- 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
- 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
- Commercial building plans and drawings series
- Level
- Series
- Fonds
- 49
- Series
- 3
- Material Format
- architectural drawing
- graphic material
- textual record
- Date
- 1919-1949
- Physical Description
- ca. 1000 architectural and technical drawings
- 2 photographs : b&w ; 38 x 30 cm or smaller
- 1 cm of textual records
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of architectural and technical drawings of commercial buildings that Benjamin Brown either designed or altered. Most of Brown’s clients were Jewish owned businesses, several of which were run by prominent members of the community. These businesses included Imperial Optical, Gelber Brothers Woolens, the City Dye Works, Schipper Brothers Furs, and the Empire Clothing Company.
- Architectural plans of apartments, warehouses, theatres, service stations, banks, restaurants, stores, office towers, a bakery and a laundry are included. Several of these buildings are now designated as Toronto heritage buildings. These include the Balfour Building, the Hermant Building (eastern tower), the Hermant Annex, the Commodore Building and the Standard Theatre. Also included are plans of the headquarters of Famous Players Canada, which later became a subsidiary of Cineplex Odeon.
- The majority of the drawings are either blueprints or pencil drawings on tracing or drafting paper, several of which are also in colour. Some are on linen weave or cardboard. Plans, elevations, sections, sketches, detailing, photographs of building exteriors, building specifications, and technical drawings of the buildings are included.
- Physical Condition
- Several drawings are in poor condition. See file level descriptions for further details.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Benjamin Brown fonds
- Commercial building plans and drawings series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 49
- Series
- 3
- File
- 18
- Material Format
- architectural drawing
- Date
- 1948
- Physical Description
- 4 architectural drawings : 3 pencil on tracing paper, 1 pen ; 55 cm length or smaller and 4 cm diam.
- Admin History/Bio
- Union Bakery was a large Jewish bakery owned by Abraham Stancer. The bakery was previously known as Stancer Brothers.
- Scope and Content
- File consists of proposed alterations to a two story building for Union Bakery Co. at 779 Dundas St. West. Several floor plans and sections are included.
- Related Material
- See Photo #1511 for a photo of Abraham Stancer.
- Places
- Dundas Street West (Toronto, Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Benjamin Brown fonds
- Commercial building plans and drawings series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 49
- Series
- 3
- File
- 21
- Material Format
- architectural drawing
- Date
- 1948
- Physical Description
- 1 architectural drawing : pencil and hand col. pencil crayon on tracing paper ; 52 cm length and 5 cm diam.
- Admin History/Bio
- Originally known as the Bedford, the Park Theatre was designed in 1929 by Murray Brown. It was renovated and renamed the Park in 1948. Located at 3291 Yonge Street, the building currently functions as a pet food store.
- Scope and Content
- File consists of designs of the 1948 renovations to the Park Theatre. A floor plan and a sketch of the stage area are included.
- Related Material
- See File 49-5-11 for architectural plans designed by Herbert G. Duerr of a theatre on Kingston Road.
- Places
- Yonge Street (Toronto, Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Benjamin Brown fonds
- Commercial building plans and drawings series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 49
- Series
- 3
- File
- 37
- Material Format
- architectural drawing
- Date
- [ca. 1946]
- Physical Description
- 2 architectural drawings : blueprints ; 40 cm length or smaller and 4 cm diam.
- Admin History/Bio
- Percy Hermant was born in Mogilev, Russia in 1882. In 1897, he immigrated to Canada, arriving in New Brunswick, where he began working as a drygoods peddler. In 1900, he founded the Imperial Optical Company, the first prescription lens business in the Maritimes. This company eventually grew to be the largest company of its kind in the British Commonwealth. The head office was located in the Hermant Building (named for Percy) at 21 Dundas Square. In addition to his successful business, Mr. Hermant served as the director of both the Mount Sinai and Runnymede hospitals. He was also a member of the Toronto Board of Trade and other established societies such as the Primrose, and Empire Clubs.
- Mr. Hermant was very active in philanthropy and involved in the funding and establishment of the Young Men's Hebrew Association (YMHA), and in the funding of the Associated Hebrew Universities. Mr. Hermant also established several scholarships at the University of Toronto, including the Percy Hermant Fellowship in Ophthalmology for graduates of Medicine who wish to pursue ophthalmology as a profession. Mr. Hermant died in 1959 and was survived by his wife Dorothy, son Sydney and four grandchildren.
