Gems of Remembrance
Thursday, May 3rd at 7:30pm
The Annual Dawson. Dr. John Grant will present “Gems of Remembrance: The ‘Normal’ Autograph Books of Ermina Downie, Richard Woodland, Madeline Hines, and Annie Black, 1878-1929”
Until they were replaced by school and university year books, autograph books were a popular device for the storage of memories. Dr. Grant’s paper is based on an examination of the autograph books of four students who attended the Normal School/College in the fifty years between 1878 and 1929. The paper considers the autograph book entries within the social mores of their time and how they reflect changing public attitudes during a period of political and social upheaval.
From Colchester to Rochester:
Thomas Henry Blair and the Birth of Amateur Photography
Thursday, April 26, 7:30 pm
Jeffery Ward will give a public talk about Thomas Henry Blair. Born in Colchester County, Blair (1855-1919) became the main competitor of the Eastman Kodak Company before finally selling out to George Eastman in 1899. In his quarter century as a father of amateur photography he made notable advances in camera technology and manufacturing processes and his influence would also extend into the realm of motion pictures. Ward’s presentation will provide an overview of Blair fascinating but largely forgotten life and career.
Colchester Historeum, 29 Young St., Truro. $5 admission, free for members.
One Hour, Two Books
A.J.B (John) Johnston will present a one-hour illustrated talk about the background to his two, brand-new 2018 releases, both novels. The Hat is a fresh 21st century take on the Acadian Deportation; Something True tells the coming-of-age story of Katharine McLennan, a NS nurse in France during the First World War.
Annual General Meeting
Thursday, May 24 7:30pm