Red Scrapbook no.2, ca. 1913-1926. L. M. Montgomery Collection, Archival and Special Collections, University of Guelph Library (XZ5 MS A002).

During the war, many women Montgomery’s age lost their sons to the fighting. Montgomery had always wanted to be a mother, but she was already 37 years old when her first son, Chester was born in 1912. Her second son, Stuart was born in 1915. During the war, devastated by the loss of so many young men, she was grateful that her own sons were far too young to fight.  

This scrapbook includes pictures of her first son, Chester, as well as pictures of the manse where she lived in Leaskdale with her husband, Rev. Ewan Macdonald. It also contains a programme from the Hypatia Club, a group of women who met to discuss books and authors, which was very important to Montgomery during her time in Leaskdale.