Archive Record
Metadata
Catalog Number |
BR2023.13.202 |
Object Name |
Card, Mourning |
Scope & Content |
A black and gold memorial cabinet or mourning card for William Magrath. Inside an image of a Bible is printed "William Magrath, Died April 30th, 1888. In the 72nd year of his age." Above is a bird holding a card that reads "In Loving Remembrance of". Below is an image of a piece of paper with flowers around it and a poem. All is outlined in a thick gold line. On the back "Copyrighted, 1886, by the Memorial Card Co. No. 706 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, P.A.". |
History |
William Melchior Magrath (1816-1888) was the youngest son of Reverend James Magrath and Mary Douglas. Born in Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow, Ireland, he was fourteen when the family settled in Upper Canada. William managed Erindale Estate which he inherited from his father in 1851. He married Christiana Sutherland in 1856 and they had three daughters, Marion, Mary and Isabel. Christiana died in 1860 after her youngest daughter's birth. Anna, William's sister, took over the care and raising of their daughters. William never remarried and continued to manage the Erindale Estate until he died in 1888 at age 71. This is an example of a memorial cabinet card that was popular during the late 19th century into the early 20th century. They could be made with or without a photograph and were common in both the United States and Canada. Companies would often create cards for recently deceased individuals using names found in local newspaper obituaries and the cards to family members as a gift and advertise their services. The Memorial Card Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was founded ca. 1885 by Edwin C. Stark. Stark was originally from New Jersey and later changed his company name to Edwin C. Stark and Company which created memorial goods such as memorial cards, prayer cards, verses, prayers and frames. References: Magrath Letters, Peel Archives. Historic and Commercial Philpot 1892, A.F. Parsons Publishing Company Death Memorabilia, Part 1: Cabinet Memorial Cards. Friday January 1st, 2010. A Land of Deepest Shade https://alandofdeepestshade.blogspot.com/2010/01/death-memorabilia-part-i-memorial.html |
Title |
William Magrath |
People |
Magrath, William Melchior |