WHEN Gary Johnston bought an old scrapbook at an auction market, he never thought he would eventually publish a book about it.
However, the scrapbook contained sketches from Ulverston artist Minnie Pratt, born in 1880 and died a hundred years later in 1980. Despite her travelling around the world, because she was unmarried and left no children her story was largely forgotten about.
Gary set up a Facebook group to find more information about Minnie. When he set up the group, he was expecting 'a few dozen people' to join the group but it is now at over a thousand members.
Through this group, he met people from all over the globe that knew her and could identify the landscapes she drew of the Lake District, the Americas, and Africa.
He also pieced together a rare social history of Barrow and Furness in the early to mid-twentieth century from the perspective of a woman that was not directly involved in the shipbuilding.
Now, the paintings in the scrapbook and Minnie's life are the subject of an exhibition at The Dock Museum.
Gary has also published a book called 'Minnie's Scrapbook: A journey in the footsteps of Minnie Pratt.'
In the announcement of the book launch, Gary said: "What I've tried to do is pull together the whole story of my chance find of Minnie's Scrapbook, my research into Minnie's life, the various clues I followed, Minnie's family, the Minnie's Scrapbook Facebook group, and of course the stories behind Minnie's beautiful watercolours."
READ MORE: Minnie Pratt's scrapbook reveals social history of Barrow
The book is self-published by Gary as part of his 'cottage industry.' It is priced at £12.95 and is available at the Dock Museum shop, or from Gary directly via messaging him on Facebook or commenting on one of the posts.
According to Gary, the book has already had buyers from the UK, America, Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania and Canada, and an enquiry from China.
The Dock Museum exhibition started on November 4 and will continue into the new year.
Previously, Gary said: "My focus now is helping out with the exhibition. They want me to work very closely with them."
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