Bessie Raye (Thompson) Green (1890-1989) grew up on the Canadian Prairies. Raye’s father John Thompson (a builder, grain elevator operator and Justice of the Peace) decided to take out a homestead of 140 acres near Battleford in the new province of Saskatchewan. In Spring 1906, Raye moved to the family farm near Tako and was soon taking snapshots of family, friends and neighbours.
Raye developed and printed her own photos and sold these to get money for camera supplies. Raye often mentioned photography in letters to her “beau”, neighbour Walter Glendenning Green, who worked winters in U.S. logging camps. Raye’s letters and photographs are in her family collection, which I had the opportunity of editing.
Raye’s words and snapshots from over 100 years ago still provide a fresh and fun look at some of the prairie pioneer experience. This feature puts Raye’s photography in context with contemporary early 1900s advertisements and Kodak camera manuals. Over the following pages, we’ll look at contemporary studio portraits from Raye’s family and friends, Raye’s process in taking and developing photos, Raye’s photo “business”, and family snaps from the 1910s and 1920s.
Pictures of Raye
…be sure and send me a picture. I want to see how you look. I dont think you will change so I will not know you. I would like to get a picture all the same.
Walter Green, February 21 1909 Minnesota Woods
Walter Green, December 28 1907 — I must thank you for sending them pictures I like the one ware you are standing best. altho you look quite natural on Maggies back. They made me a little lonesome for the time being. I was very glad to get them all the same. [Note — Walter’s spelling and punctuation appears here as originally written]
Raye Thompson, April 25 1908 — I am sending you a couple of snapshots. Gordon says that the Salvation Army girl has a mouth like a cow but she can’t help that. In the other one I had on mother’s clothes and no one who looks at it knows who it is.
Raye Thompson, January 20 1909 — I have not had any more of myself taken yet but mother says she is going to take one of Gordon and me tomorrow.
Raye Thompson, February 2 1909 — I don’t think they will be much good as Uncle Gid was in when they were being taken and I know I did not look right.
Walter Green, March 4 1909 — them of yourself are good. I was glad you sent them. I wanted to see how you looked. It seems a long time since I came down almost three months…
Studio Portraits in the Big City
First, as a contrast to the snapshots of amateur photographers like Raye, let’s look at some Edwardian-era portraits from photo studios. Studio portraits were available to Raye and Walter when they went to a town or city. Because of the cost and quality of a studio portrait, it’s more likely for people to have saved these photographs. Raye’s collection has a lot of studio portraits from 1900 onward. It’s interesting to see the contrast between these posed photographs and the informal snapshots.
Walter’s portraits
The Stewart Boys and I had sum Photos taken in Winnipeg will send you one when I get them
Walter Green, November 1907
I got some photoes last week of the Stewart Boys and myself. I may send you one. I don’t like them. my left shoulder is near to the top of my head but thats the same as the original so I don’t suppose I got any kicke coming. Billy Stewart asked me not to let anyone see them as he said he always took a bad picture. I think he looks fine.
Walter Green, January 19 1908
“A Swell Dish”
Portraits were used for long-distance courting. See what happened to Gordon Thompson.
Raye Thompson March 9 1909 — Oh! say, Gordon has received a letter from a girl in Scotland. He wrote one to “Dark Eyed Betty” in the Western Home Monthly. She wrote a letter of four small pages and it took the whole family to read it. But then she says, she is suffering from a stiff hand so we will hope for better things. She sent her photo and I tell you she is a “swell dish”. She is rather pretty and is dressed very stylishly, looks as though she was well off. She is coming to Canada in the spring and will write to him again then. We are having a lot of fun with him about her but Gordon does not mind. [They never did meet “Dark Eyed Betty”]
Grey Possum Coats and Caps
Raye briefly worked for the Schaabs, who ran the store in Wilkie, Saskatchewan. Here’s a picture of Honor (9) and Verley (7). This studio portrait was printed on a postcard, a popular format for the time to share with friends. Note the fake snow background and the ice skates! The Schaabs were originally from Ontario, so the postcards were probably made to send back to friends and family to show the “cold” Saskatchewan winters!
Next, we’ll look at the photography process, as described in Raye’s letters, and illustrated with images from contemporary publications.
Page 2 – Camera and Film
Stephanie Ann Warner 