- Part Of
- Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
- Community Relations Committee series
- Research Records sub-series
- Civil and Human Rights Legislation sub-sub-series
- Level
- File
- ID
- Fonds 17; Series 5-4-1; File 12
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
- Community Relations Committee series
- Research Records sub-series
- Civil and Human Rights Legislation sub-sub-series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 17
- Series
- 5-4-1
- File
- 12
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1950
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of correspondence, newspaper clippings and a statement by Rabbi A.L. Feinberg regarding the Forest Hill Village Board of Education's experimental project to segregate Jewish and non-Jewish students.
- Notes
- Previously processed and cited as part of MG8 S.
- Subjects
- Human rights
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
- Community Relations Committee series
- Research Records sub-series
- Civil and Human Rights Legislation sub-sub-series
- Level
- File
- ID
- Fonds 17; Series 5-4-1; File 152
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
- Community Relations Committee series
- Research Records sub-series
- Civil and Human Rights Legislation sub-sub-series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 17
- Series
- 5-4-1
- File
- 152
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1972
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of correspondence related to the Ontario Human Rights Commission, including documentation of complaints of racial discrimination. There are also documents regarding the situation of Jews in Syria, including a "rebuttal" from the Federation of Arab Canadian Societies.
- Notes
- Previously processed and cited as part of MG8 S.
- Name Access
- Federation of Canadian Arab Societies
- Ontario Human Rights Commission
- Subjects
- Human rights
- Jews--Syria
- Race discrimination
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Accession Number
- 1979-9-4
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 1979-9-4
- Material Format
- textual record
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Date
- 1977
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of one invitation to a YMHA youth Hanukkah candle-lighting ceremony, one Lubavitch Youth Organization flyer, and one Toronto Committee for Soviet Jewry worldwide solidarity flyer.
- Subjects
- Habad
- Hanukkah
- Human rights
- Youth
- Name Access
- Dorenman, Alexander
- Young Men's Hebrew Association (Toronto, Ont.)
- Toronto Committee for Soviet Jewry
- Lubavitch Youth Organization
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 1979-9-8
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 1979-9-8
- Material Format
- textual record
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Date
- April 1977-March 1978
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of one Information Bulletin on Soviet Jewry (vol. 3, issue 4) and two Communique (No. 10, No. 21), both produced by the Canadian Committee for Soviet Jewry.
- Subjects
- Human rights
- Name Access
- Canadian Committee for Soviet Jewry
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 1979-9-16
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 1979-9-16
- Material Format
- textual record
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Date
- 1975
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of textual records relating to a "Teach-In on Israel" held at the university on 22 January 1975. There is also an announcement of a meeting of the Revolutionary Marxist Group at York.
- MG_RG
- MG2 P1d
- Subjects
- Education
- Children
- Politics and government
- Name Access
- Jewish Student Federation (York University)
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2009-6-4
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2009-6-4
- Material Format
- object
- graphic material
- textual record
- Physical Description
- M6 artifacts
- 1 postcard
- 1 textual record
- Date
- [193-?]-[195-?]
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of a Tip Top Tailors wall clock and five tzedakah boxes from Israel. Also included is a postcard of the Mossington Park resort on Lake Simcoe featuring a Gentiles Only sign, several copies from the mid-1940s of the CJC Committee on Social and Economic Studies Information and Comment bulletins, as well as a programme for the twenty-seventh anniversary celebrations for the Soviet Union, held at Maple Leaf Gardens in 1944. The program included a message from the prime minister, W. L. MacKenzie King, and a broadcast from Paul Robeson. The master of ceremonies was Lorne Greene. The content of the CJC studies include: research projects of the CJC (1946), racial discrimination and public policy (1946), the use of the terms "racial origin" and "religion" in the Canadian census (1946), opinion polls and social control (1946), intermarriage and children of intermarriages (1946), prejudice and Canadian unity (1946), comparative occupational distribution (1947), community action versus racial prejudice (1947), audience reaction analysis to the film "Don't Be a Sucker" (1947), Fair Employment Practices Laws for Canada (1947), age distribution of Jewish population in Ontario (1949), Immigration of Jews to Canada (1948), Saskatchewan Bill of Rights Act (1949), Jews in the professions in Canada (1949), answering the bigot: a summary of the Incident control project (1949), Canadian public opinion on racial restrictive covenants (1949), anti-minority discrimination and the law: a Canadian progress report (1950), immigration to Canada 1945 to 1949: official figures, refugee industries in Canada: latest available statistics (1947), and from juvenile immigrant to Canadian citizen (1950). Authors of CJC reports include Dr. A. F. Citron, Dr. J. Harding, Dr. Louis Rosenberg, Dr. Manfred Saalheimer, Professor F. R. Scott and Dr. Morris C. Shumiatcher.
- Custodial History
- The items were bought by Morris Norman, a collector of Judaica, and donated to the archives on 3 June 2009.
- Subjects
- Human rights
- Discrimination in employment
- Name Access
- Canadian Jewish Congress, Central Region (Toronto, Ont.)
- Tip Top Tailors
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Name
- Montague Raisman
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Interview Date
- 11 Jul. 1982
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Montague Raisman
- Number
- OH 64
- Subject
- Nonprofit organizations
- Human rights
- Antisemitism
- World War, 1939-1945
- Zionism
- Interview Date
- 11 Jul. 1982
- Quantity
- 1
- Interviewer
- Jack Lipinsky
- Total Running Time
- 39:42 minutes
- Conservation
- Copied August 2003
- Notes
- Low sound volume
- Use Restrictions
- Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
- Biography
- Montague Raisman came to Canada from England in 1926. He was actively involved in B'nai Brith Toronto Lodge and held positions of office. He served as the commanding officer for the B'nai Brith Air Cadet Squadron in Toronto during the Second World War. He was instrumental in the formation of the Joint Public Relations Committee, a united Jewish voice in response to pro-Nazi activity.
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Language
- English
- Name Access
- Raisman, Montague
- B'nai Brith
- Lipinsky, Jack
- Canadian Jewish Congress
- Geographic Access
- Toronto
- Calgary (Alta.)
- Montréal (Québec)
- Original Format
- Audio cassette
- Copy Format
- Audio cassette
- Digital file
- Transcript
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 64 - Raisman\OH64_Log.pdf
- Source
- Oral Histories
In this clip, Montague describes the formation of the B'nai Brith Air Cadet Squadron during the Second World War. He discusses the recruitment and training of the officers and cadets. He explains how this squadron was instrumental in changing recruitment qualifications to allow entry of new immigrants and Black cadets.
In this clip, Montague Raisman discusses the events leading up to an association between B
- Name
- Kalmen Kaplansky
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Interview Date
- 20 Sep. 1985
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Kalmen Kaplansky
- Number
- OH 109
- Subject
- Antisemitism
- Human rights
- Immigrants--Canada
- Labor
- Labor unions
- Refugees--Canada
- Interview Date
- 20 Sep. 1985
- Quantity
- 1
- Interviewer
- Phyllis Platnick
- Total Running Time
- 109A: 60 minutes 109B: 6 minutes
- Use Restrictions
- Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
- Biography
- Kalmen was born on 5 January 1912 in Poland. He worked in Montreal as a typesetter and linotype operator. He was active in the labour and human rights movements in Canada. Kalmen served as the director of the Jewish Labour Committee in 1945. In collaboration with the Canadian Jewish Congress, the Canadian government, and trade unions, the Jewish Labour Committee helped Jewish displaced persons immigrate to Canada by securing them employment. Kalman sat on the Refugee Status Advisory Committee for the federal government.
