Archives of Ontario
Encyclopedia
The Archives of Ontario (Archives publiques de l'Ontario in French) is the provincial archives for the province
of Ontario
, Canada. Founded in 1903, the archives is located in Toronto.
The Bureau of Archives, as it was originally known, was first located at the Ontario Legislature. The Archives moved to the Canadiana Building on the University of Toronto
campus in 1951, at which time it was known as the Department of Archives. Relocated to 77 Grenville Street in 1972 its name was also changed to the Archives of Ontario. The reading room at the Grenville building closed on March 26, 2009.
The official groundbreaking ceremony for the new Archives of Ontario building on the York University
grounds, which also houses the York University Research Tower, was on April 30, 2007. The groundbreaking was attended by former Minister of Government Services Gerry Phillips
and former York University President and Vice-Chancellor Lorna Marsden
. The building was opened to the public on April 2, 2009 and is expected to be the site of the Archives for at least the next thirty-five years.
In addition to the records of the Ontario government, the Archives also acquires records of private individuals and organizations that reflect Ontario's history. Notable private records include Eaton's
fonds
, Conn Smythe
fonds and Moriyama and Teshima Architects Ltd. fonds.
Provinces and territories of Canada
The provinces and territories of Canada combine to make up the world's second-largest country by area. There are ten provinces and three territories...
of Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada. Founded in 1903, the archives is located in Toronto.
The Bureau of Archives, as it was originally known, was first located at the Ontario Legislature. The Archives moved to the Canadiana Building on the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
campus in 1951, at which time it was known as the Department of Archives. Relocated to 77 Grenville Street in 1972 its name was also changed to the Archives of Ontario. The reading room at the Grenville building closed on March 26, 2009.
The official groundbreaking ceremony for the new Archives of Ontario building on the York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
grounds, which also houses the York University Research Tower, was on April 30, 2007. The groundbreaking was attended by former Minister of Government Services Gerry Phillips
Gerry Phillips
Gerry Phillips was a politician in the riding of Scarborough—Agincourt which is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He was a member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament, and served as a senior minister in the governments of Premier's Dalton McGuinty and David Peterson.-Early life:Phillips was...
and former York University President and Vice-Chancellor Lorna Marsden
Lorna Marsden
Lorna Marsden, CM, O.Ont is a Canadian sociologist, academic, and former politician. She is the former President and Vice-Chancellor of both Wilfrid Laurier University and York University, and a former senator.-Career:...
. The building was opened to the public on April 2, 2009 and is expected to be the site of the Archives for at least the next thirty-five years.
In addition to the records of the Ontario government, the Archives also acquires records of private individuals and organizations that reflect Ontario's history. Notable private records include Eaton's
Eaton's
The T. Eaton Co. Limited was once Canada's largest department store retailer. It was founded in 1869 in Toronto by Timothy Eaton, an Irish immigrant. Eaton's grew to become a retail and social institution in Canada, with stores across the country, buying offices across the globe, and a catalogue...
fonds
Fonds
Fonds is an archival term used to describe an aggregation of documents that originate from the same source. More specifically, a fonds distinguishes itself from a collection through its organic nature, as archival documents that have been naturally accumulated by an individual, company,...
, Conn Smythe
Conn Smythe
Constantine Falkland Cary Smythe MC was a Canadian businessman, soldier and sportsman in ice hockey and horse racing. He is best known as the principal owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League from 1927 to 1961 and as the builder of Maple Leaf Gardens...
fonds and Moriyama and Teshima Architects Ltd. fonds.
Archivist of Ontario
The head of the Archives has been known as the Archivist of Ontario since 1923. Eleven people have held this position.- 1903-1935: Alexander Fraser (Provincial Archivist, title changed to Archivist of Ontario in 1923)
- 1935-1939: James J. Talman (Acting Archivist of Ontario, also Acting Legislative Librarian)
- 1939-1944: Helen A. McClung (Acting Archivist of Ontario)
- 1944: John H. Bennett (Archivist of Ontario; appointed by Order in Council dated May 11, 1944; became military archivist by Order in Council dated June 8, 1944)
- 1944-1950: Helen A. McClung
- 1950-1963: George W. Spragge
- 1963-1978: Donald F. McOuat
- 1978-1986: William G. Ormsby
- 1986-1999: Ian E. WilsonIan E. WilsonIan E. Wilson is a former chief Librarian and Archivist of Canada. Appointed in 2004, he had previously been National Archivist of Canada. With Roch Carrier, the then National Librarian, he developed and led the process to link the National Archive and National Library as a unified institution...
- 1999-2010: Miriam McTiernan
- 2010(Aug): David Nicholl (Acting Archivist of Ontario)
- 2010- : Angela Forest (Acting Archivist of Ontario)