Einstein Collection.

Joseph Oppenheimer was commissioned in the early 1930s to paint portraits of Albert Einstein.  The Einsteins and the Oppenheimers became friends.  Two original sketches of Einstein are on display at the Museum along with a personal letter from Einstein to Joseph. 

Dunn / Beaverbrook Display Case.

 Lady Beaverbrook was a very private person and she wanted everything personal to her to be destroyed upon her death – this included her home, which is now The Museum at Dayspring.  She relented in her later will. All her belongings were sold at auction.  The Museum has only a few photographs and possessions of Lady Beaverbrook’s, and these are on display in her former bedroom. 

Percy Rodriguez.

Percy Rodriguez was a well-known Canadian actor starring in such series as Peyton Place and Star Trek.  He was a friend of Eva Prager’s.  A portrait of Percy painted by Eva and an autographed photograph from the actor are on display at the Museum.

Marc Chagall.

Eva Prager studied under Marc Chagall in Paris in the late 1930s.  She became friends with his daughter Ida and stayed with her while in Paris.  On display are original sketches of the Chagall family autographed by Chagall but sketched by Joseph.

Renee Asherson.

Renee Asherson was a well-known British Shakesperean actress who sat for Joseph Oppenheimer for the cover of Woman’s Journal magazine in 1945.  While sitting for the portrait used for the magazine, Joseph Oppenheimer and Renee were filmed by British Pathe News. The newsreel is on constant feed at the Museum. Renee appeared in such films as The Cure for Love (1949), The Way to the Stars (1945), and The Others (2001).

Original Sketch by Pierre Trudeau.

Eva Prager and Pierre Trudeau were good friends and Eva often spent time in the Visitor’s Gallery of the House of Commons.  On one occasion, in 1969, while Eva sketching him, he did a sketch of her.  The original sketch is on display at the museum entitled “Sketch of a Sketcher Making a Sketch”.

German Chancellor Otto Von Bismarck.

After Joseph Oppenheimer became very sick at the age of 14, he went to a cure hotel in Bad Kissingen to recuperate.  One evening at dinner in the hotel he saw Chancellor Bismarck also having dinner.  He did a quick sketch of Bismarck, went to his table and gave it to him.  A couple of days later, Bismarck returned the sketch with a personal letter of praise.  The drawing and letter are on display at the Museum together with a stunning gouache of Bismarck’s funeral service several years later. 

Miniature Cigarette Case Gifted by Deborah Kerr.

Academy award-winning actress Deborah Kerr was a good friend of Joseph & Fanny Oppenheimer, and they frequently corresponded.  At one point in Deborah’s career, she gifted a miniature cigarette case to Joseph.  It is on display at the Museum with the tiny cigarettes still intact.

Weekend Magazine Hollywood Children.

In 1961 Eva Prager was commissioned by Weekend Magazine to travel to Hollywood to paint the children of several famous celebrities.  These included actress Debbie Reynolds’ children – Carrie & Todd Fisher -- Jayne Mansfield & Mickey Hargitay’s children – Jayne Marie, Mickey Jr. and Zoltan and Alan Ladd’s son, David Ladd.  Copies of the article along with photographs are on display in the Museum. 

Woodie Wagon.

The only one in the world, Vincent Prager’s 1947 Standard 14 Woodie Station Wagon is one of several classic cars on display at the Museum.