The 100th anniversary of the First World War is now finished but the records will continue to be preserved at the Archives and accessible to current and future generations who want to know more about the time period. In addition, this blog will remain on our website as an additional resource.

March 2015 Posts:

• 16 March: The Manitoba Legislative Building: Photographing a Work in Progress
•   9 March: Alarm Clocks, Underwear and Everything in Between
•   2 March: Smellie of the Nascopie

16 March 2015

The Manitoba Legislative Building: Photographing a Work in Progress

Construction of the Manitoba Legislative Building began in 1913 and continued throughout the time of the First World War. The building was ready for partial occupancy in 1919 and was officially opened on 15 July 1920.

In 1915, L. B. Foote was commissioned by the Government of Manitoba to document the construction of the Legislative Building through photographs. These two photographs were taken on 18 March 2015 and show the progress of construction to that point.

Search Tip: Search “L.B. Foote” in Keystone to learn more about his photographs. Visit the Archives to see a slideshow in our foyer to see these and 32 more photographs from 1915-1916 documenting the Legislative Building construction.

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9 March 2015

Alarm Clocks, Underwear and Everything in Between

Gaults Limited catalogues from the First World War era document the fashions of the day including such essentials as sleeve protectors, handkerchiefs, parasols, children’s pinafores, spats, and celluloid cuffs and collars. The catalogues also provide examples of the types of floor coverings, draperies and furnishings that were available to homeowners of the time.

Gaults Limited was a dry goods wholesale company founded in Montreal in 1856 which operated until the 1970s.Its Winnipeg warehouse was built in 1899 on Arthur Street, and still exists as the Artspace Building. The Gaults Limited fonds includes catalogues dating from 1911 to 1970 which illustrate the wide range of goods the company offered to stores in towns throughout Manitoba and western Canada including men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, fabric, notions, toiletries, toys and home furnishings.

Search Tip: Search “Gaults Limited” in Keystone for more information on these records.

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2 March 2015

Smellie of the Nascopie

In October 1917, Captain Thomas Farrar Smellie became master of the Nascopie, taking over its wartime voyages from Captain Edmund Mack. At the time, Smellie had been in command of another HBC ship, the Bayverdun, which was also part of HBC’s fleet of supply vessels chartered by allied governments. He was stationed at Norfolk, Virginia, recovering from rheumatic fever. On the day that he received word from London that he was to assume command of the Nascopie, he also broke his arm. Weak from illness and with his arm in a sling, he travelled to Montreal to command the Nascopie on a voyage into the White Sea to Archangel, Russia. He arrived in Archangel in the spring of 1918 in the midst of Russian civil war. After this voyage, Captain Smellie had a long and celebrated career on board the Nascopie exploring the Arctic, for which he is best known. However, his contribution as one of two masters to sail the HBC’s most famous ship into war torn Russia cannot be forgotten.

See previous posts about the Nascopie from 25 August 2014, 12 January 2015, and 9 February 2015.

Search Tip: To learn more about Captain Smellie, consult the brief biographical sketch (PDF) on our website and use keyword “Smellie” to search for photographs of him in Keystone.

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