Part Of

Harold S. Kaplan fonds

Architectural projects series

Loew's Theatre (189 Yonge St., Toronto) sub-series

Alterations to Loew's Theatre, 189 Yonge Street, Toronto sub-sub-series

Level

Sub-sub-series

Fonds

27

Series

1-1-9

Material Format

architectural drawing

Responsibility

Kaplan & Sprachman

Date

1959-1961

Physical Description

14 drawings : blueprints and blueline prints ; 79 x 121 and 73 x 103 cm

Scope and Content

Sub-sub-series includes orchestra, mezzanine and balcony floor plans, longitudinal sections, reflected ceiling plan and details.

Notes

Project reference no. 59-K-25.

Title is derived from the formal titles of the drawings.

Name Access

Elgin Theatre (Toronto)

Accession Number

2003-6-1

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Harold S. Kaplan fonds

Architectural projects series

Loew's Theatre (189 Yonge St., Toronto) sub-series

Alterations to entrance of Loew's Theatre, 189 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario sub-sub-series

Level

Sub-sub-series

Fonds

27

Series

1-1-6

Material Format

architectural drawing

Responsibility

Kaplan & Sprachman

drawn by S.H.H.

Date

1949-1950

Physical Description

2 drawings : blueprints ; 59 x 130 cm

Notes

Project reference no. 49-K-79.

Name Access

Elgin Theatre (Toronto)

Accession Number

2003-6-1

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 Theatre (189 Yonge St., Toronto) sub-series

Second exit from second floor of Loew's Theatre, 189 Yonge Street sub-sub-series

Level

Sub-sub-series

Fonds

27

Series

1-1-8

Material Format

architectural drawing

Date

1957

Physical Description

3 drawings : pencil (1 on tracing paper) ; 59 x 89 cm or smaller

Scope and Content

1 floor plan of 1st and 2nd floors of theatre and 2 rough sketches with annotations.

Notes

Project reference no 57-K-10.

Title is taken from the formal title of one of the drawings.

Name Access

Elgin Theatre (Toronto)

Accession Number

2003-6-1

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Harold S. Kaplan fonds

Architectural projects series

Loew's Theatre (189 Yonge St., Toronto) sub-series

Proposed alterations to store basement, 191 Yonge Street, Toronto, adjoining Loew's Theatre sub-sub-series

Level

Sub-sub-series

Fonds

27

Series

1-1-5

Material Format

architectural drawing

Responsibility

Kaplan & Sprachman

Date

1949

Physical Description

3 drawings : pencil on tracing paper ; 52 x 91 cm and 41 x 81 cm

Notes

Project reference no. 49-K-41.

Name Access

Elgin Theatre (Toronto)

Accession Number

2003-6-1

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Harold S. Kaplan fonds

Architectural projects series

Loew's Uptown Theatre (Toronto) sub-series

Alterations to entrance to Loew's Uptown Theatre, Yonge St. near Bloor St., Toronto, Ont. sub-sub-series

Level

Sub-sub-series

Fonds

27

Series

1-2-4

Material Format

architectural drawing

Responsibility

Kaplan & Sprachman

Date

1948-1950

Physical Description

22 drawings : pencil on tracing paper ; 61 x 148 cm or smaller

Scope and Content

Sub-sub-series includes floor plans, elevations and cross-sections for lobby and drawings of details of new doorways, door hardware, and ticket booths.

Notes

Project reference no. 49-K-30.

Drawn by S.H.H. and A.B.

Name Access

Uptown Theatre (Toronto)

Accession Number

2003-6-1

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Harold S. Kaplan fonds

Architectural projects series

Loew's Theatre (189 Yonge St., Toronto) sub-series

Loew's Theatre, Toronto : [floor plan of street-level entrance and lobby] sub-sub-series

Level

Sub-sub-series

Fonds

27

Series

1-1-4

Material Format

architectural drawing

Responsibility

Kaplan & Sprachman

Date

1939

Physical Description

1 drawing : pencil on tracing paper ; 46 x 106 cm

Notes

Title is derived from the formal titles of the drawings.

