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Music for the masses
In 1920, the students of Mount Royal pooled together to purchase and donate this Victor Concert phonograph to the school for entertainment at mealtimes and other events.
The Victor Concert, one of the three most popular phonographs at the time, was manufactured by the Victor Talking Machine Company in the early 20th century.
It features a solid English brown mahogany cabinet and a wind-up mechanism to spin the turntable.
The audio volume could be adjusted by opening and closing the cabinet drawers and top.
A brief article in the 1920 Chinook yearbook describes the donation, as well as how math and science teacher Arthur E. Rosborough tried to please different students with his musical selections during mealtimes.
“Mr. Rosborough exhibits a goodly amount of tact in that he intermingles the classical records and jazz records in such a manner that the listeners do not tire of either variety.”
There was also some controversy, as some students were behind in their weekly payments for the phonograph. But the yearbook editors chose not to publish the names of guilty parties, letting conscience be their guide. However, they also wrote: “If you cannot trust your conscience, take our advice and pay up…”
Music — from the jazz and classical strains heard in the halls of the Conservatory to the rock concerts held in Wyckham House — has and always will play a huge role in the lives of Mount Royal students.
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.