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Eaton’s Catalogue

Take a step back in time to the period 1880 to 1960 and discover that mail order was a sophisticated business designed to satisfy large groups of consumers. For generations of Canadians the mail order catalogue was the most convenient and only way to shop.

Eaton’s had special order forms for teachers to order their Christmas school gifts, some decorations and many needed items. This was a great convenience to the rural country school. Many parents ordered their family clothing, footwear and a variety of other items as well.

The teacher could pick her own gift for each child. There was a second choice of selection on this special order form. The teacher just filled in the blanks, as to boy or girl and age and Eaton‘s personal shopper filled the order accordingly. Included with the order would be a few candies and goodies - free of course, courtesy of Eaton’s. The parcel was prepaid to the teacher. Now, the busy teacher had all her Christmas shopping done without ever going to town. If a item was unavailable, Eaton’s substituted the ordered item with a better quality article. This was part of their policy.

A few out of date catalogues went to the classroom where primary grades, cut out pictures and used then as part of their lesson material. Older girls were taught how to make dress patterns from looking at the models in the Eaton’s catalogue. Outdated issues of the catalogue were sent to the outhouse where they were used as toilet paper.

So, all and all these catalogues seemed to be a necessary item to the early pioneers and the country school.

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Toilet Paper
1900's
Rural areas around Bentley, Alberta


Credits:
Bentley Museum Society