A 104-year-old woman living in an Edinburgh care home has been emotionally reunited with a traditional Korean outfit she wore almost a century ago, now a cherished exhibit at the National Museum of Scotland. Mary Davidson Smith, born in Korea, travelled the world before settling in Edinburgh to raise her two sons. She served in the Royal Navy, was posted to Washington DC, and met her husband, Charles Wynard Davidson Smith, a British Army officer.
Donation to the Museum
Upon moving to Edinburgh, Ms Smith donated the traditional Korean garment, made for her by her nurse in early childhood, to the National Museum of Scotland. It has since been displayed in the museum’s Patterns of Life gallery. Staff at Care UK’s Murrayside home in Corstorphine learned of her wish to see the dress again and arranged a private tour.
Emotional Reunion
Reflecting on the experience, Ms Smith said: "I felt like some sort of celebrity! It was so nice to see the dress again, it was a lot smaller than I remember." Dr Friederike Voigt, principal curator for west, south, and south-east Asia collections, welcomed her and commented: "It was wonderful to welcome Mary and reunite her with her outfit. Comprising a hat, bag, and wraparound jacket – known as a chimageogori – it’s a charming example of traditional Korean dress, or hanbok."
Wishing Tree Initiative
The reunion was part of Care UK’s Wishing Tree initiative, which helps residents fulfil dreams. Suzanne Welsh, home manager at Murrayside, said: "No matter how big or small, we aim to make residents’ wishes come true. Seeing Mary’s face light up was truly heartwarming. A huge thank you to the museum team for bringing such meaningful memories back to life."
