Celebrating 70 Years (12.7 MB) - Museums of Burlington

Joseph Brant MuseumMay 22, 1942 ~ May 22, 2012

• Built on land granted to Joseph Brant by the BritishCrown in 1798• Georgian in style, the house was modeled after SirWilliam Johnson’s house in Johnstown, New York• Original home was lived in until 1875; became partof Hotel Brant and then military hospital 1900-1924• It was demolished in the early 1930s with the HotelBrant; timbers and logs were saved and used in thepresent day Museum• Joseph Brant Museum was built based ondrawings by Lady Simcoe, and a painting by E.Walsh in 1804

1804 painting by E. Walsh ~ Joseph Brant’s original home

1742-1807

Brant’s original home, incorporated into the Brant House Resort ~ 1877

Hotel Brant location, with Brant’s house ~ circa 1910

• Vision of Hon. T. B. McQuesten, with support from theI.O.D.E. Thayendanegea Chapter• Built between 1937 & 1942; Ronald Way, one ofCanada’s top restorers of historic sites, supervised theconstruction of the Museum• The official opening took place on May 22, 1942; it wasattended by local, provincial & federal dignitaries• Joseph Brant Museum was originally located in BrantPark, a provincial park, which is now where the J. B. M.Hospital is located• Brant Park was the only park along the lakeshorebetween Burlington and Niagara, citing its significanceat the time

May 1942

Grand Opening

The Grand Opening

Joseph Brant Museum in Brant Park, 1942

Open to the public ~ after 1942

• Joseph Brant Museum began as a tribute to JosephBrant and featured a Native History Gallery plus ameeting room for the I.O.D.E.• During the 1960s, the Museum began to evolve toinclude the story of Burlington’s history.• In 1966, fashion historian Eileen Collard became theGuest Costume Curator and started the Museum’s nowfamous costume collection.• Joseph Brant’s importance continued to be highlightedthrough major acquisitions of his personal belongings,such as his gorget, ring and masonic apron.• In 1965, Joseph Brant Museum came under theumbrella of the Town of Burlington.

Historic Plaque Dedication ~ 1961

Circa 1965

Curator Earl Hartley & Guest Costume CuratorEileen Collard ~ Circa 1966

Eileen Collard

The community came together to acquire Joseph Brant’s gorget

Joseph Brant’s gold ring was also acquired.

Wooden carving by Nathan Montour

• The 1970s saw multiple curators as the Museumcontinued to grow and develop in the community.• The centennial of the Town of Burlington, followedby the incorporation into the City of Burlington,were two major events that the Museum was partof.• In 1975, the Museum’s volunteer program began;several volunteers from that time are still activewith the Museum!• The Strawberry Social and Joseph Brant Day, twomajor fundraising events for the Museum, havebeen community celebrations since the late 1970s.

Curator Carroll Lewis & Artist David Mitson ~ 1973

Mary Fraser (left) & Eileen Collard (right)

The beginning of the volunteer program, in 1975

The Strawberry Social has been a success since 1976!

A wonderful gift, still cherished and used in our library

The need for an expansion dates back to 1978

• The special events that started in the 1970scontinued to flourish in the 1980s.• The Joseph Brant Museum acquire several majorartifacts, including a rare copy of “The Life ofBrant” by William L. Stone; Joseph Brant’s dagger;a stained glass window from the BayviewCemetery; a parlour set once belonging to Lt.-Col.William Kerns; and a one-of-a-kind communionset used in Wellington Square from the 1850s.• The Eileen Collard Gallery of Historic Costumesand Textiles was named after, and the costumecollection dedicated to, Eileen Collard, formerCostume Curator.

