From Friendless Women to Fancy Dress Balls: William James Topley's
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From Friendless Women to Fancy Dress Balls: William James Topley’s Photographic Portraits by Emma Hamilton-Hobbs A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Art History Carleton University Ottawa, Ontario © 2014, Emma Hamilton-Hobbs Abstract The Topley Studio fonds housed at Library and Archives Canada is one of the most widely consulted sources of late nineteenth and twentieth century photographs. Yet most existing literature on the photographer, William James Topley (1845-1930) and his Ottawa studio, has been framed within an approach that privileges style and the notion of artistic genius. This thesis instead examines photographs produced by the Topley Studio, while considering their broader socio-historical context. Focusing on photographic portraits of various ‘classes’ of Victorian women and men, and the spaces they occupied, this study reveals connections between identity formation, photographic practice and the politics of representation. From examinations of staged photographs of costumed participants in the Dufferin Grand Fancy Ball to images documenting female inmates of the Home for Friendless Women and the Carleton County Gaol, this thesis explores visual representations of gender, class and race in late nineteenth-century Ottawa. i Acknowledgements I would like to acknowledge a number of people who have helped make this thesis possible. First and foremost, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my supervisor, Dr. Carol Payne, whose unwavering support and guidance these past few years has been invaluable. To three former archivists of Library and Archives Canada, Andrew Rodger, Andrew Birrell and Richard Huyda, who helped piece together the history of the Topley collection with their institutional knowledge. I am especially indebted to Andrew Rodger, whose work on Topley over the years sparked my interest in this photographer in the first place, and whose enthusiasm and expertise on the subject has fuelled my own passion. I would also like to thank the current staff at Library and Archives Canada, the Archives of Ontario and the City of Ottawa Archives for their assistance and guidance during my research trips. I am especially grateful to Library and Archives Canada for providing me with an opportunity to work on the Topley Studio fonds as a student intern from May 2013 to present. Furthermore, I would like to thank Carleton University, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities for generously funding my research. Last, I would like to thank my loving partner and best friend, Scott Pesme, for being supportive and keeping me sane this past academic year. Also to my family and friends back home – thank you for your words of support and encouragement. I could not have accomplished this without you. ii Table of Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................... i Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................... ii List of Tables .................................................................................................................... iv List of Illustrations ............................................................................................................ v Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 1 Chapter One: Portrait Of A Capital Photographer .................................................... 17 Chapter Two: The Friendly, Friendless and Fallen Women of Late Nineteenth-Century Ottawa ........................................................................................... 41 Chapter Three: The Dufferin Fancy Ball Portraits: Fabricating Identity in Victorian Canada ............................................................................................................ 65 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................... 89 Appendix A ...................................................................................................................... 93 Table 1: Men in Custody at the Carleton County Gaol from 1890-99 ....................... 93 Table 2: Women in Custody at the Carleton County Gaol from 1890-99 ................. 94 Illustrations ...................................................................................................................... 95 Bibliography .................................................................................................................. 113 iii List of Tables Table 1 Men in Custody at the Carleton County Gaol from 1890-99………………...