Showing 328 results

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.

Series contains records related to public programs and events at the Grange including concerts, Wednesday Night Lecture Series, school programs, Christmas Parties, Lectures given by Grange staff at other venues, film programs, school programs, and William Chin: The Butler Remembers, a performance given by AGO Docent Jack Carr. Also includes “Events of the Week” listings (1973-1981).

Series contains grant records, records of the Grange Fund, and records of donations in-kind to the Grange Library, and Grange Operating Accounts and Financial Statements.

Series contains records relating to the promotion of the Grange, including applications to and receipt of awards, news articles, scripts for videos and slideshows, brochures, and other publications.

Also includes postcards featuring images of the Grange from 1906-1990s.

Series contains records relating to the hiring and staffing of the Grange, the transfer of the Grange from professional staff operation to volunteer operation in 1981 during a time of high inflation and financial challenges.

Series contains records relating to the acquisition, loan, and disposition of art and artifacts.

Series contains records relating to the routine operations of the Grange including reports to AGO boards and committees, reports to external Museum bodies, fact sheets and interpretive materials, policies, strategic plans, and overviews of the activities of the Grange.

Series contains records relating to the operations of volunteer committees of The Grange – primarily meeting minutes, agendas, memos, correspondence, The Grange newsletter, training documents, Day Captain’s minutes, and historical research materials provided to volunteers.

Volunteer committees were variously known as The Grange Committee (1973-1980), the Grange Volunteer Committee (1980-1995), and The Grange Executive (1996-). Committee members liaised with gallery departments and the AGO Volunteer Committee, ran programs and daily operations, fundraised, and publicized The Grange. In 1981 due to staff cuts in the gallery, Grange volunteers took over operation of the Grange including administration, programming, training, and finances.

Series contains records relating to the operations of the Grange Council, known until 1992 as the Grange Committee (Board), including correspondence, memos, reports, agendas, and meeting minutes.

The Grange Council oversaw the conservation and maintenance of the Grange, its collection, and the grounds, and received regular reports from the Grange Volunteer Committee and administered the Grange Fund. It was made up of volunteer members as well as the curator of Canadian Art and other gallery staff.

The Grange Council was disbanded in June 2013 following a review of the committee by the Director’s Office.