Project reference no. AU 1754.

Name Access

Elgin Theatre (Toronto)

Accession Number

2003-6-1

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

1282

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[ca. 1927]

Physical Description

2 photographs : b&w (1 negative)

Name Access

Alter Furs

Subjects

Fur trade

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

Yonge Street (Toronto, Ont.)

Accession Number

1977-5-5

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Harold S. Kaplan fonds

Architectural projects series

Loew's Uptown Theatre (Toronto) sub-series

Alterations to Loew's Uptown Theatre sub-sub-series

Level

Sub-sub-series

Fonds

27

Series

1-2-3

Material Format

architectural drawing

Date

1943-1948

Physical Description

11 drawings : pencil on tracing paper ; 67 x 79 cm or smaller

Scope and Content

Sub-sub-series includes floor plans and elevations for alterations to outer lobby and lobby floor, public washrooms and washroom in manager's office.

Notes

Project reference no.'s: 44-2 and 45-K-85.

Plans labelled 44-2 were found rolled up with those for 45-K-85, suggesting they were used in the course of 45-K-8 and so they have been left together.

Title is based on the formal titles of the drawings.

Name Access

Uptown Theatre (Toronto)

Physical Condition

Edges of the larger drawings are damaged and torn.

Accession Number

2003-6-1

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Morris Norman collection

Franklin family legal documents series

Level

File

Fonds

22

Series

2

File

30

Material Format

textual record

Date

1947

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

This file contains a store lease for a property at 376 Yonge Street, owned by the Franklin family.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Harold S. Kaplan fonds

Architectural projects series

Proposed alterations to Loew's Winter Garden Theatre (Toronto) sub-series

Level

Sub-series

Fonds

27

Series

1-3

Material Format

architectural drawing

Date

1946, 1968

Physical Description

5 drawings : blueline and blackline prints ; 60 x 101 cm

Admin History/Bio

The Winter Garden Theatre was built in 1913-1914 and opened on 16 Feb. 1914, the upper half of a double-decker theatre complex which included Loew's Yonge Street Theatre at street-level. The theatres were designed by Thomas Lamb and were the flagship of Loew's theatre chain in Canada.

The Winter Garden was an "atmospheric theatre", with a simulated sky and stars, columns painted to resemble tree trunks, garden scenes painted on the walls, and lanterns, blossoms and beech leaves hung from the ceiling. Performers would appear at both theatres, but the Winter Garden was considered more exclusive than Loew's Yonge Street Theatre, with fewer seats (approx. 1400), higher ticket prices and reserved seating.

With the decline in popularity of vaudeville during the 1920s, the Winter Garden was closed in 1928. It remained closed and unused until 1981, when it and the Elgin (as the Yonge Street Theatre had been renamed) were purchased and subsequently restored by the Ontario Heritage Foundation. The theatres re-opened in Dec. 1989.

While histories of the Winter Garden typically describe it as a "time capsule" which remained sealed and undisturbed from the time of its closing in 1928 until it was restored, the architectural drawings in this sub-series document two proposed renovations of the Winter Garden during those decades.

Scope and Content

Sub-series consists of drawings for 2 proposed renovations of the theatre, by Kaplan & Sprachman in 1944, and by Harold Kaplan in 1968.

Notes

Project reference codes 44-K-160 (Kaplan & Sprachman), and 68-6 (Harold S. Kaplan).

Name Access

Lamb, Thomas

Winter Garden Theatre (Toronto)

Accession Number

2003-6-1

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Benjamin Brown fonds

Commercial building plans and drawings series

Level

File

Fonds

49

Series

3

File

64

Material Format

architectural drawing

Date

1935

Physical Description

6 architectural drawings : 3 blueprints, 2 pencil on tracing paper, 1 pencil and hand col. pencil crayon on verso of blueprint ; 56 cm length or smaller and 5 cm diam.

