Browse Exhibits (2 total)

Textus-Texts-Textiles: Fabric Bookworks by Lise Melhorn-Boe

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Textus-Texts-Textiles explores the relationship between texts and textiles, through a feminist lens, via the sewing bookworks of Kingston artist, Lise Melhorn-Boe, supplemented by books as cultural texts and technological artifacts from the collections of W.D Jordan Rare Books and Special Collections. 

Curated by: Brendan Edwards, Curator of Rare Books and Special Collections, Queen's University Library, and Ella Heiss, undergraduate student in HIST212, Experiential Learning in Historical Perspectives, Queen's University.

Spring-Summer 2022

A Primer for the Use of the Mohawk Children

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This exhibit is designed to showcase an important primary resource for understanding the complex relationship between the Kanyen'kehaka (Mohawk) people and British colonists in the late 18th century: A Primer for the use of the Mohawk children, to acquire the spelling and reading of their own, as well as to get acquainted with the English, tongue ; which for that purpose is put on the opposite page / Waerighwaghsawe iksaongoenwa Tfiwaondad-derighhonny Kaghyadoghfera ; nayondeweyestaghk ayeweanaghnòdon ayeghyàdow Kaniyenkehàga Kaweanondaghkouh ; dyorheaf-hàga oni tfinihadiweanotea. Authorship attributed to Daniel Claus, Printed in London by C. Buckton, 1786.

Designed to be used as an educational tool for Kanienʼkehá꞉ka school children, the Primer consists of basic vocabulary lessons and religious instruction, in both English and Kanienʼkéha (Mohawk) language. Aligned with its educational function, the Primer reflected and consolidated the military and political alliance between the Kanyen'kehaka and British, while attempting to instill common values, language, and ideology.

Analyzing the Primer through a lens that is respectful of multiple historical truths, this exhibit aims to present a balanced and textual approach to examining history.