Bytown Mechanics' Institute
Encyclopedia
The Bytown Mechanics' Institute is an Upper Canada example of knowledge transfer
organizations aimed at the grass roots. These institutions were Victorian and moralistic in tone and class oriented in structure which, in part, explains their failure. However, they show the tendency towards democratic institutions in the early history of Canada where borders between the United and Canada where more fluid than in the present era and encourage such ideals. These institutions attempted to include the working class, French Canadians and women where the British social model did not support these inclusions. The composition of the executive of the Bytown Mechanics' Institute in its various formations illustrates this and exemplifies the issues of cost and available leisure time that would eventually cause the Institutes failure
, Upper Canada. Newsrooms were spaces where reading materials, especially newspapers, were made available presumably to those who subscribed and paid for the materials. Newsrooms were set up in the British Hotel in Upper Town and another in McArthur’s Hotel in Lower Town. The longevity of these organizations was influenced by the long hours of the working class.
In 1845, clerks in Bytown
organized The Mercantile Library Association. This association appears to have to have been an extension of the Upper Town newsroom as both were housed in the British Hotel.
The Bytown Mechanics’ Institute differed from the newsrooms in that the founding fathers were not clerks or working class; they were employers and professionals. The social leaders of Bytown formed the BMI: Hon. Thomas McKay
, George W. Baker, Horatio Blasdell, John Scott, William P Lett, John Bower Lewis and all resident clergymen.
Lack of participation had several causes. First, the subscription fee of five shillings was likely too high for the majority of the area inhabitants. Second, it is unlikely that there were enough working men who could be attracted to such an organization. Lumber jacks were largely French speaking and used French language institutions. For anglophones, the Carpenters’ and Joiners’ Society had largely the same purpose. Third, fund raising events were generally failures. Finally, and most critical, there was no newspaper support or advertising. The continuity of the BMI through to BMIA was broken between 1850 to 1852.
French Canadian membership, although sparse, stopped in 1849 after the Stony Monday Riot
in September. Local francophone’s formed their own similar organization Institute canadien français d’Ottawa in 1852. The stratification of Ottawa was both social and cultural.
the publisher of The Ottawa Citizen. As required, a declaration was sent to the Provincial Government requesting incorporation dated January 29, 1853. The Province of Canada provided the incorporation and fees were set at one pound annually. Donations to the new BMIA included a recently shot heron, a hawk, a crow and a box of Indian stone implements.
In 1856 the BMIA changed its name to the Ottawa Mechanics’ Institute and Athenaeum to reflect the name change of the town. Later, in 1868/9 the Ottawa Natural History Society and the Ottawa Mechanics’ Institute and Athenaeum were merged by Provincial Act into the Ottawa Literary and Scientific Society.
The real change in fortune came in 1906 with the opening of the Carnegie library
. The change did not favour the BMIA, but rather favored the Public Library movement in Ontario. Public libraries became the norm in Ontario after the private funding of the Carnegie Institute began. By February 28, 1855 the BMIA had 899 volumes, 33 newspapers and periodicals, and 850 natural specimens.
Lord Elgin opened the first BMIA exhibition held in the West Ward Town Hall on July 28, 1853. The exhibition was primarily a local affair. On display were
or later the Province of Ontario and it speaks to the numbers of Irish immigrants and the relatively large francophone population in the area as a whole.
Knowledge transfer
Knowledge transfer in the fields of organizational development and organizational learning is the practical problem of transferring knowledge from one part of the organization to another part of the organization. Like Knowledge Management, Knowledge transfer seeks to organize, create, capture or...
organizations aimed at the grass roots. These institutions were Victorian and moralistic in tone and class oriented in structure which, in part, explains their failure. However, they show the tendency towards democratic institutions in the early history of Canada where borders between the United and Canada where more fluid than in the present era and encourage such ideals. These institutions attempted to include the working class, French Canadians and women where the British social model did not support these inclusions. The composition of the executive of the Bytown Mechanics' Institute in its various formations illustrates this and exemplifies the issues of cost and available leisure time that would eventually cause the Institutes failure
Origins
In the 1830s, newsrooms were beginning to open in BytownBytown
Bytown is the former name of Ottawa, Canada's capital city. It was founded on on September 26, 1826, incorporated as a town on January 1, 1850, and superseded by the incorporation of the City of Ottawa on January 1, 1855. The founding was marked by a sod turning, and a letter from Governor General...
