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The Arrival of Radium in Montréal, 1922

Montage of four newspaper headlines placed side by side. The first is titled This purchase of radium from the United States - Our province will receive a gram on Monday. - It will be deposited at the University. The second is titled Our gram of radium - It will arrive in Montreal on Monday and will be installed in the laboratories of the University of Montreal. The third is titled Radium at the University of Montreal. The fourth is titled Delivery in Montreal of a shipment of radium - The precious package was entrusted this morning to the University of Montreal. - A fortune.

(From left to right) La Patrie, September 30, 1922 – Le Devoir, September 30, 1922 – La Presse, October 3, 1922 – La Patrie, October 3, 1922

Hailed as one of the great scientific discoveries of the 20th century, radium generated a lot of buzz when a sample was purchased by the province, as attested by these headlines and columns from Montréal newspapers. These documents feature various sensationalist titles that show the media’s obsession with the arrival of 1.25 grams of radium in Montréal.  

Theses titles read, from left to right :

  • La Patrie, September 30, 1922 : “ This purchase of radium in the United States ”
  • Le Devoir, September 30, 1922 : “ Our gram of radium ”
  • La Presse, October 3, 1922 : “ Radium at the Université de Montréal ”
  • La Patrie, October 3, 1922 : “ Delivery of a gram of radium to Montréal ”