Clouds and Sparrowbills: Clothing Consumption in Bonavista,1863-73

Thursday, Nov. 3, 1-2 p.m.

A-4004

Lecture by Dr. Meaghan Walker, Ewart A. Pratt Postdoctoral Fellow.

In the late nineteenth century, Robert Brown, the Scottish-born accountant for the Ryan merchant family in Bonavista, Newfoundland, diligently recorded the transactions from the Ryan’s premises store to a series of journals. His records allow a look into the consumption preferences, habits, and necessities of outport families in Bonavista and the surrounding communities, directly selling to fishers as far away as Greenspond and Sandy Cove, and supplying at least one independent merchant in Dundara (Broad Cove). While this includes information about household, shipbuilding, and fisheries purchases, this research focuses narrowly on the purchases of clothing and clothing-related items consisting of ready-made garments and accessories, footwear, fabric, and notions.

Presented by Department of History

Event Listing 2022-11-03 13:00:00 2022-11-03 14:00:00 America/St_Johns Clouds and Sparrowbills: Clothing Consumption in Bonavista,1863-73 Lecture by Dr. Meaghan Walker, Ewart A. Pratt Postdoctoral Fellow. In the late nineteenth century, Robert Brown, the Scottish-born accountant for the Ryan merchant family in Bonavista, Newfoundland, diligently recorded the transactions from the Ryan’s premises store to a series of journals. His records allow a look into the consumption preferences, habits, and necessities of outport families in Bonavista and the surrounding communities, directly selling to fishers as far away as Greenspond and Sandy Cove, and supplying at least one independent merchant in Dundara (Broad Cove). While this includes information about household, shipbuilding, and fisheries purchases, this research focuses narrowly on the purchases of clothing and clothing-related items consisting of ready-made garments and accessories, footwear, fabric, and notions. A-4004 Department of History