Sonja Boon
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storiedselves.bsky.social
Sonja Boon
@storiedselves.bsky.social
980 followers 1.4K following 390 posts
writer. researcher. flutist. teacher. stitcher of stories.

https://linktr.ee/sonjaboon
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storiedselves.bsky.social
And here are another two of our contextual essays!
book page that reads: Family REunification and Citizenship: The Meaning of Confederation for Chinese Immigrants in Newfoundland by Miriam Wright and Robert Hong book page that reads: "Democracy before they are ready for it." the Hopedale protest of 1949 and Inuit Political Autonomy by Andrea Procter.
November 20, 2025 at 1:59 PM
storiedselves.bsky.social
Dear Mr. Smallwood has letters, reflections.... and short essays that give insight into life in mid-20th cent NL. Thanks to these scholars (and others not shown) for sharing their expertise!

Dear Mr Smallwood Book Launch
Wed. Nov. 26 at 7 pm
The Great Hall, Queen's College

@memorialup.bsky.social
book page that reads: Medicine and Health Care in Pre- and Post-Confederation Newfoundland: Results of a Preliminary Medico-historical Checkup by J.T.H. Connor book page that reads: 'isn't much work to get beside the bucksaw': Grand Falls Workers and Their Hopes for Confederation by Terry Bishop Stirling. Book page that reads: "There is a serious shortage of food on this coast": Food security, agriculture and advocacy in Northern Newfoundland and Labrador, by Heidi Coombs book page that reads: "Excerpt from 'Newfoundland Mi'kmaw Resistance and Vibrancy in a History of Erasure," by Mi'sel Joe, Sheila O'Neill, Jessica Bound, and Jocelyn Thorpe.
November 20, 2025 at 1:59 PM
storiedselves.bsky.social
Four more fabulous Dear Mr. Smallwood contributors, all inspired, moved, and affected by the letters they read: @hcoombs.bsky.social @curioushermit.bsky.social Andreae Callanan & Gemma Hickey!

One week out from our book launch!
Wed. 26 November at 7 pm
The Great Hall, Queen's College
free parking
a book page that reads: Fortune Bay & Hermitage. Yours truly, yours very truly. Andreae Callanan. A book page that reads: FOGO. The Barrelman, Gemma Hickey A book page that reads: ST, BARBE: "Destitute Received No Money Since March Please Advise" Gina Snooks book page that reads: WHITE BAY. "my dear baby was dead": A Family Tragedy in white Bay, 1951. Heidi Coombs
November 19, 2025 at 4:45 PM
storiedselves.bsky.social
Dear Mr. Smallwood: Book Launch
November 26 at 7 pm
The Great Hall, Queen's College (210 Prince Philip Dr)
free parking

Books. Readings. Games. Refreshments. Merriment.

Join us!

@memorialup.bsky.social
a book page featuring a transcribed letter outlining some of the debates about joining confederation with Canada.
November 18, 2025 at 1:47 PM
storiedselves.bsky.social
Dear Mr Smallwood: Confederation in the words of those who lived it, features letters, poems, visual art, reflections, and essays. It is out now and available in stores and online or via Memorial University Press. We can’t wait to celebrate at next week’s launch!
A book page featuring a transcribed letter about the price of cod.
November 18, 2025 at 1:47 PM
storiedselves.bsky.social
They are incredible. Passionate. Committed. Engaged. They are the heart of NL in the mid-20th century & reading them is like sitting in on a kitchen table convo To all those who wrote to Joey, thank you for sharing these windows into your lives so those of us today can better understand them.
A page from a book featuring a transcribed telegram congratulation Joey Smallwood on his economic analysis.
November 18, 2025 at 1:47 PM
storiedselves.bsky.social
Joey Smallwood received over 10,000 letters during his time in office. We read through about 1000-1200 written between 1948 and 1952, and chose a selection of 250 to share in our book.

@memorialup.bsky.social
A book page with a letter from 1949 detailing a man's economic situation, which is dire.
November 18, 2025 at 1:47 PM
storiedselves.bsky.social
Woot! It's release day for Dear Mr. Smallwood! As we head towards our launch next week, I'll share hints of the book. First up: titles/authors of 4 of our 25 reflection pieces!

