Note to Users
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
NOTE TO USERS The original manuscript received by UMI contains pages with indistinct and slanted print. Pages were microfilmed as received. This reproduction is the best copy available "THE INFLUENCE OF THE SOCIAL REFORM MOVEMENT AND T. EATON COMPANY'S BUSINESS PRACTICES ON THE LEISURE OF EATON'S FEMALE EMPLOYEES DURING THE EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURY" Susan L. Forbes School of Kinesiology Facdty of Health Sciences Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Facdty of Graduate Studies The University of Western Ontario London, Ontario ApnI 1998 O Susan L. Forbes 1998 National Library Bibliothèque nationale du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliogmphic Services services bibliographiques The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive licence dowing the exclusive permettant ê la National Library of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distriiute or sell reproduire, prêter7 distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microfonn, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic fonnats. la fome de microfiche/nlm, de reproduction sur papier ou sur fonnat électronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial exb-acts îrom it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation, ABSTRACT Male sport and leisure have undergone considerable anaiysis. Some scholars have examined women's sport, particdarly elite sport, and issues related to the control of women's bodies. However, little is known about the nature, context or influences associated with working womenysleisure. This research explores the social forces which uifluenced and dictated the nature of appropriate leisure purSuits, particularly for female employees of the T. Eaton Company (Toronto). A study such as this helps illuminate leisure patterns of working women. in addition, it examines the moral and social refonn movementsy influence on leisure practices, especially for workuig girls and women. Eatonyspersonal and corporate welfare practices were dso innuenced by these movements, particularly in the case of employee leisure. This research illustrates how Eaton's implemented training programs, rules and regdations to govern employee, especially female employee, deportment. This work dso shows how the company employed various recreation programs to expose femaie employees to "appropriate" fonns of leisure practices, while simultaneously reinforcing their "proper" role in society as future wives and mothers. In the end, Eaton's female employees' leisure was constnicted for them around an appropnated image. Andysis of Eaton's company documents, United Church archival material and secondary literature related to industrial recreation and mord and social reform informs this work .The period studied is primarily the 1920s and 1%Os, an era when most activities were implemented. In addressing the issue of corporate construction of leisure practices, consideration was given to the following subsidiary questions: What was the nature of the activities provided by Eaton's? How did those oppominities compare to others available in Toronto during the same period? Did Eaton's efforts differ fiom industrial recreation programs in other countries (e.g ., United States, Great Britain)? The research contributes to the body of knowledge on women's physicality in that it examines the leisure practices of ordinary women. Until recently, most scholarship has focussed on elite activity (e-g., Olympics, intercollegiate). Further, little consideration has been given to the broader topic of industrial recreation in Canada. The following study also sheds some light on that topic. KEYWORDS: moraYsocia1 reform, T. Eaton Company, female leisure, women's history, business history This work is dedicated to anyone who still has a dream to fidfill. Dreams can corne true. Al1 you need is passion, enthusiasm and &ends! Well, 1 guess it's alright I guess we've been lucky this far Look at what life's taught us, look where we are And you thllik we would know by now That nothing's too hard lfwe keep ouhands on the wheel And we keep our hearts on fire! @ The Wyrd Sisters, 1997 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Works such as this are never the result of a singular effort. Many individuais play a part in seeing such efforts through to fï-uition. 1 offer my thanks to my supervisor, mentor and niend, Dr. Don Morrow. Always demanding, yet supportive, Don provided enduring patience and guidance fiom the very beginning. His honesty and candour have helped both my course of study as well as my research. I have learned a great deal about behg a teacher, scholar and person through my interaction with him. 1 cherish the fiiendship that has developed durhg our work together. Dr. Angela Schneider and Dr. Darwin Sernotiuk have both offered their wisdom and guidance as rny cornmittee members. Their insight and attention to detail has been both eniightening and rewarding and 1 am grateful for al1 their assistance with this project. 