Barbeau, Charles-Marius National Historic Person

Gatineau, Quebec
Photo of plaque © Parks Canada Agency / Agence Parcs Canada, 1900
Photo of plaque
© Parks Canada Agency / Agence Parcs Canada, 1900
Charles-Marius Barbeau © Joseph Alexandre Castonguay / Library and Archives Canada / Bibliothèque et Archives Canada / C-034447Photo of plaque © Parks Canada Agency / Agence Parcs Canada, 1900
Address : 100 Laurier Street, Gatineau, Quebec

Recognition Statute: Historic Sites and Monuments Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. H-4)
Designation Date: 1985-06-17
Life Date: 1883 to 1969

Other Name(s):
  • Barbeau, Charles-Marius  (Designation Name)

Importance: Pioneer Canadian ethnographer and folklorist, wrote on arts, crafts, songs

Plaque(s)


Existing plaque:  100 Laurier Street, Gatineau, Quebec

A pioneer Canadian ethnographer and folklorist, Barbeau was born at Sainte-Marie (Beauce) and studied at the universities of Laval, Oxford and la Sorbonne. Over a lifetime at the National Museum of Canada he wrote hundreds of books and articles, both academic and popular. His studies of West Coast totem poles helped make these Indian artworks famous around the world and preserve some for posterity. His publications on, and collections of, the folk arts, crafts, songs and legends of Quebec aroused widespread interest and pride in the depth and distinctiveness of traditional French Canadian culture.