Dear Mr. Smallwood Launch
Wed, Nov 26 at 7 pm
The Great Hall, Queen's College (210 Prince Philip Drive)
free parking.
a page from a book titled Dear Mr. Smallwood. This page is the opening page of a chapter. It reads: Bonavista South: Confederation Promises, Confederation Prayers" and the author is Julia Laite This is part of a book page, with a chapter title that reads: Burgeo-LaPoile: If Only I Could Casually Brain Dump on Joey Smallwood via Messenger at 2 a.m. and it's by Joanne Harris. This is part of a book page, and the title reads: St. John's West: No More Hooey: A Widow Writes the Premier Part of a book page that reads: Carbonear-Bay de Verde: On Archives as Time Travel: How Letters to Smallwood Transported Me Back in Time" written by Jasmine Paul.
November 17, 2025 at 6:11 PM
storiedselves.bsky.social
if you're coming to our launch, you'll get the full force of "game shows are fun and Sonja clearly hasn't organized a birthday party or been in an undergrad classroom for a long time."

There are only ten questions (well, 4 more if we need a playoff round). And there will be a prize, too!
a poster with a red strip along right hand side, with black glasses inside it. The text of the poster reads: Dear Mr. Smallwood: The Game Show, with your hosts Sonja Boon and Vicki Hallett.
November 14, 2025 at 9:50 PM
storiedselves.bsky.social
when your silvery soprano sells ..... face powder? Marie Toulinguet, Newfoundland's Nightingale of the the North, in The American Druggists' Circular and Chemical Gazette, 1899
a late nineteenth-century advertisement for Freeman's Face Powder featuring quotes from famous women users, Scalchi and Marie Toulinguet, both of whose photos are in the ad. Marie Toulinguet's blurb reads: "I am delighted with Freeman's Veloutine Face Powder. It is the most satisfactory Complexion Powder I have yet found."
November 14, 2025 at 6:21 PM
storiedselves.bsky.social
seen at the Colonial Building, St. John's, where (male) legislators debated women's suffrage in the early 20th cent. On Saturday @heritagenl.bsky.social officially designated the women's suffrage movement of NL as an outstanding historical event (it took several generations, so it was a long event!)
a museum panel that reads: "If a woman is not a person, then what in the name of common sense is she?" from The Daily News, March 10, 1925.
November 10, 2025 at 4:22 PM
storiedselves.bsky.social
Look, just LOOK at what I have in my grubby paws: it's HERE! and it's gorgeous (and it's huge!). Book launch on November 26 at 7 pm at Queen's College, 210 Prince Philip Drive. Come celebrate with us!
a book with a red cover featuring two pairs of black glasses running along the left hand side. The title reads Dear Mr Smallwood. Confederation in the words of those who lived it.
November 9, 2025 at 2:04 AM
storiedselves.bsky.social
A weekend full of conversations, listening, and learning about women's and gender history in NL, inspired by the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage in Newfoundland (Labradorians didn't get the vote until 1946)
the cover of a program, with the title: Up She Rises! http://nlhistory.ca. It is red/orange on the left with historical photographs of women. On the right, it's blue, with the text: A public forum presented by the Newfoundland and Labrador Historical society about women and gender in Newfoundland and Labrador history.
November 8, 2025 at 12:09 PM
storiedselves.bsky.social
landed to an absolutely beautiful, and quintessentially St. John's day: rugged cliffs, fresh snow, and big, gusty winds. Lovely to be able to spend a weekend with you again, St. John's
November 7, 2025 at 3:09 PM
storiedselves.bsky.social
Come celebrate with us at our book launch: November 26 at 7 pm at The Great Hall, Queen's College (210 Prince Philip Drive). Readings. Laughter. Games (yes, games... with prizes!). Snacks. Fun. We'll have a grand time!

Hope you can join us!