Scope and Content

File consists of architectural drawings of alterations to a two storey building located at 123-125 Yonge Street for Arcade Florists Limited, which was owned by George and Ben Yavner. Sections, elevation drawings and floor plans are included.

Notes

One drawing is located on the verso of a discarded blueprint.

Formerly listed as Commission XIII.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Harold S. Kaplan fonds

Architectural projects series

Loew's Theatre (189 Yonge St., Toronto) architectural plans and drawings sub-series

Alterations to lobby and new opening to main theatre mezzanine sub-sub-series

Level

Sub-sub-series

Fonds

27

Series

1-1-3

Material Format

architectural drawing

textual record

Date

1934

Physical Description

7 drawings : blueprints ; 71 x 84 cm and 38 x 81 cm

11 p

Scope and Content

Sub-sub-series consists of blueprints and building permits for alterations made for a new store in the lobby area at street level on Yonge Street. The building permit contains a detailed description of the work to be done. Includes a seating plan for the theatre.

Notes

Title is derived from the project description in the building permit.

Name Access

Elgin Theatre (Toronto)

Physical Condition

1 drawing, of theatre seating plan, is torn and in poor condition.

Accession Number

2003-6-1

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Julius P. Katz fonds

Subject files series

Level

File

Fonds

55

Series

2

File

139

Material Format

textual record

Date

1941

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

This file consists of correspondence from The Kehilla of Toronto, Inc.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

4497

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1929

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w

Notes

From the Benjamin Brown Collection : Commission CLV.

Name Access

Brown, Benjamin

Subjects

Architecture

Streets

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

Cumberland Street (Toronto, Ont.)

Yonge Street (Toronto, Ont.)

Accession Number

1987-9-3

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Jewish Family Welfare Bureau fonds

Liaison with other social welfare organizations series

Level

File

Fonds

87

Series

16

File

4

Material Format

textual record

Date

1932-1938

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of correspondence between the JFWB and the Poppy Fund of Toronto Inc.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

3772

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[between 1940 and 1945]

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w

Scope and Content

Item is a photograph of Lazer "Louis" Rottenberg taken at the corner of Yonge and Queen Streets in Toronto.

Notes

Photo by Newsreel Snaps, Yonge St. Arcade, Toronto.

Name Access

Rotenberg, Lazer

Subjects

Portraits

Streets

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 East (Toronto, Ont.)

Yonge Street (Toronto, Ont.)

Accession Number

1985-7-5

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Scheuer family fonds

Level

File

Fonds

47

File

7

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[ca. 1930]

Physical Description

9 photographs : b&w (3 strips of 3 photographs) ; 6 x 8 cm (photo) 20 x 9 cm (strip)

Scope and Content

File consists of snapshots taken of Isadore Scheuer walking along Yonge Street in Toronto. There are three strips of photographs with three photographs on each strip. Isadore is shown walking along the street and sidewalk and there are passersby, shops, and cars in the background.

Subjects

Streets

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

Yonge Street (Toronto, Ont.)

Accession Number

1989-4-2

Source

Archival Descriptions

• 
• 

Part Of

Benjamin Brown fonds

Commercial building plans and drawings series

Level

File

Fonds

49

Series

3

File

72

Material Format

architectural drawing

Date

[ca.1940]

Physical Description

5 architectural drawings : 2 blueprints, 3 pencil on tracing paper ; 78 cm length or smaller and 6 cm diam.

Admin History/Bio

The Jolly Miller Hotel is a designated heritage building that was built in the late 1850s by the Hogg family. It is currently known as the Miller Tavern.

