Exhibits - ROEDDE HOUSE MUSEUM

Current:

“Essential Servants: Hung at the Roedde House and Chinese Domestics in Victorian and Edwardian British Columbia”

Curated by Shane Atienza, our 2022 Programming Assistant & Researcher, with the guidance of Dr. Benjamin Bryce from UBC History.

This month, in honour of Asian Heritage Month, we are excited to present one of our permanent upstairs exhibits in the parlour on the first floor. “Essential Servants: Hung at the Roedde House and Chinese Domestics in Victorian and Edwardian British Columbia” sheds light on a previously overlooked aspect of our history. It delves into the experiences of Chinese Canadian domestic servants who worked within households like ours during the late 18th and early 19th centuries in British Columbia.

The show aims to deepen the viewer’s understanding of the diverse individuals who shaped our community by drawing from testimonies, archival materials, and academic sources. This compelling display offers insights into their contributions and challenges, enriching our understanding of our shared past.
We invite you to visit and explore this important exhibition throughout the month.

This exhibition will be on display in the Parlour for the month of May; in June, it will be returned to its permanent home in the collections room on the second floor.

E. Pauline Johnson – Tekahionwake: A Retrospective

Curated by board member James Gibson

Roedde House presents E. Pauline Johnson – Tekahionwake: A Retrospective, an exploration of the life and legacy of the Canadian poet. Born Emily Pauline Johnson on March 10, 1861, she transcended cultural boundaries and became known by her Kanyen’kehà:ka (Mohawk) stage name, Tekahionwake. The retrospective delves into Pauline’s heritage, celebrating her familial roots, career, and ties to Chief Joe and Mary Agnes Capilano.

The exhibition culminates by highlighting Pauline’s enduring legacy, especially her influence in Vancouver from 1913 to 2024. Paying homage to her literary feats, including “The White Wampum” and “Flint and Feather,” the display emphasizes the late 20th-century resurgence of interest in her life and works. This exhibition beckons visitors to immerse themselves in the poetic odyssey of E. Pauline Johnson, a trailblazer in Canadian literature and Indigenous women’s writing.

This exhibition is now on display in our collections room and will remain on display until the end of May 2024.

Ongoing:

“Canada, Your Prints are Ready!”, curated by Peter Richard Lowery

Curator Peter Richard Lowery and 3 exhibit photos

The exhibition features a diverse collection of original photographs which were gathered over the past 5 years from antique stores, estate sales, flea markets, garage sales and various sources. Many were misplaced, forgotten, unwanted, or never picked up, in other words “fallen through the cracks”. Lost, but now found and reunited, most are unique and have never been seen by the public. Original photos by many recognized Canadians including Gowan, Frank, Spalding, Harmon, Devine, Notman, Macatskill, Karsh and Foncie.