Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Level

Fonds

Fonds

37

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[ca. 1895]-1979

Physical Description

690 photographs : b&w and col. negatives ; 26 x 21 cm or smaller

Admin History/Bio

Gilbert Studios was originally called Elite Studios and was located at 513 Queen Street West, Toronto. The owner, Nathan Gittelmacher, immigrated to Toronto from Kiev, Ukraine after the First World War. He first worked as a photographer at Empire Studios, and then in 1922, opened up his own studio, Elite Studios, at 513 Queen Street West, which serviced a largely Jewish clientele, photographing weddings, bar mitzvahs, as well as Jewish community events. The studio moved to 615 Queen St. West in July 1923

.During the 1940s, the family changed its name to Gilbert and subsequently altered the name of the business to Gilbert Studios. His son, Al Gilbert, was born in 1922, and started working in the family business in 1941, when he was 19 years of age. He eventually assumed control of it after his father retired. He moved the studio to Eglinton Avenue and then later to Davenport Road, its current location.

Early on in his career, Al made a name for himself as a portrait photographer. At that time, he mostly catered to the Jewish community, photographing brides, rabbis, businessmen and communal events and celebrations. Over the years, he branched out and photographed prominent individuals from the Italian community of Toronto, as well as well as many of the mayors and councilmen and women from Toronto, due to his multi-year contract with the city. In addition, he photographed some of the most important people of our time – from Canada and abroad – including artists, politicians, scientists, philanthropists, athletes, and religious figures.

Over the years, Al won many competitions, awards and accolades. He is a three-time recipient of the prestigious Professional Photographers of Canada (PPOC) photographer of the year award. He has also been named a Fellow of the photographic societies in Canada, Britain and the United States. Al was also the first recipient of the Yousuf Karsh award. In 1990, he was recognized for his contribution to the nation as an artist with the Order of Canada award. Finally, in 2007, he was awarded the Professional Photographers of America’s Lifetime Achievement Award. He died in 2019 at the age of 96.

Gilbert Studios is still in business today.

Scope and Content

Fonds consists of images taken by Nathan and Al Gilbert. In addition, there are some images the Gilbert family acquired, from the early 1900s, that have historical significance to the Toronto Jewish community.

Although the Gilberts photographed a variety of people and organizations, the individuals and groups included in this fonds are either Jewish in origin or connected to the Jewish community.

The fonds has been arranged into nine series: Negev dinners; B'nai B'rith Sportsmen Lodge dinners; Zionist Centre cornerstone ceremony; Al Gilbert portraits; Nathan Gilbert portraits; weddings; Jewish Community events; Jewish clubs businsesses and organizations; and Miscellaneous collection.

Notes

Positive digital scanned images are available for all of the described negatives.

Name Access

Elite Studios (Toronto, Ont.)

Gilbert, Al, 1923-2019

Gilbert, Nathan

Gilbert Studio

Physical Condition

Some negatives are suffering from vinegar syndrome.

Related Material

See also the Albert Gilbert fonds (Reference # R9086-0-X-E) at Library and Archives Canada

Creator

Gilbert Studios (Toronto, Ont.)

Accession Number

1991-6-2

1991-4-4

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Al Gilbert portraits series

Level

Series

Fonds

37

Series

4

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[ca. 1941-1978]

Physical Description

56 negatives : b&w, 1 col. ; 18 x 13 cm or smaller

Admin History/Bio

Al Gilbert was born on November 18, 1922 in Toronto. His father Nathan Gittelmacher [Gilbert] owned a photography studio, called Elite Studios, where Al began to learn the photography trade. Al went to Central Technical High School for commercial art and started working at his father's store after he graduated at the age of 19. Al returned to school as an adult and earned his Master of Photography and Photographic Craftsmen degree from the Professional Photographers of America.

Al took over Gilbert Studios and moved to a larger location on Eglinton Street and then later to Davenport Road. Al married, and he and his wife Gail had two children named Nina and Michael.

Al began his career following in the tradition of his father photographing weddings and other significant events in the community. However, he also expanded his repertoire to include series of portraits documenting different cultural and religious groups. While still making a name for himself, Al arranged a deal with a local radio station -- CKEY -- that had a promotional programme called Club 580. The programme was designed to draw music celebrities down to an auditorium where school kids would get the chance to see them. He approached the station, asking if he could photograph these musicians, and in exchange, provide the station with picture postcards depicting the musicians. Some of the entertainers he photographed during this period included: Oscar Peterson, Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington, and Dizzy Gillespie. One of his most personally significant series documents all of Israel's Prime Ministers starting in 1959 with David Ben Gurion up until the late 1990s. Most recently, Al finished a series of portraits depicting prominent Italian Canadian men and women.

