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September 1995, vol. 27, no. 9
by Andrea Paradis,
Public Programs
Some of the information in this article was taken from a news release issued by the National Archives of Canada.
The Project
The rich voice of Lorne Greene first became familiar to Canadians during World War II when he narrated the radio program, "The World in Action". Those who visit the exhibition "Victory Bonding: Wartime Messages from Canada's Government, 1939-1945" organized by the National Archives of Canada will have the opportunity to hear Greene's voice and experience other aspects of wartime Canada. In partnership with staff from the National Library of Canada, the National Film Board of Canada, Globalmic Design and the Canadian Museum of Civilization, curator Theresa Rowat developed this examination of wartime messages produced far from the battlefield, in print, on the screen and over the radio. From Wayne and Shuster in "The Army Show" to the animated short films made by Norman McLaren of the National Film Board, Canada's most creative talents were called into action in a massive communications campaign that mobilized the country.
The primary focus of "Victory Bonding" is on the important wartime holdings of the National Archives that were generated by government departments in the effort to "speed the victory". These messages helped to build support for recruitment, for victory bonds, for recycling and for workforce productivity. They encouraged tolerance of Canada's ethnic groups, while at the same time targeting "others" as enemies; they also gave to returning soldiers information they needed to readjust to civilian life.
Working with the Archives from the beginning of the project, the National Library has been pleased to provide numerous items for the exhibition, primarily from its official publications and serial holdings, and especially from its music collection. Examples of wartime sheet music and recorded music appear in the exhibition, and a background soundtrack of wartime music was produced by the Library's Music Division. In addition, the Library produced a bibliography that includes more than 140 publication titles relating to history, society and the arts during the Second World War.
The Origin
The National Library's role in this exhibition began with a proposal from Barbara Norman of the Music Division, who was interested in preparing an exhibition on wartime sheet music for 1995. However, the main exhibition room was already fully booked for 1995. While the matter was being discussed, public programming colleagues in the National Archives revealed that they were just about to begin research on a major exhibition related to official wartime messages, and wanted to include audiovisual material and music. Barbara Norman's idea was brought into the discussion along with the suggestion that the Library has other relevant materials, particularly official publications and periodicals, that could be used in the exhibition.
The Process
A National Library "curatorial" team was established, consisting of Barbara Norman and Gilles St-Laurent from the Music Division, and Sandra Burrows, Norma Gauld and Sandra Bell from the Reference and Information Services Division. Their respective areas of expertise, augmented by their personal interests, served the project superbly. Working with the National Library's Public Programs office, the group met with project coordinators and counterparts from the National Archives to discuss what Library materials would be of most interest. Each member of the Li-brary's curatorial team drew up a long list of items for consideration. Exhibition Curator Theresa Rowat then met with each individual on the Library's team to determine which items would fit in with the story and themes she was developing.
While National Library staff prepared their information, a parallel exercise was being undertaken with the other project partners. The National Archives of Can-ada provided much archival footage which became a notable feature of the exhibition, and production assistance was given by the National Film Board of Canada. The Canadian Museum of Civilization produced a Kodak portfolio disc (interactive photo CD) program entitled Back the Attack: Canadian Women and the Second World War.
The Result
Echoing and complementing the moving television and radio programs we have seen and heard as major World War II anniversary dates have come up in the last two years, the exhibition will mem-orialize Canadian services in the theatres of war and those performed on the home front, including the work done by civil servants behind the scenes in the wartime communications machine.
For those who lived through this unparalleled period, "Victory Bonding" will evoke powerful memories. For the generation of younger Canadians, the exhibition will offer insights into the wartime Canada of their parents' and grandparents' youth and help to create a bond of understanding about the conflicting forces that reshaped the world and its future. The National Library of Canada has been proud to be a partner in this National Archives of Canada exhibition.
The exhibition "Victory Bonding" is on view in the East Wing Exhibition Hall at 395 Wellington Street from June 23 until January 3, 1996.
Victory Bonding: Wartime Messages from Canada's Government, 1939-1945, A Bibliography, has been prepared by Sandra Bell of the National Library of Canada for the National Archives exhibition. The bibliography is divided into five major sections: I. Background II. Reference Works III. Histories: Official and Other IV. The People: Leadership (Political and Military), Persons in Military Service, Women, and Other Groups in Society V. Themes: Art, Censorship/Propaganda, Civil Liberties, Conscription, Music, Peace, Strategy and Operations.
Available free from:
Marketing and Publishing
National Library of Canada
395 Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0N4
Telephone: (613) 995-7969
Fax: (613) 991-9871
TTY: (613) 992-6969
Internet: publications@nlc-bnc.ca
For information on other print materials on the exhibition, contact André Martineau, National Archives of Canada, at (613) 995-8989.
Copyright. The National Library of Canada. (Revised: 1995-10-31).