Selina Smith surrounded by her students, 1895.

Image courtesy of the BC Archives: MS-3458 – Hamilton Smith photographs 

Christeah D

June 2024

Selina Frances Smith (b. August 19th 1854, d. July 15th 1938) was a Black settler in Victoria who was an esteemed musician and music teacher. Born in London, Ontario her father Moses Rowe Smith moved to British Columbia in 1858 where he opened a successful bakery. Selina, and her mother Sarah, joined Moses in Victoria in 1866 and shortly thereafter Sarah gave birth to Selina’s two younger brothers Garret and Hamilton “Hammie” Smith. 

The BC Archives holds a scrapbook lovingly put together by Selina: it contains many invitations for her recitals, letters from people complimenting her teaching, calling cards, and awards from her various performances and schooling. 

It is unclear exactly when her passion for music began, but in 1872 Selina was awarded an Honorary certificate for her performance of a piece of music called: SeaWeed at the First Provincial Exhibition at just 18 years old. Due to a lack of archival material concerning Selina’s young adult life, we know very little about what she was up to during the 1870s. But, we do know that she attended the Toronto College of Music, where she is listed as a member of the Toronto Philharmonic Society from 1890-1893, practicing her music under conductor Frederic Torrington, a respected musician. 

Daily Colonist advertisement for Selina’s music class. October 17th, 1894.

In October 1894, Selina returned to Victoria and began advertising her music classes in newspapers like the Daily Colonist. She opened a studio at 57 Fort Street (today the 600 block of Fort Street) where she taught many children and young adults from wealthy families. In November of 1894, Selina’s studio was visited by the Countess of Aberdeen (Ishbel Hamilton-Gordon) who commended the training of Miss Smith’s pupils and gifted Selina a photograph of herself. 

Selina continued her education in 1899 in Germany at the Leipzig Conservatory of Music under esteemed musical artist Henry Field, who awarded her a Gold Medal. 

By the end of the year, Selina re-opened her studio, with a more varied array of courses in musical theory, harmony, and pianoforte, this time with the assistance of her sister-in-law, Elizabeth Smith (nee’ Vogel). 

After she returned from Germany, it appears that Selina no longer operated her school out of the Fort street studio, instead teaching out of “Seaview”, the Smith family home on Dallas road. Historical building permits show that a permit was issued in 1907 to Sarah Anne Smith of 104 Dallas road to have a wood frame school built on the property at a cost of $250. Selina’s success continued, as over the course of the next several years many of Selina’s students would go on to become esteemed musicians, successfully passing the examinations set out by Torrington through the Toronto College of Music. 

Beginning in 1896 and continuing throughout the rest of her life, Selina would prepare her students for Toronto College of Music examinations and, with the assistance from other alumni from the college, oversee their examinations. Examination results were published in the Daily Colonist and prizes were distributed to successful students by members of Victoria’s upper classes. The Daily Colonist notes that: Victoria Mayor John Teague, Archdeacon Scriven, Bishop Perrin, Sir Henry Pellow Crease, Canon Beanlands, Canon Paddon, Rev. Dr. Campbell, and the Hon. D. M. Eberts, among many others, were present during these ceremonies. According to the Daily Colonist, over 53 of her students were awarded prizes for their Toronto College of Music examinations between 1906 and 1909, and some students even went on to open their own studios for musical teachings. 

After the death of her father, Moses, in 1896, Selina’s brothers took over their fathers biscuit business, but unfortunately it did not last. In September of 1909, the biscuit factory operated by Garret and Hamilton burned down and within a month, Mr. Smith’s Bakery assets were liquidated. It is unclear just how badly this affected the finances of the family, though letters in Selina’s scrapbook from the 1920’s remark on how her luck has returned “since the fire”. 

While Selina never married, newspaper clippings and personal documents housed at the BC Archives show that Selina remained dedicated to her students, continuing to teach through the 1930’s – well into her 70’s. While the advertisements for her classes end around this time, Selina is still mentioned in the papers at high society and musical events in Victoria. 

Selina Smith died in 1938. She had a vital role in shaping the talents of Victoria’s upper-class youth and her records in the BC Archives offer an intriguing snapshot into her life. As a Black woman and a well-respected music teacher, Smith likely faced both challenges and opportunities. Although we now have a strong outline of her life, there is clearly more research to be done.

Pupils of Selina Smith seated on the front steps of Seaview, Dallas Road, 1906

Image courtesy of the BC Archives: MS-3458 – Hamilton Smith photographs