- Scope and Content
- File consists of two block plans for a storage building at 179 Ontario Street for Percy Hermant.
- Notes
- Benjamin Brown's office was also located in the Hermant building during the 1940s.
- Related Material
- See File 49-3-97 for the architectural drawings of the Hermant Building.
- See File 49-3-106 for the architectural drawings of the Hermant Annex.
- See File 49-3-58 for the architectural plans of a factory for Imperial Optical Co. at 270 Ontario Street and for an administrative history of Imperial Optical.
- See File 49-3-63 for the architectural plans of alterations to the ground floor of the Hermant Building.
- See File 49-3-100 for architectural drawings of Montgomery's Tavern, located on the ground floor of the Hermant Building.
- See File 49-3-93 for the architectural drawings of a factory for Imperial Optical at the S.W. corner of Dundas and Ontario Streets.
- Places
- Ontario Street (Toronto, Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Benjamin Brown fonds
- Commercial building plans and drawings series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 49
- Series
- 3
- File
- 25
- Material Format
- architectural drawing
- Date
- 1949
- Physical Description
- 3 architectural drawings : 2 blueprints, 1 pencil and hand col. pencil crayon on tracing paper ; 19 x 30 cm (folded)
- Admin History/Bio
- The Imperial Bank of Canada, which was founded in 1875, became one of the primary banking establishments in Canada. The bank underwent several mergers during its history. It merged with the Niagara District Bank in 1875, the Weyburn Security Bank in 1931, and Barclays Bank in 1956. The bank finally merged with the Canadian Bank of Commerce in 1961 to form the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce.
- Scope and Content
- File contains floor plans for proposed alterations to a branch office of the Imperial Bank of Canada at 21 Dundas Square.
- Physical Condition
- Some rust on blueprints.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Benjamin Brown fonds
- Commercial building plans and drawings series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 49
- Series
- 3
- File
- 48
- Material Format
- architectural drawing
- Date
- 1940
- Physical Description
- 5 architectural drawings : pencil on tracing paper ; 55 cm length or smaller and 7 cm diam.
- Scope and Content
- File consists of architectural drawings of a furrier warehouse for Woodhouse & Co. at 39 Logan Avenue. Floor plans, a block plan, sections and elevation drawings are included.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Benjamin Brown fonds
- Commercial building plans and drawings series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 49
- Series
- 3
- File
- 100
- Material Format
- architectural drawing
- Date
- [ca. 1945]
- Physical Description
- 1 architectural drawing : pencil ; 49 cm length and 4 cm diam.
- Scope and Content
- File consists of a floor plan of Montgomery's Tavern, which was a dining lounge located in the Hermant Building at 21 Dundas Square for Mr. Alex Christy. Benjamin Brown's office was also located in the Hermant building during the 1940s.
- Notes
- Formerly listed as Commission XI.
- Related Material
- See File 49-3-97 for the architectural drawings of the Hermant Building.
- See File 49-3-106 for the architectural drawings of the Hermant Annex.
- See File 49-3-63 for the architectural plans of alterations to the ground floor of the Hermant Building.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Benjamin Brown fonds
- Commercial building plans and drawings series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 49
- Series
- 3
- File
- 70
- Material Format
- architectural drawing
- Date
- 1940
- Physical Description
- 3 architectural drawings : pencil on tracing paper ; 74 cm length or smaller and 5 cm diam.
- Admin History/Bio
- Link Brass and Copper Co. Ltd. was owned by Mr. K. Link.
- Scope and Content
- File consists of architectural drawings of a building for Link Brass and Copper Co. Ltd. at 108 River Street. Sections, elevation drawings and floor plans are included.
- Related Material
- See File 49-3-71 for architectural plans of a foundry and forge building for Mr. K. Link at the rear of this building.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Benjamin Brown fonds
- Commercial building plans and drawings series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 49
- Series
- 3
- File
- 71
- Material Format
- architectural drawing
- Date
- 1940
- Physical Description
- 1 architectural drawing : pencil on tracing paper ; 73 cm length and 5 cm diam.
