Figure 1.--Here we see two unidentified Canadian children. The CDV portrait is undatedm but we suspect was taken in the 1860s. It is one of the earliest Canadian photographs we have found to archive on HBC. The girl has a black silk-like pinafore over her white dress. Pantalettes peek out from underneath. She has a carefully curled hair hairstyle. The boy wears a jacket with what looks like sailor styling. We at first thought he was wearing striped stockings, but on closer examination they look like a solid color. The bow looks to be a stick tied into a bow. The photographer is E B Hodge located in Waterloo wgich we believe was in Ontario.

Relations netween Canada and American dramtically changed in the mid-19th century. John McDonald a Scot and Georges-Etienne Cartier a French Canadian founded the Confederation of Canada. Another war with America was narrowly averted over the Western border. After the Civil War, the United States purchased Alaska from the Russians in 1867. This undoubtedly afected British policies in Canada. The Confederation of Canada was formed in the same year. The British were concerned that the western provinces by decide to join he United States. McDonald as Canada's first Prime Minister promised a railroad from coast to coast. It took 20 years to build. Until the construction of the railroad, trade between western and eastern Canada was limited. The invention of photography privides us images for this period. As far as we can tell, Canadian boys at this time mostly wore English styled clothing. Boys from Scottish families might wear kilts. Boys began to wear kneepants in the 1860s. Britain was the primary fashion influence in the early-19th century and continued to be so in the mid-19th century. But we see portraits of children who could not be destinguished from American boys. This is part because there were similiaroties between American and British fashions, but the rapidly expanding American economy was beginning to impact Canada, especially by the 1860s.

American-Canadian Relations

Relations between Canada and American dramtically changed in the mid-19th century. John McDonald a Scot and Georges-Etienne Cartier a French Canadian founded the Confederation of Canada. Another war with America was narrowly averted over the Western border (1840s). After the Civil War, the United States purchased Alaska from the Russians in 1867. This undoubtedly afected British policies in Canada. The Confederation of Canada was formed in the same year. The British were concerned that the western provinces by decide to join he United States. The expanding American ecvonomy was provided a very significant pull. We see Canadian emigrating to the United States in large numbers, especially after the Civil War. Canasa became one of the most important source of American immigration. An early immigrannt was Palmer Cox who had a najor impact on the advertising and marketing industry. McDonald as Canada's first Prime Minister promised a railroad from coast to coast. It took 20 years to build. Until the construction of the railroad, trade between western and eastern Canada was limited.

Photography

The invention of photography privides us images for this period. We do not have very many photographic images from Canada during this period. Saguerreotypes and Anvrotypes are very rare. This is partly because of the small population, but British patent laws also slowed the expansion of the industry. This begin to change in the 1860s with the appearance of albumen based CDVs.

Fashion Influences

As far as we can tell, Canadian boys at this time mostly wore English styled clothing. Boys from Scottish families might wear kilts. Boys began to wear kneepants in the 1860s. Britain was the primary fashion influence in the early-19th century and continued to be so in the mid-19th century. But we see portraits of children who could not be destinguished from American boys. This is part because there were similiarities between American and British fashions, but the rapidly expanding American economy was beginning to impact Canada, especially by the 1860s.

Created: 8:28 PM 6/11/2010
Last updated: 8:29 PM 6/11/2010