Collection LA.SC027 - Art Gallery of Ontario biographical questionnaires collection

Identity area

Reference code

LA.SC027

Title

Art Gallery of Ontario biographical questionnaires collection

Date(s)

  • 1912-1984 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

13 cm of textual records
2 audio cassettes

Context area

Name of creator

Archival history

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Content and structure area

Scope and content

The Art Gallery of Ontario Biographical Questionnaires Collection consists of written responses to forms requesting factual information pertaining to the careers of 372 Canadian artists. The Collection consists of printed forms that have been completed and signed by Canadian artists between 1912 and 1979 and a group of 24 responses to questions posed by AGO staff in 1984. The final group is concerned more with the nature of the artist’s work rather than factual and biographical information. The earliest forms were one page in length; basic information regarding birth date, education, exhibitions, awards, publications and a signature was requested. Forms sent out in the 1970’s are two pages; the 1980’s files consist of lengthy responses in essay format to 7 or 8 questions. Two of the artists from the final group submitted audio tapes that have been transcribed. An alphabetical listing of artists can be found in the administration file. Forms were completed in the following years (numbers in parentheses indicate the number of forms completed for a given year): 1912 (69); 1913 (43); 1914 (20); 1915 (16); 1916 (9); 1917 (7); 1918 (17); 1919 (6); 1921 (1); 1922 (1); 1923 (47); 1924 (22); 1925 (23); 1927 (34); 1928 (3); 1929 (1); 1930 (1); 1945 (1); 1974 (3); 1976 (1); 1979 (1); 1984 (24). Fonds is comprised of the following series: 1. Biographical questionnaires 1912-1979 2. Toronto Painting ’84 questionnaires

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

No further accruals are expected.

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Open. Access to Special Collections is by appointment only. Please contact the reference desk for more information.

Conditions governing reproduction

Various copyright holders. It is the researcher’s responsibility to obtain permission to publish any part of the collection.

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Notes area

Note

Collection formerly known as Art Museum of Toronto: Artists' Questionnaires collection. The Toronto Painting ’84 Questionnaires were treated as a separate collection prior to 2003.

Note

Forms dated from 1912-1918 refer to the Art Museum of Toronto, at which point the institution was renamed the Art Gallery of Toronto. Forms published after 1966 reflect the name change to the Art Gallery of Ontario.

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Description control area

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Archivist's note

Originally prepared by Sylvia Lassam, 2003. Prepared, uploaded and adapted by Nirvana Chainani, 2019

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