Scope and Content

File consists of architectural drawings of additions and alterations to the two storey Jolly Miller Hotel at 3885 Yonge Street. Elevation drawings, sections, floor plans and a foundation plan are included.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

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

Accession Number

2008-8-2

Material Format

graphic material (electronic)

Physical Description

9 photographs : b&w (jpg)

Date

1930-1977

Scope and Content

This accession consists of nine scanned copies of original photographs documenting the Samuel and Marcus families of Belleville. Pictured in the photographs are: Harry Samuels, Rose (née Samuels) Berman, Sidney Samuels, Dorey (née Samuels) Safe, Helen (née Samuels) Sussman, Reta (née Samuels) Marcus, Max Marcus, Percy Marcus, Sidney Marcus, Sophie Marcus, Samuel Springer and Thomas Samuels.

Use Conditions

Copyright may not be held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.

Source

Archival Accessions

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Part Of

Maurice Solway fonds

Photographs file

Level

Item

Fonds

13

File

1

Item

17

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1989

Physical Description

1 photograph : col. ; 11 x 15 cm

Scope and Content

Solway leads a procession with his violin on a crowded city sidewalk, in Toronto. The event is the 20th anniversary (4 Jun. 1989) of the Inner City Angels. The day involved performing works by and for inner city youths.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Benjamin Brown fonds

Commercial building plans and drawings series

Level

File

Fonds

49

Series

3

File

22

Material Format

architectural drawing

Date

[ca. 1935]

Physical Description

1 architectural drawing : pencil and hand col. pencil crayon on tracing paper ; 53 cm length and 4 cm diam.

Scope and Content

File consists of floor plans of a three storey rooming house at 1077 College Street.

Physical Condition

Material is fragile.

Places

College Street (Toronto, Ont.)

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Material Format

graphic material

Date

9 Nov. 1929

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 20 x 26 cm

Scope and Content

Item is a photograph of Yonge Street looking south from Wilton Square.

Subjects

Streets

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

The City of Toronto Archives has the same image in Fonds 16, series 71, item 7435.

Places

Yonge Street (Toronto, Ont.)

Accession Number

1980-12-14

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Morris Norman collection

Level

Item

Fonds

22

Item

103

Material Format

textual record

Date

1922

Physical Description

1 item

Source

Archival Descriptions

Date

1925

Publisher

Publishers Advertising Agency

Format

Directory

Subject

City Directories

Genealogy

Language

English

Source

1925 Toronto Jewish Directory

Part Of

Ethel Mehr fonds

Level

Item

Fonds

68

Item

52

Material Format

graphic material

Date

15 Nov. 1946

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm

Scope and Content

This item is a photograph depicting a large line-up of people waiting to get into the first Lady Ellis Shop located at the corner of Yonge and Adelaide Streets in Toronto. The photograph was taken on opening day.

Name Access

Lady Ellis Shop

Subjects

Consumers

Storefronts

Women's clothing

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

Adelaide Street West (Toronto, Ont.)

Yonge Street (Toronto, Ont.)

Accession Number

1988-12-3

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Ethel Mehr fonds

Level

Item

Fonds

68

Item

53

Material Format

graphic material

Date

15 Nov. 1946

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm

Scope and Content

This item is a photograph of the interior of the first Lady Ellis Shop located on the corner of Yonge and Adelaide Streets in Toronto. The photograph depicts many customers inside the store being shown merchandise by the sales women behind the counter.

Subjects

Consumers

Stores, Retail

Women's clothing

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

Adelaide Street West (Toronto, Ont.)

Yonge Street (Toronto, Ont.)

Accession Number

1988-12-3

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Ethel Mehr fonds

Level

Item

Fonds

68

Item

54

Material Format

graphic material

Date

15 Nov. 1946

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm

Scope and Content

This item is a photograph of the interior of the first Lady Ellis Shop located on the corner of Yonge and Adelaide Streets in Toronto. The photograph depicts many customers inside the store looking at merchandise.

Subjects

Consumers

Stores, Retail

Women's clothing

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

Adelaide Street West (Toronto, Ont.)

Yonge Street (Toronto, Ont.)

Accession Number

1988-12-3

Source

Archival Descriptions

Accession Number

2021-5-3

Material Format

textual record (electronic)

Physical Description

69.5 MB of records in electronic form

Date

2020-2021

Scope and Content

Accession consists of material documenting Shaari Shomayim's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Included are promotional materials for various online events and several of the congregation's bulletins.

