An Online Look at the Roots of E-commerce
Gatineau, Quebec, December 14, 2004 — The Canadian Postal Museum of the Canadian Museum of Civilization has launched a new virtual exhibition entitled Before E-commerce: The History of the Mail-Order Catalogue in Canada. Packed with information and activities for teachers, students, history buffs and collectors, this new site is a collaborative project of the Canadian Postal Museum, Library and Archives Canada and the City of Toronto Culture Division, with funding from the Virtual Museum of Canada (www.virtualmuseum.ca).
Before E-commerce is an educational and entertaining look at the history of mail order in Canada, a story that began in during the 1880s. From carefully researched essays by 20 different authors to fun and games, the site provides visitors of all ages with an invaluable glimpse into the world of mail order, how it shaped our dreams and wishes and how it has influenced the way we shop today.
“Today’s e-commerce is the latest development in the constant evolution of business,” says Dr. Victor Rabinovitch, President and CEO of the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation. “Catalogue shopping evolved from early product lists aimed at settlers in remote towns and cities, to the sophisticated marketing tools we are familiar with today. It also fired the imaginations of Canadians from coast to coast, while helping to unify the Canadian economy.”
Before E-commerce was produced as a compact resource covering the history of mail-order catalogues, and their impact on the way we shop today. Casual visitors can check prices in the early twentieth century against their equivalents today, and see who got a better bargain. Children can play interactive games, or create their own paper dolls. Teachers will appreciate the wealth of programmes and resources designed to enhance established curricula. Students will enjoy support activities and interactive games as they embark upon a new kind of interactive activity, known as a webquest. Everyone will enjoy looking at one or other of the forty odd mail-order catalogues from Eaton’s, Simpson’s and Dupuis Frères that have been scanned in their entirety for this exhibition.
“The mail-order catalogue is an interesting reflection of the lives of everyday Canadians,” says Ian E. Wilson, Librarian and Archivist of Canada. “Before E-commerce offers insight into our fascination with shopping and how it continues to influence our society today.”
“The City of Toronto Culture Division is very pleased to be a partner in this dynamic project,” says Karen Black, Manager of Museum and Heritage Services. “Using current technology to connect with the past is an important step in presenting Canada's rich cultural resources.”
“The Canadian Heritage Information Network (CHIN) is excited about this new virtual exhibition,” says Namir Anani, Director General of CHIN. “We are always looking for ways to bring cultural content to new audiences, and the rich content contained in Before E-commerce is certain to engage the interest of cybervisitors for years to come.”
The Virtual Museum of Canada (VMC) was created by CHIN, an agency of the Department of Canadian Heritage, in association with more than 1,000 museums and other organizations across the country. The VMC is a unique gateway, featuring the stories and treasures entrusted to Canadian museums, and seeks to promote the presence of Canadian cultural content in cyberspace.
Before E-commerce can be accessed directly at http://www.civilization.ca/cpm/catalog/ or through the Virtual Museum of Canada gateway (www.virtualmuseum.ca).
Media Information:
Chief, Media Relations
Canadian Museum of Civilization
Tel.: (819) 776-7167
Media Relations Officer
Canadian Museum of Civilization
Tel.: (819) 776-7169
Fax: (819) 776-7187
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