- Admin History/Bio
- Link Brass and Copper Co. Ltd. was owned by Mr. K. Link.
- Scope and Content
- File consists of architectural drawings of a foundry and forge for Mr. K. Link. A foundation plan, floor plan and elevation drawings are included.
- Related Material
- See File 40-3-70, for architectural plans of main building at 108 River Street.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Benjamin Brown fonds
- Commercial building plans and drawings series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 49
- Series
- 3
- File
- 72
- Material Format
- architectural drawing
- Date
- [ca.1940]
- Physical Description
- 5 architectural drawings : 2 blueprints, 3 pencil on tracing paper ; 78 cm length or smaller and 6 cm diam.
- Admin History/Bio
- The Jolly Miller Hotel is a designated heritage building that was built in the late 1850s by the Hogg family. It is currently known as the Miller Tavern.
- Scope and Content
- File consists of architectural drawings of additions and alterations to the two storey Jolly Miller Hotel at 3885 Yonge Street. Elevation drawings, sections, floor plans and a foundation plan are included.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Benjamin Brown fonds
- Commercial building plans and drawings series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 49
- Series
- 3
- File
- 73
- Material Format
- architectural drawing
- Date
- 1947
- Physical Description
- 2 architectural drawings : pencil, 1 hand col., pencil crayon on tracing paper ; 55 cm length or smaller and 6 cm diam.
- Scope and Content
- File consists of floor plans of additions to a factory at 104 King Street East.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Benjamin Brown fonds
- Commercial building plans and drawings series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 49
- Series
- 3
- File
- 87
- Material Format
- architectural drawing
- Date
- 1940
- Physical Description
- 17 architectural drawings : pencil on tracing paper ; 71 cm length or smaller and 7 cm diam.
- Admin History/Bio
- Mr. Morris Alspector was a Jewish real estate agent and developer.
- Scope and Content
- File consists of sections, elevations, detailing, floor plans, a foundation plan and a section of a two storey hotel for Mr. Morris Alspector on Lakeshore Road at Jackson Point on the south side of Lake Simcoe.
- Repro Restriction
- Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Benjamin Brown fonds
- Commercial building plans and drawings series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 49
- Series
- 3
- File
- 89
- Material Format
- architectural drawing
- Date
- [ca. 1945]
- Physical Description
- 1 architectural drawing : pencil on tracing paper ; 109 cm length and 7 cm diam.
- Scope and Content
- File consists of a floor plan for a proposed addition to the Genosha Hotel at King and Mary Streets in Oshawa, Ontario. Additions include a powder room, smoking room and two large beverage rooms for ladies and men respectively.
- Notes
- Due to the fragility of these drawings, the description is partially based on the item level descriptions created by Steve Speisman.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Benjamin Brown fonds
- Jewish community building plans and drawings series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 49
- Series
- 1
- File
- 1
- Material Format
- architectural drawing
- Date
- 1940
- Physical Description
- 12 architectural drawings : pencil on tracing paper ; 48 cm length or smaller and 7 cm diam.
- Admin History/Bio
- Founded in the 1920s, Camp Yungvelt was originally situated on Lake Wilcox. Two years later it moved to Pickering, where it operated until it closed in the 1950s. It was established by the Workmen's Circle, as a Yiddish summer camp for Jewish children. Camp Yungvelt was known for accepting the children of poor immigrants for a small fraction of the regular fee.
- Scope and Content
- File consists of architectural drawings of several new buildings that were erected at Camp Yungvelt. Floor plans, a foundation plan, and several elevation drawings are included.
- Subjects
- Camps
- Repro Restriction
- Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
- Places
- Pickering (Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Benjamin Brown fonds
- Reference materials series
- Level
- Series
- Fonds
- 49
- Series
- 5
- Material Format
- architectural drawing
- textual record
- Date
- 1912-1947
- Physical Description
- 28 architectural drawings
- 15 cm of textual records
- Scope and Content
- Series contains articles and illustrations from a book and several architecture and design journals that influenced Benjamin Brown‘s work, as well as plans of buildings he didn’t design, but he either subsequently altered, influenced his work or was built for one of his clients.