…93 Table 2 Women in Custody at the Carleton County Gaol from 1890-99…………….…94 iv List of Illustrations Figure Intro.1 William James Topley, Mr. Juchereau de St. Denis Lemoine in costume, March 1876, Ottawa (Ont.), glass plate negative, accession number 1936-270 NPC, item number 26020. Figure Intro.2 William James Topley, Mrs. Juchereau de St. Denis Lemoine in costume, March 1876, Ottawa (Ont.), glass plate negative, accession number 1936-270 NPC. Credit: Topley Studio Fonds / Library and Archives Canada / PA-138392 Figure 1.1 William James Topley, Interior view of the Notman Studio in Ottawa, Ontario, between 1868 and 1872, Ottawa (Ont.), glass plate negative, accession number 1936-270 NPC. Credit: William James Topley / Library and Archives Canada / PA- 009273 Figure 1.2 William James Topley, The first Topley studio at the corner of Metcalfe and Queen Streets, ca. 1875, Ottawa (Ont.), glass plate negative, accession number 1936-270 NPC. Credit: William James Topley / Library and Archives Canada / PA-012361 Figure 1.3 Reproduction of the new Topley Studio by Eugene Haberer, published in the Canadian Illustrated News, vol. XIV, no. 18, November 11, 1876, page 277. Source: Canadian illustrated news, Montreal, Burland Lithographic Co. [etc.]. -- 28 v. ill. 40 cm. -- Vol. XIV, no. 18 (November 11, 1876). -- ISSN 0383-0322. -- P. 277 © Public Domain nlc-14834 Figure 1.4 William James Topley, The public reception area of the Topley Studio at 104 Sparks Street, between 1878-1888, Ottawa (Ont.), glass plate negative, accession number 1936-270 NPC. Credit: William James Topley / Library and Archives Canada / PA- 009278 Figure 1.5 William James Topley, Lady Dufferin, April 1874, Ottawa (Ont.), glass plate negative, accession number 1936-270 NPC. Credit: Topley Studio / Library and Archives Canada / PA-025605 Figure 1.6 William James Topley, Fancy Ball given by the Governor General Lord Dufferin at Rideau Hall on February 23, 1876, May or June 1876, Ottawa (Ont.), silver salts on silver, accession number 1966-094 NPC NPC. Credit: William James Topley / Library and Archives Canada / C-006865 Figure 1.7 William James Topley, Lady Aberdeen, January 1897, Ottawa (Ont.), glass plate negative, accession number 1936-270 NPC. Credit: Topley Studio / Library and Archives Canada / PA-027856 Figure 1.8 William James Topley, The Royal Party in Rockcliffe Woods, September 23, 1901, Ottawa (Ont.), glass plate negative, accession number 1936-270 NPC. Credit: William James Topley / Library and Archives Canada / PA-011870 v Figure 1.9 William James Topley, Two unidentified women, one of whom is holding a Folding Pocket Kodak No. 1 camera, between 1899-1905, Cantley (QC), glass plate negative, accession number 1936-270. Credit: William James Topley / Library and Archives Canada / PA-012938 Figure 1.10 William James Topley, National Council of Women group at Rideau Hall, October 1898, Ottawa (Ont.), glass plate negative, accession number 1936-270 NPC. Credit: Topley Studio / Library and Archives Canada / PA-028034 Figure 2.1. William James Topley, Ironing Room, Home For Friendless Women (412 Wellington St., between Bay and Concession Street), February 1895, Ottawa, glass plate negative, accession number 1936-270 NPC. Credit: Topley Studio / Library and Archives Canada / PA-027434. Figure 2.2 William James Topley, Washing Room, Home For Friendless Women (412 Wellington St., between Bay and Concession Street), February 1895, Ottawa (Ont.), glass plate negative, accession number 1936-270 NPC. Credit: Topley Studio / Library and Archives Canada / PA-027435. Figure 2.3 William James Topley, Home for Friendless Women, showing side entrance, ca. 1916, Ottawa (Ont.), glass plate negative, accession number 1936-270 NPC. Credit: William James Topley / Library and Archives Canada / PA-011253 Figure 2.4 William James Topley, Laundry Room, Home for Friendless Women, ca. 1916, Ottawa (Ont.), glass plate negative, accession number 1936-270 NPC. Credit: William James Topley / Library and Archives Canada / PA-011262 Figure 2.5. William James Topley, Ironing Room, Home for Friendless Women, ca. 1916, Ottawa (Ont.), glass plate negative, accession number 1936-270 NPC. Credit: William James Topley / Library and Archives Canada / PA-011264 Figure 2.6. William James Topley, Female inmates standing in front of their cells, Carleton County Gaol, February 1895, Ottawa (Ont.), glass plate negative, accession number 1936-270 NPC. Credit: Topley Studio / Library and Archives Canada / PA- 027437 Figure 2.7. William James Topley, Polly, an inmate at the Carleton County Gaol, February 1895, Ottawa (Ont.), glass plate negative, accession number