Part Of

Benjamin Brown fonds

Jewish community building plans and drawings series

Level

Series

Fonds

49

Series

1

Material Format

architectural drawing

Date

[1915]-1940

Physical Description

174 architectural drawings

Scope and Content

Series consists of Benjamin Brown’s architectural plans and drawings of significant buildings designed or renovated for Toronto‘s Jewish community, including proposals that were never implemented. Contained within are renovation plans of the Beach Hebrew Institute synagogue, an ark design for the McCaul Street Synagogue, and the complete designs of the Henry Street Synagogue. The last of these projects is of particular significance, because it was the first synagogue in Toronto designed by a Jewish architect and was one of Brown‘s largest commissions. Drawings of the Primrose Club (a Jewish men’s club) and the Brunswick Talmud Torah Day School, as well as plans of Camp Yungvelt (a Jewish summer camp) are also included. Additionally, several preliminary sketches of synagogue facades are contained within.

The majority of these drawings are on tracing or drafting paper, several of which are in colour, and the remainder are either blueprints or drawn on cardboard. Floor plans, elevations, sections, foundation plans and sketches of building exterior facades and interiors are included. Additionally, there are drawings of windows, doors and synagogue arks.

Physical Condition

Several drawings and plans are in poor condition. See file level descriptions for further details.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Benjamin Brown fonds

Jewish community building plans and drawings series

Level

File

Fonds

49

Series

1

File

1

Material Format

architectural drawing

Date

1940

Physical Description

12 architectural drawings : pencil on tracing paper ; 48 cm length or smaller and 7 cm diam.

Admin History/Bio

Founded in the 1920s, Camp Yungvelt was originally situated on Lake Wilcox. Two years later it moved to Pickering, where it operated until it closed in the 1950s. It was established by the Workmen's Circle, as a Yiddish summer camp for Jewish children. Camp Yungvelt was known for accepting the children of poor immigrants for a small fraction of the regular fee.

Scope and Content

File consists of architectural drawings of several new buildings that were erected at Camp Yungvelt. Floor plans, a foundation plan, and several elevation drawings are included.

Subjects

Camps

Repro Restriction

Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.

Places

Pickering (Ont.)

Source

Archival Descriptions

• 

Part Of

Benjamin Brown fonds

Jewish community building plans and drawings series

Level

File

Fonds

49

Series

1

File

2

Material Format

architectural drawing

Date

1919-1922

Physical Description

136 architectural drawings : pencil, some hand col., watercolour, on linen weave and tracing paper ; 100 x 90 cm or smaller

Admin History/Bio

The Henry Street Beth Jacob Synagogue was founded by Toronto’s Polish-Jewish Community, as the successor of an older, smaller synagogue on Elm Street. It was the first synagogue in Toronto that was designed by a Jewish architect, Benjamin Brown. Located at 23 and 23 ½ Henry Street, the synagogue was dedicated in 1922, at a cost of $156,000, and could accommodate up to eight hundred worshippers. It was built in Romanesque style and was notable for its stained glass windows and retractable roof that was used on Sukkoth. It also contained a vaulted ceiling capped by a large dome and four smaller ones. The building was eventually sold and converted into a church. It is the current site of the Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church.

Scope and Content

File consists of architectural drawings of Beth Jacob Synagogue. Contained within are basement, floor, stairwell and roof plans, load plans, sections, and elevation drawings. Also included are detailing of windows, the Ark, entrances and other structures and objects.

Notes

Most of the drawings are stored in four rolls, the remainder are encased in five sheets of Melinex. Due to the fragility of these drawings, the medium, extent and sizes of them are based on the descriptions compiled by Steve Speisman. It is recommended that a conservator examine these drawings.

Name Access

Beth Jacob Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)

Subjects

Synagogues

Repro Restriction

Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.

Physical Condition

Some drawings are frayed and torn.

Places

Henry Street (Toronto, Ont.)

Source

Archival Descriptions

• 
• 
• 

Part Of

Benjamin Brown fonds

Jewish community building plans and drawings series

Level

File

Fonds

49

Series

1

File

3

Material Format

architectural drawing

Date

[ca. 1922]

Physical Description

1 architectural drawing : pencil and hand col., watercolour, on cardboard backed paper ; 90 x 73 cm

Admin History/Bio

The Brunswick Avenue Talmud Torah Day School was established in 1907 and was originally situated on Simcoe Avenue. In 1922 the school received a charter from the Province of Ontario and relocated to Brunswick Avenue the same year. The new school opened in 1925 as a non-denominational afternoon school. It was the precursor to the Associated Hebrew Schools of Toronto.

Scope and Content

File consists of one drawing of the exterior of the Brunswick Avenue Talmud Torah.

Repro Restriction

Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.

Related Material

See File 49-5-13 for plans of the Yorkville Talmud Torah Day School in New York, designed by Benjamin W. Levitan.

Places

Brunswick Avenue (Toronto, Ont.)

