Exhibits 995 to 1000: Photographs entered as exhibits in the Winnipeg General Strike trials

The Winnipeg General Strike began on 15 May 1919 and lasted for almost six weeks. Approximately 30,000 workers went on strike, closing down the city. A number of the strike leaders were arrested on 17 June 1919 and the strike ended on 25 June 1919. After the strike, the leaders were tried in the Court of King's Bench, first the case of R. v. R. B. Russell and then R. v. Ivens et al. Most of the leaders were found guilty and sentenced to up to two years in prison. After their release, many of the men went into municipal, provincial and federal politics.

The Archives of Manitoba holds many records which document the Winnipeg General Strike of 1919. This includes records entered as exhibits in the Court of King's Bench trial of the strike leaders, including the trial of R. v. Ivens et al in 1920. Six of the photographs entered as exhibits (numbers 995 to 1000) in that trial have been enlarged and are on display here.

These six photographs were taken by professional photographer L. B. Foote on 21 June 1919, the day that is known as "Bloody Saturday". The photos show the crowds, the streetcar and some of the events of the tumultuous day. The photos are stamped with a Court of King's Bench exhibit stamp on the back, on which the exhibit number and the clerk's initials are recorded (see inset image on this panel). L. B. Foote also initialled the back of these photographs. The photographs are contact prints ( or proofs) which are 4 x 6 inches and were probably printed from the original negatives specifically for the court case.

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Archives of Manitoba, A 0272 Exhibits and other records related to the Winnipeg General Strike trials, GR3081, R v. Ivens et al exhibits 995-1000, G7494 file 3.

a large crowd of people standing in the street in 1919 in Winnipeg
995a (front) full sized image
handwriting on back of photograph: Exhibit No. 995. L.B. Foote 1693 N2759. June 21, 1919. Winnipeg General Strike. Stamped: Public Archives of Manitoba.
995b (back) full sized image
a street in 1919 in Winnipeg. A large crowd of people stand on both sides of the street. Two rows of police offers on horses march down the middle of the street.
996a (front) full sized image
handwriting on back of photograph: Exhibit No. 996. L.B. Foote 1694 N2759. June 21, 1919. Winnipeg General Strike. Stamped: Public Archives of Manitoba.
996b (back) full sized image
A large crowd of people standing in the street in 1919 in Winnipeg. There are two automobiles in the midst of the crowd. Buildings line the street in the background.
997a (front) full sized image
handwriting on back of photograph: Exhibit No. 997. L.B. Foote 1692 N2758. June 21, 1919. Winnipeg General Strike. Stamped: Public Archives of Manitoba.
997b (back) full sized image
A large crowd of people pushing a trolly car over onto its side.
998a (front) full sized image
handwriting on back of photograph: Exhibit No. 998. L.B. Foote 1696 N2762. June 21, 1919. Winnipeg General Strike. Original neg N2762-1. Stamped: Public Archives of Manitoba.
998b (back) full sized image
The large crowd is gone, with come people in the background. The trolly car that had been pushed onto its side is now upright. Smoke billows from the trolly. An automobile and three men stand next to it.
999a (front) full sized image
handwriting on back of photograph: Exhibit No. 999. L.B. Foote 1697 N2763. June 21, 1919. Winnipeg General Strike. Stamped: Public Archives of Manitoba.
998b (back) full sized image
A large crowd of people standing in the middle of Portage Ave and Main St in Winnipeg, 1919. A building in the background reads: Spencer Heater Co of Canada Ltd. Spencer Self-Feed Steam and Hot Water Boilers. Western Gem Coal.
1000a (front) full sized image
handwriting on back of photograph: Exhibit No. 1,000. L.B. Foote 1700 N2766. June 21, 1919. Winnipeg General Strike. Crowd at Portage and Main. Stamped: Public Archives of Manitoba.
1000b (back) full sized image

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