, Upper Canada. Newsrooms were spaces where reading materials, especially newspapers, were made available presumably to those who subscribed and paid for the materials. Newsrooms were set up in the British Hotel in Upper Town and another in McArthur’s Hotel in Lower Town. The longevity of these organizations was influenced by the long hours of the working class.
In 1845, clerks in Bytown
Bytown
Bytown is the former name of Ottawa, Canada's capital city. It was founded on on September 26, 1826, incorporated as a town on January 1, 1850, and superseded by the incorporation of the City of Ottawa on January 1, 1855. The founding was marked by a sod turning, and a letter from Governor General...
organized The Mercantile Library Association. This association appears to have to have been an extension of the Upper Town newsroom as both were housed in the British Hotel.
Institute Timelines
The lifespan of the BMI is relatively short-lived and the institute does not appear to merge with any other organizations. The timelines of the BMIA, the Ottawa Natural History Society and the Ottawa Literary and Scientific Society are blended as three naturally related organizations.- Bytown Mechanics’ Institute 1847–1849
- Bytown Mechanics’ Institute and Athenaeum 1853–1869
- Ottawa Natural History Society 1863–1869
- Ottawa Literary and Scientific Society 1869 – c. 1907
History
Bytown Mechanics’ Institute
The Bytown Mechanics' Institute (BMI) was established in 1847. This first Mechanics' Institute was not long lived and closed two years later. The Bytown Mechanics' Institute and Athenaeum (BMIA) was official established January 29, 1853.The Bytown Mechanics’ Institute differed from the newsrooms in that the founding fathers were not clerks or working class; they were employers and professionals. The social leaders of Bytown formed the BMI: Hon. Thomas McKay
Thomas McKay
Thomas McKay was a Canadian businessman who was one of the founders of the city of Ottawa, Ontario. He was born in Perth, Scotland and became a skilled stonemason...
, George W. Baker, Horatio Blasdell, John Scott, William P Lett, John Bower Lewis and all resident clergymen.
Lack of participation had several causes. First, the subscription fee of five shillings was likely too high for the majority of the area inhabitants. Second, it is unlikely that there were enough working men who could be attracted to such an organization. Lumber jacks were largely French speaking and used French language institutions. For anglophones, the Carpenters’ and Joiners’ Society had largely the same purpose. Third, fund raising events were generally failures. Finally, and most critical, there was no newspaper support or advertising. The continuity of the BMI through to BMIA was broken between 1850 to 1852.
French Canadian membership, although sparse, stopped in 1849 after the Stony Monday Riot
Stony Monday Riot
The Stony Monday Riot took place in Bytown , Ontario on Monday September 17, 1849.In April 1849, Lord Elgin had signed the Rebellion Losses Bill, compensating Lower Canadians for losses suffered during the Rebellions of 1837-38. The bill was unpopular with Tories because it compensated those who...
in September. Local francophone’s formed their own similar organization Institute canadien français d’Ottawa in 1852. The stratification of Ottawa was both social and cultural.
Bytown Mechanics’ Institute and Athenaeum
The Bytown Mechanics’ Institute and Athenaeum began in January 1853. The BMIA had strong support from Robert Bell (Ottawa politician)Robert Bell (Ottawa politician)
Robert Bell was a surveyor, journalist and political figure in Canada West.He was born in Ireland in 1821 and arrived in New York state with his parents . In 1823, they moved to a farm near Kemptville, Upper Canada. He qualified as a land surveyor for the province in 1843. He moved to Bytown,...
the publisher of The Ottawa Citizen. As required, a declaration was sent to the Provincial Government requesting incorporation dated January 29, 1853. The Province of Canada provided the incorporation and fees were set at one pound annually. Donations to the new BMIA included a recently shot heron, a hawk, a crow and a box of Indian stone implements.
In 1856 the BMIA changed its name to the Ottawa Mechanics’ Institute and Athenaeum to reflect the name change of the town. Later, in 1868/9 the Ottawa Natural History Society and the Ottawa Mechanics’ Institute and Athenaeum were merged by Provincial Act into the Ottawa Literary and Scientific Society.
