book by (left) and about (right) Edith S Watson, Photographer
Toronto. A couple of books are shown at left from an image in issue 23-4. At left is Watson’s 1922 book, Romantic Canada, and at right is Frances Rooney’s 1966 book about Watson titled, “Working Light: The Wandering Life of Photographer Edith S. Watson“. Rooney’s book is reviewed by past executive member, Tiit Kodar.
The books photo is part of the review. In his review, Tiit begins, “Written by an expatriate New Englander [Frances Rooney] now living in Canada [Jan 1998], this first book on the American travel photographer reproduces some of Watson’s favourite photographs, taken on her frequent journeys around Canada.
“Preceding the plates (all taken from the photographer’s own albums) is a much condensed biography of this self-assured and astute businesswoman who decided in her early thirties to combine her love of travel and her photographic skills, learned from her father’s brother, to earn her living.
“One of those Americans who fell under the spell of the Maritime provinces, she was to spend a great deal of her summers there, as well as Quebec, Ontario, the Western provinces, and, along with her life-long companion the journalist Victoria Hayward, to record the life of the Doukhobors in British Columbia and Manitoba before the renewed assault on their pacifism and isolationism by the Canadian and provincial governments.
“Some of these latter photographs are reproduced, and serve as reminders of a way of life so thoughtlessly destroyed. A few served as illustrations to Victoria Hayward’s article on them in the Canadian Magazine.” …
To read the rest of Tiit’s 1998 article, see the issue 23-4 pdf on the free members’ only DVD (or thumb drive). Not a member? It’s easy to join – see MEMBERSHIP above, or Membership at Right and follow the instructions. Questions? Email our membership secretary, Lilianne at member@phsc.ca.
