TORONTO ARCHIVES A HIDDEN GEM

EN: TORONTO STAR
SITE: http://www.thestar.com
FECHA: Jul. 12, 2006. 06:34 AM
AUTOR: Bruce Demara


It's one of Toronto's best-kept secrets for history lovers: the city's archives building at 255 Spadina Rd. More than 1 million photographs, millions of pages of government documents, annual reports, personal collections and correspondence are catalogued and stored here. It's a researcher's dream, but many people don't realize it exists, and that access is mostly free, said Karen Teeple, manager of archival services in a conversation with the Star.

QWHO ARE THE MAIN USERS OF THE CITY ARCHIVES?

AThe archives is primarily a research facility, open Monday to Friday year-round and also on Saturdays from September to June. Regular users include high school and university students, academics, environmentalists, historians and geographers. Members of the general public also use the archives. Also, we offer an education program, including walking tours, for elementary students.

QWHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO RESEARCH MY HOME OR PROPERTY?

AThere are number of sources. The Goad's fire insurance plans, beginning in 1880, provided detailed information about buildings and neighbourhoods, describing when structures were built and/or demolished, materials used, position on the lot, and so on.
Assessment rolls dating back to 1834 (the year Toronto was first incorporated) provide the names of the owners and tenants as well as occupation, salary and religion of the head of the household. City directories contain alphabetical street and name listings, also beginning around that time. Building permits between 1882 and 1926 list the owner, architect and cost of the buildings. For good measure, there are also aerial photos that reflect changes over time.

Archives staff are available to provide assistance.

QWHAT IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR REQUESTS FOR SERVICE?

ACopies of photographs are among the most requested services, often for gift-giving. Clients can purchase photographic reproductions and, most recently, digital images.
There are extensive photo collections, the earliest dating to 1856. Fees are calculated on a cost-recovery basis and available on the archives' website (http://www.toronto.ca/archives/contact.htm)

QWHAT IS THE ARCHIVES' OLDEST DOCUMENT OR ARTIFACT?

AA 1792 map of Toronto's harbour by Joseph Bouchette, showing Toronto (then called York) as it existed one year before the arrival of Lieutenant-Governor John Graves Simcoe.