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Language
- English
- Name Access
- Kaplansky, Kalmen
- Platnick, Phyllis
- Jewish Labour Committee
- Geographic Access
- Toronto
- Original Format
- Audio cassette
- Copy Format
- Digital file
- Transcript
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 109 - Kaplansky\OH109_001_Log.pdf
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 109 - Kaplansky\OH109_002_Log.pdf
- Source
- Oral Histories
In this clip, Kalmen Kaplansky discusses some of the obstacles to the relocation of displaced Jews to Canada after the Second World War. He describes a tripartite proposal involving consultation and cooperation among trade unions, management, and government, which enabled the immigration project.
In this clip, Kalmen Kaplansky explains that bribery, corruption, and perjury were a way of life after the Second World War. He relates anecdotes as an example.
- Name
- Ben Kayfetz
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Interview Date
- 4 Mar. 1984
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Ben Kayfetz
- Number
- OH 210
- Subject
- Antisemitism
- Human rights
- Law
- Nonprofit organizations
- Interview Date
- 4 Mar. 1984
- Quantity
- 1
- Interviewer
- Phyllis Platnick
- Total Running Time
- 46 minutes
- Conservation
- Copied August 2003
- Notes
- Christie Pits riot at approximately minute 16:00
- Use Restrictions
- Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
- Biography
- Benjamin "Ben" Gershon Kayfetz was born on 24 December 1916 in Toronto. He married Eva Silver and had two children. Ben graduated from the University of Toronto in 1939, with a bachelor of arts in modern languages. He worked as a high school teacher in Huntsville, Ontario and Niagara Falls, Ontario between 1941 and 1943. In 1943, he joined the war effort, working for the Department of National Defense in postal censorship and was responsible for reviewing prisoner of war mail. After the war, Kayfetz traveled to British-occupied Germany, where he worked as a censor of telecommunications with the Control Commission until 1947. Upon returning to Toronto, he was hired as the national director of community relations by the Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC) and as the executive (national) director of the Joint Community Relations Committee (JCRC), a CJC-B'nai B'rith cooperative organization. He also served as the central region executive director of the CJC between 1973 and 1978. He worked to develop anti-discrimination laws and for the protection of minority and religious rights. Kayfetz was also actively involved in promoting the welfare of Jewish communities worldwide. He was awarded the Samuel Bronfman Medal by the Canadian Jewish Congress in 1985 and the Order of Canada in 1986. In addition to his professional activities, Kayfetz wrote articles for various Jewish publications under both his own name and the pseudonym Gershon B. Newman. He also gave a weekly radio address on CHIN radio addressing various contemporary Jewish issues and was actively involved in the Toronto Jewish Historical Society (serving as its president), the Canadian Jewish Historical Society, and the Yiddish Luncheon Circle. He died in 2002.
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Name Access
- Balmy Beach Swastika Club
- Canadian Jewish Congress
- UJA Federation of Greater Toronto
- Geographic Access
- Toronto
- Kew Beach
- Christie Pits
- Original Format
- Audio cassette
- Copy Format
- Audio cassette
- Digital file
- Transcript
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\AC 210, Ben Kayfetz\AC 210 notes.pdf
- Source
- Oral Histories
In this clip, Ben Kayfetz describes the skirmish between antisemitic and Jewish youths at Kew Beach in July 1933.
In this clip, Ben Kayfetz discusses the laws that restricted “Jews or other objectionable races” from purchasing, owning, or renting properties in Toronto and summer resort areas. He describes the steps taken to change the law.
- Name
- Genya Intrator
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Interview Date
- 26 Nov. 1990
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Genya Intrator
- Number
- OH 223
- OH 224
- Subject
- Antisemitism
- Women
- Human rights
- Interview Date
- 26 Nov. 1990
- Quantity
- 2
- Interviewer
- Mindy A. Skapinker
- AccessionNumber
- 1993-9-1
- Total Running Time
- OH 223A: 46 minutes OH 223B: 46 minutes OH 224A: 16 minutes
- Conservation
- Copied August 2003
- Use Restrictions
- Copyright may not be held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.
- Biography
- Genya Intrator was born in Moscow and moved as a child to Palestine in the 1930s. She was a member of the Israeli underground and served in the Israeli army during the War of Independence. She played a central leadership role in the Soviet Jewry movement in Canada. She founded Women for Soviet Jewry and served as chair of the National Soviet Jewry Committee. She helped with the creation of the Group of 35, a Soviet-Jewry activist group in Toronto. Genya had regular contact by phone with Soviet activists and relayed their information back to Israeli consuls. She was an advisor to B'nai Brith on Soviet Jewry. She started an inter-religious Task Force for Soviet Jewry in Canada.
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Name Access
- Intrator, Genya
- Skapinker, Mindy A.
- Canadian Jewish Congress
- Geographic Access
- Toronto
- Original Format
- Audio cassette
- Copy Format
- Audio cassette
- Source
- Oral Histories
In this clip, Genya Intrator discusses the formation of the Group of 35, a Soviet-Jewry activist group.
In this clip, Genya Intrator describes how information about Soviet Jews was passed on to the Israeli consulate in New York, who tracked all the data. She explains how she was appointed as a "secret agent" who would report information from her many phone calls to the Soviet Union.
- Level
- Item
- ID
- Item 876
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- Item
- 876
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Responsibility
- Duke Studio
- Date
- 1976
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 9 x 14 cm
- Scope and Content
- This item is an original print of the Strand Theatre in Kirkland Lake, which was built in the 1920s by the Kaplan brothers with the help of Harry Oakes.
- Name Access
- Kaplan
- Oakes, Harry
- Strand Theatre (Kirkland Lake, Ont.)
- Subjects
- Theaters
- Repro Restriction
- Copyright may not be held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.
- Places
- Kirkland Lake (Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- ID
- Item 893
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- Item
- 893
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Responsibility
- Duke Studios
- Date
- 1976
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 9 x 13 cm
- Scope and Content
- This item is an original print of the former Uptown Theatre, built by the Kaplan brothers in the 1930s and then converted to use as Children's Aid offices and apartments.
- Name Access
- Kaplan
- Uptown Theatre (Kirkland Lake, Ont.)
- Subjects
- Architecture
- Theaters
- Repro Restriction
- Copyright may not be held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.
- Places
- Kirkland Lake (Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
Louis and Jenny Fingold outside their Elmwood Theatre (London, ON)
[graphic material]
– 15 May 1947.
- Level
- Item
- ID
- Item 3256
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- Item
- 3256
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- 15 May 1947
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 7 x 12 cm and 10 x 12 cm
- Scope and Content
- This item is an original print and copy negative of Louis and Jenny Fingold standing with their daughter in front of their Elmwood Theatre in London, Ontario.
- Name Access
- Elmwood Theatre (London, Ont.)
