New Brunswick Museum’s Edwin Tappan Adney Artifacts Featured at Carleton County Historical Society

The New Brunswick Museum is very pleased to collaborate with the Carleton County Historical
Society to feature some artifacts made by renowned New Brunswick historian, Edwin Tappan
Adney (1868-1950). Three of the New Brunswick Museum’s scale model canoes made by
Adney will be included in the Carleton County Historical Society’s recently reconfigured display
that commemorates his many contributions including his extremely important research of the
production of Indigenous bark canoes. Based on his own observations and the information
shared by Indigenous canoe makers, including Wolastoqey elder Peter Bear (1849-1931) of
Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), Adney produced a manuscript that is still considered one of
the most important documents to have ensured the appreciation and survival of the art form. The
three models demonstrate not only Adney’s skills but also his attention to meticulous detail and
authenticity.

The models are on display at Connell House, 128 Connell Street, Woodstock, NB.

Major Edwin Tappan Adney (Canadian, born in USA, 1868 – 1950)
after Peter Bear (Wolastoqiyik, 1849 – 1931)
canoe model: Wolastoqey Canvas Canoe Model, 1930
painted canvas, cedar and spruce
overall: 10 x 16 x 100 cm
Gift of Major Edwin Tappan Adney, 1947 (1947.56A)
New Brunswick Museum Collection

Model of a canvas canoe built birchbark fashion and of the period 1890-1900.


Major Edwin Tappan Adney (Canadian, born in USA, 1868 – 1950)
canoe model: Mi'kmaw Rough Water Canoe Model, c. 1930
birchbark with cedar, spruce root and spruce gum
overall: 12 × 121 × 18 cm
Gift of Major Edwin Tappan Adney, 1947 (1947.57A)
New Brunswick Museum Collection                     

Based on canoes used on the Restigouche River, New Brunswick, prior to 1890.


Major Edwin Tappan Adney (Canadian, born in USA, 1868 – 1950)
after Peter Bear (Wolastoqiyik, 1849 – 1931)
canoe model: Wolastoqey Moosehide Canoe Model, 1935-1938
moosehide, spruce and cedar
overall: 14 × 92 × 26 cm                                                                                                                                                                                              

Gift of Major Edwin Tappan Adney (X8181.1)
New Brunswick Museum Collection                                           

Used by hunters to bring their hide and furs and moosemeat out of the woods after the winter
hunt. The last known builder of this type of canoe was Peter Bear of Neqotkuk (Tobique)
Model, 1/5 scale by E.T. Adney after a model by Peter Bear.

Connell House - Carleton County Historical Society
128 Connell Street, Woodstock, NB. NB E7M 1L5
https://www.cchsnb.ca  - 506-328-9706
For more information:
New Brunswick Museum
Aristi Dsilva, Communications & Marketing
506-643-2358, Aristi.Dsilva@nbm-mnb.ca

Carleton County Historical Society

506-328-9706