The digitization of this finding aid was made possible - in part or entirely - through the Canadian Culture Online Program of Canadian Heritage, the National Archives of Canada and the Canadian Council of Archives.
| Fonds/Collection Number: | F0098 |
| Title: | Mary F. Williamson fonds |
| Dates: | 1851-2004, predominant 1965-2004 |
| Extent: | 2.1 metres of textual records 204 photographs |
| Biographical Sketch/ Administrative History: | Mary F. Williamson (1933- ), Senior Librarian and Fine Arts Bibliographer, York University; M.A. and M.L.S. (University of Toronto). Williamson's research has focused on the early literature of Canadian art, on printmaking and book illustration in Canada in the nineteenth century, on art librarianship, and on the history of food and cookery. She has taught art librarianship at various graduate library schools in North America, and has published numerous articles on Canadian wood engraving, book and periodical illustration, art librarianship and culinary history. Italian baroque drawings have been a special interest for many years and examples from her collection have been lent to exhibitions in Canada and abroad. She has contributed articles to various encyclopaedias including: 'The Grove Dictionary of Art' (2000) and 'The History of the Book in Canada' vols. 1 and 2 (2004-2005). Her major publications include: 'The Art and Pictorial Press in Canada' with Karen McKenzie (1979); 'Art and Architecture in Canada : A Bibliography and Guide to the Literature' with Loren Lerner (1991); and 'Toronto Dancing Then and Now' (1995). Williamson has also been active with professional librarian associations, and as a private citizen in local residents' associations. |
| Scope and Content: |
The fonds consists of material which documents Williamson's career as a fine arts bibliographer, librarian and instructor along with associated professional and scholarly activities. It includes correspondence and reports prepared for collection acquisitions (e.g. Germain Bazin library, archives and postcard collection), other library initiatives, interactions with various library departments, and departments in the Faculty of Fine Arts including visual arts, dance, and theatre; material related to her work on YUFA, PLAYU (Professional Librarians Association of York University), the Librarians' Group, and other York University and library committees; exhibition catalogues, monographs, articles and conference presentations authored by Williamson; and research materials, grant files and teaching files. The fonds also includes a collection of letters and photographs that Williamson sent home during her stay at various summer camps between 1940 and 1951, material related to the Moore Park Ratepayers' Association, and a collection that Williamson acquired consisting of 63 photocopied letters from literary and artistic figures in Canada such as Susanna Moodie and George Munro Grant, addressed to Louisa Murray (1818-1894), literary critic and writer on feminist issues. |
| Location of originals: | The location of the original letters that were reproduced for the 1979-007 accrual is unknown. Mrs. King, the owner, died February 15, 1998. |
| Restrictions on Access and Use: | Files in accession 1992-024 containing personal salary information on third-parties are restricted. |
| Finding Aid: | File lists are available. |
| URL of Finding Aid: | http://archivesfa.library.yorku.ca/submissions/fonds/ON00370-f0000098.pdf |
| Accruals: | The fonds comprises the following accessions: 1979-007, 1991-021, 1992-024, 1998-013, 2000-030, 2004-027, 2012-039. Further accruals are expected. |
| 1979-007 1991-021 1992-024 1998-013 2000-030 2004-027 2012-039 |
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| Related Records: | Related records may be found in the York University Libraries fonds (F066); the Faculty of Fine Arts fonds (F059); and the Sussex Area Residents' Association collection (F0421). |
| Associated Material: | Other records may be found in the Mary F. Williamson fonds at Trent University, Ontario, and in the Alister Mathews fonds at Queen's University, Ontario. Photocopies of material relating to Louisa Annie Murray are also held at the National Gallery of Canada. |
| Immediate source of acquisition: | Donated by Mary F. Williamson in 1979, 1991, 1992, 1998, 2000 and 2004. Accrual 1979-007 resulted from Williamson's visit to Boston, Massachusetts in 1978, when she met Louisa Murray King, owner of the originals of these letters received by King's ancestor, Louisa Annie Murray. |
| Subject Access Points: | Williamson, Mary F., 1933- Murray, Louisa Annie, (1818-1894) York University Faculty Association Moore Park Ratepayers' Association |
| Provenance Access Points: | Williamson, Mary F., 1933- |
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Date of creation: 2003/01/17 Date of last revision: 2013/01/17 |
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