Administrative infrastructure and social enquiry: Finding the facts about agriculture in Quebec, 1853-4

Journal of Social History

Volumn 32, Issue 2, 1998, Pages 308-327

  Curtis, Bruce ^a  

^a Dept of Sociology and Anthropology ^*  (Canada)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

EID: 0032350398     PISSN: 00224529     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1353/jsh/32.2.309     Document Type: Review

References (40)

1. P. Abrams, The Origins of British Sociology. 1834-1914 (Chicago,1968); also, in a burgeoning literature, Eric Brian, "Statistique administrative et internationalisme statistique pendant la seconde moitié du XIX siècle," Histoire et Mésure 4 (1989):201-24; Alain Desrosières, "Histoire de formes: statistiques et sciences sociales avant 1940," Revue française de sociologie XXVI (1985): 277-310; "Comment faire des choses qui tiennent: histoire sociale et statistique," Histoire et Mésure 4 (1989): 225-42; INSEE, Pour une Histoire de la Statistique (Paris, 1977); Theodore Porter, The Rise of Statistical Thinking, 1820-1900 (Princeton, 1986); Mary Poovey, Making a Social Body: British Cultural Formation, 1830-1864 (Chicago, 1995); Nikolas Rose, "Governing by Numbers: Figuring out Democracy," Accounting, Organizations and Society 16 (1991): 673-92; Libby Schweber, "L'histoire de la statistique, laboratoire pour la theorie sociale," Revue française de sociologie XXXVII (1996): 107-128; Stuart Woolf, "Statistics and the Modern State," Comparative Studies in Society and History 31 (1989): 588-604.
2. P. Abrams, The Origins of British Sociology. 1834-1914 (Chicago,1968); also, in a burgeoning literature, Eric Brian, "Statistique administrative et internationalisme statistique pendant la seconde moitié du XIX siècle," Histoire et Mésure 4 (1989):201-24; Alain Desrosières, "Histoire de formes: statistiques et sciences sociales avant 1940," Revue française de sociologie XXVI (1985): 277-310; "Comment faire des choses qui tiennent: histoire sociale et statistique," Histoire et Mésure 4 (1989): 225-42; INSEE, Pour une Histoire de la Statistique (Paris, 1977); Theodore Porter, The Rise of Statistical Thinking, 1820-1900 (Princeton, 1986); Mary Poovey, Making a Social Body: British Cultural Formation, 1830-1864 (Chicago, 1995); Nikolas Rose, "Governing by Numbers: Figuring out Democracy," Accounting, Organizations and Society 16 (1991): 673-92; Libby Schweber, "L'histoire de la statistique, laboratoire pour la theorie sociale," Revue française de sociologie XXXVII (1996): 107-128; Stuart Woolf, "Statistics and the Modern State," Comparative Studies in Society and History 31 (1989): 588-604.
3. P. Abrams, The Origins of British Sociology. 1834-1914 (Chicago,1968); also, in a burgeoning literature, Eric Brian, "Statistique administrative et internationalisme statistique pendant la seconde moitié du XIX siècle," Histoire et Mésure 4 (1989):201-24; Alain Desrosières, "Histoire de formes: statistiques et sciences sociales avant 1940," Revue française de sociologie XXVI (1985): 277-310; "Comment faire des choses qui tiennent: histoire sociale et statistique," Histoire et Mésure 4 (1989): 225-42; INSEE, Pour une Histoire de la Statistique (Paris, 1977); Theodore Porter, The Rise of Statistical Thinking, 1820-1900 (Princeton, 1986); Mary Poovey, Making a Social Body: British Cultural Formation, 1830-1864 (Chicago, 1995); Nikolas Rose, "Governing by Numbers: Figuring out Democracy," Accounting, Organizations and Society 16 (1991): 673-92; Libby Schweber, "L'histoire de la statistique, laboratoire pour la theorie sociale," Revue française de sociologie XXXVII (1996): 107-128; Stuart Woolf, "Statistics and the Modern State," Comparative Studies in Society and History 31 (1989): 588-604.
