Toronto The Good

While I was at the Toronto Reference Library the other day (as described in yesterday's post), I popped into their gallery to take a look at the current exhibit called "Vice and Virtue".  It's described as "an exhibit that looks at moral reform in Toronto as it faced rapid growth and industrialization at the turn-of-the-century".


It's described as "an exhibit that looks at moral reform in Toronto as it faced rapid growth and industrialization at the turn-of-the-century".

On display until April 30th is a collection of photos (such as the one above) and artifacts from the late 19th and early 20th centuries examining the regulation of various vices such as alcohol, drugs, tobacco, gambling and prostitution. Even things that we take for granted today, such as Sunday shopping, used to be highly regulated.

One of the items on display is a large journal from the Toronto jail, set out the names of those incarcerated, their occupations (stone cutter, servant, prostitute), fines charged, etc.


The handwriting of the entries is simply divine:



If I'm being completely honest, I have to admit the thought of stealing said journal did cross my mind but of course, that would be illegal! ;)

Day 3/100 - #100dayproject