- Fingold, Jenny
- Fingold, Louis
- Subjects
- Families
- Theaters
- 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.
- Places
- London (Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 1982-6-4
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
Louis and Jenny Fingold outside their Elmwood Theatre (London, ON)
[graphic material]
– 15 May 1947.
- Level
- Item
- ID
- Item 3257
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- Item
- 3257
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- 15 May 1947
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 8 x 7 cm and 10 x 12 cm
- Scope and Content
- This item is an original print and copy negative of Louis and Jenny Fingold, and their daughter, standing in front of their Elmwood Theatre in London, Ontario.
- Name Access
- Elwood Theatre (London, Ont.)
- Fingold, Jenny
- Fingold, Louis
- Subjects
- Families
- Theaters
- 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.
- Places
- London (Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 1982-6-4
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- ID
- Item 3260
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- Item
- 3260
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- [1948?]
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 9 x 7 cm and 12 x 10 cm
- Scope and Content
- This item is an original print and copy negative of Esther Fingold holding her son, Douglas, in front of the Capitol Theatre in Meaford, Ontario.
- Name Access
- Capitol Theatre (Meaford, Ont.)
- Fingold, Douglas
- Fingold, Esther
- Subjects
- Mothers and sons
- Theaters
- 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.
- Places
- Meaford (Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 1982-6-4
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- ID
- Item 3261
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- Item
- 3261
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- [1950?]
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 8 x 5 cm and 12 x 10 cm
- Scope and Content
- This item is an original print and copy negative of Philip Fingold holding with his son, Douglas, in front of the Capitol Theatre in Meaford, Ontario.
- Name Access
- Capitol Theatre (Meaford, Ont.)
- Fingold, Douglas
- Fingold, Philip
- Subjects
- Fathers and sons
- Theaters
- 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.
- Places
- Meaford (Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 1982-6-4
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Accession Number
- 2011-6-5
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2011-6-5
- Material Format
- textual record
- Physical Description
- 1 scrapbook : 28 x 41 cm
- Date
- 1949-1985
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of one scrapbook documenting the Supreme Court of Canada case between Bernard Wolf, Annie Noble and property owners at the Beach O' Pines resort regarding antisemitic restrictive property covenants. The scrapbook includes news clippings, correspondence, CJC Public Relations Information bulletins, one photograph of Wolf, factums of court proceedings and a resolution of London's B'nai Brith Lodge #1012. Also included are event programmes and invitations that do not appear related to the court case.
- Use Conditions
- None
- Subjects
- Antisemitism
- Human rights
- Name Access
- Wolf, Bernard
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2015-7-2
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2015-7-2
- Material Format
- multiple media
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records and other materials
- Date
- [197-]-2015
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of records documenting personal and professional achievements of Morley S. Wolfe. It includes a photograph of Morley being introduced as B'Nai Brith Toronto Regional Council president, and a photograph of Morley addressing a group at B'Nai Brith Canada. Also includes two medals, one from Harbord Collegiate and a Peace Medal from the YMCA. There is a paper copy of a family tree created on the internet, a letter to the Toronto Star editor written by Wolfe, an article he wrote about jobs, a speech from his daughters for his 75th birthday, B'Nai Brith Central region mailing lists, material related to a donation to the Osgoode collections library from Morley Wolfe and the Osgoode class of 1955, two of Morley Wolfe's passports, a "Harbord Romeos" members list, a form nominating Karen Mock for the William Hubbard Award, and the text for a League for Human Rights of B'Nai Brith Canada brochure.
- Administrative History
- Morley S. Wolfe was born in Winnipeg in 1928 to Cecil (b. 1895) and Betty (nee Davidow) Wolfe. He spent his early childhood in various cities in Saskatchewan and Manitoba until moving to Toronto in 1940. Soon after graduating from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1955 he started his own practice as a senior member of the law firm Burt, Burt, Wolfe and Bowman. In 1971 he was appointed Queen’s Council, and from 1973 to 1977 he served as counsel for B’nai Brith Canada. After his retirement from practice in 1993, the Province of Ontario appointed him presiding Justice of the Peace for Ontario and Deputy Judge in Small Claims Court. His first marriage was to Sandra Newman in 1958 and they had three children together: Leslie, Lee, and Melanie. He later married Joan and became the step-father to her daughter, Erin. Throughout his life Morley was passionate about fighting prejudice and discrimination and became involved with organizations, such as the Canadian Council of Christians and Jews and the Urban Alliance on Race Relations. He was also a member of the Toronto Police Services Board Committee on Race Relations, served as Chair of the North York Committee on Community, Race and Ethnic Relations, and was appointed to the Canadian Multiculturalism Council. In addition, he was the founding president of Toronto Residents in Partnership (TRIP) from 2003 to 2006. His involvement extended to Jewish organizations. He served as national president of B’nai Brith Canada (BBC) from 1982 to 1983 and was a founding member of its League for Human Rights. He was also president of BBC’s Toronto Regional Council and Wilson Heights Lodge No. 1998, and of the Jewish Camp Council of Toronto as well as many other organizations. Morley’s hard work and involvement in the community earned him many awards, including, City of Toronto’s William P. Hubbard Race Relations Award, the YMCA Canada Peace Medal, B’Nai Brith Canada Service Award, and the Province of Ontario’s Senior Achievement Award. Around 2002, Wilson Heights Lodge No. 1998 began filing a series of appeals with B’nai Brith International (BBI) over concerns that BBC’s national executive was governing undemocratically. Morley played a key role in filing these appeals and was the centre of one appeal filed after BBC censured him without advance notice or the opportunity for a hearing. These appeals were not all successful. Around 2006, Morley became involved in another appeal against BBC that was filed by a group of members who called themselves the Concerned Members of B’nai Brith Canada (CMOBBC). They alleged that BBC’s national executive had too much centralized power, was not governing transparently, failed to provide members with audited financial statements at multiple annual general meetings (AGMs), passed a constitution that members had defeated at the 2005 AGM, and was threatening and harassing some members. BBI’s appeal court rendered its verdict in 2007 in favour of BBC. Soon after this judgment was made BBC took steps to expel all the members of CMOBBC. In response, Morley resigned from the organization. Morley currently resides in Brampton.
- Subjects
- Human rights
- Name Access
- Wolfe, Morley, 1928-
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2015-7-5
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2015-7-5
- Material Format
- multiple media
- Physical Description
- 3 cm textual records
- 7 photographs
- Date
- 1955-2005
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of records documenting the professional achievements of Morley S. Wolfe. It includes academic certificates and awards, plaques and certificates honouring his service to the community, a composite photograph of his graduating class at Osgoode Law School, and photographs of Morley Wolfe with notable people. Idenitifed in the photographs: Jean Chretien, Hilary Weston and Rosa Parks.
