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NECKLACE

https://collections.galtmuseum.com/link/artifact2108
Material Type
Artifact
Other Name
DENTALIUM SHELLS
Date Range From
1905
Date Range To
1910
Materials
DENTALIUM SHELLS , GOLD PLATE, STRING
Catalogue Number
P19651759000
More detail
1 image
Material Type
Artifact
Other Name
DENTALIUM SHELLS
Date Range From
1905
Date Range To
1910
Materials
DENTALIUM SHELLS , GOLD PLATE, STRING
No. Pieces
4
Length
33.0
Width
2.2
Description
DENTALIUM SHELLS ARE ARRANGED IN ROWS OF 4 SEPARATED BY GOLD PIECES. NECKLACE IS BROKEN, SEVERAL SHELLS ARE LOOSE. SEE CONSERVATION REPORT. STRINGS HOLDING SHELLS ARE FRAYED AND BROKEN. ONE GOLD LINK UNLIKE OTHERS -- REPLACEMENT?
Subjects
ADORNMENT
Historical Association
PERSONAL CARE
History
DONOR, MRS. MCNABB BELIEVES ARTIFACT DATES TO 1906. MARGARET MCNABB, NEE HARVIE IMMIGRATED TO CANADA FROM GLASCOW SCOTLAND IN 1904 WITH HER FAMILY & SETTLED IN THE TURIN/IRON SPRINGS AREA TO FARM. LATER MOVED TO LETHBRIDGE & MARRIED CLIFF MCNABB ABOUT 1918. AS A RESULT OF RESEARCH DONE IN CONJUNCTION WITH A SCOTTISH-THEMED EXHIBIT IN 2009, THE GALT CONDUCTED NEW INFORMATION ON THE HARVIE FAMILY, ADDING THE FOLLOWING TO THE RECORD. ROBERT AND MARGARET HARVIE LEFT SCOTLAND IN 1904 AND IMMIGRATED TO CANADA, DESTINED FOR LETHBRIDGE, WITH THEIR FAMILY. THE FAMILY CONSISTED OF TWO SONS (JOHN AND CHARLIE) AND A DAUGHTER (MARGARET). MR. HARVIE’S MINING EXPERIENCE IN HIS NATIVE SCOTLAND PROVED VALUABLE IN LETHBRIDGE AND DIAMOND CITY WHERE, HE FOUND WORK MINING COAL. IN 1907, MR. HARVIE MOVED HIS FAMILY ON TO THE PRAIRIE AFTER HE DECIDED THAT FARMING WAS HIS CALLING. HE OCCUPIED LANDS IN AND AROUND LETHBRIDGE BEFORE SETTLING PERMANENTLY NEAR TURIN. MRS. MARGARET MCNABB WAS THE LAST SURVIVING MEMBER OF THE HARVIE FAMILY. SHE PASSED AWAY AT AGE 86 IN 1979. FOR MORE BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS ON THE FAMILY, PLEASE REFERENCE P19651761000-GA. *UPDATE* IN 2017, COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT ELISE PUNDYK CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF BOXED TEXTILE ARTIFACTS, INCLUDING THIS NECKLACE. THE ATTEMPTS MADE TO LOCATE AND CONTACT THE DONOR'S NEXT-OF-KIN TO SPEAK ABOUT THE ARTIFACT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL.
UPDATE: ON 13 AUGUST 2025, MUSEUM CURATOR CAMINA WEASEL MOCCASIN CORRECTED THIS NECKLACE BELONGING’S MATERIAL TO DENTALIUM SHELLS FROM FORMERLY MISIDENTIFIED OTTER’S TEETH.
Catalogue Number
P19651759000
Acquisition Date
1965-05
Collection
Museum
Images
P19651759000 thumbnail
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Lethbridge, AB

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