Canadian History

This paper discusses the historical artifact of beaver fur hat in Canada, its context, details, and significance from a historical perspective.

Running head: CANADIAN HISTORY
Canadian History
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1CANADIAN HISTORY
Introduction
The following paper will look to discuss about a historical artifact in Canada. The
historical artifacts have been very much important in the context of discovering the history of the
civilization in many ways (Pietrek & Fasola, 2014). The chosen artifact for this paper is the
beaver fur hat. This artifact is considered as one of the most crucial things in the history of
Canada and fashion of the people. This artifact has reflected fashion of people in the
contemporary times. The concept of preparing this artifact will be described in this paper. There
are the implications of the political, social, economical and several other factors since it has
really been a crucial artifact in defining the history of Canada.
Details of artifact
The chosen artifact in this paper, beaver fur hat has been noted as one of the most
fantastic items of the Canadian fashion. The experts have found out from their research that the
demands came basically from Europe since the fashionable men of Europe wanted to wear them
to look more fashionable and cultured (Pietrek & Fasola, 2014). This had been practiced during
many centuries. However, this demand of the beaver fur hats began and the fut trade began to
flourish in the North America. The use of mercury began to prepare these hats during the time of
1730s. The mercury increased the decoration of the hat and this was a new addition to the
fashion statement for the fashion loving people of Europe.
The use of these beaver fur hats dates back to the beginning of the 19th century. The
beaver fur hat that has been preserved in the museum has some mercury left in it. Hence, this
artifact is preserved in the city of Toronto in Canada. It can be found there in the Bata Shoe
Museum. The selling of the fur trade has signified the development of their business prospects

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and the improvement their export opportunities. This development of the fur trade will indeed be
highly important for North American countries to improve their economic conditions. As this fu
trade business began to enhance and expand into the other countries, this gave a ray of hope to
those countries. As a result, the men from the different countries in Europe bought these hats and
used them for their fashion.
Context of history
The historical context is indeed very significant in discussing the development fur trade
business in the different countries of the world. The business enterprises regarding this became
more relevant when the business began to grow in the forest areas of Canada. At that time,
Canada was not at all prosperous in the trade and their economic condition was weaker as well.
This emerging business was a blessing for them since beavers were abundant in the forest
regions of Canada (Berland, 2015). The tradition of this fur trade business can be taken as a
symbol for the growing business relationship between the Europeans and the aboriginal people
of Canada. The beginning of this trade was a part of the fishing industry in Canada. Beavers
cannot be found now because it has become extinct. The demand of the beavers was very high
and this probably had caused the animal to become extinct. Most of the beavers had been used
for making hats and exported to Europe (Batashoemuseum.ca., 2019). At one time, the beavers
became very much scarce in some of the European regions so the alternative sources had to be
searched for. These alternative resources had been found in Canada.
The company that began to produce these beaver hats was the Hudson Bay Company.
The European families loved these hats and they preserved these hats for their futire generations
indefinitely (Batashoemuseum.ca., 2019). Quite clearly these beaver hats came to be known as

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much revered possessions of these families and it was passed on from fathers to sons and
afterwards (MacDowell, 2012). Many high society people saw these hats as their fashion
statement and their identities in the society. The other people of the society respected them much
if they saw these fur hats with mercury (Batashoemuseum.ca., 2019). The selling of the hats was
crucial for the aboriginal people who regarded this as the means of their livelihoods.
Significance from historical perspective
There are indeed some positive points that made this hat much valuable for the people.
The European gentlemen revered it as their priceless possessions. This hat was water-repellant as
well. The brims of the hat were wide that helped the users from getting wet in the rainy season
(Backhouse, 2015). Apart from Europe, the demand of the hats had increased in North America
as well because of the abundant availability of the beavers. The beavers had very little or no
barbs on their skin. This is why these hats were very smooth and comfortable to use for the
people. This worked as an added value to the beaver hats (MacDowell, 2012).
The beavers had been found and they had to be killed for the sake of the fashion of some
stylish Europeans. The Hudson Bay Company used to sell the fur collected from the skin of the
beavers and used to sell the furs in the auction. The company used to present those hats to the
most reputed of the persons in London (Backhouse, 2015). So, it would be beneficial for the fur
trade business of the company as well. Their investments would be successful. There have been
some fantastic memories of the beaver fur hat (MacDowell, 2012). In the later times, the
popularity of the beaver hats went down as silk was invented. Beaver fur made hats was more
expensive than silk. This is why people wanted to buy the silk made things for themselves. Some

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people also believed in the superstition that the deaf persons would get back their hearing power
by wearing the beaver fur hats.
Conclusion
On the concluding note it can be said that beaver fur hat was very much in demand as it
was both stylish and very comfortable to wear. The popularity expanded from Europe to North
America within a very short time. It was very much valuable for the people who wore these hats.
The superstitions regarding the artifact also made it popular.

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References
Backhouse, F. (2015). Once They Were Hats: In Search of the Mighty Beaver. ECW/ORIM.
Batashoemuseum.ca. (2019). Fashion Victims. Retrieved from
http://batashoemuseum.ca/fashion-victims/#gallery-6
Berland, J. (2015). The Work of the Beaver.”. Material cultures in Canada, 25-45.
Hawkins, N. (2014). From Fur to Felt Hats: The Hudson’s Bay Company and the Consumer
Revolution in Britain, 1670-1730(Doctoral dissertation, Université d'Ottawa/University
of Ottawa).
MacDowell, L. S. (2012). An environmental history of Canada. UBC Press.
Pietrek, A. G., & Fasola, L. (2014). Origin and history of the beaver introduction in South
America. Mastozoología neotropical, 21(2).
Rich, E. E. (2016). The fur trade and the Northwest to 1857(Vol. 11). McClelland & Stewart.
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