THE COAT PROJECT
Honouring previous generations of family through their fabulous vintage clothing
One woman honours previous generations of her family with the help of their fabulous vintage clothing.
Last summer, my cousin’s wife, Laura Stanley, sorted through items that belonged to our paternal grandmother, Clara Stanley. Knowing that I collected vintage clothing, especially clothing with a personal connection, Laura offered a box of Grandma’s clothes to me.
The box contained two dresses and two coats circa late 1940, early 1950. The coats were long dress-coats—one winter and one summer overcoat. As soon as I saw the green wool winter coat with the fur collar, I knew I wanted to have photos taken of me wearing it. It fit perfectly!
When my good friend Cheryl Pady called one frosty Sunday morning to ask if I still had my grandmother’s coat, I knew what she had in mind. I scrambled to gather what I needed and headed to the Pady farm, near Edenwold, Sask. Cheryl photographed me wearing the coat with a backdrop of beautiful trees covered with rime frost.
Later, when showing the photos to my parents, Larry and Betty, my mom suggested that I have more coat photos taken. Mom was referring to the fur coats in her basement that belonged to her mother, Mary Caven, and another that belonged to my great-grandmother, Mabel (Stanley)
Walsh. Apparently, the “coat project” was not finished.
Cheryl readily agreed when I told her about the fur coats. We were again blessed with a pretty, frosty day for the outdoor portrait session at Wascana Park in the heart of Regina. Although I am a serious amateur photographer, I am not comfortable being in front of the camera. Cheryl, again, put me at ease for more fabulous photos to honour the memories of my grandmothers.
Thinking the coat project was complete, I showed the photos to my friends and fellow members of the Pilot Butte Photo Bunch. A field trip was being planned to travel to the Moose Jaw Western Development Museum. I was asked to bring some of my vintage clothing for the two models to wear. It was then suggested that I should bring Grandma’s coats for a few photos at the museum. The coat project had one more installment!
At the museum, a warmer location was provided for the summer overcoat to be worn as well. Brian Easton, one of my many photographer friends, created more photos to be forever cherished!
My grandmothers both lived in the southeast corner of Saskatchewan, in Gainsborough, Carievale and Carnduff. Their coats, now a treasured part of my vintage clothing collection, live with me at Pilot Butte.