Keys to History

Victorians delighted in new technologies, especially those that recorded their accomplishments. They called upon society photographers, like William Notman of Montreal, to document their businesses, families and homes. These photographs reveal how Canadians interpreted the domestic ideal. Members of the middle-class establishment wanted it to be recognized that their wives did not have to labour outside the home and had servants to do heavy housework.

Looking at Mrs. Atwater, we see that Victorian clothing emphasized a woman's separation from the world of work. Corsets made breathing difficult. Crinolines and hoops made sudden movements hazardous. Tightly fitted sleeves placed physical constraints on the wearer--had she wanted to, she could not lift her arms.