Mount Royal University Centennial

History is sew interesting

One of the oldest artifacts in the university’s archives, this 1903 Singer 66 treadle sewing machine originally belonged to Emily Spencer Kerby , wife of the Rev. Dr. George W. Kerby, Mount Royal’s founding principal.

A highly popular model produced by Singer Sewing Machines, the 66 was touted as a finely engineered machine for the 20th century. Its perfect stitches and simple threading mechanism made the 66 an instant bestseller, and vintage sewing machine enthusiasts maintain that a good 66 can still out-sew nearly any modern machine.

In Mrs. Kerby’s day, most sewers would have opted for the smaller, less expensive Singer 99 but, for those who wanted more foot clearance and space, the Singer 66 was the only choice.

We can only guess that — besides being a writer, educator and community activist — Mrs. Kerby was also a serious seamstress who required a brand-new, top-of-the-line sewing machine when she first moved out west in 1903.

After Emily Kerby’s death in the 1930s, the sewing machine was moved to the Mount Royal’s laundry, where student boarders could have their clothing washed and mended for a fee. Linens from the dining room and bedrooms would have also been repaired on the machine.

When it was taken out of storage in 2006, the machine’s cabinet drawers still contained material and thread from its time as a laundry room workhorse.

Although it is in rough condition and holds little value to antique dealers, the Singer 66 is the only part of Emily Kerby’s estate that remains in Mount Royal’s archive collection, giving us a small glimpse into the personal life of one of Calgary’s original community leaders.

This page regularly showcases the collections of the Mount Royal University Archives. Thanks to the Director of the Archives, Patricia Roome, PhD, and her staff for their assistance in selecting artifacts and conducting research.