4. P. Abrams, The Origins of British Sociology. 1834-1914 (Chicago,1968); also, in a burgeoning literature, Eric Brian, "Statistique administrative et internationalisme statistique pendant la seconde moitié du XIX siècle," Histoire et Mésure 4 (1989):201-24; Alain Desrosières, "Histoire de formes: statistiques et sciences sociales avant 1940," Revue française de sociologie XXVI (1985): 277-310; "Comment faire des choses qui tiennent: histoire sociale et statistique," Histoire et Mésure 4 (1989): 225-42; INSEE, Pour une Histoire de la Statistique (Paris, 1977); Theodore Porter, The Rise of Statistical Thinking, 1820-1900 (Princeton, 1986); Mary Poovey, Making a Social Body: British Cultural Formation, 1830-1864 (Chicago, 1995); Nikolas Rose, "Governing by Numbers: Figuring out Democracy," Accounting, Organizations and Society 16 (1991): 673-92; Libby Schweber, "L'histoire de la statistique, laboratoire pour la theorie sociale," Revue française de sociologie XXXVII (1996): 107-128; Stuart Woolf, "Statistics and the Modern State," Comparative Studies in Society and History 31 (1989): 588-604.
5. P. Abrams, The Origins of British Sociology. 1834-1914 (Chicago,1968); also, in a burgeoning literature, Eric Brian, "Statistique administrative et internationalisme statistique pendant la seconde moitié du XIX siècle," Histoire et Mésure 4 (1989):201-24; Alain Desrosières, "Histoire de formes: statistiques et sciences sociales avant 1940," Revue française de sociologie XXVI (1985): 277-310; "Comment faire des choses qui tiennent: histoire sociale et statistique," Histoire et Mésure 4 (1989): 225-42; INSEE, Pour une Histoire de la Statistique (Paris, 1977); Theodore Porter, The Rise of Statistical Thinking, 1820-1900 (Princeton, 1986); Mary Poovey, Making a Social Body: British Cultural Formation, 1830-1864 (Chicago, 1995); Nikolas Rose, "Governing by Numbers: Figuring out Democracy," Accounting, Organizations and Society 16 (1991): 673-92; Libby Schweber, "L'histoire de la statistique, laboratoire pour la theorie sociale," Revue française de sociologie XXXVII (1996): 107-128; Stuart Woolf, "Statistics and the Modern State," Comparative Studies in Society and History 31 (1989): 588-604.
6. P. Abrams, The Origins of British Sociology. 1834-1914 (Chicago,1968); also, in a burgeoning literature, Eric Brian, "Statistique administrative et internationalisme statistique pendant la seconde moitié du XIX siècle," Histoire et Mésure 4 (1989):201-24; Alain Desrosières, "Histoire de formes: statistiques et sciences sociales avant 1940," Revue française de sociologie XXVI (1985): 277-310; "Comment faire des choses qui tiennent: histoire sociale et statistique," Histoire et Mésure 4 (1989): 225-42; INSEE, Pour une Histoire de la Statistique (Paris, 1977); Theodore Porter, The Rise of Statistical Thinking, 1820-1900 (Princeton, 1986); Mary Poovey, Making a Social Body: British Cultural Formation, 1830-1864 (Chicago, 1995); Nikolas Rose, "Governing by Numbers: Figuring out Democracy," Accounting, Organizations and Society 16 (1991): 673-92; Libby Schweber, "L'histoire de la statistique, laboratoire pour la theorie sociale," Revue française de sociologie XXXVII (1996): 107-128; Stuart Woolf, "Statistics and the Modern State," Comparative Studies in Society and History 31 (1989): 588-604.
