Saint Bartholomew's Day and the Wayzgoose

August 24th is known as Saint Bartholomew's Day or Bartlemas. Saint Bartholomew is the patron saint of bookbinders and leather workers, as well as several other trades that involve the use or manufacture of leather and parchment. This day came to be known as a time for master printers to host a party for their journeymen and apprentices at the end of the summer season, an event which became known as a wayzgoose.

Detail of St. Bartholomew by Pinturicchio (Bernardino Di Betto) c. 1497

According to Wikipedia, the wayzgoose marked the end of the long summer days and the beginning of the shorter autumn days when work was done by candlelight. Over time, the wayzgoose became a yearly dinner and/or party for the staff at printshops and newspapers. It is possible that the wayzgoose was held on Saint Bartholomew's Day because he was the patron saint of leather workers, parchment makers, and bookbinders. The wayzgoose holiday was also a day that papermakers took a break from making paper for printers, instead using their leftover pulp to make paper for windows. Parchment was traditionally used for covering windows before paper was common, so papermaking also came to be under Batholomew's jurisdiction. Also, coincidentally, on August 24, 1456 the printing of the Gutenberg Bible was completed. There is a more detailed article about this on the Convivio Bookworks website, which they posted recently as they prepare for their own wayzgoose event this week. Many other printshops and binderies still hold annual wayzgoose celebrations too, though not necessarily on Saint Bartholomew's Day. Here in Nova Scotia, Gaspereau Press in Kentville hosts an annual wayzgoose, scheduled for October 21st this year.

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Submitted by Rhonda Miller

"Book of Negroes" display at The Black Loyalist Heritage Centre

Canadian writer Lawrence Hill's 2007 best-selling novel, The Book of Negroes (published as Someone Knows My Name in the USA) inspired the 2015 CBC-TV miniseries of the same name.

Hill's novel, in turn, was inspired by a historic non-fiction book of the same name.

The Black Loyalist Heritage Centre located in Birchtown, just outside Shelburne, Nova Scotia, is dedicated to telling the history of the Black Loyalists who are listed in the original Book of Negroes.


In a corner of the Centre is a display dedicated to the Book of Negroes. As the interactive touch panels relate...

As the American Revolution was ending, New York City was the last British stronghold. Loyalists, those who fought on the side of the British, were considered enemies of the newly formed United States, and had to flee for their safety. This included Black Loyalists who fought for the British for the promise of freedom, including many former slaves who escaped from their former slave holders.

"General George Washington pressed Sir Guy Carleton to ensure that no Black people who were 'claimed' by Americans left New York. Carleton however, stayed true to the loyal Black people who fought for the British. Over 2,800 Black Loyalists, their names recorded in the Book of Negroes, would depart from New York for Nova Scotia and other parts of the world. Less than 1,000 listed in the Book of Negroes arrived in Nova Scotia."


First page, Book of Negroes
(touch-screen display, Black Loyalist Heritage Centre.)


Page spread from the actual Book of Negroes
(touch-screen display, Black Loyalist Heritage Centre.)

The Book of Negroes is a list of Black Loyalists who left New York with the British. As noted on the touch panels:

"The book gives a description of the person, a name, name of their former enslaver, the name of the ship they left on, the captain's name, destination, past and present status, and the port and date of embarkation."

Two copies were recorded at the same time. One by the Americans and one by the British.

"The Americans intended to use this document to claim financial compensation from the British for losses during the war. This included claims of slave holders..." many of whom descended upon New York City to attempt to re-enslave Black Loyalists by any means possible before their departure to freedom.

On display behind thick glass is the facsimile of the Book of Negroes created for the 2015 CBC-TV miniseries. This imposing, brown, linen-covered, half-bound 150-page ledger features a red and yellow headband and marbled endpapers.


Front cover of facsimile with gold-embossed name plate.
The facsimile book on display was a joint creation between NSCAD instructors, master bookbinder Joe Landry and bookbinder Katherine Taylor. Katherine offers: "It was early in my time with Joe. I did the sewing and the headband and helped Joe do the rest as much as my skills would allow at the time. We also worked on set of the show."


Top view of facsimile showing marbled end papers.
Whatever happened to the original Book of Negroes?

Andrea Davis, Executive Director of the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre, shared that the book created by the British is kept at The National Archives in Kew, England, and that a petition has been created to get the book on loan to Canada for display. The book created by the Americans is kept at The National Archives in Washington, D.C. This version was published (not as a facsimile) in 1996.

"The original archival Book of Negroes, intended to serve as the basis for compensation claims made by American enslavers. More than an inventory, this is a record book of survival. Through it we remember our ancestors. Through it we recover our families.”

The history of the Black Loyalists is a story of oppression, resilience and survival against all odds. Black Loyalist history is both inspiring and uplifting, as well as harrowing and deeply disturbing.

If you wish to plan a visit, the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre is open until mid-October. Check website for hours and open dates: blackloyalist.novascotia.ca.

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Review by Charles Salmon

Canada's first gallery dedicated to collage and assemblage

Paper art aficionados can take pride in Halifax having the distinction of being home to Canada's first gallery dedicated exclusively to collage and assemblage. Operating since January 2023, Cuts & Paste Gallery is the vision of collage artist and proprietor Rhonda Barrett. The bright, open compact space is located behind the Halifax Armories near the Halifax Commons.

Barrett learned that many galleries shied away from exhibiting collage created by fellow artists. This reluctance on the part of gallery owners provided the impetus for Barrett to create an artist-focused venue exclusively devoted to collage and assemblage.


The collage works on display incorporate printed ephemera, photographs, magazine and newspaper cut outs. The collage styles are diverse and include tidy studies, thoughtful landscapes and colourful abstract art.

Assemblage art allows artists to "trash recycle," incorporating items that were previously trashed on the side of the road. This includes, but is not limited to, street signs, posters, pieces of wood, and trophy portions. Assemblage works on display have a rough, almost crude texture but still incorporate balanced design.

Assemblage and collage can take many forms. For example, on display at the Gallery was a tunnel book created by James MacSwain of the Halifax-based Manual Training Collective. Comprised of miniature photographs, viewing MacSwain's tunnel book is like wandering in a museum gallery filled with classic Greek and Roman statues.

A recent show entitled Put A Lid On It was dedicated to collage and assemblage art incorporating jar lids. It explores what the expression "to put a lid on it" means to both the artist and the viewer.

An upcoming show called NOMNOM will feature "collage and assemblage works that use or employ food imagery, packaging, preparation utensils or similar for an upcoming show to coincide with the annual Nocturne - Art at Night event... October 14, 2023." Local collage and assembly artists whose work is featured at the Gallery include Peter Krause, Gavin Snow, Fraya McDougall as well as Rhonda Barrett.

Word of Barrett's Cuts & Paste Gallery has spread far beyond the borders of Halifax Regional Municipality, with internationally-based artists expressing interest and support.

Barrett hosts collage workshops at Cuts & Paste Gallery and artists are invited to use the facilities and the gallery's collage resources for a modest fee.


Cuts & Paste Gallery is found at Suite 101, 5663 Cornwallis Street, Halifax (enter from the door in the parking lot.) Open Tuesday to Saturday, 12 - 6 pm; Closed Sunday and Monday. You can also find them online at www.cutandpastegallery.com or on Instagram @cutsandpastegallery.

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Review by Charles Salmon