One of Al Gilbert's photographic influences was George Hurrell, whose portraits of Hollywood movie starts were backlit with spotlights creating a glamorous effect. In 1943, Gilbert started to introduce some of Hurrell's lighting techniques into his portraits. He was constantly changing the window displays at his store to draw attention to his latest techniques and attract a new clientele. Twenty years later, still fascinated with lighting, Al started using more window lighting and doing outdoor photography; he also perfected the technique of simulating natural light using artificial sources of light.

Al Gilbert built his reputation as a portrait photographer. Due to his innovative style and the prominence of his subjects, Al's work has received much recognition -- he has been given the Canadian Photographer of the Year in 1968, 1969, and 1973 from the Professional Photographers of Canada. He was awarded the Order of Canada and held the Confederate Medal of Canada. In addition, he was also the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Photographic Industry of America and the International Award from the American Society of Photographers.

Scope and Content

Series consists of portraits taken by Al Gilbert. The portraits depict prominent individuals from the Toronto Jewish community, Jewish clubs, politicians, and several well-known personalities including the comedians Wayne and Shuster.

Notes

All portraits were selected with the exception of duplicates and portraits where the issue of ownership remains unresolved because the photographer is unknown.

Name Access

Wayne & Shuster

Hurvitz, Rabbi

Hennick, Nat

Posluns

Kayfetz, Carl

Sterling, Bob

Van Der Hout, Victor

Goodman, Eddy

Greenberg, David

Kay, Jimmy

Hall, Robert

Shopsowitz, Sam

Lockshin, Lou

Topper, Harry

Drevnick,Bill

Givens, Phil

Silver, Nathan

Tanenbaum, Wayne

Orliffe, Herbert

Leslie, Dr. Harold

Herman, Woody

Waxman, Al

Wayne, Johnny

Shuster, Frank

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Al Gilbert portraits series

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

4

Item

1

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[ca. 1941]

Physical Description

1 negative : b&w ; 11 x 13 cm

Admin History/Bio

Carl was born in 1907 to Leah and Mark Keyfetz who was a Toronto Jewish pioneer arriving in 1887.

Carl Keyfetz was co-founder of the 59th Toronto Troupe in 1921, the 1st Jewish Boy Scout Troupe in Ontario. He was superintendent at the McCaul Street Synagogue and 1st Principal at the St. Clair Avenue Synagogue. Carl was President of the Toronto Lodge, B'nai B'rith in 1939, and he also founded Guelph Lodge in 1941 and Empire Lodge in 1946.

He was extremely involved in the Toronto Jewish community and sat on numerous committees and boards, including: United Jewish Welfare Fund, Jewish Home for the Aged, Beth Tzedec and Jewish Immigrant Aid Society.

Carl Keyfetz was with the R.C.A. F. from 1941 to 1945 in the Administration Branch as Adjutant, Commanding Officer & Legal Department and then as Directorate of Personal, Air Force Headquarters.

Scope and Content

Photograph of Carl K. Keyfetz in R.C.A.F. uniform during the Second World War.

Name Access

Keyfetz, Carl

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Al Gilbert portraits series

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

4

Item

6

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1941

Physical Description

2 negatives : b&w ; 11 x 13 cm

Admin History/Bio

The Lizzies were a collection of sports teams that played amateur baseball and basketball in Toronto starting in 1912. They started playing in the school yard of the Hester Howe School, more commonly known as the Elizabeth Street School. A recreation centre was built at the north end of Bickford Park and was named in their honour, the Elizabethan Recreational Centre in 1913.

Bob Abate was coach of the Lizzies' teams for 26 years; In 1990, the centre was renamed in his honour to the Bob Abate Recreation Centre. Mr. Armstrong was the superintendent of the playground for the City of Toronto.

Scope and Content

Photograph of the Lizzies bantam basketball team after they won the city championships.

Members included: B. Hillier, N. Henick, A. Rotman, B. Sherky, H. Dembrofsky, D. Greenberg, J. Cooperbloom, R. Abate, S. Linzon, M.Stern, D. Sugar, R. Strom, Mr. Armstrong.

Notes

Title was assigned by archivist using information taken from photo inscription.

