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Archibald MacDonald's Personal Trunk

Archibald MacDonald's Personal Trunk - Trunk
Accession #: 600.1
Title: Archibald MacDonald's Personal Trunk
Object Type: Trunk
Participants:
Physical Description: Leather covered redwood trunk with painted floral designs and brass fittings. Leather is tacked to wooden frame with steel tacks and there are two steel hinges on the back of lid. Sides and front are painted with a dark green background and floral pattern contained inside light color pinstriped bands. Brass corner trim around the top of the lid and the corners of the bottom of the trunk. Brass studs encircle the painted designs and create an oval form on the top center of the lid. Brass swivel handles on each end of the trunk. Iron key plate front center with brass bird medallion.
Description: Hudson's Bay Company trader, Archibald MacDonald, owned this Asian-made trunk when he served at numerous company posts in the Inland Northwest between 1820 and 1845. Among them was Fort Colville, opened in 1826 when the 1810 Spokane House relocated north to a new site. The fur trade opened the door to increased settlement in the Northwest - from missionaries and military, to artists and scientists. As long as Euro-American fashion demanded furs, Inland Northwest posts reflected international rivalries over the region's natural resources.
Category: History
Subjects/Topics/Concepts:
Immigration (Immigration)
Geographical Reference: Scotland (International->Europe); Fort Okanogan (Washington->Okanogan County); Fort Langley (International->North America->Canada->British Columbia)
Dimensions:
Object H x W x D 10 3/4 x 25 1/2 x 12 3/4"
Materials/Techniques:
iron (metal) (Material)
paint (Material)
leather (Material)
redwood (wood) (Material)
brass (alloy) (Material)
Marks/Inscription:
In red and white: "1509". Tag on back: "9-118".
Related Exhibits:
Credit Line: Gift of Mrs. Jennie Lynch

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