7. P. Abrams, The Origins of British Sociology. 1834-1914 (Chicago,1968); also, in a burgeoning literature, Eric Brian, "Statistique administrative et internationalisme statistique pendant la seconde moitié du XIX siècle," Histoire et Mésure 4 (1989):201-24; Alain Desrosières, "Histoire de formes: statistiques et sciences sociales avant 1940," Revue française de sociologie XXVI (1985): 277-310; "Comment faire des choses qui tiennent: histoire sociale et statistique," Histoire et Mésure 4 (1989): 225-42; INSEE, Pour une Histoire de la Statistique (Paris, 1977); Theodore Porter, The Rise of Statistical Thinking, 1820-1900 (Princeton, 1986); Mary Poovey, Making a Social Body: British Cultural Formation, 1830-1864 (Chicago, 1995); Nikolas Rose, "Governing by Numbers: Figuring out Democracy," Accounting, Organizations and Society 16 (1991): 673-92; Libby Schweber, "L'histoire de la statistique, laboratoire pour la theorie sociale," Revue française de sociologie XXXVII (1996): 107-128; Stuart Woolf, "Statistics and the Modern State," Comparative Studies in Society and History 31 (1989): 588-604.
8. P. Abrams, The Origins of British Sociology. 1834-1914 (Chicago,1968); also, in a burgeoning literature, Eric Brian, "Statistique administrative et internationalisme statistique pendant la seconde moitié du XIX siècle," Histoire et Mésure 4 (1989):201-24; Alain Desrosières, "Histoire de formes: statistiques et sciences sociales avant 1940," Revue française de sociologie XXVI (1985): 277-310; "Comment faire des choses qui tiennent: histoire sociale et statistique," Histoire et Mésure 4 (1989): 225-42; INSEE, Pour une Histoire de la Statistique (Paris, 1977); Theodore Porter, The Rise of Statistical Thinking, 1820-1900 (Princeton, 1986); Mary Poovey, Making a Social Body: British Cultural Formation, 1830-1864 (Chicago, 1995); Nikolas Rose, "Governing by Numbers: Figuring out Democracy," Accounting, Organizations and Society 16 (1991): 673-92; Libby Schweber, "L'histoire de la statistique, laboratoire pour la theorie sociale," Revue française de sociologie XXXVII (1996): 107-128; Stuart Woolf, "Statistics and the Modern State," Comparative Studies in Society and History 31 (1989): 588-604.
9. P. Abrams, The Origins of British Sociology. 1834-1914 (Chicago,1968); also, in a burgeoning literature, Eric Brian, "Statistique administrative et internationalisme statistique pendant la seconde moitié du XIX siècle," Histoire et Mésure 4 (1989):201-24; Alain Desrosières, "Histoire de formes: statistiques et sciences sociales avant 1940," Revue française de sociologie XXVI (1985): 277-310; "Comment faire des choses qui tiennent: histoire sociale et statistique," Histoire et Mésure 4 (1989): 225-42; INSEE, Pour une Histoire de la Statistique (Paris, 1977); Theodore Porter, The Rise of Statistical Thinking, 1820-1900 (Princeton, 1986); Mary Poovey, Making a Social Body: British Cultural Formation, 1830-1864 (Chicago, 1995); Nikolas Rose, "Governing by Numbers: Figuring out Democracy," Accounting, Organizations and Society 16 (1991): 673-92; Libby Schweber, "L'histoire de la statistique, laboratoire pour la theorie sociale," Revue française de sociologie XXXVII (1996): 107-128; Stuart Woolf, "Statistics and the Modern State," Comparative Studies in Society and History 31 (1989): 588-604.
10. P. Abrams, The Origins of British Sociology. 1834-1914 (Chicago,1968); also, in a burgeoning literature, Eric Brian, "Statistique administrative et internationalisme statistique pendant la seconde moitié du XIX siècle," Histoire et Mésure 4 (1989):201-24; Alain Desrosières, "Histoire de formes: statistiques et sciences sociales avant 1940," Revue française de sociologie XXVI (1985): 277-310; "Comment faire des choses qui tiennent: histoire sociale et statistique," Histoire et Mésure 4 (1989): 225-42; INSEE, Pour une Histoire de la Statistique (Paris, 1977); Theodore Porter, The Rise of Statistical Thinking, 1820-1900 (Princeton, 1986); Mary Poovey, Making a Social Body: British Cultural Formation, 1830-1864 (Chicago, 1995); Nikolas Rose, "Governing by Numbers: Figuring out Democracy," Accounting, Organizations and Society 16 (1991): 673-92; Libby Schweber, "L'histoire de la statistique, laboratoire pour la theorie sociale," Revue française de sociologie XXXVII (1996): 107-128; Stuart Woolf, "Statistics and the Modern State," Comparative Studies in Society and History 31 (1989): 588-604.
