Agnes Ethelwyn Wetherald fonds RG 84
This autograph book is full of drawings of pigs. These fascinating sketches were done by blindfolded guests of Agnes Ethelwyn Wetherald, a Canadian poet, nature writer, and journalist (1857-1940) who lived for many years in Fenwick. Contributors to this charming book include: Marie M. Barker, Evelyn Cox, Marie J. Oldroyd, Vera Hambly, C.E. Long, and Dorothy Wetherald. [1]
This little book offers a unique window into the author’s joyful and creative personality. These whimsical drawings have some resemblance to the Surrealist “exquisite corpse” game as the artists could not see what they were drawing. [2] However, with this autograph book, guests would be blindfolded and asked specifically to draw a picture of a pig. This surprising and delightful collection of humorous pig drawings was the result.
The creative process for the autograph book could have been inspired by Wetherald’s lifestyle at her farm. She clearly drew creative inspiration from pigs as early in the 20th century she published a whimsical poem called “The Whity Pinky Pig.” (see below)
This autograph book is a fun and quirky example of the history of visual culture in Niagara. It is a part of the Agnes Ethelwyn Wetherald fonds at the Brock Archives & Special Collections (RG 84). It stands in lighthearted contrast to Agnes Ethelwyn Wetherald’s more serious literary works, and this little book of pigs shows the range of her creative influences and interests.[4]
-Text by Edith Pendli (VISA 2P90)
*This image is part of the “Women, Water, and Words” exhibition that students in VISA 2P90 curated in the Winter 2024 semester.
The Whity Pinky Pig [3]
Arthur was a doctor
And travelled in a gig,
Edgar was a learned judge
And wore a gown and wig.
Fred was a comedian
And danced a funny jig,And Ernest was a farmer,
With a whity pinky pig;
A whity pinky, sharp and slinky
Little blinky pig.Edith was a mamma,
With a waxen baby big,
Lucy was a florist,
Who planted out a twig,
Nellie as a grocer sold
An apple and a fig;
And all would have been happy
Had it not been for the pig,
That pinky whity, small and mighty,
Queer and flighty pig.He gobbled up the groceries,
Agnes Ethelwyn Wetherald, “The Whity Pinky Pig.” In Lyrics and Sonnets, 255-56. Toronto: Thomas Nelson & Sons, 1931.
He rooted up the twig,
The doctor’s pony Rover
Ran at him and broke the gig;
He tangled up the learned judge
Until he dropped his wig,
And he stole the baby’s cookies,
Did that whity pinky pig;
That whity pinky, quick as winky,
Swim-or-sinky pig.
Notes
[1] Brock University Library, Archives & Special Collections, Agnes Ethelwyn Wetherald Fonds, RG 84 https://dr.library.brocku.ca/handle/10464/5022
[2] Alexxa Gotthardt, “Explaining Exquisite Corpse, the Surrealist Drawing Game That Just Won’t Die,” Artsy.net (August 4, 2018): https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-explaining-exquisite-corpse-surrealist-drawing-game-die
[3] Agnes Ethelwyn Wetherald, “The Whity Pinky Pig.” In Lyrics and Sonnets, 255-56. Toronto: Thomas Nelson & Sons, 1931.
[4] “Agnes Ethelwyn Wetherald.” In Gale Literature: Contemporary Authors. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale, 2002
Further Reading
“Agnes Ethelwyn Wetherald.” In Gale Literature: Contemporary Authors. Farmington Hills, MI:
Gale, 2002.
Brock University Library, Archives & Special Collections, Agnes Ethelwyn Wetherald Fonds, RG 84 https://dr.library.brocku.ca/handle/10464/5022
Gotthardt, Alexxa. “Explaining Exquisite Corpse, the Surrealist Drawing Game That Just Won’t Die,” Artsy.net (August 4, 2018): https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-explaining-exquisite-corpse-surrealist-drawing-game-die
Wetherald, Agnes Ethelwyn. “The Whity Pinky Pig.” In Lyrics and Sonnets, Complete
Edition Arranged in Seven Groups and with an Introduction by John W. Garvin. Toronto: Thomas Nelson & Sons, 1931.
Keri Cronin 