Left at The Wellgate:
The Untold Story
of Mary Petrie Smith
Exhibition in Dundee, Scotland
FOR RELEASE
September 5, 2024
Jamie Lees, an Amherstburg, Ontario resident and co-owner of Jank Words & Pictures,
is set to curate a unique historical exhibition titled: Left at The Wellgate: The Untold Story of Mary Petrie Smith at the Central Dundee Library in Scotland. Running from September 14 to October 14, 2024, the exhibition delves into the enigmatic story of Jamie’s great grandmother, Mary Petrie Smith, who, on September 14, 1911, left her two young sons in their pram outside a pub in The Wellgate, before leaving for Canada. Through a meticulous collection of artifacts, documents, photographs, and personal stories, Jamie presents an emotionally charged and historically rich narrative.
Mary's Passport Photo 1911
Dedicated to her great grandmother, the exhibition Left at The Wellgate: The Untold Story of Mary Petrie Smith allows Mary to finally share her side of the story that remained secret; untold for 113 years. Jamie’s journey to uncover the truth behind this family mystery has profoundly affected her, leading her from deep sorrow to a sense of peace as she felt her great grandmother's spirit guiding her throughout the process. The exhibition invites visitors to explore various possibilities of what really happened that dark day in 1911 and what drove Mary to make such a drastic decision, encouraging them to form their own opinions based on the artifacts, documents, and personal stories presented.
"Curating this exhibition has been an emotional journey of discovery and connection for me. It is a privilege to share my great grandmother's story with the people of Dundee and to highlight the resilience and strength of women like her." Jamie Lees.
Collaborating with The Wellgate Project and leveraging her expertise in visual storytelling with her husband, Jamie brings a deeply personal yet universally resonant experience to the audience. Frank D’Angelo, co-owner at Jank Words & Pictures, praises her dedication to preserving and sharing this heritage thoughtfully with a broader audience, fostering a stronger cultural connection between Canada and Scotland.
In addition to the exhibition, there will be a series of related talks by guest speakers and interactive events to further engage the community with the historical themes and the stories presented.
Dr. Erin Farley, Project Lead and Library & Information Officer, Central Library, Dundee, Scotland, where the exhibition will take place, notes, "We’ve collaborated with Jamie in Canada from Scotland to create an immersive experience that sheds light on the social and cultural context of early 20th-century Dundee.This exhibition not only honors Mary Petrie Smith's legacy but also enriches our understanding of the historical landscape in which she lived."
Join us in celebrating this remarkable transatlantic connection and discover the compelling story of Left at The Wellgate: The Untold Story of Mary Petrie Smith a story that peels back the layers of the life of a complex woman—abandoner, immigrant, bigamist, survivor, enigma. A paradoxical maternal path that shaped a family's history."
EVENT DETAILS:
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Exhibition Title: Left at The Wellgate:
The Untold Story of Mary Petrie Smith -
Dates: September 14, 2024 – October 14, 2024
Location: Central Library, The Wellgate, Dundee, Scotland
For more information, please contact Jamie Lees at jamie@jank.ca or visit The Wellgate Project's website. Check out this brief video about The Wellgate Project.
Stay updated on the development of the graphic novel and 2025 theatrical production of Left at The Wellgate: The Untold Story of Mary Petrie Smith, written by Jamie Lees and produced in part by Shō Studios, by subscribing to our Jank & File Newsletter.
With Gratitude...
We are profoundly grateful to the Lees, Smith, and Clark families of Scotland, Canada, and the USA for their support in sharing Left at the Wellgate: The Untold Story of Mary Petrie Smith with the public, recognizing the delicate nature of telling Mary’s story.
To Esther Lees (nee Lawless), 1919-2004, Mary's daughter-in-law and Jamie's grandmother, whose intuition and investigative spirit led her to collect and preserve many of the items now featured in this exhibition. Her relentless curiosity made her and Jamie the perfect pair of detectives, working together to unravel the family mystery
Deep gratitude to Dr. Erin Farley, Local History Centre, Dundee, and Adam Piggot, Designer and Artist of Glasgow, who both worked tirelessly since May 2023, with great sensitivity and respect for Mary’s story; discussing creative ideas and logistics, to bring the exhibition to fruition.
We are especially thankful to Dr. Linda Fleming for her correspondence about Scottish fishing communities and to Dr. Esther Breitenbach, both from University of Edinburgh. We also extend our gratitude to Dr. Morag Allan Campbell, who, along with Dr. Breitenbach, will bring their expertise about women at the turn of the century, to the exhibition through upcoming public talks.
Recognition goes to Angus Archives, Arbroath Signal Tower Museum, Black Watch Museum, Central Library The Wellgate, Dundee City Archives, Eyemouth Museum, Tay Valley Family History Society, and University of St. Andrews in Scotland, Library of Congress in the USA, Bibliothèque et Archives Canada, and Queens University Archives in Canada, whose expertise and holdings have greatly enhanced the depth and breadth of the project.
Thank you to Nigel Clark, William Paterson, June Buchanan, and Donald Ross of Scotland, for their enthusiasm and friendship, Phil McLeod, Susan McLeod, and Lorraine Steele of SHO Studios, Windsor, Canada, for their ingenuity and creative comradery. To researchers and authors, Benoit Thibeault and Christine Macias, thank you for allowing us to include two pages about Mary’s life in Quebec in your recently published book, History of La Macaza, just as it was going to press.
We also extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the many supportive friends and strangers who took interest and connected to Mary’s story.
Lastly, Jamie Lees would like to personally thank Frank D'Angelo for his unwavering dedication to this project and his creative design talent in bringing the exhibition panels to life. It is through the audience's engagement that Mary's story is truly heard.
This exhibition is dedicated to Mary Petrie Smith. After 113 years, she is finally able to tell her side of the story, bringing the Lees family full circle—from Scotland to Canada and back again.