11. Ian Hacking, The Taming of Chance (Cambridge, 1993).
12. For a contemporary view, Council of the Royal Statistical Society, Annals of the Royal Statistical Society, 1834-1934 (London, 1934).
13. For the translation of observations into facts, Bruce Curtis, "Mapping the Social: Jacob Keefer's Educational Tour, 1845," Journal of Canadian Studies 28 (1993): 51-68; on 'black-boxing', B. Latour, "Visualization and Cognition: Thinking with Eyes and Hands," Knowledge and Society 6 (1986): 1-40.
14. For the translation of observations into facts, Bruce Curtis, "Mapping the Social: Jacob Keefer's Educational Tour, 1845," Journal of Canadian Studies 28 (1993): 51-68; on 'black-boxing', B. Latour, "Visualization and Cognition: Thinking with Eyes and Hands," Knowledge and Society 6 (1986): 1-40.
15. For an overview of the field, S. Shapin, "Here and Everywhere: Sociology of Scientific Knowledge," Annual Review of Sociology 21 (1995): 289-321; for more on infrastructural work, B. Curtis, "From the Moral Thermometer to Money: Metrological Reform in Pre-Confederation Canada," Social Studies in Science 28 (1998).
16. For an overview of the field, S. Shapin, "Here and Everywhere: Sociology of Scientific Knowledge," Annual Review of Sociology 21 (1995): 289-321; for more on infrastructural work, B. Curtis, "From the Moral Thermometer to Money: Metrological Reform in Pre-Confederation Canada," Social Studies in Science 28 (1998).
17. Rhéaume's manuscript reports are in N[ational] A[rchives] of C[anada] RG17, vol. 1953, part I-10, file 2.
18. M. Foucault, "Nietzsche, Genealogy, History," in Language, Counter-memory, Practice (Oxford,1977): 139-64.
19. M. Foucault, The History of Sexuality. Volume 1 (New York, 1978). The actor-network approach in social studies of science contributes a key notion that I hold to be missing from Foucault's genealogy: translation. For a demonstration of the power of combining genealogical and actor-network approaches, Steven Ward, "Filling the World with Self-Esteem: a Social History of Truth-Making," Canadian Journal of Sociology 21 (1996): 1-24.
20. M. Foucault, The History of Sexuality. Volume 1 (New York, 1978). The actor-network approach in social studies of science contributes a key notion that I hold to be missing from Foucault's genealogy: translation. For a demonstration of the power of combining genealogical and actor-network approaches, Steven Ward, "Filling the World with Self-Esteem: a Social History of Truth-Making," Canadian Journal of Sociology 21 (1996): 1-24.
21. Following Max Weber, 'intensity of administration' is "the tendency for the state to take under its own control as many tasks as possible for continuous operation and execution." W.G. Runciman ed., Max Weber: Selections in Translation (Cambridge, 1978): 348. See also Derek Smith, "The Emergence of 'Eskimo Status': An Examination of the Eskimo Disk List System and Its Social Consequences, 1925-1970," in N. Dyck and J. Waldram eds., Anthropology, Public Policy and Native Peoples in Canada (Montreal and Kingston, 1993): 41-74, for the related concept 'intensive surveillance'.
22. Following Max Weber, 'intensity of administration' is "the tendency for the state to take under its own control as many tasks as possible for continuous operation and execution." W.G. Runciman ed., Max Weber: Selections in Translation (Cambridge, 1978): 348. See also Derek Smith, "The Emergence of 'Eskimo Status': An Examination of the Eskimo Disk List System and Its Social Consequences, 1925-1970," in N. Dyck and J. Waldram eds., Anthropology, Public Policy and Native Peoples in Canada (Montreal and Kingston, 1993): 41-74, for the related concept 'intensive surveillance'.
23. See especially Laurent Thévenot, "Rules and Instruments: Investment in Forms," Social Science Information, 23 (1984): 1-45; and "L'économie du codage social," Critiques de l'Économie politique 23-24 (1983): 188-222.
