Signed Tintype of African American Men in Derby Hats [n.d.]

This undated small black and white tintype, slightly scratched, discolored and bent with age, shows a group of Black men posing for an unknown photographer. There is handwritten signature scratched into the reverse which appears to read "B.J." and "Owen" (see digital image of reverse). The original also has a hand-drawn "X" over the face of the seated man in the middle. This tintype was in the possession of Iris Sloman Bell, of St. Catharines, Ontario. The Sloman - Bell family descendants include former American slaves who settled in Canada."Tintypes were the invention of Prof. Hamilton Smith of Ohio. They begin as thin sheets of iron, covered with a layer of black paint. This serves as the base for the same iodized collodion coating and silver nitrate bath used in the ambrotype process. First made in 1856, millions were produced well into the twentieth century. When tintypes were finished in the same sorts of mats and cases used for ambrotypes, it can be almost impossible to distinguish which process was used without removing the image to examine the substrate." Source: American Museum of Photography http://www.photographymuseum.com/primer.html

Receipt from Henry Carlisle, Importer of Dry Goods and Millinery, St. Catharines for hats

Receipt from Henry Carlisle, Importer of Dry Goods and Millinery, St. Catharines for hats, Dec. 31, 1886.

Receipt from John Henderson and Co., Manufacturers of Hats, Caps and Furs and dealers in Indian Curiosities

Receipt from John Henderson and Co., Manufacturers of Hats, Caps and Furs and dealers in Indian Curiosities, Montreal for furs and buttons, Oct. 13, 1887.

Canadian Niagara Power Glass Slide - Group of men walking through the hydro tunnel

Four men (unidentified) walking in tunnel wearing hard hats and carrying flashlights.

Canadian Niagara Power Glass Slide - Men in Tunnel

Four men (unknown) standing in the tunnel wearing hard hats.

Canadian Niagara Power Glass Slide - Large Group in Tunnel

A large group of men in hard hats in the tunnel. The names of the men are unknown.

Canadian Niagara Power Company - Large group photo in tunnel

Large group of men standing in the tunnel wearing boots and hard hats.

Letter - E.C. Schmon to Arthur A. Schmon, 20 November 1919

Eleanore Celeste has been shopping for warm hats and dresses at Koenige, Beyers and Bambergers. She then visited with friends/neighbours the Glaesers. Her family is heading to Rahway, New Jersey. The letters are labelled number 48, 49, and 50.

Photograph - Man and group of Children

A photograph of a man in a suit with a group of four children in winter coats and hats. There appears to be snow on the ground around them.

Photograph - Women standing next to Car

A photograph of four women all in hats standing next to a car.

Daguerreotype - Julia Canby Cleveland and her Doll

Daguerreotype of Julia Canby Cleveland and her doll. Both the doll and the girl have wide brimmed hats. The photograph is in an ornate wooden (compact-like) case with carved thistles. There is a latch on the case. The case is lined in velvet and the leather binding on the spine has come away.

Receipt from Andrews and Aikine

Receipt from Andrews and Aikine, Hats, Caps, Furs and Gloves, St. Catharines for clothing, April 9, 1887.