1850s Communion Set

“Life of Brant” by William L. Stone, as well a letter written by Joseph Brant

Joseph Brant’s dagger, with sheath

Stained glass window from the Bayview Cemetery

Joseph Brant Museum, 1986

Eileen Collard honoured for her work anddedication to the study of fashion history

Eileen Collard put the Museum’s costume collection on the map

• 1992 was a big year, marking the 50 thanniversary of the Joseph Brant Museum, andthe 250 th ‘birthday’ of Joseph Brant (1742-1807).• Volunteers worked together and created acommemorative quilt, which honoured the 50 thanniversary.• In 1994, the Joseph Brant Museum was movedto its present location, due to the expansion ofthe hospital’s emergency ward and hospitalparking.

Joseph Brant Museum, circa 1990

The importance of the Joseph Brant Museum

The 50 th Anniversary of the Joseph Brant Museum

New exhibits for the 50 th Anniversary

Celebrating Joseph Brant’s 250 th birthday, 1992

Volunteer 50 th Anniversary Quilt

Showcasing the Collard Costume Collection

• In 1957, Brant Park was sold to make way for ahospital; the purchase agreement included exceptions,which ensured the safety of the Museum.• During the 1960s, the hospital needed an expansionand the Museum was threatened again. After somedebate, the Museum was left alone.• In the early 1990s, there was tension between the twoinstitutions again, when the hospital needed anotherexpansion and wanted the Museum to be completelyremoved from the property.• Thanks to the iron-clad agreement from 1957, whichmeant that the Museum was entitled to stay where itwas, the hospital had to settle for the movement of theMuseum to another spot on the property in 1994.

Evolution of Brant Park to hospital property, with the Museum ~ 1966

1968

Hospital expansion controversy

Packing up artifacts for the move, 1993

Proximity to the hospital in 1994

The new foundation and basement

Ribbon cutting ceremony, 1994

Settled after the move, 1996

• 200 th Anniversary of Joseph Brant’s death in 2007.• 70 th Anniversary of Joseph Brant Museum in 2012.• Major celebrations and events surroundingDiamond Jubilee for Queen Elizabeth II.• War of 1812 celebrations start.• Joseph Brant Museum receives a huge donation ofarchival material, including research notes,original manuscripts and rare fashion plates fromthe Estate of James Collard, belonging to EileenCollard.• Selections from the historic collection becomesaccessible online through Artefacts Canada.

2012 marks the 36 th Annual Strawberry Social

Joseph Brant Museum, 2002

A series of travelling exhibits from the ROM were featured from 2005-2007.

Aerial shot of Joseph Brant Museum, 2009

Easter fun at Joseph Brant Museum

A Red Tail Hawk comes for a visit in 2010

Historic Collection Highlights

MINIATURE, 1786KNIFE & SCABBARD1755

FASHION PRINT1794FASHION PRINTC. 1810

EVENING GOWNCIRCA 1810DAY DRESS1828-1838

POLONAISE DRESS1840-1849WEDDING GOWN1840-1849

DRESS, WITH COATEE1860DAY DRESS1875

EVENING GOWN1885WOOL GOWNCIRCA 1900

CANVAS SHOESCIRCA 1925CLOCHE HATCIRCA 1924

HAIR BROOCHCIRCA 1860SEED PEARL SETCIRCA 1850

FLOWER POWER EARRINGSCIRCA 1960BROOCH1930

WELLINGTON SQUARE1820SGEORGE GHENT1846

BURLINGTON GLASSWORKSCIRCA 1890HOTEL BRANTCIRCA 1898

COMMEMORATIVE TRAYSPENCER SMITH1947BURLINGTON CANNING CO.1905

DEPRESSION GLASS1930-1934SEWING TABLECIRCA 1860

CAPTAIN KANGAROO DOLL1955-1984JAPANESE TIN TOY1940-1949

SOUND OF MUSIC FESTIVAL FEDORA1992PURPLE STRAW HATCIRCA 1920

R.C.A.F. UNIFORM1939-1945CAMPAIGN STARS & MEDALS1939-1945

To the community of Burlington,From all of our staff, volunteers,and board members,THANK YOUfor your continued support!