Consumption

Commodity

Particularly in the 19th century, blackboards were a valuable commodity for schools seeking to establish themselves as reputable places of learning. While many schools were under-funded, blackboards were considered an indispensable feature, and thus measures were taken to acquire or construct them.

Blackboards in schools in Canada West between 1856 and 1866. From the Historical Atlas of Canada, Volume II, Plate 55.

The above map shows the extent of blackboard use in Canada West by the mid-19th century. Blackboards were marketed with the knowledge that educators and users desired an adaptable, resilient product. Roberts, Taylor & Co., a late 19th century blackboard producer, offered consumers a wide range of products with illustrations. The company offered boards for music teachers, children’s easel boards and roll blackboards, mounted on spring rollers. Issues about the usage of the boards were also understood and communicated.

Although slate was often the most desired material for blackboards, many institutions utilized other materials and techniques in order to include this important item in their schools. Local educational histories provide insight into the realities of school life in the 19th and 20th centuries. A study of historic school houses in East Williams Township, Ontario, revealed that blackboards were a common feature in schools, but with a variance of material and size. A school building constructed in 1870 near Ailsa Craig Ontario, for example, contained plaster blackboards. Meanwhile, another structure, built in 1849, was equipped with a wooden board. (East Williams Township, 39)

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