Kathleen Fenwick fonds: Finding Aid

Kathleen Mary Fenwick (1901-1973), Curator of Prints and Drawings at the National Gallery of Canada (NGC) from 1929 to 1968, was born in London, England, and educated at the Goldsmith College of Art and at the Académie Julian in Paris. She immigrated to Canada in 1928 to take the position of assistant to the Curator of Prints in the Prints and Drawings Department at the National Gallery. She became Curator of Prints and Drawings in 1929. One of Fenwick's most noteworthy Gallery publications was a catalogue highlighting European drawings in the Gallery's collection (with A.E. Popham (1889-1970), 1965, volume 4). After her retirement, Fenwick worked on a catalogue of the Gallery's English drawings.

Fenwick received an honourary LL.D from the University of Toronto in 1966 and the Order of Canada in 1968. She was founding editor, with Donald Buchanan (1908-1966), of the Gallery's first art periodical entitled Canadian Art, was an advisor to the Canadian delegation to the first UNESCO Conference, Chair of the Canadian Film Awards (1958-1973), and Director of the International Fine Arts Exhibition at Expo 67 in Montreal. She was involved in various organizations, personally and professionally, throughout her career and retirement years, serving on the Canadian Eskimo Arts Council (1968-1972); the National Arts Centre Advisory Committee for the Visual Arts (1964-1969); and the National Film Society, Ottawa branch (later, Ottawa Film Society; 1940-1973).

Scope and Contents of the Collection

The fonds consists of personal and work diaries and engagement calendars (1925-1973); correspondence (both personal and professional); material related to seminars, lectures and addresses prepared by Fenwick (including various writings by Fenwick); clippings and correspondence related to books and publications on art or art exhibitions; a series of reproductions collected by Fenwick illustrating the history of the printed book; material related to Fenwick's involvement in various societies, councils, boards and groups; and personal material (including Fenwick's sketchbooks). The fonds also includes photographs (both professional and personal) of Fenwick, her friends, works of art, events, and exhibitions.

Immediate source of acquisition: Donated to the National Gallery of Canada Library and Archives by Kathleen Fenwick in 1973.

Terms governing use and reproduction: Permission to reproduce or publish material from the Kathleen Fenwick fonds must be obtained from the National Gallery of Canada Library and Archives.

Note: See Visual Resources database records for the fonds for further information on the photographs.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Contact Information

Reference Services
Library and Archives
National Gallery of Canada
380 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario
K1N 9N4

T 613-714-6000 ext. 6323

[email protected]

Diaries and datebooks. – 1926-1973. – 1.2 m of textual records and 1 postcard.

Series consists of personal and work diaries, engagement calendars and datebooks. There is a also a telephone and address book, a book of quotations, and a diary of 'books read'. Books typically include abbreviated lists of personal and political events, quotations, lists (household expenses, books to read, etc.) and newspaper clippings, as well as job related meetings, contacts, and notes. There is also a series of calendar pads with annotations (telephone calls, letters, meetings) related to Fenwick's employment at the National Gallery of Canada and an unsent, blank, postcard of Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris.

Source of supplied title proper: Title based on contents of series.