- Part Of
- Benjamin Brown fonds
- Residential building plans and drawings series
- Level
- Series
- Fonds
- 49
- Series
- 2
- Material Format
- architectural drawing
- Date
- 1919-[1935]
- Physical Description
- 327 architectural and technical drawings
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of Benjamin Brown’s architectural drawings of personal residences that were either designed or renovated for real estate developers, landlords or the occupants themselves. The majority of the buildings were designed for a Jewish clientele, many of whom were prominent citizens, including Louis Gelber and Mendel Granatstein. Brown also created designs for his own personal residence on Castle Frank Crescent, however the home was never completed. Most of the houses he designed or renovated were located in the Annex, Forest Hill, Casa Loma or Hillcrest neighborhoods. Many were designed with elements of Georgian, Craftman, Colonial Revival and/or Tudor architectural styles. They ranged from three storey mansions to small duplexes and single story homes. The vast majority of his commissions were standard three or four bedroom two storey homes.
- The majority of these drawings are on tracing or drafting paper, several of which are in colour and the remainder are either blueprints or drawn on cardboard. Plans, sketches, elevations, sections, detailing and technical drawings of the residences are included.
- Subjects
- Dwellings
- Physical Condition
- Several drawings are in poor condition. See file level descriptions for further details.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Benjamin Brown fonds
- Jewish community building plans and drawings series
- Level
- Series
- Fonds
- 49
- Series
- 1
- Material Format
- architectural drawing
- Date
- [1915]-1940
- Physical Description
- 174 architectural drawings
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of Benjamin Brown’s architectural plans and drawings of significant buildings designed or renovated for Toronto‘s Jewish community, including proposals that were never implemented. Contained within are renovation plans of the Beach Hebrew Institute synagogue, an ark design for the McCaul Street Synagogue, and the complete designs of the Henry Street Synagogue. The last of these projects is of particular significance, because it was the first synagogue in Toronto designed by a Jewish architect and was one of Brown‘s largest commissions. Drawings of the Primrose Club (a Jewish men’s club) and the Brunswick Talmud Torah Day School, as well as plans of Camp Yungvelt (a Jewish summer camp) are also included. Additionally, several preliminary sketches of synagogue facades are contained within.
- The majority of these drawings are on tracing or drafting paper, several of which are in colour, and the remainder are either blueprints or drawn on cardboard. Floor plans, elevations, sections, foundation plans and sketches of building exterior facades and interiors are included. Additionally, there are drawings of windows, doors and synagogue arks.
- Physical Condition
- Several drawings and plans are in poor condition. See file level descriptions for further details.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Benjamin Brown fonds
- Demonstration Drawings series
- Level
- Series
- Fonds
- 49
- Series
- 4
- Material Format
- architectural drawing
- Date
- 1910-[1935]
- Physical Description
- 15 architectural drawings : 1 blueprint, pencil and 10 hand col. watercolour, pastel and pencil crayon, some on cardboard, some on verso of blueprints ; 55 x 70 cm or smaller
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of several high quality colour sketches of a variety of buildings. These have been grouped together to display Brown’s artistic ability and were originally used for both public display or as commissions. Drawings are sketches of both commercial and residential buildings. Among the sketches are building interiors and exteriors, an entrance, a theatre stage and a bedroom. Brown's sketch of a public library when he attended the University of Toronto is also included. Two drawings have been described at the item level, one is the library Brown drew when he was a student and the other is a house interior of exceptional quality.
- Notes
- Both drawings with item level descriptions are encased in Melinex.
- Physical Condition
- The two drawings in roll 1 are in need of conservation. Both have significant tears.
- 6/16/2015: The two rolled drawings were sent out for conservation treatments.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Benjamin Brown fonds
- Jewish community building plans and drawings series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 49
- Series
- 1
- File
- 2
- Material Format
- architectural drawing
- Date
- 1919-1922
- Physical Description
- 136 architectural drawings : pencil, some hand col., watercolour, on linen weave and tracing paper ; 100 x 90 cm or smaller
- Admin History/Bio
- The Henry Street Beth Jacob Synagogue was founded by Toronto’s Polish-Jewish Community, as the successor of an older, smaller synagogue on Elm Street. It was the first synagogue in Toronto that was designed by a Jewish architect, Benjamin Brown. Located at 23 and 23 ½ Henry Street, the synagogue was dedicated in 1922, at a cost of $156,000, and could accommodate up to eight hundred worshippers. It was built in Romanesque style and was notable for its stained glass windows and retractable roof that was used on Sukkoth. It also contained a vaulted ceiling capped by a large dome and four smaller ones. The building was eventually sold and converted into a church. It is the current site of the Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church.
- Scope and Content
- File consists of architectural drawings of Beth Jacob Synagogue. Contained within are basement, floor, stairwell and roof plans, load plans, sections, and elevation drawings. Also included are detailing of windows, the Ark, entrances and other structures and objects.
- Notes
- Most of the drawings are stored in four rolls, the remainder are encased in five sheets of Melinex. Due to the fragility of these drawings, the medium, extent and sizes of them are based on the descriptions compiled by Steve Speisman. It is recommended that a conservator examine these drawings.
- Name Access
- Beth Jacob Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)
- Subjects
- Synagogues
- Repro Restriction
- Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
- Physical Condition
- Some drawings are frayed and torn.
- Places
- Henry Street (Toronto, Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Benjamin Brown fonds
- Level
- Item
- Fonds
- 49
- Series
- 4
- Material Format
- architectural drawing
- Date
- Dec.12, 1910
- Physical Description
- 1 architectural drawings : pencil on cardboard ; 29 cm x 40 cm
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a detailed elevation drawing of a public library. Benjamin Brown completed this drawing during his time as a student at the University of Toronto.
