This year marks the bicentennial of the War of 1812 and offers the perfect teaching opportunity to introduce or expand students’ knowledge of this conflict and its importance in the history of North America. While many historians consider it ‘a war nobody won,’ it is nonetheless remembered as a foundational event in terms encouraging the growth of nationhood in both Canada and the United States. The current display in the OISE library offers a sample of the teaching and educational resources available from our collections on the topic of the War of 1812. For example, the display features selections from our curriculum resources include Pierre Berton’s multivolume series ‘The Battles of the War of 1812’ [ CR 971.034 ] as well as the ‘Documenting the War of 1812’ series [ CR 973.52 ]. For younger readers, OISE’s Children’s Literature Collection offers numerous historical fiction titles, such as John Ibbitson’s ‘Jeremy’s War 1812’ [ JUV FIC I12J ] or Robert Sutherland’s ‘A River Apart’ [ JUV FIC S966R]. A particularly interesting resource also on display are the selections from our historical images collection [ SH, XH, LH ] depicting important people and events associated with the war, like Laura Secord and the meeting of Sir Isaac Brock and Tecumseh, as well as maps and reproductions of historical art on aspects of the war, such as Fort York and the Battle of Lundy’s Lane.
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The War of 1812 seasonal display can be viewed in the display case next to the elevator on the main floor of the OISE library.