Victorian Aberdeen

victorian aberdeen aberdeen city libraries

the ideas captured in this comic were provided by pupils from westpark primary and seaton school. the victorian aberdeen comic was made possible with help from the National Lottery heritage fund, with thanks to national lottery players. this funding was secured by aberdeen city libraries and included support from aberdeen art gallery, aberdeen urban studies trust, magic torch comics and storyteller jackie ross.

Artwork by katherine hemmings (1, 2, 15, 16) hesistant doodle (3 ,4, 10, 11) zu dominiak (5,6) julie campbell (7, 14) norrie Millar (8, 9) jem milton (12, 13) workshops

paul brisTOW

The world famous opera singer Mary Garden was born in Aberdeen in 1874. Her family moved to America when she was 9.

She studied singing in Chicago, and in 1896 moved to Paris to pursue her studies

Mary was in demand, taking the lead role in opera’s by Claude Debussy and many more.

On 10 April 1900, she made her professional debut at the Opera Comique, as a last minute stand in. She was an instant hit.

She travelled all over the world, performing at the Royal Opera House and Manhattan Opera House.

Mary was a strong willed woman, a classic diva who knew exactly what she wanted. She usually won her arguments.

Stories about her personal life were often just as popular as her performances.

MARY retired in 1934, but continued to support the arts and young singers.

Mary returned to Aberdeen to live during the second world war.

She was a regular visitor to His Majesty’s Theatre. Yet despite her fame and fortune, she was not well known in her home town.

Just 50 people attended her funeral service in 1967.

tumble through time and into aberdeen's victorian past,

to meet magicians, opera singers,

inventors, storytellers, scientists and some local heroes too!