NEWSLETTER

Society for the History of Children and Youth

Museum Review

"Baby's on the Way"

Centre d'histoire de Montrèal at Bonsecours Market, Ville-Marie Hall
June 15 to November 4, 2007.
Free.  Text in French; English translation card available.

Reviewed by: Janet Golden, Rutgers University

This small exhibit on the history of babies in Montreal celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Sainte-Justine Hospital, a francophone pediatric hospital.  While the exhibit deals only with the French-speaking population of the city and each case presents some of the history of Sainte-Justine, it is far more than a celebration of a single institution

Organized chronologically, the exhibit opens with an examination of the history of birth before 1900 and explains early ideas about physiology and infertility.  A colorful panel showcases folk beliefs about methods for determining the sex of an unborn child.  A second set of cases explores the period from 1900 to 1940.  Among the subjects covered are home births and efforts to combat infant mortality--from pasteurization to perinatal care to maternal education. 

The second half of the twentieth century saw important changes in the lives of mothers and babies.  Prosperity made mothers "Queens of the Home."  Cases focused on the years from 1940 to 1970 describe the creation of medical insurance, advances in medical research and birth control practices--from the rhythm method to the pill--that helped transform motherhood.  The viewer will find a copy of Spock's Baby and Child Care in French, as well as a panel presenting some of the products sold to mothers for their babies. 

The concluding section covers 1970 to 2000 with the emergence of the "royal child."  Here the exhibit acknowledges the critical influence of late twentieth century feminism on childbirth with the return of midwives and the transformation of hospital practices.  Contemporary issues such as the continuing fight against premature births, genetic testing and the development of new reproductive technologies are also explored.

With a title like "Baby's on the Way" and a shopping center location, I entered the exhibit expecting to see a lot of pictures of cute babies, some layettes and toys, and a text full of sentimental platitudes.  Shame on me!  This is a fascinating exhibit that introduces viewers to critical themes in medical history, children's history, and Montreal history.  Controversial matters such the role of religious institutions and beliefs in shaping the lives and deaths of babies are given full attention. 

Credit goes to Denyse Baillargeon author of the book Naître, vivre, grandir, Sainte-Justine 1907-2007 and the exhibit's historical consultant.  She and all the others involved have done a terrific job, packing a lot of important ideas into a surprisingly small number of cases and panels.  If you are going to Montreal, make sure to see this exhibit.