Metcalfe, Gwen

Persoon

Metcalfe, Gwen

1913-1997

Margaret Gwendolyn Carley was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa on March 23, 1913. The family returned to Canada shortly after and settled in Kitchener, Ontario, where Gwen later attended the Business School. She married Albert E. Metcalfe (1901-1963) on July 27, 1937, and they had one son John David (J.D.) Metcalfe (1939-2007). Gwen began her career a museum curator at Dundurn Castle in Hamilton, where she started as a receptionist in the 1950s. In May 1955, Gwen was appointed curator with no formal training as a museum specialist. In her role as curator, she advocated for a complete restoration of Dundurn Castle to the period during Allan MacNab’s tenure. The City of Hamilton chose the Dundurn Castle restoration project as their 1967 Centennial Project. While the museum was closed for restorations, Gwen she kept a photographic record of the renovation process. On June 30, 1971, Gwen retired.

Gwen was an active member of the Canadian Museums Association, serving on their council and editing their newsletter. She also served as the chairman of the museums section of the Ontario Historical Society. In June 1972, she was appointed a Fellow of the Canadian Museums Association, an honour as being the first for Hamilton.

Gwen Metcalfe died on July 6, 1997.

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Dundurn Castle, Hamilton

Curator