WALL HANGING
CulturePrince Edward Island
Date2001
Dimensions1 x 84 x 136 cm (3/8 x 33 1/16 x 53 9/16 in.)
Object numberHF.2022.22.1
DescriptionA hooked wall hanging or "rug" depicting the history of the Macphail family and homestead. A 10cm wide boarder is present on the exterior edge, inside at the top center is "Sir Andrew Macphail" and "Homestead" at the bottom. The background is brown with images in various colours which reference the creation of the Macphail homestead and surrounding community, agriculture, Macphail's writing, medical, and military career, his knighthood, and the Macphail family. The reverse of the rug has a thick boarder of blue cotton tape with four vertical rows of white cotton tape reinforcing the rug. A tag is present in the bottom left corner with "Louise Corbett / 2001" printed. In the bottom right corner is a label with "This hooked mat is presented to Sir Andrew Macphail Foundation. A gift from Louise Craig Corbett great niece of Sir Andrew Macphail". Narrative
This rug depicts a variety of symbols relating to the life and career of Sir Andrew Macphail (b.1864, d.1938). Born in Orwell, PEI, to William (b. 1830, d. 1905) and Catherine Elizabeth Smith Macphail (b.1834, d.1920), Macphail studied at Prince of Wales College before attending McGill University where he studied arts and medicine and served as the first professor of the history of medicine from 1907-1937. In 1905, Macphail began publishing nonmedical books and short publications, many with political and social themes. He served during the Frist World War in the Canadian Army Medical Corps and on 2 January, 1918, Macphail was knighted for his literary and military work. Macphail is perhaps best remembered for his book "The Master's Wife", published posthumously in 1939 and considered a semiautobiographical social history regarding rural life in 19th century PEI.
The Macphail's Homestead is a recognised as a National Historic Place. Originally owned by the daughters of Colonel Edmund Fanning, William Macphail purchased the home for his family in 1864. After the death of his parents the homestead was used in the summers by Macphail and his brother, Jim. For many years it retained much of the original 19th century characteristics, preserved today by the Sir Andrew Macphail Foundation.
The Macphail's Homestead is a recognised as a National Historic Place. Originally owned by the daughters of Colonel Edmund Fanning, William Macphail purchased the home for his family in 1864. After the death of his parents the homestead was used in the summers by Macphail and his brother, Jim. For many years it retained much of the original 19th century characteristics, preserved today by the Sir Andrew Macphail Foundation.
1897
19th Century
1900
Circa 1960
1882