- Included are the original plans of an office building of Doctors Solway and Pollock that Brown later altered, the plans of a Talmud Torah Hebrew School in New York City and the plans of a theatre on Kingston Road. Architectural drawings of the house of Samuel Godfrey and stores for Mr. A. Levy, both of whom hired Brown for other projects, are also included.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Benjamin Brown fonds
- Reference materials series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 49
- Series
- 5
- File
- 1
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1947
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of one book titled "Brick and Tile: as utilized in American Architecture".
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Rabbi Nachman Shemen fonds
- Canadian Federation to Aid Polish Jews in Israel series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 103
- Series
- 1
- File
- 2
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- [1939?]-[195-]
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of handwritten and typed notes, booklets, newspaper clippings, reports, articles and a 10th anniversary publication. Many records summarize and reflect on the organization's activities and history.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Rabbi Nachman Shemen fonds
- Canadian Federation to Aid Polish Jews in Israel series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 103
- Series
- 1
- File
- 3
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- [ca.1945]-[ca.1959]
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of handwritten notes and lists of executive members, committee members, membership fees, member contributions, event attendees, and affiliated organizations. Handwritten notes are in Yiddish.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Rabbi Nachman Shemen fonds
- Canadian Federation to Aid Polish Jews in Israel series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 103
- Series
- 1
- File
- 11
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- [ca.1944]-[1960?]
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of notes, agendas, meeting minutes, conference delegate cards, Shemen's conference badge, and lists of delegates for various conferences and conventions. Shemen's badge is from the 1945 conference and the delegate cards are from the 1947 conference.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Rabbi Nachman Shemen fonds
- Canadian Federation to Aid Polish Jews in Israel series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 103
- Series
- 1
- File
- 15
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1948-[1951?]
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of correspondence with Nioma Waldman and Cantor Moshe Kusevitsky regarding Kusevitsky's performances in 1950 and 1951.
- Subjects
- Cantors (Judaism)
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Rabbi Nachman Shemen fonds
- Canadian Federation to Aid Polish Jews in Israel series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 103
- Series
- 1
- File
- 19
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- [1944?]-1957
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of invitations, catalogue lists, programs, and advertisements for various community and CFPJ events. Some of these events include the 50th Anniversary of the Golden Jubilee Banquet, Painting Exhibition of Jewish Life in Poland, the Negev Testimonial Dinner, and the Annual Dinner for the Canadian Federation for Polish Jews.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Rabbi Nachman Shemen fonds
- Canadian Federation to Aid Polish Jews in Israel series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 103
- Series
- 1
- File
- 21
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- [1944?]-[1963?]
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of financial records including: lists of cheques and disbursements, dues and contributions, and pledges; ledger pages; and financial statements.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Rabbi Nachman Shemen fonds
- Canadian Federation to Aid Polish Jews in Israel series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 103
- Series
- 1
- File
- 25
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1945-1947
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of correspondence with the Canadian Jewish Congress and the United Jewish Welfare Fund regarding funding and administrative expenses.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Rabbi Nachman Shemen fonds
- Canadian Federation to Aid Polish Jews in Israel series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 103
- Series
- 1
- File
- 27
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1947-1950
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of a booklet and correspondence with the Canadian Jewish Congress and the United Jewish Welfare Fund regarding grants and funding.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Rabbi Nachman Shemen fonds
- Canadian Federation to Aid Polish Jews in Israel series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 103
- Series
- 1
- File
- 28
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1949
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of copies of interim receipts and memoranda regarding Mutual Benefit Society contributions to the United Jewish Appeal Campaign.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Rabbi Nachman Shemen fonds
- Canadian Federation to Aid Polish Jews in Israel series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 103
- Series
- 1
- File
- 89
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- [194-?]-[1951 or 1952]
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Notes
- Date range is based on and reflects changes in the name of the organization.
- Access Restriction
- Closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA director prior to accessing the records.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Rabbi Nachman Shemen fonds
- Canadian Federation to Aid Polish Jews in Israel series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 103
- Series
- 1
- File
- 91
- Material Format
- graphic material
- textual record
- Date
- [194-?]-[196-?]
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- 5 photographs : b&w ; 12 x 10 cm and 24 x 19 cm
- Physical Condition
- There is some slight discolouration on the smaller photographs.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
