American couple donates large Dionne Quintuplets collection to Callander, Ont., museum
The Callander Bay Heritage Museum has received a “treasured” collection of Dionne Quintuplets memorabilia as part of a large donation.
The collection belonged to Richard Fraser and his wife Nancy after his mother, Doris Fraser, passed away in April at the age of 97.
"It was her hope that the collection could stay together," said Nancy from her home in Harrison, Maine. "It was natural for us to want to get it to the museum."
Doris visited the Callander Bay Heritage Museum in 2001. She was a member of an American group called the Dionne Quints Collectors Club.
"It’s in the right place," said Richard. "She bought all of it at yard sales, flea markets and antique shops."
The five sisters Annette, Yvonne, Cécile, Marie and Émilie were born May 28, 1934 in a humble farmhouse. Their mother, Elzire, suspected she was carrying twins, but no one was aware that giving birth quintuplets was even possible.
The girls were not allowed to stay with their family for long. They were taken away by the Ontario government and put on public display in a specially-built compound called ‘Quintland’. The girls lived there until they were nine years old, with only occasional contact with their parents and siblings.
After a custody fight, the sisters were reunited with their parents, but all five have said they did not have happy childhoods.
The collection consists of antique dishes, spoons, calendars, photographs, books, toys, advertisements, and an extremely rare and valuable five set Madame Alexander doll collection.
"They’re simply very expensive and they’re very much treasured by collectors. Opening each box was just the wow factor," said museum curator Natasha Wiatr.
Wiatr says it is one of the most significant collections the museum has received to date.
It was the goal of former museum curator, Carol Pretty, to find a complete set of the Madame Alexander doll set. Sadly, she passed away earlier this year before the collection arrived.
"There’s a bittersweetness to this donation. She told me it was the one part of the collection the museum never had,” said Wiatr. “It was the one thing she always said ‘If only we could get one of those, our collection would be coming close to completion’.”
The museum has the collection on display Saturday to allow the public to view it before it will be catalogued and put it into inventory.
"The next step will be to decide which ones will be put on display and basically fit as much as we can on display," said Wiatr.
Nancy and Richard say they are planning a trip to Callander to visit the collection in the future.
"In this day and age, a lot has been forgotten at least around here. Hopefully, in Canada it will be remembered. Hopefully the two sisters in Montreal can go and see the collection as well," said Nancy.
The museum is looking to conduct more research on the collection so the next generation can learn more about the quintuplets’ story.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Montreal man on the hook for thousands of dollars after a feature on his Tesla caused an accident
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.
Denial and uncertainty are looming over a Biden-Trump rematch 6 months out from U.S. Election Day
Exactly six months before Election Day, Biden and Trump are locked in the first contest in 112 years with a current and former president competing for the White House. It's a race that is at once deeply entrenched and highly in flux as many voters are only just beginning to embrace the reality of the 2024 campaign.
‘Love has no boundaries’: Sask. couple in their 90s and 80s get married
Eighty-two-year-old Susan Neufeldt and 90-year-old Ulrich Richter are no spring chickens, but their love blossomed over the weekend with their wedding at Pine View Manor just outside of Rosthern.
Israel closes Gaza crossing after Hamas attack and vows military operation 'in the very near future'
Israel closed its main crossing point for delivering badly needed humanitarian aid for Gaza on Sunday after Hamas militants attacked it, reportedly wounding several Israelis, while the defense minister warned of "a powerful operation in the very near future in Rafah and other places across all of Gaza."
Maple Leafs eliminated from NHL playoffs with Game 7 OT loss to Bruins
Sheldon Keefe told his players hockey history would remember them one way or another.
opinion You don't need to be an influencer to earn income from social media
How legitimate are claims by some content creators that the average person can earn passive income from social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram? Personal finance columnist Christopher Liew says it's quite possible, if you're willing to put in the initial time and effort.
What a judge's gag order on Trump means in his hush money case
A gag order bars Trump from commenting publicly on witnesses, jurors and some others connected to the matter. The New York judge already has found that Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, repeatedly violated the order, fined him US$9,000 and warning that jail could follow if he doesn't comply.
Madonna's biggest-ever concert transforms Rio's Copacabana beach into a massive dance floor
Madonna put on a free concert on Copacabana beach Saturday night, turning Rio de Janeiro's vast stretch of sand into an enormous dance floor teeming with a multitude of her fans.
Should you save or splurge on makeup this summer?
If you're wondering whether you should splurge or save when it comes to buying skincare products and makeup this summer, we got some answers for you.