Feather headdress one of of 10 objects that tell a history of Dorset

The feather headdress, which goes on display at Bournemouth’s Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum on Tuesday 19 January, is one of a list of 10 objects for Dorset in the wider A History of the World project formed out of a unique partnership between the BBC, the British Museum and museums across the UK.

The headdress was worn by the Chiefs of the Blood Tribe, of Alberta, Canada, and presented to The 39 Steps author John Buchan, when he was Governor-General of Canada, in 1937. The headdress, known as a ‘war bonnet’, was presented to the Russell-Cotes Museum in 1973 by a man called K. L. Anderson. Buchan had given the headdress to Anderson who had then retired to Bournemouth. The museum has always been famed for its ‘world stories’ collections.

Sue Hayward, Heritage Manager at Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum said: “The headdress is typical of the many fascinating objects collected from around the globe by the middle-classes of Bournemouth during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Many of these are now in the museum’s collections.”

The list of all 10 objects for Dorset can be found at www.bbc.co.uk/dorset.

Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum is open Tuesday – Sunday 10am – 5pm. It is at East Cliff Promenade, Bournemouth BH1 3AA. www.russell-cotes.bournemouth.gov.uk

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IMAGES FOR PUBLICATION AVAILABLE, PLEASE CONTACT KERRY CURTIS 01202 451823:

1. Photograph of author John Buchan wearing the headdress, 1937.

2. Image of the war bonnet today at the museum.

Notes to Editors

1. A History of the World is a unique partnership between the BBC, the British Museum and 350 museums and institutions across the country, including Bournemouth’s Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum. At its heart is a landmark series on BBC Radio 4, A History of the World in 100 Objects, broadcast from Monday 18 January. The series, written and presented by Neil MacGregor, Director of the British Museum, will feature 100 objects from the British Museum’s collection and will tap into the unique power of objects to tell stories and make connections across the globe. The project also includes: a CBBC series Relic: Guardians of the Museum broadcast from January 2010; large-scale activity across the Nations and English regions including lists of 10 museum objects on each BBC Local site telling the story of that region; an exciting and interactive digital proposition live from 18 January at www.bbc.co.uk/ahistoryoftheworld; plus an invitation to audiences to offer objects they own to create a unique digital museum online. The important legacy of A History of the World will be secured through the website and through the work and partnerships across the Nations and English Regions.

2. For more information on the rest of A History of the World go to: http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2009/11_november/25/history.shtml

3. Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum is a Registered Charity, no. 306288, and welcomes donations to help care for its collections.

Contact:

For more information about the headdress and Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum and for images for publication:

Kerry Curtis, Marketing & Funding Manager, tel 01202 451823 or email kerry.curtis@bournemouth.gov.uk

For further information about BBC South and South East contact:

Helen Deller Press & PR Officer, tel 01892 675604, mobile 07809 597710 or email Helen.deller@bbc.co.uk