- Administrative History
- Morley S. Wolfe was born in Winnipeg in 1928 to Cecil (b. 1895) and Betty (nee Davidow) Wolfe. He spent his early childhood in various cities in Saskatchewan and Manitoba until moving to Toronto in 1940. Soon after graduating from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1955 he started his own practice as a senior member of the law firm Burt, Burt, Wolfe and Bowman. In 1971 he was appointed Queen’s Council, and from 1973 to 1977 he served as counsel for B’nai Brith Canada. After his retirement from practice in 1993, the Province of Ontario appointed him presiding Justice of the Peace for Ontario and Deputy Judge in Small Claims Court. His first marriage was to Sandra Newman in 1958 and they had three children together: Leslie, Lee, and Melanie. He later married Joan and became the step-father to her daughter, Erin. Throughout his life Morley was passionate about fighting prejudice and discrimination and became involved with organizations, such as the Canadian Council of Christians and Jews and the Urban Alliance on Race Relations. He was also a member of the Toronto Police Services Board Committee on Race Relations, served as Chair of the North York Committee on Community, Race and Ethnic Relations, and was appointed to the Canadian Multiculturalism Council. In addition, he was the founding president of Toronto Residents in Partnership (TRIP) from 2003 to 2006. His involvement extended to Jewish organizations. He served as national president of B’nai Brith Canada (BBC) from 1982 to 1983 and was a founding member of its League for Human Rights. He was also President of BBC’s Toronto Regional Council and Wilson Heights Lodge No. 1998, and of the Jewish Camp Council of Toronto as well as many other organizations. Morley’s hard work and involvement in the community earned him many awards, including, City of Toronto’s William P. Hubbard Race Relations Award, the YMCA Canada Peace Medal, B’Nai Brith Canada Service Award, and the Province of Ontario’s Senior Achievement Award. Around 2002, Wilson Heights Lodge No. 1998 began filing a series of appeals with B’nai Brith International (BBI) over concerns that BBC’s national executive was governing undemocratically. Morley played a key role in filing these appeals and was the centre of one appeal filed after BBC censured him without advance notice or the opportunity for a hearing. These appeals were not all successful. Around 2006, Morley became involved in another appeal against BBC that was filed by a group of members who called themselves the Concerned Members of B’nai Brith Canada (CMOBBC). They alleged that BBC’s national executive had too much centralized power, was not governing transparently, failed to provide members with audited financial statements at multiple annual general meetings (AGMs), passed a constitution that members had defeated at the 2005 AGM, and was threatening and harassing some members. BBI’s appeal court rendered its verdict in 2007 in favour of BBC. Soon after this judgment was made BBC took steps to expel all the members of CMOBBC. In response, Morley resigned from the organization. Morley currently resides in Brampton.
- Subjects
- Human rights
- Name Access
- Wolfe, Morley, 1928-
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2015-9-23
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2015-9-23
- Material Format
- textual record
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Date
- [194-]
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of a bound document entitled 'This Is Our Faith'. The subtitle is 'The Religion of the Jews' and it appears to have been presented at a seminar of religions, under the auspices of Community Programs Branch, Department of Education, Province of Ontario.
- Custodial History
- There is no information on the acquisition of this material.
- Subjects
- Religion
- Politics and government
- Name Access
- Cohen, Julius
- Places
- Toronto, Ont.
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2015-11-4
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2015-11-4
- Material Format
- graphic material
- textual record
- Physical Description
- 19 photographs : b&w and col. ; 20 x 26 cm and smaller
- 1 folder of textual records
- 1 poster ; 35 x 51 cm
- Date
- [194-]-2014
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of photographs and textual records related to the personal and professional life of Morley S. Wolfe. Photographs include a snapshot of Morely dressed in a Harbord Collegiate sweater; his first year law class at Osgoode Hall (1951); attendance at B'nai Brith Wilson Height Heights Lodge events and publicity stills from Branson Hospital. Textual records include a Branson Hospital promotional flyer; correspondence with Sir Martin Gilbert, the official biographer of Winston Churchill; email print outs of a series of letter to the editor correspondnece from Morely to the Toronto Star concerning human rights,immigration and Israel's right to exist.
- In addition, there is a photocopy of a Toronto Star photo of Mayor Art Eggleton, awarding Morley S. Wolfe with the William P. Hubbard race relations award; a print out from Harbordite (page 21) of Morely's entry into the Harbord club; a print out of his review of the book Walking with Giants by Saoul Feldberg; and a poster presented to Morely by the Children's Breakfast Club's presdient Rick Gosling, on the occasion of his 75th birthday (2003), in hounour of Morely's volunteer work with the club.
- Administrative History
- Morley S. Wolfe was born in Winnipeg in 1928 to Cecil (b. 1895) and Betty (nee Davidow) Wolfe. He spent his early childhood in various cities in Saskatchewan and Manitoba until moving to Toronto in 1940. Soon after graduating from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1955 he started his own practice as a senior member of the law firm Burt, Burt, Wolfe and Bowman. In 1971, he was appointed Queen’s Council, and from 1973 to 1977 he served as counsel for B’nai Brith Canada. After his retirement from practice in 1993, the Province of Ontario appointed him presiding Justice of the Peace for Ontario and Deputy Judge in Small Claims Court. His first marriage was to Sandra Newman in 1958 and they had three children together: Leslie, Lee, and Melanie. He later married Joan and became the step-father to her daughter, Erin. Throughout his life Morley was passionate about fighting prejudice and discrimination and became involved with organizations, such as the Canadian Council of Christians and Jews and the Urban Alliance on Race Relations. He was also a member of the Toronto Police Services Board Committee on Race Relations, served as Chair of the North York Committee on Community, Race and Ethnic Relations, and was appointed to the Canadian Multiculturalism Council. In addition, he was the founding president of Toronto Residents in Partnership (TRIP) from 2003 to 2006. His involvement extended to Jewish organizations. He served as national president of B’nai Brith Canada (BBC) from 1982 to 1983 and was a founding member of its League for Human Rights. He was also president of BBC’s Toronto Regional Council and Wilson Heights Lodge No. 1998, and of the Jewish Camp Council of Toronto as well as many other organizations. Morley’s hard work and involvement in the community earned him many awards, including, City of Toronto’s William P. Hubbard Race Relations Award, the YMCA Canada Peace Medal, B’Nai Brith Canada Service Award, and the Province of Ontario’s Senior Achievement Award. Around 2002, Wilson Heights Lodge No. 1998 began filing a series of appeals with B’nai Brith International (BBI) over concerns that BBC’s national executive was governing undemocratically. Morley played a key role in filing these appeals and was the centre of one appeal filed after BBC censured him without advance notice or the opportunity for a hearing. These appeals were not all successful. Around 2006, Morley became involved in another appeal against BBC that was filed by a group of members who called themselves the Concerned Members of B’nai Brith Canada (CMOBBC). They alleged that BBC’s national executive had too much centralized power, was not governing transparently, failed to provide members with audited financial statements at multiple annual general meetings (AGMs), passed a constitution that members had defeated at the 2005 AGM, and was threatening and harassing some members. BBI’s appeal court rendered its verdict in 2007 in favour of BBC. Soon after this judgment was made BBC took steps to expel all the members of CMOBBC. In response, Morley resigned from the organization. Morley currently resides in Brampton.
