Leah Hirst was born in Nanaimo in 1891 to parents John and Ann (nee Morgan) Hirst. When her parents died, Leah was raised by her maternal grandparents, Harriet and Morgan Harris. Morgan Harris died in 1906 at the age of 64; Harriet Harris died in 1920 at the age of 74.
Materials were originally donated to the Craig Heritage Museum in Parksville and later given to the Nanaimo Museum. In 2011, the museum donated them to the Nanaimo Community Archives.
Collection consists of two photographs of Leah Hirst and one photograph of Morgan Harris.