Reuben Alvin Jukes fonds [graphic material]

Record Information – Brief
1
Reuben Alvin Jukes fonds [graphic material]

Hierarchical level:

Fonds

Date:

1915-1919.

Reference:

R12711-0-0-E

Type of material:

Art, Photographs

Found in:

Archives / Collections and Fonds

Item ID number:

3837433

Context of this record:

Show detail Hide detail

Reuben Alvin Jukes fonds
Link to this record

Add to My Research

Link to this record

This link identifies the web page describing this particular record. Unlike the temporary link in your browser, this link will allow you to access, and reference, this page in the future. To link to this descriptive record, copy and paste the URL where ever needed (wiki, blog, document).

Sign in

Sign in to start saving records using My Research

Sign in
Record Information – Details
Fonds includes:

71 lower level description(s)
View lower level description(s)

Date(s):

1915-1919.

Place of creation:

France

Extent:

65 watercolours : watercolour over pencil and pen and ink ; various dimensions.
4 drawings : pen and ink on paper ; various dimensions.
1 drawing : pencil on paper.
1 photograph : b&w print.

Language of material:

English

Scope and content:

Show detail Hide detail

Fonds consists of watercolours done by a Canadian soldier, Reuben Alvin Jukes, on the Western Front during the years 1917-1918. Jukes was not an official war artist, but his commanding officer turned a blind eye to Jukes's efforts to record his war experiences through art. The works in this fonds record the following locations on the front lines or nearby: Vimy Ridge, Passchendaele, Auberchicourt, Chaudiere Valley, Bovigny, Chateau Neulette and Neulette Wood, La Caulotte, Mont St. Eloi, and Auvelais, as well as a battlefront scene of a tank going over the top. The scenes depicted included dugouts, a destroyed pillbox, the ruins of a brewery, houses in which Jukes was billetted, and ruined chapels, churches, and abbeys.

Provenance:

Show detail Hide detail

Jukes, Reuben Alvin, 1887-1959

Biography/Administrative history:

Show detail Hide detail

Jukes, Reuben Alvin, 1887-1959 : Reuben Alvin Jukes (Jusksch) was born on 5 July 1887 to Ernst August Jusksch and Maria Kalbfleisch of Hanover, Ontario. In November 1914, aged 27, he enlisted as a private in the 20th Canadian Battalion. His enlistment papers give his trade as "artist", and, despite prohibitions against it, he painted throughout the war. After training in England his battalion was sent to the Front in January 1916, but in April he was diagnosed as suffering from 'neurasthemia', a polite term for shell-shock, and was sent to England to recover. By May 1917, he was back in active service, only to suffer a gas attack in April 1918, which necessitated a return to England for treatment and convalescence. He never returned to the fighting, and was formally discharged from the Army in May 1919. After the war, Jukes worked in Vaudeville as a set painter and in various acts, and supplemented his income as a sign painter. In 1940, he founded a sign painting business in Kitchener, Ontario. Jukes died in May 1959 at the age of 71.

Additional information:

Show detail Hide detail

Custodial history:

Reuben Alvin Jukes painted a large number of watercolours during the First World War, in spite of prohibitions on doing so. These works, brought back to Canada after the war, remained in family hands, but may have been sold to a dealer. Two lots containing 33 watercolours were offered for sale at Bonhams (Toronto) on December 2, 2008. One lot sold, while the 2nd lot of 17 watercolours was unsold. These were acquired through Bonhams by private sale.

48 watercolours, 4 drawings, 1 sketch, and 1 photograph were donated by descendants of the Jukes family in 2021.

Associated material note:

McMaster University Archives and Research Collection has nine pocket diaries by Reuben Alvin Jukes covering the period 21 April 1916-26 September 1920. Reuben Alvin Jukes (Jucksch) diaries. RC0872
Subject heading:

Show detail Hide detail

World War, 1914-1918

FRANCE, MT. ST. ELOI

Guerre mondiale, 1914-1918

World War, 1914-1918 Belgium

Guerre mondiale, 1914-1918 Belgique

Ypres, 3rd Battle of, Ieper, Belgium, 1917

Ypres, 3e bataille d', 1917

Vimy Ridge, Battle of, France, 1917

Vimy, Bataille de, 1917
Source:

Private

Related control no.:

Show detail Hide detail

2021-00180-6
Ordering and Viewing Options

Conditions of access:

Show detail Hide detail

Graphic (art)

[Consultation90 Open]
No restrictions on access or on use for reproduction or publication.

Volume [R12711] 1--4

[Consultation 90 Open]

Graphic (photo)

[Consultation90 Open]

Volume [R12711] 1--4

[Consultation 90 Open]

Terms of use:

Show detail Hide detail

Copyright: Estate of Reuben Alvin Jukes
Credit: Reuben Alvin Jukes / Library and Archives Canada / Archival reference number

You can order materials in advance to be ready for you when you visit. You will need a user card to do this.

Cannot visit us on site? You can purchase a copy to be sent to you. Some restrictions may apply.

Report a problem on this page

Date modified:: 2023-07-20

Language selection

Collection Search

Reuben Alvin Jukes fonds [graphic material]

Reuben Alvin Jukes fonds [graphic material]