- Subjects
- Law
- Human rights
- Name Access
- Wolfe, Morley, 1928-
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2016-6-12
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2016-6-12
- Material Format
- graphic material
- textual record
- Physical Description
- ca. 60 cm of textual records
- 11 photographs (3 negatives) : b&w ; 20 x 25 cm or smaller
- Date
- 1976-[ca. 1990]
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of textual and graphic records that trace Natan Sharansky's history as a prisoner of political conscience; the broader Refusenik issue; and the community advocacy efforts of Debby and Stan Solomon from 1976 and into the late 1980s at the local, national and international scales. Included are memos and newsletters from the Committee for Soviet Jewry (Ontario Region and national-level); background information as well as petition templates, speeches and planning documentation produced by the Committee to Release Anatoly Sharansky and the Beth Tikvah Synagogue in conjunction with community organizations, including the CJC and its Soviet Jewry social action committees, to support on-going advocacy efforts; correspondence with Canadian and American political representatives at the provincial/state and national levels; white papers/grey literature from non-governmental organizations about the persecution of the Soviet Jewry; planning documentation from the First Annual Sharansky Lectureship on Human Rights in 1980; correspondence, articles and ephemera associated with the granting of Sharansky's honourary law doctorate from York University in 1982; 1985 Freedom Rally/Weekend in Ottawa planning documentation and correspondence; 1987 National Conference on the Soviet Jewry and Mobilization for Freedom planning documentation; 1987 Community Rally at Massey Hall promotional materials; and promotional materials from Sharansky's autobiographical "Fear No Evil" 1988 book launch. Graphic material includes photographs of Sharansky's release during the February 11, 1986 American-Soviet prisoner exchange on the Glienicke Bridge in Berlin.
- Identified in the photographs are: Debby Solomon; Stan Solomon; Natan Sharansky; Avital Sharansky; U.S. Ambassador Richard Burt;
- Custodial History
- Material was collected and/or created by Debby Solomon, Natan Sharansky's cousin. Debby donated it to the OJA.
- Administrative History
- Debby Solomon is the cousin of Anatoly (Natan) Sharansky, the Soviet born Israeli politician, human activist and author who spent nine years in Soviet prisons. Debby's father Boris Landis (born 1900) and Sharansky's father were first cousins.Their grandfathers were brothers. Debby's father immigrated 1929 to Toronto from Russia as his older brothers were already in Toronto. Debby and her husband Stan Solomon got involved in the community's activism efforts to free Sharansky and other Refuseniks.They were worked for many years on these efforts by planning programs through their synagogue Beth Tikvah and with Sam Filer, a lawyer and volunteer at the CJC who was also a member of Beth Tikvah.
- Subjects
- Antisemitism
- Politics and government
- Human rights
- Demonstrations
- Synagogues
- Committees
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2017-2-12
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2017-2-12
- Material Format
- multiple media
- Physical Description
- 45 cm of textual records and other material
- 230 photographs : sepia and b&w ; 23 x 30 cm and smaller
- 8 sound recordings (50 wav files; 1 microcassette)
- 1 artifact
- Date
- 1937-2004
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of textual records, photographs and audio recordings documenting the lives of Dick Steele, his wife Esther, and friend Bill Walsh. The materials are mostly correspondences between Dick and Esther during his internment at the Don Jail and Ontario Reformatory in Guelph, and from Dick and Bill's military service overseas during the Second World War. They also include correspondences between Esther and Bill, Bill and Anne Walsh, "Jack" and Esther, and other family and friends. Some of the letters show evidence of being censored. There are news clippings in English and Yiddish about the family from various newspapers including the Canadian Tribune (a Communist Party paper). There is a letter Esther wrote to campaign for Dick's release from internment, part of women's activism in this period. There is also a photocopy of a memoir written by Moses Kosowatsky and Moses Wolofsky "From the Land of Despair to the Land of Promise" ca. 1930s.
- The photographs include Dick and Bill in the army during the Second World War, a signed picture of Tim Buck addressed to Esther and the twins and a photo of Dick delivering a speech related to the Steel Workers. Also included is a recording of edited sound clips of Bill and Esther talking about Dick, Esther speaking about the letters, (how she received letters and flowers from Dick after he had already been killed), Bill reading a letter Dick wrote to Esther that he left with friends in England to send her in the case that he was killed (which he was), recordings of "Bill Walsh Oral history" Vols.1 and 2 compiled by Leib Wolofsky's (Bill's nephew), and 5 audio recordings by Adrianna Steele-Card with her grandparents Bill and Esther. There is also a microcassette labelled "Joe Levitt."
- The accession also includes the stripe of a German corporal that Bill captured as a prisoner, peace stamps and an early copy of Cy Gonick's A Very Red Life: The Story of Bill Walsh, edited by Bill.
- Administrative History
- Richard "Dick" Kennilworth Steele is the name adopted by Moses Kosowatsky. He was born in 1909 in Montreal to Samuel Kosowatsky and Fanny Held. He lived in a laneway off Clark Street, below Sherbrooke, where his father collected and recycled bottles. He grew up with his siblings, Joseph, Mortimer, Matthew, Gertrude, and Edward.
- Bill Walsh (birth name Moishe Wolofsky) was born in 1910, to Sarah and Herschel Wolofsky, the editor of the Keneder Adler (Montreal's prominent Yiddish newspaper). He attended Baron Byng and then Commercial High School, where he met Dick Steele. Bill recalled that Dick denounced militarism in the school when a teacher tried to recruit students to be cadets.
- Bill moved to New York City in 1927. His brother, who was living there, helped him get a job as a messenger on Wall Street. He also worked in the drug department at Macy's while attending courses at Columbia University in the evening. Dick worked on a ship for a year and then joined Bill in New York City in 1928. Dick worked at a chemical plant called Linde Air Products while also studying in the evenings at Columbia University.
- In 1931, Dick and Bill boarded a ship together in New York bound for Copenhagen. Together, they travelled across Europe, witnessed a Nazi demonstration in Breslau, Germany, and found work in Minsk and Moscow, Russia. This trip inspired them to become Communists. In 1933, Bill's father was on a Canadian trade mission to Poland, which he left to "rescue" his son from the Bolsheviks. Bill agreed to return to Canada after being advised to do so by the Comintern. He then changed his name to Bill Walsh to protect his family.
- In 1934, Bill moved to Toronto. He worked as the educational director for the Industrial Union of Needle Trade Workers and the Communist Party, where he met Esther Slominsky/Silver, the organization's office manager. Dick joined Bill in Toronto soon after. Bill introduced Dick and Esther, who then married. In 1940, Esther gave birth to twin sons, Michael and John Steele. Esther was born in Toronto in 1914 to Joseph Slominsky and Fanny (Blackersany?). Her siblings were Bella, Eileen, Morris, and step-sister Eva. Her father, Joseph, was a cloak maker and Esther also worked in the garment industry. Her mother Fanny passed away in 1920 at the age of twenty-six from tuberculosis.
- Dick was a metal worker and became a union organizer in the east end of Toronto. He was the head organizer of the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) and the Steel Workers Organizing Committee of Canada (SWOC) until 1940, when he was dismissed for being a Communist. Bill helped organize Kitchener's rubber workers into an industrial union and was also an organizer for the United Auto Workers of Windsor, Ontario.
- Jack Steele, an alias for Dick's brother Mortimer, fought with the Mackenzie-Papineau Brigade in the Spanish Civil War. Jack Steele was recalled to Canada in October 1937 to rally support for the efforts in Spain, returned to the front in June 1938, and was killed in action in August. Some of Dick's letters to his wife, Esther, are signed "Salud, Jack" and were likely written in 1940 when the Communist Party (CP) was banned by the Canadian government under the War Measures Act.
