The Archives of Ontario, Canada, has developed the first in a series of exhibitions which will explore the impact of the First World War on the state’s people.
A new online exhibition starts the series by showcasing the letters that office worker Sadie Arbuckle and soldier Harry Mason wrote to each other before and during the war until Mason was killed in action in 1917.
Portrait of Harry Mason in military uniform, [ca. 1914-1917], Black and white print, Sadie Arbuckle fonds, Reference Code: F 848, Archives of Ontario, I0050214
Harry’s letters about life as a soldier and Sadie’s letters about life at home “provide a detailed and emotional contrast between their experiences”.
A travelling exhibition will also be featured at museums and cultural centres across Ontario starting in June 2014, followed by a final exhibit at the Archives of Ontario in the Autumn.
The exhibitions will feature donated items including diaries, letters and photographs, as well as posters and art. Dates and locations of the exhibitions will be specified by the Archives of Ontario in the coming weeks.
To view the online exhibition, visit the Archives of Ontario website here.
Source: Archives of Ontario press release
Images courtesy of the Archives of Ontario
Posted by: Daniel Barry, Centenary News