The Oddity
Please introduce this object to our Gentle Readers.
- A baby beluga specimen (along with an unidentified heart) preserved in a jar.
How does this object fit within your mission to “collect, preserve, and share the stories of Transcona through learning and discovery,”?
- The baby beluga is one of several artifacts that arrived at the Transcona Museum as part of an archaeological & ethnographic collection based on items gathered in Manitoba. The story of how this collection came to the Transcona community, & eventually to the Transcona Museum, aligns perfectly with our mission.
What can you tell us about the circumstances of this donation?
- The baby beluga was brought to the Transcona Museum as part of a larger archaeological & ethnographic collection assembled by amateur archaeologist Cecil H. Patterson. In 1968, Patterson sought to sell his collection. Two principals from the Transcona-Springfield School Division No. 12 were interested the collection & wanted it as part of a project celebrating Manitoba’s upcoming centennial in 1970. The collection was initially loaned to the Transcona Museum for exhibition and storage. In 1999, it was officially donated to the museum.
Every object has a history, tell us a little about our friend’s provenance.
- The origins of the baby beluga are somewhat unclear, but there is documentation to support its inclusion in the archaeology & ethnographic collection, including an accession number. We have two theories about how it became part of the collection. First, it may have been acquired by Patterson as part of his original collection, but his records are somewhat incomplete. Second, the baby beluga may have accidentally made its way into the collection anytime from 1970-1999. When the museum officially acquired the collection, the baby beluga was in the inventory paperwork. However, it is possible that the baby beluga was a display specimen used in science classes & not related to Patterson’s collection.
Does this institution allow deaccessions? Why have you made the decision to keep it?
- Yes, but the baby beluga is a beloved item in our collections & is not subject to deaccession.
In a dream the impossible dream world, what would you do with this object?
- The baby beluga has been displayed several times & also made appearances at various Halloween displays over the years. Additionally, a former museum employee filmed themselves serenading the baby beluga with a rendition of “Baby Beluga,” a whale-themed lullaby by Canadian children’s entertainer Raffi. You can check it out here. The baby beluga was featured in Atlas Obscura’s “Objects of Intrigue” series in 2013. You can check it out here.
The Institution
Tell us a little about your institution.
- Located in Winnipeg’s easternmost suburb, the Transcona Museum collects, preserves, & shares the stories of the Transcona community through learning & discovery. Our largest artifact is CN 2747, the first steam locomotive built in Western Canada at the Transcona Shops in 1926. It was retired in 1960 & placed on outdoor display. The Transcona Museum purchased the locomotive in 2015, & we proudly opened the protective enclosure in June 2024.
What might visitors not know about your institution but would love to know?
- We have numerous fascinating objects & stories that we enjoy sharing! We tell stories such as the history of Judy Garland’s film production company, Transcona Enterprises, named after our community, & the remarkable tale of a World War II Allied pilot from Transcona who was rescued by Drue Leyton, a member of the French Resistance and a Hollywood actress.
*Responses have been edited for brevity
