAL CENTRE: “WE HAVE HAD STORAGE AREA IN THE YATES BASEMENT SINCE IT WAS BUILT...” GEORGE ADDED THE DATE THE CENTRE OPENED: “…IT WAS OPENED IN 1966.” ELAINE COMMENTED: “…THE VISION WAS TO ALWAYS HAVE PROVISIONS FOR PLAYGOERS TO HAVE STORAGE SPACE…” LINDA CONTINUED: “[IT WAS] GENEVIEVE YATES [IN] HER WILL. THAT PLAYGOERS BE ALLOWED TO HAVE STORAGE FOR THAT VERY THING.” FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO VIEW THE FULL INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT AND REFERENCED ARTICLES, PLEASE SEE THE RECORDS PERMANENT FILE.

Catalogue Number

P20170006002

Acquisition Date

2017-02

Collection

Museum

Less detail