1 would also like to thank Joan McCrow for her help over my years at Western. As graduate secretary, Joan offered considerable insight and support which made the whole process much easier. My thanks is also extended to the archivists and staff of the Public Archives of Ontario. They assistance in working with the Eatons Collection was invaluable. Complethg a doctoral program can be a trying adventure dong a sometimes difficult road, but that road is best travelled and enjoyed in the cornpany of others. 1 have had the great good fortune to have numerous fnends job me on this journey. Many offered a safe haven whether 1 was doing course work or carrying out research. Each, in their own way, has given of themselves unselfishly and for that 1am etemally grateful. Dr. Douglas Brown was aiways there to tafi and share ideas over innumerable cups of coffee and the occasional bottle of wine. His insight into and enthusiasm for my research was sustainhg and 1 learned a great deal fiom him. Our fiendship is a measure of that comecting. Dr. Aniko Varpolatai and Dr. Cecilia Preyra shared their warmth, fnendship and compassion with throughout the whole process. Each offered a unique perspective on being a graduate student and their support helped immeasurably. Dr. Sandi Spalding and her daughter Carly provided me a home away fiorn home during the last few years of my program. Their infectious good humour and kindness helped provide a cornforting respite fiom school. Their willingness to take in my dog and 1 speaks volumes about the open heartedness. Jane OICallaghanand Linda Taurant offered me shelter during those long months of data collection. They also gave of themselves in terms of fiïendship and support. I am gratefid to them for sharing their lives with me. Jen and Rob Kossuth were also extrernely generous in their hospitality, humour and support. Their fiiendship was an invaluable aspect of this process. To my "kids", ûtis, T.C. and Buella. Two cats and a dog can make for sû-ange and challenging times, but 1 wouid have rnissed so much if they hadn't been there to take me away fiom my work at times when I needed it most. Finally, my hedelt thanks and deepest grati-lc go out to rny best fiend, mentor, role mode1 and partner, Dr. Lori Livingston. Much of who 1 am today 1 owe to her. Her support and love, through even the most challenging times, was always there. She never quit on me, nor would she let me quit. 1 am grateful she was willing to journey down this road with me. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS Certificate of Examination Abstract Epigrm Acknowledgements Table of Contents Chapter 1 : introduction Research Statement Definition of Tenns: a) Culture b) Cultural Hegemony c> Leisure d) Industriai Recreation e) Social Class f Reform Movement Subsidiary Questions Procedure Primary Sources Limitations/Delimitatiom of Study a) Delimitations b) Limitations Assumptions Review of Related Literature OveMew of Chapters Chapter 2: The Toronto Reform Movement and Attitudes Toward Leisure 35 1) Introduction 35 viii The Refonn Movement - A Bnef Historical Overview a) Social Gospel Movement b) The Moral Refonn Movement Reform Agencies - The Nature of the Enterprise Pursuing a Higher Calling - Eatons' Social Conscience Activists in Action - The Department of Temperance, Prohibition and Moral Refonn The Refonn Movement and Leisure a) Sabbatarian Constraints and Conflict over Leisure b) The Problem and Problems of Commercial Amusements c) Dance Halls, Saloons and Other Vices d) Reforming Leisure - Appropnate Alternatives Summary and Conclusion Chapter 3: The Eaton Patriarchy and the Eaton's Ethos 1) Introduction 2) Historical Context and Key Players a) Timothy Eaton and His Store b) Margaret Wilson Eaton and Her School c) Like Father, Like Son? - Sir John Craig Eaton d) FLora McCrae Eaton e) Robert Young (R.Y.)Eaton 2) The Eaton Family and Employee Welfare a) Time Off: Early Closing and Working Homs b) Wages, Privileges and Recreation i) Privileges ii) Employee Welfare iii) Recreation for Employees 3) Summary and Conclusion Chapter 4: Saints and S inners: Eaton's and Fernale Leisure Practices 1) Introduction 2) Women and Toronto - An Overview 3) Girls and Women at Eaton's 4) Leisure and Recreation Pursuits a) A Paucity of Opportunîties b) A Brief Overview of Industrial Recreation c) Eaton's and Female Employee Leisure 5) Sumrnary and Conclusion List of Tables List of Appendices Appendices Bibliography Vita LIST OF TABLES Table Description Page SeIected T. Eaton Co. Donations to moraVsociai reform related agencies for the period 1912- 193 8 ........................................ -48 Average weekly and annual eamings for males and females by age group for periods 19 10- 19 1 1, 1920- 192 1, 1930-193 1, for Canadian cities over 30,000.