- Part Of
- Men's Clothing Manufacturers' Association of Ontario fonds
- General correspondence series
- Level
- Series
- Fonds
- 31
- Series
- 10
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1922-1987
- Physical Description
- 77 cm of textual records
- Scope and Content
- This series consists of the general correspondence files created by the MCMAO's executive director. The records consist of correspondence to other committee members, manufacturers, the general membership, as well as other men's clothing associations.
- Accession Number
- 2008-12-4
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- 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