Tom Spink’s BarberShop 1912 – ROBERT HOARE COLL. PROV. ARCHIVES OF ALBERTA
Toronto. Ever wonder what a barbershop looked like inside in say 1912? Thanks to photography, this bit of reminiscing is totally practical. In issue 16-2 of our journal, dated Sept/Oct 1990, editor Ev Roseborough collaborated with Brock Silversides and the Alberta Archives saying, “I would like to thank the Provincial Archives of Alberta and Brock Silversides, Senior Audio-visual Archivist for material and assistance … .”
The pair listed key photographers, each with a brief write-up and photo using material from the Archives as a basis.
In discussing Robert Hoare (1878-1964), who shot the Spink’s barbershop photo in 1912, they write “Gerald Robin O’Bryan Hoare (known to his friends as “Bob” and to posterity in general as “Robert”) was born in Hampshire, England in 1878. He and his elder brother came to Canada in 1900 as remittance men, taking out a homestead east of the village of Bowden.
“It was at this time that Robert opened his photographic studio which he operated during the first decade of the twentieth century, recording the people and events of Bowden and district. His photographic enterprise did not, however, prove a success for he was no businessman; he finally closed his studio in 1914.
“He continued to reside on his homestead where he indulged in his favourite hobby of gardening, and maintained his interest in photography. He died in Edmonton in 1964. Five years later his collection was deposited on permanent loan at the Provincial Archives by the Bowden Historical Society.” …
Members read the rest of this article and more in the pdf version of issue 16-2 on the PHSC DVD which is sent free to members (we are at issue 50-1 today). What! you aren’t a member! Hey why not? It’s easy and inexpensive – see the menu bar item above or the paragraphs at the right to join. Questions? Email our Membership Secretary, Lilianne Schneider at member@phsc.ca.
