Library
On the 5th of June, 2010, at the Marriot Resort in Minett, the Muskoka Chautauqua unveiled their historical book collection. The collection was assembled by the Muskoka Bookhouse to help inaugurate this first year of the renewed Muskoka Assembly. The collection features era books from important Chautauqua members and visitors such as Marshall Saunders and Charles G.D. Roberts.
A list of the contents follows:
Charles G.D. Roberts
Roberts was known in his time as the Father of Canadian Poetry. He had a close relationship to the Chautauqua, attending and reading at many summer programs.
In the Morning of Time. Hutchinson & Co, 1919. Muskoka Chautauqua Reading Circle selection.
The Iceberg, Ryerson Press, 1934. Includes illustrations by Thoreau MacDonald, son of Group of Seven artist and Algonquin enthusiast, J.E.H. Macdonald.
Wilson MacDonald
MacDonald was a key supporter and promoter of the Chautauqua. Most of the reminiscences from Chautauqua visitors include an anecdote or two about this enthusiastic self-promoter.
Out of the Wilderness, The Graphic Publishers Limited, 1926.
Bliss Carman
Carman was a well regarded Canadian poet in his day. He was a cousin of C.G.D. Roberts and a contemporary of Wilson MacDonald. Carman attended the Chautauqua in 1924 and 1925.
Ballads and Lyrics. McClelland and Stewart, 1923. Book designed by J.E.H. MacDonald.
Sir Gilbert Parker
Parker was made honourary President of the Chautauqua in 1926. In his day Parker was a popular author of historical romances, many of which were set in the Canadian North-west. He was certainly one of the more famous authors to visit the Assembly.
Northern Lights, Copp, Clark Company, Limited, 1909.
W.H. Tenny
Songs of the North and Other Poems, Ryerson, 1924.
This title includes poems dedicated by the author to Aletta Marty, a Chautauqua member who, along with her sister Sophie, purchased a cottage on Tobin Island in 1921 to be closer to Chautauqua activities.
Marshall Saunders
Saunders was also an attending author with a dedicated international audience. She was was (and is) famous for the novel Beautiful Joe.
Her era novel Bonnie Prince Feltar, McClelland and Stewart, 1920, is set in the Muskoka Lake of Bays region.
E.J. Pratt
Pratt was an influential Canadian poet of his day, and is often regarded by Canadian critics as being a central author in Canadian literary history. He visited the Chautauqua during the summers of 1927, 1928 and 1930.
Collected Poems, Macmillan, 1958.
John Bengough
Bengogh was known at the Assembly for his performing entertaining “Chalk Talks,” humorous performances on various subjects. He composed a poem about the Chautauqua titled Epworth Inn.
Ernest Thompson Seton
Seton was a very popular nature author in his day and founder of The Boy Scouts of America. He visited the Muskoka Assembly during the summer of 1921 or 1922.
Woodland Tales, Hodder & Stoughton Limited, n.d.
Books on the Muskoka Chautauqua Reading Circle Selections for the years 1926 and 1927
A.C. Laut. Lords of the North, J.F. Taylor & Company, 1900.
J.F. MacDonald. William Henry Drummond. Ryerson Press.
Archibald Lampman. Poems, Morang, 1900.
Charles G.D. Roberts. Sweet o’ the Year, Ryerson, 1925.
A list of the contents follows:
Charles G.D. Roberts
Roberts was known in his time as the Father of Canadian Poetry. He had a close relationship to the Chautauqua, attending and reading at many summer programs.
In the Morning of Time. Hutchinson & Co, 1919. Muskoka Chautauqua Reading Circle selection.
The Iceberg, Ryerson Press, 1934. Includes illustrations by Thoreau MacDonald, son of Group of Seven artist and Algonquin enthusiast, J.E.H. Macdonald.
Wilson MacDonald
MacDonald was a key supporter and promoter of the Chautauqua. Most of the reminiscences from Chautauqua visitors include an anecdote or two about this enthusiastic self-promoter.
Out of the Wilderness, The Graphic Publishers Limited, 1926.
Bliss Carman
Carman was a well regarded Canadian poet in his day. He was a cousin of C.G.D. Roberts and a contemporary of Wilson MacDonald. Carman attended the Chautauqua in 1924 and 1925.
Ballads and Lyrics. McClelland and Stewart, 1923. Book designed by J.E.H. MacDonald.
Sir Gilbert Parker
Parker was made honourary President of the Chautauqua in 1926. In his day Parker was a popular author of historical romances, many of which were set in the Canadian North-west. He was certainly one of the more famous authors to visit the Assembly.
Northern Lights, Copp, Clark Company, Limited, 1909.
W.H. Tenny
Songs of the North and Other Poems, Ryerson, 1924.
This title includes poems dedicated by the author to Aletta Marty, a Chautauqua member who, along with her sister Sophie, purchased a cottage on Tobin Island in 1921 to be closer to Chautauqua activities.
Marshall Saunders
Saunders was also an attending author with a dedicated international audience. She was was (and is) famous for the novel Beautiful Joe.
Her era novel Bonnie Prince Feltar, McClelland and Stewart, 1920, is set in the Muskoka Lake of Bays region.
E.J. Pratt
Pratt was an influential Canadian poet of his day, and is often regarded by Canadian critics as being a central author in Canadian literary history. He visited the Chautauqua during the summers of 1927, 1928 and 1930.
Collected Poems, Macmillan, 1958.
John Bengough
Bengogh was known at the Assembly for his performing entertaining “Chalk Talks,” humorous performances on various subjects. He composed a poem about the Chautauqua titled Epworth Inn.
Ernest Thompson Seton
Seton was a very popular nature author in his day and founder of The Boy Scouts of America. He visited the Muskoka Assembly during the summer of 1921 or 1922.
Woodland Tales, Hodder & Stoughton Limited, n.d.
Books on the Muskoka Chautauqua Reading Circle Selections for the years 1926 and 1927
A.C. Laut. Lords of the North, J.F. Taylor & Company, 1900.
J.F. MacDonald. William Henry Drummond. Ryerson Press.
Archibald Lampman. Poems, Morang, 1900.
Charles G.D. Roberts. Sweet o’ the Year, Ryerson, 1925.
Members of the Chautauqua Board look at the Muskoka Chautauqua Historical Collection at the Muskoka Bookhouse, June 2, 2010.