Subjects

COVID-19 (Disease)

Synagogues

Name Access

Shaarei Shomayim (Toronto, Ont.)

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2022-11-3

Material Format

textual record

Physical Description

1 book

Date

2022

Scope and Content

Accession consists of material documenting City Shul, a Reform synagogue in downtown Toronto. Included is "Siddur Shirat HaLev: The City Shul Community Prayerbook." The siddur was designed by Baruch Sienna and edited by Rabbi Elyse Goldstein. Baruch described the siddur thus: "A contemporary, illustrated, liberal siddur for Shabbat, weekday, and festivals." The siddur features content from Canadian poets (e.g., Leonard Cohen, A. M. Klein) and artists. According to the donor, the siddur was "the product of many volunteer congregants over several years of effort."

Use Conditions

Copyright is not held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.

Descriptive Notes

Availability of other formats: Three pages of the siddur are available as digital files: page 80 (available as a PDF file), and page 98 (available as a JPEG file), and page 160 (available as a PDF file).

Rights: Copyright © 2022, City Shul. Translations, readings, and commentaries from Mishkan T'filah, World Union Edition: A Progressive Siddur, copyright © 2010 by the Central Conference of American Rabbis.

Subjects

Reform Judaism

Siddurim

Synagogues

Name Access

City Shul (Toronto, Ont.)

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2019-5-11

Material Format

textual record

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Date

1920

Scope and Content

Accession consists of two 1920 shares for the Toronto Labor Lyceum Association, Limited. One share is made out to David Desser; the other is made out to A. Desser.

Subjects

Associations, institutions, etc

Name Access

Labor Lyceum (Toronto, Ont.)

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Part Of

Harold S. Kaplan fonds

Architectural projects series

Loew's Uptown Theatre (Toronto) sub-series

Proposed escalator for Loew's Uptown Theatre, Toronto sub-sub-series

Level

Sub-sub-series

Fonds

27

Series

1-2-5

Material Format

architectural drawing

Responsibility

Kaplan & Sprachman

Date

1 June 1954

Physical Description

1 drawing : pencil ; 38 x 115 cm

Notes

Project reference no. 54-K-13.

Name Access

Uptown Theatre (Toronto)

Accession Number

2003-6-1

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Morris Norman collection

Level

Item

Fonds

22

Item

101

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[ca. 1911]

Physical Description

1 item

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Committee for Soviet Jewry series

Affiliated organizations sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

17

Series

3-4

File

13

Material Format

textual record

Date

1977-1979

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File contains petitions, correspondence, news releases and articles related to the committee's efforts on behalf of their Soviet Jewish peers and efforts to garner support for a ban on collaborative research between Canadian universities and the Soviet Union.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Administrative Committee (Inner Executive) minutes series

Level

Series

Fonds

17

Series

7

Material Format

textual record

Date

1952-1959

Physical Description

6 cm of textual records

Admin History/Bio

Originally the "Inner Executive", the name of this body was changed to Administrative Committee because the old name sounded too conspiratorial. It consisted of all regional committee chairmen, those national officers of Canadian Jewish Congress resident in Ontario and individuals named by the regional chairman. It met between meetings of the Regional Executive, its duties being to prepare legislation for the latter. It usually comprised about twelve individuals.

Scope and Content

Series consists of minutes of the Administrative Committee.

Notes

Series formerly described and cited as RG201.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Benjamin Brown fonds

Commercial building plans and drawings series

Level

File

Fonds

49

Series

3

File

49

Material Format

architectural drawing

graphic material

Date

1929

Physical Description

10 architectural and technical drawings : 1 blueprint, 9 pencil, 1 hand col. pencil crayon, 1 on tracing paper ; 55 cm length or smaller and 7 cm diam

1 photograph : b&w ; 25 x 20 cm

Admin History/Bio

Cumberland Hall was built in the late nineteenth century. In the late 1920s, the first floor was renovated by Benjamin Brown. At that time, the building was home to Uptown Cleaners and Dyers, Rosedale Sweets Tea Rooms and the Canadian Brotherhood of Chauffeurs. The building was torn down and replaced by a large commercial building around 1967.

