Poppies, circa 1936, discovered in McMaster archives

Archival poppy

Poppies, thought to be from Flanders fields, were discovered in McMaster's William Ready Division of Archives and Research Collections this week. The flowers were pressed into a program from the 1936 Vimy Pilgrimage, contained within a travel diary kept by the wife of a Canadian soldier.


This story was originally published Nov. 9, 2012.

McMaster Librarians made a timely discovery this week: poppies, thought to be from Flanders fields, pressed inside a diary found in the University’s archives.

The diary – kept by the wife of a Canadian soldier – details the 1936 Vimy Pilgrimage Canadian veterans made to help unveil the war memorial.

“Vimy Ridge is ‘the battle that’s iconic with Canadian nationalism, but not many people know about the pilgrimage,’ archivist librarian Rick Stapleton told The Hamilton Spectator Thursday.

The William Ready Division of Archives and Research Collections houses an entire collection of material from the Vimy Pilgrimage, including an official program and a special passport issued for the event.

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McMaster’s Library isn’t the only campus place for stories from the Second World War. From Dr. C.M. Johnston’s Second World War Honour Roll:

Profile of Kenner Sawle Arrell

Profile of Charles Szumlinski

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