The real change in fortune came in 1906 with the opening of the Carnegie library
Carnegie library
A Carnegie library is a library built with money donated by Scottish-American businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. 2,509 Carnegie libraries were built between 1883 and 1929, including some belonging to public and university library systems...
. The change did not favour the BMIA, but rather favored the Public Library movement in Ontario. Public libraries became the norm in Ontario after the private funding of the Carnegie Institute began. By February 28, 1855 the BMIA had 899 volumes, 33 newspapers and periodicals, and 850 natural specimens.
Events
- tweeds from Thomas McKays factory
- window blinds from Currier, Dickenson and Company
- hemp from Hull grown flax
- a fine set of false teeth from a local dentist.
Lecture Sample
Lectures were considered a staple of the Mechanics’ Institute. Improving the mind of the common man was the ultimate goal of the Mechanics’ Institute. The following is a sample of lectures made available through the BMIA. Although never intended for them, women attended the lectures in significant numbers.| Year | Lecture Title | Lecture Type and Author |
|---|---|---|
| 1856 | War and Military Glory | Moralistic lecture by Rev. William Aitken |
| Modes of detecting Criminal Poisonings | Scientific lecture by Dr. S.C.Sewell | |
| Woman, her Duties and her Rights | Moralistic lecture by Reverend Thomas Wardrope | |
| 1864 | Conversazione | An evening of short popular essays |
| Picnics | Meant to include women and families | |
| 1865 | Human Happiness | Moralistic lecture by Rev Johnson |
| The Herpetology of the Ottawa | Zoological Lecture by Dr. Van Courtlandt | |
| Geological Structures of Ottawa | Scientific lecture by Dr. Grant | |
| 1866 | Common Words and Phrases as Indicative of National Character | Moralistic lecture by E.A. Meredity |
Membership Sample
Membership in the BMI had been based almost solely on high social status although the membership was intended to be working class status. While the BMIA was not immune to this type of social patronism in its executive, it did allow women membership and some limited democratic involvement in the executive. The democratic nature of the executive could be seen in the inclusion of Roman Catholics. This type of inclusion was not common across Upper CanadaUpper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
or later the Province of Ontario and it speaks to the numbers of Irish immigrants and the relatively large francophone population in the area as a whole.
| Name | Occupation |
|---|---|
| George Hay | Businessman |
| Braddish Billings Braddish Billings Braddish Billings was an early settler in the Ottawa area.He was born in Ware, Massachusetts in 1783, but moved to the Brockville area with his family when he was 9. He later worked cutting down the white pine along the Ottawa River and transporting the logs down river... |
Senior Bookkeeper, Bytown and Prescott Railway Bytown and Prescott Railway The Bytown and Prescott Railway, Ottawa's first railway to outside markets, was a railway joining Ottawa, Ontario with Prescott, Ontario on the Saint Lawrence River. The 52 mile railway facilitated shipments of principally lumber via the Saint Lawrence River to markets in the United States and... |
| Henry J. Friel Henry J. Friel Henry James Friel was mayor of Bytown in 1854 and then of Ottawa in 1863 and 1868-1869.He was born in Montreal of Irish Catholic parents in 1823. His family moved to Bytown, which was later renamed Ottawa, in 1827. In 1846, he purchased the Bytown Packet, a local newspaper, with John George Bell... |
City of Ottawa Ottawa Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario... Politician |
| A. Workman | City of Ottawa Ottawa Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario... Politician |
| Thomas Austin | Architect |
| Dr. Hamnet Hill | Physican |
| Dr. E. Van Cortlandt | Physician |
| J. Garvey | Labourer |
| J.A. Grant | Physician and Surgeon |
See also
- Libraries & the Cultural RecordLibraries & the Cultural RecordLibraries & the Cultural Record is an academic journal devoted to the study of the creation, organization, preservation, and utilization of libraries, considered as collections of the cultural record in the context of cultural and social history...
- BytownBytownBytown is the former name of Ottawa, Canada's capital city. It was founded on on September 26, 1826, incorporated as a town on January 1, 1850, and superseded by the incorporation of the City of Ottawa on January 1, 1855. The founding was marked by a sod turning, and a letter from Governor General...