About the Episode
Even if you have never owned a piece of Hudson’s Bay Company merchandise, we’re all familiar with those iconic stripes. From point blankets and traditional canoes to off-the-rack clothing and even a fashion Barbie doll, there is little that the HBC has not marketed to Canadians. We know the stripes, we know the merchandise, but how much do we know about the history behind this ubiquitous Canadian brand?
Join Nick, Robin, and Keely as they explore the history of the Company – particularly its merchandise – and its role in shaping Canadian identity. They’ll also examine the connection between heritage and corporate marketing. Finally, stay tuned to find out what national treasure Keely has dreams of stealing to share with Canadians.
Notes
- If Nick piqued your interesting in reading more about the how the Hudson’s Bay Company functioned as a state, you can read Edward Cavanagh’s article “A Company with Sovereignty and Subjects of its Own? The Case of the Hudson’s Bay Company, 1670-1763” (cited below). You can also read the book that inspired Cavanagh’s article: Philip J. Stern’s The Company-State: Corporate Sovereignty and the Early Modern Foundations of the British Empire in India.
- If Keely’s segment on the World Poultry Congress caught your attention, check out this silent film of the event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kk9HDRtZ9qg.
Sources
Cavanagh, Edward. “A Company with Sovereignty and Subjects of its Own? The Case of the Hudson’s Bay Company, 1670-1763.” Canadian Journal of Law and Society 26, 1 (2011): 25-50.
FundingUniverse. Hudson’s Bay Company History. http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/hudson-s-bay-company-history/.
Historica Canada. Hudson’s Bay Company. https://thecanadianencyclopedia.com/en/article/hudsons-bay-company/
Hudson’s Bay Co. Our History. http://www2.hbc.com/hbcheritage/history/.
Stern, Philip J. The Company-State: Corporate Sovereignty and the Early Modern Foundations of the British Empire in India. New York: Oxford University Press, 2011.
Wiart, Nikki. “HBC’s ‘Colonial Barbie’ comes with some baggage.” Maclean’s Online (Dec 16, 2016): http://www.macleans.ca/society/hbcs-colonial-barbie-comes-with-some-baggage/.
Credits
Producers: Robin Mullins and Emily Cuggy
Hosts: Robin Mullins, Nick Bridges, Keely McCavitt
Researcher: Nick Johnston
Audio Editing: Emily Cuggy
Web Content: Casandra Masse
Image Credit: Advertisement for the Point Blanket Coat. Image Source: http://www.hbcheritage.ca/things/fashion-pop/hudsons-bay-point-blanket-coat.