- Subjects
- Libraries
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Benjamin Brown fonds
- Level
- Item
- Fonds
- 49
- Series
- 4
- Material Format
- architectural drawing
- Date
- [ca.1920]
- Physical Description
- 1 architectural drawing : pencil and hand col. watercolour with a cardboard backing ; 44 x 49 cm
- Scope and Content
- Item is a high quality watercolour sketch of the interior of a house.
- Subjects
- Dwellings
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Benjamin Brown fonds
- Commercial building plans and drawings series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 49
- Series
- 3
- File
- 33
- Material Format
- architectural drawing
- Date
- 1936
- Physical Description
- 1 architectural drawing : pencil on tracing paper ; 60 cm length and 4 cm diam.
- Scope and Content
- File consists of floor plans, sections and elevations of a laundry building for Mr. Peter Kin at 71 Queen St. West.
- Places
- Queen Street West (Toronto, Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Benjamin Brown fonds
- Jewish community building plans and drawings series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 49
- Series
- 1
- File
- 3
- Material Format
- architectural drawing
- Date
- [ca. 1922]
- Physical Description
- 1 architectural drawing : pencil and hand col., watercolour, on cardboard backed paper ; 90 x 73 cm
- Admin History/Bio
- The Brunswick Avenue Talmud Torah Day School was established in 1907 and was originally situated on Simcoe Avenue. In 1922 the school received a charter from the Province of Ontario and relocated to Brunswick Avenue the same year. The new school opened in 1925 as a non-denominational afternoon school. It was the precursor to the Associated Hebrew Schools of Toronto.
- Scope and Content
- File consists of one drawing of the exterior of the Brunswick Avenue Talmud Torah.
- Repro Restriction
- Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
- Related Material
- See File 49-5-13 for plans of the Yorkville Talmud Torah Day School in New York, designed by Benjamin W. Levitan.
- Places
- Brunswick Avenue (Toronto, Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Benjamin Brown fonds
- Jewish community building plans and drawings series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 49
- Series
- 1
- File
- 4
- Material Format
- architectural drawing
- Date
- [ca. 1924]
- Physical Description
- 9 architectural drawings : pencil, 6 hand col. pastel, 7 on tracing paper ; 36 x 50 cm or smaller
- Admin History/Bio
- The Brunswick Avenue Talmud Torah Day School was established in 1907 and was originally situated on Simcoe Avenue. In 1922 the school received a charter from the Province of Ontario and relocated to Brunswick Avenue the same year. The new school opened in 1925 as a non-denominational afternoon school. It was the precursor to the Associated Hebrew Schools of Toronto.
- Scope and Content
- File consists of Benjamin Brown's designs for the Brunswick Avenue Talmud Torah. Contained within are sketches of various entrances and frontages for the Brusnwick Avenue Talmud Torah. Designs of the Ark are also included.
- Physical Condition
- Drawings are fragile, several are torn.
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Benjamin Brown fonds
- Jewish community building plans and drawings series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 49
- Series
- 1
- File
- 9
- Material Format
- architectural drawing
- Date
- [ca.1921]
- Physical Description
- 1 architectural drawing : pencil and hand col. pencil crayon on cardboard ; 42 x 54 cm
- Admin History/Bio
- Originally named the Cosmopolitan Club, the Primrose Club was as an elite Jewish men's club (women were allowed to join in later years) that was founded in 1909 by prominent members of the Jewish Community. The building housing the club was located at 41 Willcocks Street, and was originally built in the 1880s as the residence of the Campbell family. In 1921, the home was redesigned by Benjamin Brown and Robert McConnell as the new home of the Primrose Club. In 1959, it was appropriated by the University of Toronto and is currently the home of the University of Toronto Faculty Club. It was designated as a heritage building in 1980.
- Scope and Content
- File consists of an elevation drawing of the Primrose Club at 41 Willcocks Street.
- Notes
- See - http://magazine.utoronto.ca/feature/history-of-faculty-club-u-of-t/ - for a more detailed history of the building.
- Name Access
- Primrose Club (Toronto, Ont.)
- Subjects
- Clubs
- Places
- Willcocks Street (Toronto, Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Benjamin Brown fonds
- Commercial building plans and drawings series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 49
- Series
- 3
- File
- 20
- Material Format
- architectural drawing
- Date
- [ca. 1930]
- Physical Description
- 2 architectural drawings : pencil on tracing paper, 1 hand col. pencil crayon ; 39 cm length and 4 cm diam.
- Admin History/Bio
- Located at 605 Danforth (Danforth and Gough), the Iola Theatre operated as a movie theatre until closing in 1954.
- Scope and Content
- File consists of floor plans and elevations of the Iola Theatre, located at 605 Danforth. These drawings are probably related to a proposed renovation. An incomplete elevation of the Iola Theatre drawn by A. A. Abraham is also included.
- Physical Condition
- Material is fragile and torn.
- Related Material
- See File 49-5-11 for architectural plans designed by Herbert G. Duerr of a theatre on Kingston Road.
- Places
- Danforth Avenue (Toronto, Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Benjamin Brown fonds
- Jewish community building plans and drawings series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 49
- Series
- 1
- File
- 7
- Material Format
- architectural drawing
- Date
- [ca. 1920]
- Physical Description
- 6 architectural drawings : pencil, 3 hand col. watercolour ; 32 cm length or smaller and 5 cm diam.
- Scope and Content
- File consists of preliminary plans for a synagogue that was never completed. The designs were likely created before the congregation had purchased land or secured an architect. The congregation did not end up using Benjamin Brown as the architect. Sections, floor plans and elevation drawings are included.
- Subjects
- Synagogues
- Physical Condition
- The six drawings are glued together on one side.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions