What terminology would be current for your time period and how would it be different? Think about abbreviations, slang, and dated or time specific language, e.g., talkies, pressbooks, industry terminology vs. newspapers for general public, etc.
Make a record of your search strategies - both the good and the bad! In a spreadsheet or document, track:
You won't remember them later and you are going to discover new terms and topics that will shape new searches so it's useful to have a record of what worked and what didn't.
Discover Archives is a shared portal for exploring archival holdings at the University of Toronto and its federated colleges. The database contains descriptions of material related to the University of Toronto's history, as well as records from private individuals, families, businesses, and organizations.
Prepare ahead of time:
Learn more about research with UofT Media Commons Archives and how to connect with Media Commons Archivists:
Please note that Toronto Public Library underwent technical challenges in 2023/2024 and there still may be access issues.
Grace Cunard Collection (1914-1967) (PDF)
A collection of items relating to the careers of Grace Cunard (born Harriet Mildred Jeffries) (1894-1967) and Francis Ford (1882-1953) popular silent film actors and directors. Ford was an older brother of director John Ford. This collection consists of photographs, letters, and a scrapbook compiled by fan Miss Cara Hartwell of Toronto.
Film Advertising Cards and Programs Collection (PDF)
1 box; 6 envelopes; 252 items
Film Pressbooks Collection (PDF)
Public relations information on 175 films, including 32 pressbooks for films produced by the J.A. Rank organization between 1940 and 1952.
Greta Garbo Collection (1924-1941) (PDF)
Portraits and film stills of Greta Garbo, including many original photographs from a scrapbook compiled and donated by Estelle Patterson Fox, together with the scrapbook pages. The scrapbook includes newspaper and magazine articles on the life and career of Garbo, together with magazine and newsprint photos, and a number of coloured covers of Garbo from the film magazines of the 1920’s and 1930’s. While many of the sources and dates are not noted, and articles are not always arranged in chronological order, the scrapbook is a wealth of material from the fan magazines of the period. 2 boxes (23 envelopes and 14 file folders); .26 linear metres.
Cara Hartwell Collection (1914-1983)
Correspondence, autographs collected by Miss Cara Hartwell of Toronto. Includes letters from many famous personalities in the arts world, actors, playwrights, authors, opera singers, dancers and film directors. Also includes photographs, many autographed, of music personalities, a series of autograph books, and a collection of autographed cards."Especially informative is correspondence from other film fans describing visits to retired movie stars and giving biographical details and “what ever happened to” information on stars of the silent film era."
Jack Karr Collection (1938-1979) (PDF)
Scrapbooks and papers of Toronto columnist and public relations man Jack Karr, film and drama critic for the Toronto Star (1938-1959), publicity head for the Stratford Festival (1959-1965) and later the O’Keefe Centre (1965-1976). 7 boxes
Cosette Lee Collection (1911; 1920-1976) (PDF)
Programs, press clippings, photographs, correspondence, scripts, elocution materials, business papers, documents from professional organizations, and miscellaneous memorabilia of the well known Canadian character actress (Toronto, 1910-1976) whose career on the stage, radio, television, and film extended over more than 50 years.3 boxes.; 812 items.
Toronto Cinema: Crest Theatre Collection (1953-1966) (PDF)
One of Toronto's and Canada's first homegrown commercial theatre companies. Founded in the early 1950s and located in a renovated cinema on Mount Pleasant Road in Toronto. Active for 13 seasons with a sophisticated repertoire including many original Canadian plays. 33 boxes and 13 scrapbooks.
The collections of the Edward P. Taylor Library & Archives provide a research context for the collection, exhibitions and public programs of the Art Gallery of Ontario.
In addition to supporting general art research, the library’s 380,000+ volumes include rare books and artists’ books and multiples. Archival collections include the archives of the Art Gallery of Ontario and extensive special collections (artists’ archives and related collections).
Book collections can be searched in the library’s online catalogue. Special collections holdings may be browsed using the AGO AtoM database, with links to detailed online finding aids where available. Please contact the reference desk for further information about AGO archives holdings.
Please visit the Edward P. Taylor Library and Archives page for information on access, finding aids, and visiting hours.
Primary Resources are key for this assignment!
There are amazing resources available to you across the UofT Libraries and online. but it is a huge amount of information to navigate, but there is always help for you to draw upon:
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