Galt's Vaults: Voiceless Objects

The Galt staff are proud that the objects in the collection have strong voices thanks to recorded interviews with their donors over the past 20 or so years. But many objects are essentially "voiceless." Collections Technician tells the story of Ab Chervinski, a donor who passed before being interviewed, leaving his objects without Ab's voice.

The Galt is grateful to the subject-matter experts delivering online content. As local professionals and knowledge experts, these presenters add valuable contributions to the local discourse; however, their ideas are their own. The people featured in the videos and those behind the scenes followed best practices to protect their health and safety.

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A Busy Quilter
A Busy Quilter

We might all have that one family member who can magically repurpose old fabrics into warm quilts. Some assume that making a quilt is simple, but the process is quite lengthy. Quilters must plan out their design, pin cloth together, and sew through many layers of fabric. The Galt Museum & Archives has a large collection of quilts. Within this collection are five quilts by Katherina Betts that were donated by her son Ed and daughter-in-law Gloria Betts.

Uncovering the Untold Stories of the Blackfoot People
Uncovering the Untold Stories of the Blackfoot People

Past issues of the Lethbridge Herald have long served as an encyclopedia of community life, a Who’s Who of Southwest Alberta. However, not everyone was fairly represented. In the Galt Museum’s archives are images of Blackfoot people once featured in the newspaper without identification, leaving their stories untold. The 1,000 Faces Project was designed to bridge this gap by recovering and preserving their names in archival records.

Oh, Miladi! History of the Women's Section in the Lethbridge Herald
Oh, Miladi! History of the Women's Section in the Lethbridge Herald

Beginning as two humble columns in 1910, “Miladi” was a women’s section in the Lethbridge Herald, which quickly grew to a whole page later in the year. “Miladi” included everything from personal happenings to sewing patterns to Aunt Sal’s Handy Hints, which was an advice and information column written by Sara Nelson.

Extra! Extra! Eras of Photojournalism in Lethbridge
Extra! Extra! Eras of Photojournalism in Lethbridge

Photography and journalism have a long history in Lethbridge, dating back to the Lethbridge Herald’s first publication in 1906. Herald photographers have played a crucial role in narrating the city’s stories through their visual storytelling. More recently, the industry has gone through significant changes with the emergence of social media and various news channels.

Dear Diary: New Secrets and Untold Stories
Dear Diary: New Secrets and Untold Stories

Journaling is a great way to decompress, remember a great day, or spill some gossip. While you might hide your diary under your bed, these three journals are a part of the Galt Museum Archives. Take a glimpse into the lives of others as they log their year, trips, and even workplace drama.

Museum Exhibit Highlights Stories of Stolen Kainai Children
Museum Exhibit Highlights Stories of Stolen Kainai Children

In addition to Survivors of the Indian Residential School (IRS), survivors of other colonial school systems the Canadian government initiated and implemented for over a century and a half also deserve recognition. As a member of the Kainai (Blood Tribe) of the Blackfoot Confederacy in Treaty 7 territory in Alberta, Tiffany Prete’s research has involved analyzing the educational policies behind the IRS and other colonial schooling models.

Capturing a Legacy
Capturing a Legacy

The legacy of Evan Gushul extends throughout southern Alberta. As the son of Ukrainian immigrants, Evan grew up with a profound appreciation for his Ukrainian roots. The Gushul children attended music lessons, Ukrainian language classes, and Ukrainian dance classes, with his parents instilling in him the values of hard work and perseverance. Throughout his life, Evan applied these lessons, forging a storied career of his own.

Celebrating Local Queer Theatre History
Celebrating Local Queer Theatre History

As Southern Alberta’s only queer-mandated theatre company, Theatre Outré, has spent the last decade carving out space for a thriving alternative scene in the prairies. Now, we celebrate them for their iconic boundary-pushing theatrical productions, eccentric events, and unwavering devotion to Southern Alberta’s 2SLGBTQ+ community.

Pierced in Lethbridge
Pierced in Lethbridge

Though easily the most common form of body modification, the history of piercings often proves as subtle as the jewelry itself. Archaeological records suggest that humans have been piercing themselves for at least 5,000 years, often starting with the earlobe. Cultures worldwide have long used piercings to denote social characteristics or sacred rites.

Yearbooks of Yesterday
Yearbooks of Yesterday

Few constants exist in the ever-changing world of high school. Perhaps none have proven as nostalgically valuable as the portraits, signatures, and memories found in a high school yearbook. Much of Lethbridge’s own high school history sits in its shelves full of these volumes, dating as far back as 1922!

Laughs in Lethbridge
Laughs in Lethbridge

Not all humour ages gracefully, as anyone who grew up subjected to dad jokes can tell you. Context gets lost, punchlines become predictable; when was the last time a knock-knock joke got a laugh from you? It’s easy to see, then, how printed jokes in the newspaper fell out of fashion. This doesn’t mean, though, that old newspapers are entirely humourless today. Indeed, some jokes published over a century ago still prove funny today!

Between the Pages
Between the Pages

Sometimes, certain indicators—a scrap-paper bookmark here, a scribble on that corner—will pop out at just the right time, serving as immediate reminders of the people who used, owned, and, in many cases, loved these items. While the exact dates or authors of these personal touches can be hard to pin down, these small treasures can sometimes humanize the residents of Lethbridge’s past more than any catalogue or municipal record.

Galt's Vaults, Online Presentation, VideosKevin MacLeanGalt Museum & ArchivesGalt's Vaults, Collections, Donations, Donor, Kevin MacLeanComment