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

(1933-)

Administrative history

The Edward P. Taylor Library & Archives at the Art Gallery of Ontario is a leading Canadian centre for research in art. It collects published and archival materials related to the collection, exhibitions and public programs of the AGO, and Canadian art in general with a geographic focus on Ontario.
The library holds more than 380,000 items including books, rare books, artists’ books, multiples, and artist files. Archival collections include the archives of the Art Gallery of Ontario and extensive special collections (artists’ archives and related collections).
The library was established in the library of the historic Grange House in 1933 when the gallery received a donation of 200 books on art from the Carnegie foundation. That same year the library opened to gallery staff and members of the public, and was soon supervised by a librarian.
The gallery’s Stage II expansion in 1977 provided a larger facility for the library, which was renamed the Edward P. Taylor Reference Library and became part of the Curatorial Division. The current facility for the Library & Archives was opened in 1993 with the gallery’s Stage III expansion. In 2017 the entrance of the Library & Archives was expanded to include a lounge space as part of the revitalization of Grange Park.
The AGO Archives, which consists of records created by the gallery, was established in September 1975 under the direction of Margaret Machell, who worked as Keeper of the Grange and AGO Archivist until her retirement in 1981. Following her departure, the Archives reported to the gallery’s administrative branch until 1989 when it merged with the Reference Library to become the Edward P. Taylor Research Library & Archives. The department was renamed the Edward P. Taylor Library & Archives in 2017.

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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Script of material

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Allied materials area

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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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Archivist's note

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

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