Scope and Content

File contains architectural drawings of alterations to the first floor of Cumberland Hall at 824 Yonge Street for University Investments Limited. Floor plans, elevation drawings and technical drawings of structural elements of the building are included. A photograph of the building exterior is also included.

Related Material

See File 49-3-101 for architectural drawings of a store and office building at the N.E. corner of College and Spadina for University Investments Limited.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Board of Jewish Education fonds

Executive director series

Teacher files sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

48

Series

2-4

File

108

Material Format

textual record

Date

1960-1972

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Access Restriction

Closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director prior to accessing the records

Source

Archival Descriptions

Accession Number

1995-11-7

Material Format

graphic material

Physical Description

13 photographs : b&w ; 17 x 12 cm or smaller

Date

1943-1955

Scope and Content

Accession consists of photographs showing the Hotel Casa Loma on Lake Simcoe with Star of David designs on the balcony, vacationers at Victory Cottage, Jewish servicemen in London and Toronto (see Bill Stern fonds for similar images), and a furrier shop.

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2013-10-2

Material Format

multiple media

Physical Description

60 cm of textual records and other material

Date

1964-2005

Scope and Content

Accession consists of records related to the National Council of Jewish Women, London Section. Included are board and committee meeting minutes and correspondence, general correspondence, program material, publicity records, committee and membership lists, publications, anniversary records, newsletters, newsclippings, cookbooks, photographs and slides, audio cassetees documenting the "Jewish Family Life" series, as well as one promotional video in BETA format.

Administrative History

The London Section of the National Council for Jewish Women of Canada was founded in the late 1940s. The section was presented its charter in 1950. Dev Fox was the section's first president. The section was involved in fundraising for various causes through events such as raffles, bingo nights, fashion shows and dinner-dances. They also organized discussion groups, programs and campaigns around topics of social interest such as mental and physical health, education, poverty, women's equality, women's health, child abuse and others. The London Section is no longer active.

Descriptive Notes

Physical Description note: includes ca. 500 photographs and slides, 8 audiocassettes, and 1 videocassette.

Name Access

National Council of Jewish Women, London Section (subject)

Alter, Ronnee (creator)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2017-6-9

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Physical Description

71 cm of textual records

36 photographs : b&w and col. (9 negatives) ; 13 x 18 cm and smaller

Date

1951-1996

Scope and Content

Accession consists of material documenting the National Council of Jewish Women, London Section. Included are: board and committee meeting minutes and correspondence, general correspondence, program material, publicity records, event invitations, committee and membership lists, membership recruitment materials, directories, by-laws, publications, anniversary records, newsletters, newsclippings, financial and budgetary records, and leadership training material. Program themes include women's health, women's equality, childcare, children's health, babysitting, and home care. Publications include issues of the national journal Council Woman, the newsletter National Newsletter, the London Update, the NCJW Bulletin, and the NCJW London Section Bulletin from 1951-1978.

Administrative History

The London Section of the National Council for Jewish Women of Canada was founded in the late 1940s. The section was presented its charter in 1950. Dev Fox was the section's first president. The section was involved in fundraising for various causes through events such as raffles, bingo nights, fashion shows and dinner-dances. They also organized discussion groups, programs and campaigns around topics of social interest such as mental and physical health, education, poverty, women's equality, women's health, child abuse and others. The London Section is no longer active.

Use Conditions

Copyright may not be held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.

Subjects

Women in nonprofit organizations

Name Access

Alter, Ronnee (creator)

National Council of Jewish Women, London Section (subject)

Places

London, Ont.

