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Archival description
Kodak Canada Corporate Archives and Heritage Collection File Blackface entertainers
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At Kodak Heights / Canadian Kodak Co.

At Kodak Heights was a bimonthly magazine, first published in January 1921, intended to foster communication among employees of Canadian Kodak Co. Ltd.

The full lineage of internal publications for Kodak Canada employees ran as follows: At Kodak Heights was succeeded by Kodak in 1936. In 1955, the name was changed to Canadian Kodakery. In 1975, the name was changed again to Kodak Canada News. In 1986, this publication was succeeded by In Focus; and in 1994, the name changed to its final title, Kodakery Canada.

Kodak Canada Inc.

Second annual Kodak minstrel show

The first image, Burgess & Seymour, a study in black and white, depicts two Canadian Kodak employees, one identified as draftsman F.A. Seymour and the other as R. Ainslee Burgess. They performed a skit originally performed in the Canadian Kodak Minstrel Show of February 17-18, 1921, which was, according to an included clipping, repeated at a bazaar held by the Toronto Technical School. The skit consists of two easels, on which the two performers have drawn sketches of different Kodak girls. One of the performers (Burgess) is in blackface, as part of the Minstrel variety show performed during the 1920's by Kodak employees as part of the Kodak Athletics Association (KAA) activities.

The second image is a group portrait of the Kodak minstrel troupe consisting of 29 men in black face and their accompanying 7 musicians and conductor. They performed at the same event as Burgess and Seymour, February 1921.

Minstrel shows are a style of variety show, most popular during the late 19th and early 20th century, in which white performers use make-up and costumes to depict racist and stereotypical caricatures of Black people. The genre originated in the United States, but Canada had its own troupes and touring companies, and the format was popular with schools, community groups, and religious organizations.

Kodak Canada Inc.

Camera repair 1950-1975

File consists of photographs of employees from Kodak's Camera Repair department. Includes groups shots and portraits of employees at their work stations. Some names of the employees photographed are listed on the envelop and image verso.

Kodak Canada Inc.

Third Annual Kodak Minstrel Show - Crystal Theatre

The three duplicate, mounted-on-board photographs depict the minstrel troupe of 32 male participants, one not being blackface and another being a child in blackface on the Crystal Theatre stage with a dimensional painted backdrop. Accompanying them is a 7 member orchestra plus conductor. The Crystal Theatre was located on Dundas St. West, west of Keele St. (re-named the Apollo in 1934).

The performers were part of a Kodak Minstrel Show, performed by Canadian Kodak employees and held by the Kodak Athletics Association (KAA) during the 1920's.

Minstrel shows are a style of variety show, most popular during the late 19th and early 20th century, in which white performers use make-up and costumes to depict racist and stereotypical caricatures of Black people. The genre originated in the United States, but Canada had its own troupes and touring companies, and the format was popular with schools, community groups, and religious organizations.

Kodak Canada Inc.