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Canadian Museum of History

Canada’s history through the eyes of children

‘A Little History’ — a temporary exhibit focused on the experiences of children throughout Canadian history

Exhibit gallery with navy blue textured walls featuring a single artwork with an array of several vintage lampshades overhead, next to a curtain featuring vintage illustrations of a lantern and camera, and a display case containing several small artifacts on the right.

Client

Canadian Museum of History

Project type

Temporary exhibition

Collaborators

Immersed in rarely seen archival documents, photographs, artworks, and artifacts from the Library and Archives Canada (LAC) and the Canadian Museum of History, our exhibition team embarked on a captivating assignment. Entrusted with the task of unveiling the untold stories of children who bore witness to pivotal historical events, we envisioned a dreamlike setting that would transcend time.

We began with the development of a graphic approach that delicately balanced historical content with the innocence of children's perspectives. Straying away from a purely child-centric design, we seamlessly blended historical and modern motifs, fusing authentic and nostalgic styles. Our large-format illustrations hinted that both childhood and adult memories often spring from singular objects or experiences—a visual suggestion that memories often manifest as hazy dreams rather than sharp recollections.

The culmination of our efforts resulted in an exhibition with an almost ethereal aesthetic, a blend of modernity and whimsy. It was the first of five shows highlighting LAC's incredible collections, and it resonated deeply with both visitors and staff. This exhibition exemplifies our dedication to creating immersive experiences that seamlessly blend history, art, and storytelling.

Title design for ’A Little History’ exhibition, presented in a vintage style with navy text on a mottled beige background with red graphic elements and ribbons.

Entrance graphics for ‘A Little History’ exhibition featuring a title block overlaid on a collage background with illustrations of the face of a child, a lampshade, a camera, a typewriter, and a stack suitcases.

Entrance hallway to ‘A Little History’ exhibition featuring a row of three brightly-coloured banners on the right of the hallway leading to a textured blue wall with a single painting and introductory text.

A section of ‘A Little History’ exhibition showing a navy wall with three artifacts over three yellow reader rails, with a large wall quote above the artifacts and a panel featuring an illustration of suitcases on the right.

A section of ‘A Little History’ exhibition showing a navy wall with a panel featuring an illustration of a typewriter on the left, next to a display case with artifacts and a teal reader rail.

A section of ‘A Little History’ exhibition showing a navy wall featuring a large quote and a single artifact, with a group of beige lampshades hanging in front, and a curtain with an illustrated camera and lamp on the right.

Detail of a yellow fabric banner featuring a close-cropped face of a young Indigenous girl in deep thought and looking up to the right.

Detail of a bright red fabric banner featuring a side view of a young man’s face, in deep thought looking down to the right.

Close-up detail of a yellow vintage-styled illustration of a suitcase on a navy blue background.

Close-up detail of a teal vintage-styled illustration of a feather on a navy blue background.

“Children are typically absent from the historical narrative, and I think it’s important to look at what their experiences can shed light on. Because, really, they have their own stories.”

Carolyn Cook

Curator
Canadian Museum of History

Be beautifully accessible.

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