Object Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
BR2024.5.4 |
Object Name |
Parka |
Description |
A dark blue men's 'Woods Arctic Parka' jacket with long sleeves, a fur collar and a hood with fur trim that zips onto the jacket under the fur collar. Jacket has six pockets, two breast pockets with a flap - closed with a small piece of white Velcro sewn on by hand. Each pocket is lined with green fur on the outer fabric. Upper inside has tabs, possibly for pens. Two slash pockets, with a large 22-inch opening lined with dark fabric against the main fabric and a lighter colour on the inside upper. Two patch pockets fastened with a button, plastic. Measure 2.5 cm in diameter and dark blue. The coat has a sturdy metal zip with a tab named 'Lightning'. End of a zip has letters 'L.F'. There are five, turnbuckle, swivel-button fasteners on the front of the coat. The buttons are brass and fit through circular grommets with an oval hole. The button swivels to hold in the closed position. The coat has a fur collar, possibly a mink, and is attached by a zip hood with fur trim, possibly fox, lined with red nylon. Coat has a down filling and a bright blue lining. A thick white cord is threaded through a three-cementer wide casing sewn on the back of the jacket at waist height. The ends of the cord on the inside of the jacket have large knots on the end to prevent the cord from accidentally being pulled through the casing. Two grommets on each side of the inside jacket protect the cord from rubbing on the lining. The back of the neckline has a clothing label that is worn and indecipherable. Visible words include Toronto, Down Insulated, Outdoor and Clothing. |
Year Range from |
1950 |
Year Range to |
1960 |
Dimensions |
H-15 W-75 L-120 inches |
History |
Worn by George Hunter on one of his trips to the North West Territories. Believed to be a "Woods Arctic Parka". Woods Manufacturing Company Limited was established in 1885 by James W. Woods (1863-1930). The company would develop "the down-filled Woods Arctic Parka for the Canadian Arctic expedition that became the prototype for the extreme weather jacket that is now ubiquitous on Canadian streets in winter" (History of Sandy Hill, accessed 2025). George Hunter was a Mississauga-based documentary, portrait, corporate, aerial, and art photographer of regional, national, and international significance. Born (1921) in Regina, Hunter grew up in Winnipeg and got his start in the business shooting for the Winnipeg Tribune. He worked as a staff photographer for five years with the National Film Board- Stills Division where he shot in every province in Canada. From 1947 to 1948 he was Canada's official photographer to the U.N. in New York In 1950 he branched out as an independent commercial/industrial photographer working for government and corporate clients. He also travelled to over 80 countries throughout the world shooting scenes for travel agencies and airlines. Hunter has been recognized with several awards. In 1977 Hunter was one of the first photographers to be inducted into the Royal Canadian Academy of the Arts. In 2001 the Canadian Association of Photographers and Illustrators in Communications (CAPIC) presented him with its prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. Finally, Carl Sagan chose an image by Hunter (of Toronto's Pearson Airport) to be placed on the Voyager 2 flight into deep space. Hunter has truly lived up to his one-time motto "Photographer of the Canadian Scene." His lengthy career, his mastery of many applications and approaches to photography, and his in-depth knowledge of every part of Canada made Hunter the "Elder Statesman" of Canadian photography. He passed away in 2013. Reference: George Hunter https://georgehunter.ca (broken link 2024) Advertisement. Woods Expedition Parka. The Toronto Star. Thursday, December 4th, 1975 History of Sandy Hill, James W. Woods (1863-1930) https://www.ash-acs.ca/history/james-w-woods/ Outdoor Life. January 1945, Vol 95 Issue 1 Wood Canada. Our Story. (accessed 2025) https://www.woodscanada.com/pages/our-story? |
People |
Hunter, George |