Subjects

Basketball teams

Portraits, Group

Repro Restriction

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

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Nathan Gilbert portraits series

Level

Series

Fonds

37

Series

5

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[ca. 1920-1930]

Physical Description

5 negatives : b&w ; 11 x 13 cm

Admin History/Bio

Nathan Gittelmacher was an immigrant from Kiev, Russia who moved to Toronto and first worked as a photographer at Empire Studios. In 1922, he opened up his own business called Elite Studios, located at 615 Queen Street West. He specialized in portraits and catered to a largely Jewish clientele. Many of Nathan's portraits were produced with a large format view camera and printed from glass negatives.

Nathan Gittelmacher changed his family's name to Gilbert in the early 1940s and subsequently altered the family business name to Gilbert Studios. Nathan was married to Nina and they had four children named: Lou, Jack, Albert and Ruth.

Scope and Content

Series consists of photographs taken by Nathan Gilbert. The photographs in this series are mostly of the Gilbert family. One of the Gilbert family portraits depicts the Gilbert automobile with the Elite Studio's insignia written across the side of the car. Also here, are a few examples of studio portraits that reflect Nathan Gilbert's photographic style.

Name Access

Gilbert, Nathan

Subjects

Portraits

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Nathan Gilbert portraits series

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

5

Item

3

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[ca. 1932]

Physical Description

1 negative : b&w ; 11 x 13 cm

Admin History/Bio

Nathan Gittelmacher was an immigrant from the Ukraine who moved to Toronto and first worked as a photographer at Empire Studios. In 1922, he opened up his own business called Elite Studios, located at 615 Queen Street West. He specialized in portraits and catered to a largely Jewish clientele.

Nathan Gittelmacher changed his family's name to Gilbert in the early 1940s and subsequently altered the family business name to Gilbert Studios. Nathan was married to Nina and they had four children named: Lou, Jack, Albert and Ruth.

Scope and Content

Photograph of the Gilbert family in swimming suits posing in front of their automobile with the Elite Studio insignia at Sunnyside Beach in Toronto.

Boris Waxer is lying on top of the car and Nina Gilbert is behind the wheel. In front of the car from left to right are: Nathan Gilbert, Albert Gilbert, Jack Gilbert, Lou Gilbert, Evelyn Stacker and reclining in front is Joe Gilbert. Standing at the far right is the driver.

Name Access

Stacker, Evelyn

Waxer, Boris

Subjects

Automobiles

Outdoor recreation

Portraits, Group

Repro Restriction

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

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Nathan Gilbert portraits series

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

5

Item

4

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[ca. 1930]

Physical Description

1 negative : b&w ; 11 x 13 cm

Admin History/Bio

Rhuda was married to Jacob Goldhar and had a son named David. She was born in Poland and moved to Canada at the age of sixteen.

Jacob Goldhar was in the garment industry.

Scope and Content

Photograph of Rhuda (Rose) Goldhar.

Name Access

Goldhar, Rhuda

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Nathan Gilbert portraits series

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

5

Item

5

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[ca. 1930]

Physical Description

1 negative : b&w ; 11 x 13 cm

Admin History/Bio

Eva Cohen (née Mintz) was from Klimontov, Poland and migrated to Canada in 1912. She married Abe Cohen, and they had two children: Annette Cohen Bearg and Bob Cohen.

Scope and Content

Photograph of Eva Cohen in formal attire.

Name Access

Cohen, Eve

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Weddings series

Level

Series

Fonds

37

Series

6

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1895-1966

Physical Description

8 negatives : b&w ; 11 x 13 cm

Scope and Content

Series consists of images taken at weddings by both Nathan and Al Gilbert.

The wedding images are of brides and grooms, guests, the head table and dessert tables, and the ceremony. Some of the images are taken in synagogues.

Subjects

Weddings

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Jewish community events series

Level

Series

Fonds

37

Series

7

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1936-1979

Physical Description

8 negatives : b&w ; 11 x 13 cm

Scope and Content

Series consists of photographs taken by Al and/or Nathan Gilbert that document Jewish events held in the city of Toronto. The kind of events included are dedication ceremonies, groundbreaking ceremonies, city council meetings, dinners and walks.

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Jewish community events series

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

7

Item

7

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[ca. 1936]

Physical Description

1 negative : b&w ; 11 x 13 cm

Admin History/Bio

The Pride of Israel Sick Benefit Society was founded in 1905 to provide assistance to newly arrived immigrants and to promote a prosperous Jewish community. The Pride of Israel Sick Benefit Society's Ladies Auxiliary was founded in 1922 with Mrs. Sophie Torno as the first Chairlady. The Ladies Auxiliary assisted the Society in collecting funds for various philanthropic causes. Moreover, they organized lectures and entertainment.