24. See especially Laurent Thévenot, "Rules and Instruments: Investment in Forms," Social Science Information, 23 (1984): 1-45; and "L'économie du codage social," Critiques de l'Économie politique 23-24 (1983): 188-222.
25. For an example of the Manchester Statistical Society's work, see "Report of a Committee of the Manchester Statistical Society...." British and Foreign Review VI (1836): 564-603. The Buller Commission material, in very poor condition, is in NAC RG4 B30 and RG4 A1; also B. Curtis, "Enquêtes sur l'éducation au bas-Canada, 1835-1840" unpublished paper, Department of Sociology and Anthroplogy, Carleton University, 1997.
26. For an example of the Manchester Statistical Society's work, see "Report of a Committee of the Manchester Statistical Society...." British and Foreign Review VI (1836): 564-603. The Buller Commission material, in very poor condition, is in NAC RG4 B30 and RG4 A1; also B. Curtis, "Enquêtes sur l'éducation au bas-Canada, 1835-1840" unpublished paper, Department of Sociology and Anthroplogy, Carleton University, 1997.
27. See B. Curtis, "The State of Tutelage in Lower Canada, 1835-1855," History of Education Quarterly 37 (1997): 25-43; J.I. Little, State and Society in Transition. The Politics of Institutional Reform in the Eastern Townships, 1838-1852 (Kingston and Montreal, 1997).
28. See B. Curtis, "The State of Tutelage in Lower Canada, 1835-1855," History of Education Quarterly 37 (1997): 25-43; J.I. Little, State and Society in Transition. The Politics of Institutional Reform in the Eastern Townships, 1838-1852 (Kingston and Montreal, 1997).
29. Coloured by his partisan politics, but still a valuable overview of these questions is L.-P. Turcotte, Le Canada Sous L'Union (Québec, 1871-2): 180-320.
30. Debates of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada, 22 March 1853. 'Jean-Baptiste' and 'Josephe' were the stereotypical counterparts of 'Sambo' in this literature.
31. See the line taken in Legislative Assembly of Canada, Sessional papers Appendix TT 1850, "Report of the Special Committee on the State of Agriculture in Lower Canada" (translation).
32. Rhéaume remains a relatively unknown figure, although he studied law with one of Lower Canada's leading figures. His application for admission to the bar, with an account of his legal education, is in NAC RG4 A1 vol.610, 'S' series, 1 July 1840.
33. Province of Canada, Statutes, 16 Vic. cap.XI, "An Act to provide for the establishment of a Bureau of Agriculture, and to amend and consolidate the Laws relating to Agriculture." Even this clause was a retreat from the draft bill, which made the Minister president ex officio of all local agricultural societies with the power to dissolve those not responding to his queries. Only the 1847 Census Act had any similar provisions.
34. NAC RG17 AI 2, Wright to Rhéaume, 25 June 1853, "Ne pensez vous pas qu'il est avantageux de s'établir dans les Townships?"
35. All of the material that follows, unless otherwise indicated, is from Rhéaume's report and the translations are mine.
36. La Jeune Lorette to the north, east to Cap Rouge, west to Beauport, all on roads passable in a buggy.
37. For example, Parliament of Canada, Sessional papers, Appendix J. 1851 "Report of the special committee on the annual report of the Lower Canada Agricultural Society and the Agricultural Society of the County of Beauharnois."
38. See the Traité sur la Tenue Générale d'une Terre dans le Bas-Canada, reproduced in J. Doughtey, ed. The Elgin-Grey Papers (Ottawa, 1954) II: 854ff.
39. For example, Frederick Engels, The Condition of the Working Class in England (Moscow, 1968).
40. For information about Rhéaume's pay and employment, NAC RG17 A I 2, Wright to Rhéaume, 3 August 1853; MacNab to Campell, 23 September 1853[sic 4]; vol. 1, Rhéaume to Wright, 17 October 1853; Rhéaume to Minister of Agriculture, 31 October 1853 with Executive Council minute about his pay; Rhéaume to Wright, 4 November 1853; A I 2, Hutton to Rhéaume, 22 March 1855 (the termination letter).