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Benjamin Brown fonds

Jewish community building plans and drawings series

Level

File

Fonds

49

Series

1

File

4

Material Format

architectural drawing

Date

[ca. 1924]

Physical Description

9 architectural drawings : pencil, 6 hand col. pastel, 7 on tracing paper ; 36 x 50 cm or smaller

Admin History/Bio

The Brunswick Avenue Talmud Torah Day School was established in 1907 and was originally situated on Simcoe Avenue. In 1922 the school received a charter from the Province of Ontario and relocated to Brunswick Avenue the same year. The new school opened in 1925 as a non-denominational afternoon school. It was the precursor to the Associated Hebrew Schools of Toronto.

Scope and Content

File consists of Benjamin Brown's designs for the Brunswick Avenue Talmud Torah. Contained within are sketches of various entrances and frontages for the Brusnwick Avenue Talmud Torah. Designs of the Ark are also included.

Physical Condition

Drawings are fragile, several are torn.

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Benjamin Brown fonds

Jewish community building plans and drawings series

Level

File

Fonds

49

Series

1

File

5

Material Format

architectural drawing

Date

1920

Physical Description

6 architectural drawings : 1 pen on linen weave and 5 pencil ; 54 x 54 cm or smaller

Scope and Content

File consists of Benjamin Brown's designs for a proposed synagogue. The designs were likely created before the congregation had purchased land or secured an architect. The congregation did not end up using Benjamin Brown as the architect. Included are floor plans, sections, and a rough sketch of the exterior.

Subjects

Synagogues

Physical Condition

Drawings are brittle and fragile. One drawing is badly torn.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Benjamin Brown fonds

Jewish community building plans and drawings series

Level

File

Fonds

49

Series

1

File

6

Material Format

architectural drawing

Date

[ca. 1915]

Physical Description

2 architectural drawings : pencil and hand col., watercolour, 1 on cardboard backed paper ; 52 x 41 cm or smaller

Admin History/Bio

The Chevra Tehillim congregation was established in 1887 and held services at various locations until it moved to its permanent home at 69 McCaul Street in 1905. Around 1910, the congregation had the McCaul premises remodeled. The synagogue remained on McCaul Street until 1952, when it merged with Goel Tzedek to form the Beth Tzedek synagogue, currently Canada's largest. The Beth Tzedek synagogue is currently located on Bathurst Street. The McCaul Street premises was demolished in the late 1950s.

Scope and Content

File consists of two colour drawings of a proposed new Ark for the McCaul Street Synagogue. They were drawn by Benjamin Brown as a proposal for redesigning the Ark during the 1910s. According to an interview with Brown in 1973, this ark was his first commission after he opened his office at 600 Bay St.

Notes

It is possible that Item #16 is a design of the Ark for the Beach Hebrew Institute.

Subjects

Torah arks

Repro Restriction

Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.

Source

Archival Descriptions

• 

Part Of

Benjamin Brown fonds

Jewish community building plans and drawings series

Level

File

Fonds

49

Series

1

File

7

Material Format

architectural drawing

Date

[ca. 1920]

Physical Description

6 architectural drawings : pencil, 3 hand col. watercolour ; 32 cm length or smaller and 5 cm diam.

Scope and Content

File consists of preliminary plans for a synagogue that was never completed. The designs were likely created before the congregation had purchased land or secured an architect. The congregation did not end up using Benjamin Brown as the architect. Sections, floor plans and elevation drawings are included.

Subjects

Synagogues

Physical Condition

The six drawings are glued together on one side.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Benjamin Brown fonds

Jewish community building plans and drawings series

Level

File

Fonds

49

Series

1

File

8

Material Format

architectural drawing

Date

[ca.1920]

Physical Description

2 architectural drawings : pencil on tracing paper, 1 hand col. pencil crayon ; 54 cm length or smaller and 5 cm diam.

Scope and Content

File contains two drawings of synagogues drawn by Benjamin Brown. The first is a pencil and colour sketch of the front of a synagogue crowned by two small domes on the sides and one large dome in the centre; and the second is a pencil sketch of the front and side of a two storey synagogue.

Subjects

Synagogues

Physical Condition

One drawing has a portion torn out.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Benjamin Brown fonds

Jewish community building plans and drawings series

Level

File

Fonds

49

Series

1

File

9

Material Format

architectural drawing

Date

[ca.1921]

Physical Description

1 architectural drawing : pencil and hand col. pencil crayon on cardboard ; 42 x 54 cm

Admin History/Bio

Originally named the Cosmopolitan Club, the Primrose Club was as an elite Jewish men's club (women were allowed to join in later years) that was founded in 1909 by prominent members of the Jewish Community. The building housing the club was located at 41 Willcocks Street, and was originally built in the 1880s as the residence of the Campbell family. In 1921, the home was redesigned by Benjamin Brown and Robert McConnell as the new home of the Primrose Club. In 1959, it was appropriated by the University of Toronto and is currently the home of the University of Toronto Faculty Club. It was designated as a heritage building in 1980.

Scope and Content

File consists of an elevation drawing of the Primrose Club at 41 Willcocks Street.

Notes

See - http://magazine.utoronto.ca/feature/history-of-faculty-club-u-of-t/ - for a more detailed history of the building.

Name Access

Primrose Club (Toronto, Ont.)

Subjects

Clubs

Places

Willcocks Street (Toronto, Ont.)

Source

Archival Descriptions