Series AGOR013.S01 - Restoration of the Grange

96 cm of textual and graphic material
6 bound volumes
47 prints : b&w ; 13cm x 9cm
6 prints : b&w ; 25.4 x 19.2cm
102 drawings
21 architectural drawings

By the mid to late 1960s, the Art Gallery of Ontario had grown substantially in size. To accommodate this growth, a master plan was developed to expand the gallery space and education facilities. Part of Stage I of this plan was to build new office space for a growing administrative and programming staff, thus moving existing offices out of the Grange.
Given the historical importance of the Grange, Director William Withrow sought funding to restore the Grange as a gentleman’s house circa 1835 to 1885 and open it to the public. Peter Stokes and Isobel Stewart were hired in 1967 to complete a feasibility study on the restoration and Peter Stokes was later hired as the architect to oversee the restoration. Jeanne Minhinnick was hired as consultant on the furnishings, J.R. Page Ltd as contractor and Verschoyle Blake hired as historical consultant.
The restoration of the Grange was overseen by the Grange Restoration Committee, a sub-committee of the Board of Trustees which first met in February 1969, and the Grange Advisory Committee, a sub-committee of the Women’s Committee. Margaret Matchell was hired as Custodian of the Grange in 1970 to coordinate the restoration project. She worked as the Keeper or Custodian of the Grange until 1981 when she became the first Archivist at the Art Gallery of Ontario.
The total cost of restoration was over $620,000 and took place between 1969 and 1973, concurrent with Stage I renovations to the Art Gallery. To raise the necessary capital the Art Gallery set up a Grange Fund which was overseen by the Women’s Committee. They contributed over nearly $400,000 towards the costs of restoration through special fundraising events such as Deck-the-Grange, KaleidAGO and Art Game, funding drives, memorial funds and other donations. The Art Gallery Building Fund provided $234,000 towards the project. Another $50,000 came from a Federal Government grant.
The restoration of the Grange was completed and officially opened to the public on April 18, 1973.

The series comprises correspondence, budgets and cost estimates, financial statements, contracts, progress certificates, correspondence related to the Grange Fund and the restoration of the Grange. It also contains the working files of Jeanne Minhinnick, furnishing consultant for the Grange Restoration, which consist of extensive notes, samples, and research by Jeanne Minhinnick on historical furnishings and interior design. There are also several original sketches of furnishings by her husband, William Minhinnick.

No further accruals expected.

The folders in boxes 1-6 and 8 were originally loosely organized into the following file series, which are reflected in the current arrangement: Finances, Architectural Restoration, Finances/Donations and Memorials, Furnishings, and Publicity.

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