- In November 1941, after Mackenzie King's call for enlistment, Dick wrote to the Department of Justice to ask permission to join the army. He never received a reply. On 1 April 1942, Dick's home was raided and he was interned at the Don Jail until September 1942, when he was moved to the Ontario Reformatory in Guelph. Esther wrote a letter to the minister of justice, Louis St. Laurent, to appeal on his behalf.
- Major public campaigning by Communists and the wartime alliance with the USSR after 1941 shifted public opinion toward the CP, and the Canadian government slowly began releasing internees in January 1942. Dick was released in October 1942 and enlisted at the end of the month. Dick died on 17 August 1944 in Normandy, France. He was a tank driver in the Canadian Army.
- Bill was similarly arrested in 1941, spending time in jail and then an internment camp with other members of the CP. He joined the Canadian Army in 1943 and fought in Holland and Belgium. Bill was first married to Anne Weir who died of a brain hemorrhage in 1943, just before he enlisted. The family believes this may have been due to drinking unpasteurized milk. Encouraged by Dick Steele to take care of his family should he pass in the war, Bill married Esther Steele in 1946. They had a daughter named Sheri and were members of the United Jewish People's Order. For twenty years, Walsh worked for the Hamilton region of the United Electrical Workers (UE). Bill remained a member of the CP until 1967, when we was expelled for criticizing another union leader. He died in 2004. Esther passed away in 2010 at age ninety-six.
- Use Conditions
- Partially closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director prior to accessing some of the records.
- Descriptive Notes
- RELATED MATERIAL NOTE: Library and Archives Canada has the William Walsh fonds and MG 28, ser. I 268, USWA, vol.4, SWOC Correspondence, has various letters from Dick Steele ca. 1938. Museum of Jewish Montreal has an oral history with Leila Mustachi (daughter of Max Wolofsky, Bill's brother) where she speaks about Bill, Dick and Esther. USE CONDITION NOTES: For "Bill Walsh Oral history" Vols.1 and 2, some contributors stipulate that recordings are restricted to personal use only and must not be used for any commercial purpose.
- Subjects
- World War, 1939-1945
- Politics and government
- Labour and unions
- Name Access
- Steele, Michael
- Steele, Dick
- Walsh, Bill
- Walsh, Esther Steele
- Places
- England
- Fort William (Ont.)
- Germany
- Guelph (Ont.)
- Hamilton (Ont.)
- Montréal (Québec)
- Netherlands
- Oshawa (Ont.)
- Ottawa (Ont.)
- Thunder Bay (Ont.)
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Address
- 42 St George Street
- Source
- Landmarks
In 1919, Mr. Mendel Granatstein commissioned Benjamin Brown and Robert McConnell to design a three storey Classical Georgian style house located at 42 St. George Street. The house contained a unique feature -- a retractable roof used on Sukkoth. In 1947, the house was acquired by the University of Toronto and was used for a variety of purposes until it was demolished in 1999. The Bahen Centre for Information Technology now stands in its place.
- Address
- 42 St George Street
- Time Period
- 1919-1999
- Scope Note
- In 1919, Mr. Mendel Granatstein commissioned Benjamin Brown and Robert McConnell to design a three storey Classical Georgian style house located at 42 St. George Street. The house contained a unique feature -- a retractable roof used on Sukkoth. In 1947, the house was acquired by the University of Toronto and was used for a variety of purposes until it was demolished in 1999. The Bahen Centre for Information Technology now stands in its place.
- History
- Mr. Mendel Granatstein was a member of one of the early Jewish families of Toronto. In 1895, he founded M. Granatstein and Sons, Ltd., a junk dealing company, and by the early 20th century, he had become one of the most prosperous Jews in Toronto. Mr. Granatstein was also a community leader, having a hand in the foundation of Beth Jacob Synagogue.
- Category
- Architecture
- Residences
- Source
- Landmarks
- Level
- Item
- ID
- Item 4771
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- Item
- 4771
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- 1970
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph
- Notes
- JCRC Box 44, File 155A.
- Copyright: Globe and Mail.
- See photos for negative number.
- Name Access
- Simchat Torah
- City Hall
- Subjects
- Demonstrations
- Human rights
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- ID
- Item 4428
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- Item
- 4428
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- Apr. 1986
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph
- Notes
- Photo by Graphic Artists.
- Name Access
- North American High School Network
- Subjects
- Demonstrations
- Human rights
- Places
- Bathurst Street (Toronto, Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 1986-12-3
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- ID
- Item 603
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- Item
- 603
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- Nov. 1975
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs : (1 negative)
- Scope and Content
- The "New Strand Building".
- Notes
- Negative: 8:5:13.
- Acquired November 1975.
- Name Access
- Victory Theatre (Toronto, Ont.)
- Subjects
- Architecture
- Theaters
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- ID
- Item 605
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- Item
- 605
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- Nov. 1975
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs : (1 negative)
- Scope and Content
- The "New Strand Building".
- Notes
- Acquired November 1975.
- Negative: 8:6:15.
- Name Access
- Victory Theatre
- Subjects
- Architecture
- Theaters
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- ID
- Item 604
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- Item
- 604
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- Nov. 1975
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs : (1 negative)
- Scope and Content
- The "New Strand Building".
- Notes
- Acquired November 1975.
- Negative: 8:5:14.
- Name Access
- Victory Theatre (Toronto, Ont.)
- Subjects
- Architecture
- Theaters
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- ID
- Item 606
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- Item
- 606
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- Nov. 1975
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs : (1 negative)
- Scope and Content
- The "New Strand Building".
- Notes
- Acquired November 1975.
- Negative: 8:6:16.
- Name Access
- Victory Theatre (Toronto, Ont.)
- Subjects
- Architecture
- Theaters
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- ID
- Item 4035
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- Item
- 4035
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- 1950
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs : (1 negative)
- Scope and Content
- Features: M. rotstein; Max Seifert; Chayale Luxenburg; Jennie Eisenstat; Maurice Turk; Eva Fishman.
- Subjects
- Concerts
- Posters
- Theaters
- Places
- Dundas Street West (Toronto, Ont.)
- Spadina Avenue (Toronto, Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 1986-3-1
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- ID
- Item 4294
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- Item
- 4294
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- [1925 or 1926]
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs : b&w (1 negative)
- Scope and Content
- Identified third from left: William Shankman.
- Notes
- Photo by Midland Press Agency, 520 Suffolk St., Birmingham.
- Subjects
- Orchestra
- Theaters
- 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.
- Places
- Birmingham (England)
- Accession Number
- 1987-9-5
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- ID
- Item 676
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- Item
- 676
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- Feb. 1965
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs : (1 negative)
- Scope and Content
- Item is a photograph of a Broadway Theatre and another building on the south side of Queen Street West, Toronto.
- Name Access
- Broadway Theatre
- Subjects
- Architecture
- Theaters
- Repro Restriction
- Copyright may not be held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.