@memorialup.bsky.social
an image featuring a red book cover with the title Dear Mr Smallwood and a row of black glasses on the left hand side of the book cover. On the left hand side of the image the text reads: Join Sonja Boon, Vicki Hallett, and contributors of Dear Mr. Smallwood for the official laund. Nov. 26 7:00 pm The Great Hall, Queen's College, Memorial University, 210 Prince Philip Drive. Readings Discussion Merriment Refreshements Everyone welcome.
October 29, 2025 at 1:33 PM
storiedselves.bsky.social
No, Adobe Acrobat, I don't want to create an AI-created summary of the 510-page proof of our forthcoming book. I want to read the whole book. And all the contributions by all 35 contributors. Because reading is what a book is for. FFS.
A screenshot of a message in Adobe Acrobat that reads: "This appears to be a long document. Save time by reading a summary."
September 15, 2025 at 7:30 PM
storiedselves.bsky.social
A full page ad for Dear Mr. Smallwood that includes the names of all 35 contributors! We're two months out now - can't wait!
a full page advertisement that shows an image of a red book cover with black glasses running down the left side of it. The text on the book cover reads: Dear Mr. Smallwood. Beside the book cover is text that reads: The lives and stories of everyday Newfoundlanders and Labradorians at the time of Confederation - told through letters written to J. R. Smallwood. Edited by Sonja Boon & Vicki Hallett. There is also a list of 35 contributors. At the bottom of the page, the logo for Memorial University Press and text that reads: Available November 2025.
September 11, 2025 at 7:41 PM
storiedselves.bsky.social
We have a cover and a publication date, which means this labour of love - featuring the insights, observations, reflections, and creative work of over 30 contributors - will be in the world in November 2025!
scan of a book catalogue page. In top left there is a book cover that reads Dear Mr. Smallwood in white letters on a red background. There is a row of black glasses down the side. Below the image is a list of over 30 contributors to the book project. On the right hand side is an extended description of the book that begins with: The lives and stories of everday Newfoundlanders and Labradorians form a collective autobiography through letters written to J. R. Smallwood. Dear Mr. Smallwood considers the lives and stories of everyday Newfoundlanders and Labradorians as they navigated what was arguable the biggest political transition of their lifetimes: the entry of the former nation of Newfoundland into Confederation with Canada. Drawing on one of the province's richest archival treasures, the letters written to J.R. Smallwood before and during his time as premier, contributors unearth the hopes, dreams, discontents, and desires of ordinary people living in an extraordinary time. A collaborative project that brings together archival materials, personal reflections, scholarly essays, and poetic and visual responses, Dear Mr. Smallwood moves discussions beyond the polarising figure of J.R. Smallwood and recentres the conversation about Confederation to consider how Newfoundlanders and Labradorians understood themselves and their world at the time of Confederation. Together, these letters, reflections, and essays can be seen as a layered patchwork quilt. The letters to Smallwood - a small sampling of 250 chosen by contributors from an archival collection of thousands - are the colour swatches that reveal not just the individual voices of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians of all ages at mid-century, but also the beating life narrative - the collective autobiography - of this place itself.
June 28, 2025 at 1:55 PM
storiedselves.bsky.social
once again, on about mud

www.allardpierson.nl/en/blog/soft...
June 8, 2025 at 6:31 PM
storiedselves.bsky.social
heads up Smallwood book project folks! - updates in your inbox!
a bust of J.R. Smallwood, first premier of Newfoundland and Labrador. It features a balding man wearing blasses and a bow tie.
April 27, 2025 at 8:04 PM
storiedselves.bsky.social
every day is a perfect day to visit your favourite independent bookstore. #indiebookstoreday is just that tiny bit *more* perfect
a white cloth bag on a stone block. The bag reads King's Co-op Bookstore and it features a green bridge sagging under the weight of a rainbow of books.
April 26, 2025 at 8:50 PM
storiedselves.bsky.social
Oh look, she blocked me. But this is what she wrote
April 26, 2025 at 8:36 PM
storiedselves.bsky.social
7.3 million voters in advance polls! Well done, folks! If you haven't voted yet, you can still vote at an Elections Canada office (that ends today), or on Election day - April 28. Not yet registered? Bring your govt-issued photo ID (with address on it) to the polling station and get your vote on!
April 22, 2025 at 5:49 PM
storiedselves.bsky.social
Voted!

Election workers said it's been busy all day - join the fun and exercise your franchise: advance polls are open all weekend!
A yellow sign that says "Elections Canada Vote" with an arrow pointing right. The sign is placed in a grassy area with a stone wall behind it. There is a bike in the background.
April 18, 2025 at 11:30 PM
storiedselves.bsky.social
writer-in-residence stitchery day 85: family photos 2 (or, is mango love genetic?)

stitchingempire.wordpress.com/2025/04/09/d...
a faded portrait of four people, possibly a family, cyanotyped onto fabric, with silver handstitching around it. The portrai features South Asian woman holding a child in her lap. A young boy sits next to her and a girl is standing on te other side.
April 9, 2025 at 1:25 PM