Finding Big Meaning in Small Histories
Since April 2014, ’s Small History NS feed and blog have reached hundreds of followers with daily news from rural and small-town Nova Scotia, c.1880-1910. Drawn from her dissertation research, these tweets chart seasonal rhythms of labour, leisure, land, and sea with updates such as:
The first wild strawberries…
A plate of ripe wild strawberries was just picked by a daughter of Mr Jas Collins. This is remarkably early. White Rock Mills May 30 1889
— Small History NS (@smallhistory)
A week’s catch of halibut…
Mr Prince W Penney landed three halibut, averaging about 120 lbs, the result of a few hours’ fishing. Cape Sable Jun 4 1886 — Small History NS (@smallhistory)
The opening of a cheese factory…
LC Archibald will commence operations at his Antigonish, Dunmore, Lochaber, Union Centre and Cape George cheese factories today. June 3 1895
— Small History NS (@smallhistory)
Or a bicycle trip.
Printers ink fails to describe the beautiful panoramic scenery seen by bike along the drive to Waverley skirting the lakes. Jun 19 1897 — Small History NS (@smallhistory)
Many historians, particularly historians of women, have revealed how the small details of life can offer an entry point to something much bigger and more profound about the past. Deeply rooted in place, this small-scale public history project has proven to be a relatable way to engage the public in histories of how Nova Scotians lived in the late
nineteenth century.