- Places
- Queen Street West (Toronto, Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Harold S. Kaplan fonds
- Architectural projects series
- Loew's Theatre (189 Yonge St., Toronto) sub-series
- Level
- Sub-series
- ID
- Fonds 27; Series 1-1
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Harold S. Kaplan fonds
- Architectural projects series
- Loew's Theatre (189 Yonge St., Toronto) sub-series
- Level
- Sub-series
- Fonds
- 27
- Series
- 1-1
- Material Format
- architectural drawing
- textual record
- Date
- 1913-1959
- Physical Description
- 57 drawings : pencil on tracing paper, blueprints and other reproductions ; 72 x 114 cm or smaller
- 1 cm of textual records
- Admin History/Bio
- Built in 1913, Loew's Yonge Street Theatre and Winter Garden Theatre complex was the flagship of Marcus Loew's Canadian theatre chain. The theatres were designed by Thomas Lamb as a "double-decker" theatre, with the Winter Garden located seven-stories above the street-level Yonge Street Theatre. This was the only double-decker theatre built in Canada and one of less than a dozen built internationally. The design was considered economical in that it provided a greater amount of seating on a given piece of real estate while allowing the theatre operator to present the same daily show in two theatres. The shows included both vaudeville acts and silent movies.
- In 1928, there was a major fire on the site and the Winter Garden Theatre was closed due to the decline in popularity of vaudeville. By 1930, the Yonge Street Theatre was solely a movie theatre, equipped for sound movies. Over the years it gradually fell into disrepair, but continued as a movie theatre until 1981. It was renamed the Elgin Theatre in 1978.
- In 1981, the Elgin and Winter Garden were purchased by the Ontario Heritage Foundation, and in 1987 the foundation began a two and half year, $30 million restoration of the theatres. The theatres re-opened in Dec. 1989 exclusively for theatrical productions.
- Scope and Content
- Sub-series consists of seating plans, blueprints of structural details, and floor plans, sections and elevations for successive alterations (to the entrance, lobby, basement, etc.) of the theatre. The sub-series includes a copy of a city building permit dating from 1934 for renovations carried out by Loew's Theatres Engineering Division. Some of the blueprints date from the original construction of the theatre in 1913.
- The sub-series is organized into 9 sub-sub-series, corresponding to project dates of 1913, 1919, 1934, 1939, 1949 (two projects), 1952, 1957 and 1959. The earliest materials, such as those from 1913 and 1919, were not created by Kaplan & Sprachman, but were no doubt used as reference materials for their work at the theatre.
- Please note that the blueprints of structural details such as columns and roof reinforcing beams may apply to the theatre complex as a whole, including the Winter Garden Theatre.
- Notes
- Title is derived from the formal titles of the drawings.
- Name Access
- Lamb, Thomas
- Elgin Theatre (Toronto)
- Winter Garden Theatre (Toronto)
- Subjects
- Theaters
- Physical Condition
- Some drawings are torn & damaged.
- Some are discoloured or damaged by deteriorating pressure-sensitive tape.
- Places
- Yonge Street (Toronto, Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 2003-6-1
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Harold S. Kaplan fonds
- Architectural projects series
- Loew's Uptown Theatre (Toronto) sub-series
- Level
- Sub-series
- ID
- Fonds 27; Series 1-2
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Harold S. Kaplan fonds
- Architectural projects series
- Loew's Uptown Theatre (Toronto) sub-series
- Level
- Sub-series
- Fonds
- 27
- Series
- 1-2
- Material Format
- architectural drawing
- graphic material
- Date
- 1919-1968
- Physical Description
- 132 architectural drawings : pencil (some on tracing paper, some hand col. using pencil crayon), blueprints and other reproductions ; 76 x 106 cm or smaller
- 5 photographs : b&w ; 44 x 55 cm or smaller
- Admin History/Bio
- One of sixteen theatres in Canada designed by the well-known architect Thomas W. Lamb, the Uptown Theatre opened in 1920 as a movie and vaudeville theatre of almost 3000 seats, and was later the first theatre in Toronto equipped for sound movies. In 1960 the Uptown's main auditorium was destroyed by a major fire. Kaplan & Sprachman participated in the theatre's subsequent renovation.
- In 1969 the Uptown was split into a five screen theatre through conversion of the theatre's balcony, backstage and basement areas. The Uptown was closed and demolished in late 2003 following the 28th Annual Toronto International Film Festival after the cinema operator, Famous Players, decided to close it and other theatres rather than comply with an Ontario Human Rights Commission order to make the theatres fully wheelchair-accessible.
- Scope and Content
- Sub-series consists of seating plans, blueprints of structural details, floor plans, sections and elevations for successive alterations (to the entrance, lobby, escalator, etc.) of the theatre, as well as several photographs of the Uptown's entrance and auditorium. The sub-series includes a number of hand-coloured drawings of the main auditorium dating from 1962, with paint and fabric samples attached, apparently associated with the re-building of the auditorium following the fire of 1960. The sub-series also includes a set of photo-reproductions of Thomas Lamb's original 1919 plans for the theatre, acquired by Kaplan & Sprachman in 1960.
- The sub-series is arranged in 9 sub-sub-series corresponding to project dates of 1919, 1936, 1945, 1949, 1960, 1962, and 1968. The final sub-sub-series relates to work done by Kaplan after the dissolution of Kaplan & Sprachman.
- In several cases, a sub-sub-series includes drawings and plans from earlier projects, used as reference materials for the current project.
- Name Access
- Lamb, Thos. W. (Thomas White), 1871-1942
- Uptown Theatre (Toronto, Ont.)
- Subjects
- Theaters
- Physical Condition
- Some drawings torn or water-damaged. Some are discoloured or damaged by deteriorating pressure-sensitive tape.
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 2003-6-1
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- ID
- Fonds 27; Series 1; File 2
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 27
- Series
- 1
- File
- 2
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- [1934?]
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm
- Scope and Content
- Exterior shot of theatre marquee.
- Notes
- Title and creation date based on the content of the photograph, inscriptions on the photograph and Mandel Sprachman's published Inventory of Kaplan & Sprachman theatre projects (Historic Theatres' Trust Bulletin, Spring-Summer 1996).
- Photographers: Pringle & Booth.
- Name Access
- Pringle & Booth
- Subjects
- Theaters
- 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.
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 2003-6-1
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- ID
- Fonds 27; Series 1; File 3
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 27
- Series
- 1
- File
- 3
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- [ca. 1931]
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 15 x 9 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the theatre in early stages of construction.
- Notes
- Title based on inscription on the photograph and information found in series 2 newspaper clippings.
- Subjects
- Theaters
- 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.
- Places
- Queen Street West (Toronto, Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 2003-6-1
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- ID
- Fonds 27; Series 1; File 4
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 27
- Series
- 1
- File
- 4
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- [ca. 1932]
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm
- Scope and Content
- Exterior shot of theatre marquee.
- Notes
- Title and creation date based on content of the photograph and Mandel Sprachman's published Inventory of Kaplan & Sprachman theatre projects (Historic Theatres' Trust Bulletin, Spring-Summer 1996).
- Photographers: Pringle & Booth.
- Name Access
- Pringle & Booth
- Subjects
- Theaters
- 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.
