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Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)
Dates of creation area
Date(s)
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1920-1981, predominant 1948-1980 (Creation)
Physical description area
Physical description
5.4 m of textual records 2141 photographs 73 plans 19 artifacts 1 scrapbook
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Archival description area
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Administrative history
The Canadian National Exhibition was founded in 1879 for the purpose of promoting agriculture, industry and the arts. Women were included in the activities of the Exhibition, and among the categories open for competition was the section for Women's Work. The competitions became so popular that a committee was established to oversee the administration of the entries. By 1907, the number of entries in this section, as well as in the Children's and Schools' sections had grown considerably. A Women's Building was erected in 1908 to accommodate the exhibits and entries. There were not many other areas of the CNE that catered to the "interests of women" until 1923 when Kate Aitken opened her Country Kitchen exhibit. The Canadian National Exhibition Association realizing the exhibit's popularity and the possibilities of other such presentations, established the Women's Division in 1938.
After the Second World War, and until 1956, the Women's World was housed in the Women's Building and in the West Annex of the Coliseum. With the erection of the new Women's Building in 1957, however, the Women's Division's displays and winning entries were finally exhibited under one roof. The Queen Elizabeth Building gave the division more space for the displays, as well as giving it the opportunity to use the Queen Elizabeth Theatre for the fashion shows.
The construction of the Better Living Centre in 1962 also increased the Women's Division's exhibit area. Exhibitors rented booths in the building and displayed a wide variety of merchandise.
From 1948 to 1980, the operations of the Women's Division were extensive: it administered the CNE's annual women's theatre shows and competitions; the school displays and competitions; oversaw allocation of space in the Women's Building (and the West Annex of the Coliseum when space became limited) and the sale of exhibit space in the Better Living Centre after it was built in 1962; directed the presentation of the kitchen theatres and fashion shows in the Queen Elizabeth Theatre; and organized the home furnishings exhibits. The Women's Division also worked with various national and international women's societies and sought support from related organizations. These societies and organizations contributed a large portion of the prize money and awards offered to competitors at the CNE. They also provided financial support for the production of special exhibits and demonstrations.
As it grew, the Division organized itself into departments to effectively administer its operations. It was not until 1979, however, that the individual departments maintained their own records within the Division. The Director coordinated the activities of the Division and attended to general administrative duties.
There were two directors of the Women's Division from its inception in 1938, till its dissolution in 1980. The first, Kate Aitken, was director of the Women's Division from 1938 to 1952. She was well known to many Canadians for her broadcast shows on CFRB radio, Toronto, and her role as Women's Editor of the Montreal Standard.
Her association with the CNE began in 1923 when she opened a Farm Kitchen exhibit in the Women's Building. Her cooking, canning and preserving demonstrations were such a success that the Exhibition's directors were persuaded to develop women's activities further.
Under the direction of Kate Aitken, the Women's Division organized competative and educational exhibits of interest to women. The cooking shows were joined by fashion shows, beauty contests, and handicraft demonstrations. Both the Women's Prize List and the School Prize List were expanded and offered a wide variety of competitions. "Mrs. A" as she was called, performed her radio shows during the Exhibition, broadcasting from the grounds. She continued this practice even after retiring as Director of Women's Activities in 1952.
Kate Aitken's successor, Elsa Jenkins, was director of the Women's Division from 1952 to 1980. She had worked for the Globe and Mail, Style Magazine, and was the first woman announcer on CBC.
During her 28 years as director, Elsa Jenkins was responsible for promoting the interests of women at the CNE. She was particularly involved in the production of elaborate fashion shows and the home furnishings exhibits. To help fund the Division's ventures, Elsa Jenkins gained the support of a number of companies across Canada. Ever in search of fresh ideas, Elsa Jenkins visited a number of countries including Egypt, India, France, Ireland and Peru. These tours were made possible through the support of a number of airlines. Elsa Jenkins was involved in several women's organizations. This helped promote the Women's Division within the community, as well as acquire new ideas.
On January 1, 1981, the functions of the Women's Division were distributed among other departments within the Canadian National Exhibition and Elsa Jenkins became director of Visitor Services. Shortly thereafter the competitions were discontinued, as was the allocation of non-profit exhibition space. Today, the only exhibit which hints at the past displays "of interest to women" is the Quilt Show held annually at the CNE.
Custodial history
The records were created by the Women's Division of the Canadian National Exhibition from 1938 to 1980. No documentation is available regarding the time or circumstances of the physical transfer of the records from the creating office to the Exhibition Place Archives, the transfer of legal custody and control to the Archives, and the acceptance of the records by the Archives.
Scope and content
Fonds consists of 5.4 metres of textual records, including 73 architectural plans, 2116 photographic images, artifacts (a hankerchief from the handicraft competition and prize ribbons), and one scrapbook. They cover the period 1920-1980, the predominant dates being 1948-1980. Arrangement and description is at the series and file levels. The original order of the Women's Division records has been maintained. The arrangement is chronological by year, and within each year the files are classified alphabetically according to subject. Some of the subjects of the records include fashion, handicrafts, home furnishings, publicity, and prize lists for women and children. Fonds consists of the following series: Departmental Files Photographs Scrapbook
Notes area
Physical condition
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Restrictions on access
Potentially restricted according to the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Researchers are advised that citation of the Exhibition Place Archives is required in publications and essays. Please consult with the archivist regarding reproduction requests.
Finding aids
File lists available.
Associated materials
Accruals
General note
Includes textual records, black and white, colour print, negative, slide, contact print, glass plate photographs (28 x 36 and smaller), 73 plans, 19 artifacts, 1 hankerchief, prize ribbons, and 1 scrapbook.