The Dionne Quintuplets
The Dionne Quintuplets — Emelie, Cecile, Marie, Annette, and Yvonne — born in the early 1930’s, achieved a remarkable level of notoriety as a result of shrewd marketing by their parents, Dr. Dafoe, and the Ontario government. They had a complicated and often sad life, which can be found described in detail in the Wikipedia entry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dionne_quintuplets) as well as many other sources.
The following image, which I scanned from an old photo found in a Seattle antique store, was distributed by the NEA Service, Inc. (Newspaper Enterprise Association).
“The Dionne girls were born prematurely. After four months with their family, custody was signed over to the Red Cross, which paid for their care and oversaw the building of a hospital for the sisters. Less than a year after this agreement was signed, the Ontario government stepped in and passed the Dionne Quintuplets’ Guardianship Act, 1935, which made them wards of the Crown until the age of 18.The Ontario provincial government and those around them began to profit by making them a significant tourist attraction.” — Wikipedia
Key Facts:
- Birth: May 28, 1934, near Callander, Ontario.
- Names: Annette, Cécile, Émilie, Marie, Yvonne.
- Significance: First identical quintuplets known to have survived infancy.
- Medical Care: Dr. Allan Roy Dafoe helped them survive their premature birth, receiving support from the Hospital for Sick Children.
- Exploitation: Placed in a special nursery and theme park (“Quintland”) by the Ontario government, they were viewed by millions and used in advertising, leading to claims of abuse and exploitation.
- Return to Parents: Returned to their parents in 1943.
- Later Lives: Three sisters married; two, Marie and Émilie, died in their 20s and 30s; Yvonne died in 2001; Annette and Cécile survived into old age, receiving compensation from the government.
- Legacy: They documented their experiences in books like We Were Five, highlighting the tragic side of their “miracle” birth.
The flyer below was found on the back of a handtinted photo.
The Dionne Quintuplets
Born May 28th, 1934
Total weight at birth
13 pounds, 6 ounces
In the late spring of 1934, in a frontier farmhouse near Callander, Ontario, Canada, a miracle happened. Five tiny girl babies were born to a 25-year-old French-Canadian woman, Elzire Dionne.
The same day, papa Ovila Dionne telephoned the local newspaper, inquiring the cost of inserting a notice of birth of five babies. It was a call heard around the world. It immediately brought newspaper men, red cross nurses, an incubator, gifts, and most important of all—sorely needed help.
Dr. Allen R. Dafoe, the attending physician, was making valiant efforts to keep the tiny human bundles alive. The incubator from Chicago played a very important part. Then, after a never ending watchfulness on the part of Doctor Defoe and the nurses- medical history was made. The babies had been kept alive for six days! During the past 500 years, births of 30 other quintuplets have been reliably reported, but none ever lived more than five days.
The Dionne Quintuplets have gained in health and weight until they are today perfectly normal and exceptionally beautiful children. On May 28th, 1935, they celebrate their first birthday-an event of such importance that it was broadcast all over the world. And recently, with royal consent, the Ontario legislature passed a bill making these world famous children “wards of the King”
A part from possessing a beautiful picture of the adorable babies, we feel sure that you will be interested in knowing that though the purchase of this picture you will be contributing directly to the care and education of these young ladies. For while they are “wards of the King” their care for the next eighteen years will come from a special Trust Fund. This fund is made up and will be maintained from a percentage of profits from all articles sold under the babies name, and it will be administered without cost of any kind by the Ontario Government of Canada.
An Invitation
The Ontario Government, through its Minister of Public Welfare, the HON. David A Croll, extends to you a very cordial invitation to visit Callander, and see in person these famous babies. For information regarding routes to Callander address, Travel & Publicity Bureau, Parliament Buildings, Toronto, Canada
Souvenir postcard packs were sold to visitors to commemorate the occasion.
Created 2/6/96 / Last modified 6/14/2007
Converted to WordPress 12/5/2025
Last Updated on 12/05/25