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2017-8-7

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

12 photographs : b&w and col ; 26 x 21 cm or smaller

Date

1929-[198-]

Scope and Content

Accession consists of material documenting the life of Debby Alter (née Speyer). Included are: certificates and diplomas for Alter and her brother Lloyd; newspaper clippings relating to Alter and her family; photographs of Alter and her family, and a small amount of correspondence addressed to Alter, primarily from her father.

Custodial History

Debby Alter's daughter, Bonnie, donated the records to the Archives following her mother's death in May 2017.

Administrative History

Debby Cecil Speyer was born on 18 Aug. 1918 to Boris Speyer and Etta Speyer (née Prager). Debby's father worked as an insurance broker in Toronto. Years later when he became ill, Etta went into real estate, becoming Toronto's first female commercial and industrial real-estate agent in 1935. Debby was one of three children, having two brothers: Mark and Lloyd. Lloyd died in 1943 fighting in the Second World War.

Debby's connection to Hadassah-WIZO goes back to an early age. She attended the first Hadassah-WIZO Bazaar in 1924, for example, when she was five years old. As a youth, she attended the Goel Tzedec Congregation's religious school and later the Toronto Normal Model School, receiving her diploma in June 1933. She went on to marry Gabriel Alter, with whom she had two children: Bonnie and Lloyd (named after his late uncle). Their daughter, Bonnie, was entered in a lovely child photo-contest as part of the annual Hadassah Bazaar.

In 1969, Debby was named chairman of the Women's Division of 1969 State of Israel Bonds in Toronto. By that point, she had been a member of Toronto Hadassah's executive board for years. Debby remained involved in Hadassah until her later years, attending the very last Bazaar in 2008, where she was honoured along with other long-time volunteers at a special cake-cutting ceremony. She passed away at her home on Friday, 12 May 2017. A service was held at Holy Blossom Memorial Park the following Sunday. She is survived by her two children, two children-in-law, and three grandchildren.

Use Conditions

Partially closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director prior to accessing some of the records.

Copyright may not be held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.

Name Access

Alter, Debby, 1918-2017

Hadassah Organization of Toronto

Hadassah-WIZO Organization of Canada

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

1977-12-4

Material Format

textual record

Physical Description

ca. 120 cm of textual records

Date

1904–1969

Scope and Content

Accession consists of material documenting the First Narayever Congregation of Toronto. Included are membership books, minute books, insert cards used to record aliyah pledges, correspondence, ledger sheets, contracts, and other material.

Administrative History

In 1914, Jews from eastern Galicia (now in modern Ukraine) established the First Narayever Congregation in Toronto as a landsmanshaf, i.e. a society of Jewish immigrants from the same town or region. The synagogue takes its name from the small market town of Narayev, which is located in eastern Galicia. The synagogue's founders belonged to the working class and many worked in Toronto's garment industry.

Initially, congregation members met in different locations, but by 1923 their numbers and financial means had grown such that they were able to rent a small house at 70 Huron Street at the corner of Huron and Dundas. This house served as the congregation's home for twenty years.

The congregation's first president was Israel Chaim Katz and its first meeting was held at the Katz home at 156 William Street. The congregation's first rabbi was Solomon Langner, who was hired by the congregation in 1923. He retained this affiliation despite serving the Kiever Synagogue as a full-time rabbi from 1929 until he died in 1973.

In 1943, the congregation purchased property at 187-189 Brunswick Avenue from Bethel Church. This is where the the synagogue is located today.

In 1950, Henry Young became president of the congregation. He occupied that position until his death in 1976. Shalom Langner, the son of Rabbi Solomon Langner, succeeded Young as president.

As Toronto's Jewish population began to move north, the First Narayever continued to serve Orthodox Jews living downtown. In the 1980s, the congregation struggled to balance the needs of this older generation with the young generation's desire to make the synagogue more egalitarian with respect to gender. In 1983, the congregation's new leadership team successfully advanced a proposal to allow the full participation of women in traditional services. This innovation led to several long-standing members taking legal action, but their case was dismissed on the grounds that it was not a matter for civil law.