Scope and Content

Item is a negative of the the Pride of Israel Sick Benefit Society's Ladies' Auxiliary parade. The image depicts a group of women walking down a street carrying a large banner with the inscription: "Pride of Israel Sick Benefit Society Ladies Auxiliary, Friendship, Established 1921." The women have sashes with Pride of Israel across them and 15th Jubilee.

Name Access

Pride of Israel Sick Benefit Society Ladies' Auxiliary

Subjects

Parade

Societies

Women

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Jewish clubs, businesses and organizations series

Level

Series

Fonds

37

Series

8

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1917-1935

Physical Description

9 negatives : b&w ; 11 x 13 cm

Scope and Content

Series consists of photographs of clubs and organizations that had a Jewish membership or mandate. Included in this sub-series are group portraits of the Girl Guides, 69th Toronto Company; Judeans; Rokeah, the Jewish Druggist's Club; the U.of T. Menorah Society; the YMHA; and the Jewish Legion.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Jewish clubs, businesses and organizations series

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

8

Item

10

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[ca.1944]

Physical Description

1 negative : b&w ; 11 x 13 cm

Scope and Content

Photograph is of Louis Ruben standing outside of his tailoring store, which was located at 248 Royce Avenue in Toronto.

Name Access

Louis Ruben Hand Tailored Clothes

Ruben, Louis

Subjects

Storefronts

Tailors

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

Royce Avenue (Toronto, Ont.)

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Nathan Gilbert portraits series

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

8

Item

12

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[ca. 1935]

Physical Description

1 negative : b&w ; 11 x 13 cm

Scope and Content

Item is an image depicting the storefront of Louis Ruben's Hand Tailored Clothes, which is advertising a fourteenth-anniversary sale. Louis Ruben's Hand Tailored Clothes was located at 248 Royce Avenue.

Name Access

Ruben, Louis

Subjects

Anniversaries

Special sales

Storefronts

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

Royce Avenue (Toronto, Ont.)

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Miscellaneous collection series

Level

Series

Fonds

37

Series

9

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[1914-1935]

Physical Description

7 negatives : b&w ; 11 x 13 cm

Custodial History

This series was compiled by the Gilbert family and transferred to the Archives in 1991.

Scope and Content

Series consists of photographs collected by the Gilbert family. The Gilbert family collected historically significant photographs. Included in the sub-series are photographs of the Koffler family, Leon Mendelson, and Elias Pullan, which were given to Al Gilbert by the families.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Miscellaneous collection series

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

9

Item

2

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1939

Physical Description

1 negative : b&w ; 11 x 13 cm

Admin History/Bio

Leon Koffler was born in Romania. He moved to Canada and settled in the Toronto area at the age of fifteen with his mother and his three sisters. He graduated from the Ontario College of Pharmacy in 1921 and, two years later, opened his first pharmacy on College Street. Leon lived in the apartment above his store with his wife Tiana Koffler (née Reinhorn) and their son Murray.

Scope and Content

Photograph of Leon Koffler standing inside Koffler's Drug Store preparing pharmaceuticals.

Name Access

Koffler's Drug Store

Koffler, Leon

Subjects

Drugstores

Pharmacists

Repro Restriction

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

Related Material

see also photographs: 37-S4-3-item-2, 37-S4-3-item-3, 37-S4-3-item-15, 37-S4-3-item-20

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Miscellaneous collection series

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

9

Item

5

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[ca. 1935]

Physical Description

1 negative : b&w ; 11 x 13 cm

Admin History/Bio

Elias Pullan was born in Telz—a town in the province of Kovno, Lithuania—in 1865. He came to Canada in 1885 and started a waste-paper and scrap business called E. Pullan Limited. He married Bertha Helner in 1890, and, together, they had ten children: Harry, Joe, Emanuel, Gordon, Martha, Dorothy, Bessie, Rita, Jennie and Helen. Elias Pullan was the president of the kehillah in Toronto and president, treasurer, and parnas of Goel Tzedec Synagogue. He was also the founder and first president of the Simcoe Street Talmud Torah.

Scope and Content

Image is of Elias Pullan.

Name Access

E. Pullan Limited

Pullan, Elias

Subjects

Businesspeople

Immigrants--Canada

Portraits

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions