Part Of

Benjamin Brown fonds

Level

Fonds

Fonds

49

Material Format

multiple media

Date

1902-1949

Physical Description

ca. 1500 architectural and technical drawings

6 photographs : b&w ; 38 x 30 cm or smaller

16 cm of textual records

Admin History/Bio

Benjamin Brown (ca. 1888-1974) was the first practicing Jewish architect in Toronto. Born in what is now Lithuania, he arrived in Toronto at an early age and soon after, quit school to take a job in a garment manufacturing factory to help out his impoverished family. Not finding this career to his liking, Brown enrolled in the Ontario School of Art and Design with the intention of becoming an artist. When this profession proved financially unfeasible, Brown decided to pursue a career in architecture. After completing his high school equivalency, he enrolled in the University of Toronto architectural program, graduating in 1913. Soon after, Brown opened up a practice with fellow architect Robert McConnell, which lasted until the early 1920s. After the partnership ended, Brown set up an independent practice, which he maintained until his retirement in 1955.

Scope and Content

The fonds documents Brown’s design work and renovations of existing buildings through his original drawings, renderings, and building blueprints. The fonds consists of approximately 1500 drawings that are organized into about 150 projects. These projects include single-family residences, apartment buildings, commercial and industrial buildings, as well as synagogue and other community buildings. Many of Brown's buildings were designed in the Art Deco style, with some containing Georgian, Craftsman, Colonial Revival, Tudor and Romanesque elements.

Brown's most important commissions include the Beth Jacob Synagogue located on Henry Street, which was one the largest synagogues in Toronto, and the Balfour Building, an office tower built in the Art Deco style. The designs of Mendel Granatstein’s mansion, which contained a retractable roof for Sukkoth, and a colour sketch of the Primrose Club, which is currently the University of Toronto Faculty Club, may also be of interest to researchers. The fonds also includes some of Brown's files containing articles and illustrations from architecture and design journals of the early twentieth century, which he used as a resource to assist him with his work.

Fonds includes six photographs, one of the Balfour Building, one of Cumberland Hall, and four of Brown as a young man.

Notes

Architectural plans of a lead mine in Burnt River Ontario have been sent to the Kawartha Lakes Archives.

Name Access

Brown, Benjamin, 1890-1974

Subjects

Architects

Creator

Brown, Benjamin, 1890-1974

Accession Number

1975

1987-9-3

1989-10-6

2004-5-109

2004-5-139

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Benjamin Brown fonds

Level

Item

Fonds

49

Item

1

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1902

Physical Description

2 photographs : b&w ; 17 x 25 cm

Scope and Content

Item is a family portrait of Benjamin Brown (aged about twelve) with his father Meyer, mother Tema, brothers Manny and Peter and sister Sophie. The photograph was taken in Toronto in 1902.

Notes

One image is a photocopy. See image of photocopy for identification information of Brown and his family.

Subjects

Families

Portraits, Group

Repro Restriction

Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.

Related Material

See photo #1709.

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Benjamin Dunkelman fonds

Business series

Level

Series

Fonds

2

Series

3

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

architectural drawing

Date

1898, 1941-1988

Physical Description

56 photographs and other material

Admin History/Bio

Ben Dunkelman’s involvement in business was wide-ranging. He served as president of Tip Top Tailors after his father and as president of Cloverdale Shopping Centre. Along with his wife, Yael, he also opened the Dunkelman Gallery for modern art and Dunkelman's restaurant.

Scope and Content

Series consists of photographs, correspondence, pamphlets and papers documenting Benjamin Dunkelman’s business activities. The files are organized into three sub-series: Tip-Top Tailors, Constellation Hotel, and Dunkelman Gallery.

Notes

Physical description: Includes 6 cm of textual records, 5 architectural drawings, and 1 postcard.

Subjects

Business

Physical Condition

Most photographs are warped.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Benjamin Dunkelman fonds

Business series

Tip Top Tailors sub-series

Level

Sub-series

Fonds

2

Series

3-1

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Date

1898, 1941-1988

Physical Description

4 cm of textual records

16 photographs

Admin History/Bio

David Dunkelman, Benjamin's father, started Tip Top Tailors in Toronto in 1909, and by 1950 it had become a thriving business, with more than 1000 outlets across the country. During the 1930s, Ben had worked for the company, and following the Arab-Israeli War in 1948-49, he returned to Tip Top. He took over as company CEO in the 1950s until the company was sold to Dylex Ltd. in 1967.

Scope and Content

Sub-series consists of photographs, correspondence and clippings documenting David and Ben Dunkelman's involvement in the family firm, Tip Top Tailors.

Name Access

Tip Top Tailors

Physical Condition

Most photographs are warped.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Benjamin Dunkelman fonds

Business series

Tip Top Tailors sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

2

Series

3-1

File

10

Material Format

textual record

Date

1898-1988

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of notes and documents Ben Dunkelman wrote or gathered to provide biographical information about David Dunkelman for a Zionist encyclopedia.

Source

Archival Descriptions