June 9, 2016 - Lennox & Addington County) – This summer, the
Lennox & Addington County Museum & Archives will be overrun with
criminals of all sorts. But don’t worry, the museum isn’t being converted back
into the County jail, and the police need not be called. It is all part of an
exciting travelling exhibit courtesy the OPP Museum.
'Arresting Images' is an exhibit that features 100 historic mug
shots from The OPP Museum’s permanent collection, dating from 1886 to 1908. The
exhibition provides a rare opportunity for the public to view these historical
photographic portraits collected in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The
collection was assembled by the Niagara Falls “Ontario Police” - precursors of
today’s Ontario Provincial Police.
Arresting Images highlights historical themes and social
circumstances of the period addressing the subjects of crime and law
enforcement as well as the emerging use of photographic portraits as a police
identification tool. Represented in the collection are pickpockets, confidence
men, escaped fugitives, shoplifters, horse thieves, burglars, safe blowers and
others. These images are compelling, fascinating and thought-provoking.
The opening reception for the exhibit will coincide with the next
edition of 'Tuesday Night at the Museum'. On June 21st at 7pm. Dave St. Onge,
Curator of Canada's Penitentiary Museum, will speak on prison life in Kingston
in the 19th century. The talk, entitled 'Admission & Discharge: The Early
History of Federal Penitentiary Mug-shots in Canada' will also identify the
practice of record keeping, and difference in methods used by both the federal
penitentiaries and regional jails. Dave's talk ties in nicely with the launch
of the 'Arresting Images' exhibit.
In addition, visitors to the museum throughout the summer will
have the opportunity to have their own mug shots taken, no crime required. This
light-hearted interactive display includes an original ‘County Jail’ cell that
has been converted to a 'persons of interest' line-up wall. Complete with height
markers and crime-boards, visitors can take selfies - or #cellfies - within the
cell that can be shared on social media. Select visitor photos will also be
displayed at the museum in much the same way as the real criminal mug shots
found in the 'Arresting Images' exhibit.
Arresting Images is The OPP Museum’s inaugural travelling
exhibition. Initially launched in 2009, it received an Award of Excellence from
the Ontario Museum Association for its innovative approach, exhibition design
and curatorial quality. The exhibit will be showcased at the L&A County
Museum & Archives until December 15th. For more information
about Arresting Images display and other exhibits on display at the L&A
County Museum & Archives, please visit www.CountyMuseum.ca
or call 613-354-3027.
Local Historical Context of the ‘Arresting Images’ Exhibit
The building that houses the Lennox & Addington County Museum
& Archives was once the County Gaol (jail). When Lennox & Addington
separated from Frontenac in 1863 and Napanee was officially designated the
County Town, a new courthouse and gaol were needed to properly fulfill their
legislative duties. The gaol, built in 1864, operated until the Quinte Regional
Detention Centre opened in 1971. The building continued to serve as the Napanee
Town Police lockup until 1974. At that time, it was retrofitted for museum
purposes from 1974-1976 and the Museum & Archives officially opened in
their new space on October 6, 1976. the ‘Arresting Images’ serves as an ode to
the building’s past and recognizes the museum’s 40th anniversary milestone.
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Media is invited to visit the museum to take advance photographs
of the ‘Arresting Images’ exhibit and the ‘Mug Shot #Cellfie’ display. For more
information, please contact:
JoAnne Himmelman
Curator, Museum & Archives
Lennox & Addington County
T. 613-354-3027
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