Record of the Week: St. Patrick's Day Ephemera

This St. Patrick's Day we offer a most unique example of ephemera from the archives.

It is an event programme for the St. Patrick's Day Fifteenth Annual Musical Soiree, 1871. 

Though the location of the venue is not explicitly mentioned, addresses given by Alderman Hearn, M.P.P for Quebec, and Revd. J. S. Lonergan of Montreal suggest somewhere in la belle province, specifically Quebec City (see Comments below for that deduction).

The gold metallic text is printed on a piece of kelly green raw-edged silk.  That pairing, combined with the minuscule font, which has bled through the fabric, results in one of the most unusual and illegible pieces of textual material we have.

The item is part of Archbishop John Lynch's fonds.

Archbishop Lynch fonds, L AE 20.01

Saint Patrick's Day, 1871,
Fifteenth Annual Musical Soiree
Under the auspices of the
St. Patrick's C. and L. Institute,
Music Hall,
Friday Evening, March 17th.

The programme's title features the triangular Celtic harp, a national symbol that appears on the Republic of Ireland's coins and coat of arms. Under the harp is the banner Erin Go Bragh (an anglicization of  Éirinn go Brách), used to express allegiance to Ireland. It is most often translated as "Ireland Forever."

A scan of the programme does not improve decipherability. Nor do the multiple stains - do you reckon they're Guiness or whiskey?

"Part First": songs include Ode to Pope Pius IX (Rossini); Exile of Erin (Campbell); Les dragons de Villars (Maillart); O'Donnell A boo

"Part Second": songs include Dear Old Ireland (Sullivan); The Green Little Shamrock (Cherry); I saw form the beach (Moore)

Bills Bills Bills

In this space we like to explore how the ARCAT collection reflects the history of Catholic Toronto, but we also like to look at the broader context. Today we are featuring a type of document that has been around for thousands of years: bills and receipts.

These documents give us an amazing glimpse into the past by showing us what people were purchasing, what they were eating, and what they were wearing. They show us where people were shopping, the types of businesses that existed in the city, and how much things cost. They help us fill in the picture of what everyday life was like for those whose actions created our modern world.

This 1908 Bell bill shows that Archbishop McEvay paid $1.05 for calls to Hamilton, Guelph and Niagara Falls in the month of August.

Archbishop McEvay Fonds: ME AA06.12 

In 1908 Archbishop McEvay bought a Singer sewing machine for $32.00. Today, their sewing machines cost anywhere from $100 - $1000. The top of the line model even has an LCD touch screen!

Archbishop McEvay Fonds: ME AA06.14

Over the course of September, 1908, Archbishop McEvay bought peaches, pears, grapes, apples, oysters and salmon from Gallagher's Fruit and Oyster House, and he only spent a grand total of $5.85. If you can tell us what the first two items he bought were, you win a prize!

Archbishop McEvay Fonds: ME AA06.25

In 1908 you could buy a rug and a mattress for $9.25 from The J. F. Brown Company. The J.F. Brown site is now a heritage building at 193 Yonge St., across from the Eaton Centre.

Archbishop McEvay Fonds: ME AA06.31

$35.50 for carriage repairs at The Enright Shoeing Forge in December, 1909. Very important to maintain your means of transportation!

Archbishop McEvay Fonds ME AA06.78

We take ice for granted now. We can just reach into the freezer or buy a big bag from the store if necessary year round. In 1910, Archbishop McEvay paid $8.00 for a four month supply of ice cut from Lake Simcoe.

Archbishop McEvay Fonds: ME AA06.88

$4.00 for office supplies from Grand & Toy in 1910.


Archbishop McEvay Fonds: ME AA06.146

"2 to Depot - 1 home" $1.00 in 1901 for Archbishop O'Connor

Archbishop O'Connor Fonds: O AC01.01

Some of you might remember shopping at Eatons. In 1899 you might have paid $27.00 for 28 yards of carpet.

Archbishop Walsh Fonds: W AA11.02

Only $35.00 for a brass bed in 1899 from the Schomberg Furniture Company.

Archbishop O'Connor Fonds: O AC01.01

Rye, Sherry Wine and Claret purchased from George J. Foy, Importer of Wines, Liquors and Cigars in 1899 for $6.20.

Archbishop O'Connor Fonds: O AC01.01

$26.89 for work on the Cathedral by William Simpson in 1902. The receipt is signed off on by the architect, A.W. Holmes.

Archbishop O'Connor Fonds: O AC01.01

Bishop Power paid £3.40 for various items of clothing from Walter MacFarlane in 1844, including 12 nightcaps, 4 pairs of cashmere hose, and 5 India handkerchiefs.

Bishop Power Fonds: P AD01.04

The bill for Archbishop Walsh's funeral includes charges for washing and dressing remains, shaving, embalming, a purple silk plush casket, coachmen and footmen in livery, and other things. The total came to almost $800.00. Rosar-Morrison Funeral Home still exists on Sherbourne St. in Toronto.

Archbishop Walsh Fonds: W AA11.02