The First Narayever's identity continued to evolve. In 2009, its membership voted to allow its rabbi, Edward Elkin, who began serving the congregation in 2000, to officiate at same-sex marriages.

MG_RG

MG3 A55

Subjects

Synagogues

Name Access

First Narayever Congregation (Toronto, Ont.)

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

1987-7-3

Material Format

textual record

Physical Description

30 cm of textual records

Date

1929-1985

Scope and Content

Accession consists of material documenting Hillcrest Progressive School. Included are minutes, financial statements, letters, and other documents.

Descriptive Notes

Central Jewish Institute.

MG_RG

MG2 G1w

Subjects

Schools

Name Access

Hillcrest Progressive School (Toronto, Ont.)

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

1976-9-3

Material Format

textual record

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

1 text

Date

1910, 1928

Scope and Content

Accession consists of two copies of the constitution of Congregation Shaarei Tzedec, printed in 1910 and 1928, and a copy of the book "Fun folks moil = 1000 Yiddish Proverbs."

MG_RG

MG3A36

Subjects

Religion

Name Access

Congregation Shaarei Tzedec (Toronto, Ont.)

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

1979-11-12

Material Format

textual record

Physical Description

1 volume

Date

1979

Scope and Content

Accession consists of a Shaarei Shomayim jubilee book, the First Fifty Years.

MG_RG

MG3 A31

Subjects

Synagogues

Name Access

Shaarei Shomayim Congregation (Toronto, Ont.)

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

1980-6-1

Material Format

textual record

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Date

1910

Scope and Content

Accession consists of a memorandum of agreement beween the trustees of Machziki Hadas and A. Eisen concerning the sale of two seats in the synagogue and a Hebrew prayer book belonging to the congregation.

MG_RG

MG 3 A 6

Subjects

Prayer books

Synagogue seating

Name Access

Machziki Hadas Congregation (Toronto, Ont.)

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2018-5-7

Material Format

object

textual record

Physical Description

1 object

1 folder of textual records

Date

[197-?]-2017

Scope and Content

Accession consists of material documenting the Beth Torah Congregation in Toronto. Included are a stole (sash) from the synagogue choir and the summer 2017 issue of the Jewish Review, which features a profile of Yossi Sapirman, the senior rabbi of Beth Torah.

Subjects

Choirs (Music)

Rabbis

Synagogues

Name Access

Beth Torah Congregation (Toronto, Ont.)

Sapirman, Yossi

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Part Of

Benjamin Brown fonds

Commercial building plans and drawings series

Level

File

Fonds

49

Series

3

File

79

Material Format

architectural drawing

Date

1937

Physical Description

7 architectural drawings : pencil on tracing paper ; 76 cm length or smaller and 5 cm diam.

Scope and Content

File consists of architectural drawings of two attached, two storey buildings for Mr. Bebell at 2014-2016 Yonge Street. The building contained a fur storage vault, several stores and several apartment suites. Floor plans, sections, elevations and a block plan are included.

Related Material

See File 49-3-74 for architectural drawings of a building at Avenue Road and Bernard Avenue for Mr. Bebell.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Sammy Luftspring fonds

Come out fighting scrapbook file

Level

Item

Fonds

82

File

2

Item

4

Material Format

graphic material

Date

29 Mar. 1985

Physical Description

1 photograph : col.

Scope and Content

Photograph of Sammy Luftspring riding down Yonge Street in the Canadian Cancer Society Parade with Earl Walls, Jim Proudfoot, and Stan Brock. This photograph was taken the same year Sammy was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.

Notes

Image is located on page 53 of the 34 x 30 cm scrapbook.

Name Access

Brock, Stan, 1936-2018

Canadian Cancer Society

Proudfoot, Jim, 1933-2001

Walls, Earl, 1928-1996

Subjects

Parades

Repro Restriction

Copyright is not held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.

Places

Yonge Street (Toronto, Ont.)

Source

Archival Descriptions