[BCMA] Item for Donation

[Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv]

Hello everyone,


The Mission Museum was recently given a Chautauqua Industrial Art Desk which doesn't fit our collections policy. At the request of the donor, I'm posting it here to see if anyone is looking to add an item like this to their collection.

  *   Description of the object:

This object is a 'Chautauqua Industrial Art Desk', which was originally designed for young students. It opens into an L-shaped chalkboard and features a scroll of illustrations, facts, art instruction, blueprints, flags, bookkeeping, and machinery. It also has a world map, a desktop writing surface, and a compartment to hold pencils, paintbrushes, and chalk. It is made of oak and folds flat to be stored away when not in use.
  *   Dimensions when folded flat:

W: 16.5"

L: 22"

H: 2.75"

  *   Brief history of the object:

Chautauqua art desks started being manufactured in 1919, and the donor claims the object is likely from the 1920's - 1930's.


The Wicoff House Museum (Plainsboro, NJ) describes the Chautauqua Industrial Arts Desk, which was made by Louis E. Meyers & Co., as a folding wooden lap desk, marketed as "a plan to promote the culture of work and play among children in the home."



  *   Donor history:

This object belonged to the donor's father, who grew up in Miloh, Alberta. He taught grades 1-6 in Oldes, Alberta, in a 1 room schoolhouse, before later moving to Burnaby to teach at Burnaby North (dates unclear from donor's description).

Please contact Amber Lemaire museummgr at missionmuseum.com<mailto:museummgr at missionmuseum.com> by October 31st, 2026 if you're interested or need any further details.
Thank you,
Amber Lemaire (she/her)
Museum Collections and Programming Coordinator
[cid:image001.png at 01DD5651.BAD95D50]
Mission Museum | Operated by the Mission District Historical Society
33201 2nd Ave, Mission, BC V2V 1J9
Office: 604-826-1011
Email: MuseumMgr at missionmuseum.com<mailto:MuseumMgr at missionmuseum.com>
Website: missionmuseum.com<https://missionmuseum.com/>
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