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 2003-6-1
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- ID
- Fonds 27; Series 1; File 5
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 27
- Series
- 1
- File
- 5
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- 1935
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm
- Scope and Content
- Exterior shot of theatre marquee.
- Notes
- Title and creation date based on content of the photograph and Mandel Sprachman's published Inventory of Kaplan & Sprachman theatre projects (Historic Theatres' Trust Bulletin, Spring-Summer 1996).
- Subjects
- Theaters
- 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.
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 2003-6-1
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- ID
- Fonds 27; Series 1; File 6
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 27
- Series
- 1
- File
- 6
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- [1936?]
- Physical Description
- 4 photographs : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm
- Scope and Content
- File contains 3 exterior shots of the theatre and 1 of the auditorium.
- Notes
- Title and creation date based on content of the photographs and Mandel Sprachman's published Inventory of Kaplan & Sprachman theatre projects (Historic Theatres' Trust Bulletin, Spring-Summer 1996).
- Three of the photographs were taken by the photographers Pringle & Booth. The fourth print is of a later date, and is from an exposure made ca. 1938, based on the release dates of the films showing at the theatre.
- Subjects
- Theaters
- 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.
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 2003-6-1
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- ID
- Fonds 27; Series 1; File 7
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 27
- Series
- 1
- File
- 7
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- [1935?]
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm
- Scope and Content
- Exterior shot of theatre marquee.
- Notes
- Title and creation date based on content of the photograph, Mandel Sprachman's published Inventory of Kaplan & Sprachman theatre projects (Historic Theatres' Trust Bulletin, Spring-Summer 1996), and information accompanying a reproduction of the photograph in John Sebert's book, The "nabes" (p. 81).
- Photographers: Pringle & Booth.
- Name Access
- Pringle & Booth
- Subjects
- Theaters
- 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.
- Places
- Danforth Avenue (Toronto, Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 2003-6-1
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- ID
- Fonds 27; Series 1; File 8
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 27
- Series
- 1
- File
- 8
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- [1937?]
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm
- Scope and Content
- One exterior shot of the theatre and one of the theatre lobby. Additional businesses featured in College Street view photograph include Altman's, Sugar Bros., Custom Tailoring, and York Furniture.
- Notes
- Title and creation date based on content of the photographs, Mandel Sprachman's published Inventory of Kaplan & Sprachman theatre projects (Historic Theatres' Trust Bulletin, Spring-Summer 1996), and information accompanying a reproduction of the photograph in John Sebert's book, The "nabes" (p. 104).
- Photographers: Pringle & Booth.
- Name Access
- Pringle & Booth
- Subjects
- Theaters
- 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.
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 2003-6-1
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- ID
- Fonds 27; Series 1; File 9
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 27
- Series
- 1
- File
- 9
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- [1937?]
- Physical Description
- 4 photographs : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm glued to sheets 22 x 28 cm
- Scope and Content
- 4 interior shots of the theatre lobby and auditorium.
- Subjects
- Theaters
- 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.
- Places
- Sarnia (Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 2003-6-1
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- ID
- Fonds 27; Series 1; File 10
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 27
- Series
- 1
- File
- 10
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- [ca. 1940] (original exposures 1937)
- Physical Description
- 4 photographs : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm
- Scope and Content
- 4 interior shots of the theatre lobby and auditorium.
- Notes
- Title based on photograph content and labels attached to photographs.
- One photograph bears a stamp reading: "This photograph printed from exposure made Nov. 1937".
- Photographers: Hands Studio.
- Name Access
- Hands Studio
- Subjects
- Theaters
- 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.
- Places
- Ottawa (Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 2003-6-1
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- ID
- Fonds 27; Series 1; File 11
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 27
- Series
- 1
- File
- 11
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- [1937?]
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm
- Scope and Content
- Exterior shot of theatre marquee.
- Notes
- Title and creation date based on content of the photograph and Mandel Sprachman's published Inventory of Kaplan & Sprachman theatre projects (Historic Theatres' Trust Bulletin, Spring-Summer 1996).
- Photograph bears inscription: "Parkdale Toronto before remodelling.".
- Photographers: Pringle & Booth.
- Name Access
- Pringle & Booth
- Subjects
- Theaters
- 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.
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 2003-6-1
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- ID
- Fonds 27; Series 1; File 12
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 27
- Series
- 1
- File
- 12
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- [1937?]
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 13 x 18 cm
- Scope and Content
- Exterior shot of theatre marquee.
- Notes
- Title and creation date based on content of the photograph and Mandel Sprachman's published Inventory of Kaplan & Sprachman theatre projects (Historic Theatres' Trust Bulletin, Spring-Summer 1996).
- The Tivoli Theatre (previously the Allen Theatre) was at 17 Richmond St. E., Toronto.
- Subjects
- Theaters
- 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.
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 2003-6-1
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- ID
- Fonds 27; Series 1; File 13
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 27
- Series
- 1
- File
- 13
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- [1938?]
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm
- Scope and Content
- Exterior shot of theatre marquee and interior shot of auditorium.
- Notes
- Title and creation date based on content of the photographs and Mandel Sprachman's published Inventory of Kaplan & Sprachman theatre projects (Historic Theatres' Trust Bulletin, Spring-Summer 1996).
- Subjects
- Theaters
- 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.
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 2003-6-1
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- ID
- Fonds 27; Series 1; File 14
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 27
- Series
- 1
- File
- 14
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- [1939?]
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 26 x 21 cm
- Scope and Content
- Exterior shot of theatre marquee.
- Notes
- Title and creation date based on content of the photograph.
- Location of this theatre is uncertain. Judging from the photograph in John Sebert's book, The "nabes", p. 117, it is not the Alhambra Theatre which was located at 568 Bloor St. W., Toronto.
- Subjects
- Theaters
- 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.
- Places
- Bloor Street West (Toronto, Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 2003-6-1
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- ID
- Fonds 27; Series 1; File 15
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 27
- Series
- 1
- File
- 15
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- [1939?]
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 26 x 21 cm
- Scope and Content
- Exterior shot of theatre marquee.
- Notes
- Title and creation date based on content of the photograph.
- Location of this theatre is uncertain. Release date for the movies showing at the theatre in this photograph was 1939, and Mandel Sprachman's published Inventory of Kaplan & Sprachman theatre projects (Historic Theatres' Trust Bulletin, Spring-Summer 1996) lists a Capitol Theatre project in Welland, Ont., for 1939.
- Subjects
- Theaters
- 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.
- Places
- Welland (Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 2003-6-1
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- ID
- Fonds 27; Series 1; File 16
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 27
- Series
- 1
- File
- 16
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- 1939
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm
- Scope and Content
- 1 exterior view of theatre marquee and 1 interior view of the theatre lobby or entrance-way.
- Notes
- Title and creation date based an inscription on one photograph and Mandel Sprachman's published Inventory of Kaplan & Sprachman theatre projects (Historic Theatres' Trust Bulletin, Spring-Summer 1996).
- The interior shot may be incorrectly identified, based on a comparison of the door designs in the two photographs. Also, the movies advertised in the lobby posters were released in 1936.
- Subjects
- Theaters
- 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.
- Places
- Edmonton (Alta.)
- Accession Number
- 2003-6-1
- Source
- Archival Descriptions