Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1926-1965 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
Ca. 3500 transparencies : glass slides ; 8 x 8 cm
1 cm of textual records
Context area
Name of creator
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Series contains a collection glass lantern slides that once formed part of the Gallery’s slide library, consisting of art-related slides that were made available for teaching and instruction. The glass lantern slides were withdrawn from circulation by the Gallery in 1965, as 35mm slide transparencies became the dominant format of the Slide Library. Subjects covered by lantern slides include Canadian and international art, sculpture, architecture, photography, and children's art. Some examples of classifications include Sculpture; Decorative and Minor Arts; Interior Decoration and Industrial Arts; Architecture; Ancient Cultures; Maps and Town Planning; Nature; Engravings; Child Art; and others.
Also includes 1 folder of textual records relating to a project to catalogue the lantern slides and a disposition decision regarding the collection.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Slides are arranged by subject, region or artist, generally alphabetically. Contents of series do not constitute the entirety of the original glass lantern slide collection that was held by the Gallery. The majority of the collection was deaccessioned in the 1990s, with only a selection maintained as part of the AGO Archives.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Contents of series are housed in a slide cabinet in the AGO Archivist’s office. Some slides are broken and require careful handling and the attention of a conservator. Gloves must be worn to handle collection.
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Related records include lantern slides in accession AIR2022-001, containing lantern slides of children's works of art produced through Gallery School classes in 1930s as well as reproductions of artworks used for instruction purposes. Donated from Montreal Museum of Fine Art by Jean-Bruno Giard, MMFA librarian. 3 boxes of slides housed alongside lantern slides in AGO Archivist’s office.
Textual records relating to the labeling and classification scheme applying to the slides can be found in Series 2: Operational files.