New exhibition reveals hidden stories of children in Canadian history

MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate release

Gatineau, Quebec, March 29, 2018 — A new exhibition produced by the Canadian Museum of History and Library and Archives Canada examines the presence of children in Canada’s documentary heritage.

Featuring rarely seen artifacts, photographs, archival documents and works of art from the collections of the Canadian Museum of History and Library and Archives Canada, A Little History is the second exhibition in the Treasures From Library and Archives Canada gallery at the Museum. Through a series of rotating exhibitions over a five-year period, the gallery offers visitors access to some of the most important, influential and fascinating documents and artifacts from the collections of both institutions.

“Children’s experiences are too often absent from our history books, and finding evidence of their stories is not easy,” said Mark O’Neill, President and CEO of the Canadian Museum of History. “Thanks to the rare and outstanding pieces from the collections of Library and Archives Canada, visitors will enjoy a unique perspective on moments in Canadian history, as seen through the eyes of children.”

“Documenting Canadian history in all its diversity gives us the unique opportunity and responsibility to shed light on lesser-known experiences within it — such as those of the very young,” remarked Dr. Guy Berthiaume, Librarian and Archivist of Canada. “For what will be our second exhibition at the Museum, we are proud to feature a rarely seen angle of our national story.”

A Little History features 36 unique artifacts, four of which come from the Museum’s collection. The exhibition includes rare photographs, such as a portrait of Louis Riel’s children and a picture of David Suzuki and his sisters in a Japanese internment camp. It also includes letters and diaries written by children, including Mary Macdonald’s letters to her father, Sir John A. Macdonald, and a British immigrant’s account of a seven-week transatlantic voyage to Canada. These artifacts and documents tell a wide range of stories, revealing the diversity of Canadians’ experiences through the lens of childhood.

A Little History, an experience to share as a family, will be presented at the Museum from March 30, 2018 to January 27, 2019, with support from Arthur B. C. Drache, C.M., Q.C. and Judy Young Drache.

The exhibition complements the stories presented in the Museum’s new signature gallery, the Canadian History Hall, which tells Canada’s history from the dawn of human habitation to the present day.

Treasures From Library and Archives Canada is the result of a partnership between Library and Archives Canada and the Canadian Museum of History.

About the Canadian Museum of History

Located on the shores of the Ottawa River in Gatineau, Quebec, the Canadian Museum of History welcomes over 1.2 million visitors each year. The Museum’s principal role is to enhance Canadians’ knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the events, experiences, people and objects that have shaped Canada’s history and identity, as well as to enhance Canadians’ awareness of world history and culture. Work of the Canadian Museum of History is made possible in part through financial support of the Government of Canada.

About Library and Archives Canada

The mandate of Library and Archives Canada is to acquire and preserve the documentary heritage of Canada for the benefit of present and future generations, and to be a source of enduring knowledge accessible to all, thereby contributing to the cultural, social and economic advancement of Canada. Library and Archives Canada also facilitates co-operation among communities involved in the acquisition, processing, preservation and diffusion of knowledge, and serves as the continuing memory of the Government of Canada and its institutions. Stay connected with Library and Archives Canada on Twitter (@LibraryArchives), Facebook, Flickr and YouTube.

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