Wilbur Kells Peacock, Canadian etcher and engraver, was born in Canton, Ontario in 1898. After serving in the First World War, Peacock enrolled at the Dominion Business College. His interest in drawing dates from the early 1930s, when he was enrolled in evening art classes while employed as chief layout draughtsman for the Turnbull Elevator Co. in Toronto. Despite a lack of formal training, Peacock also became a skilled etcher during this period. Peacock served as the Secretary for the Society of Canadian Painter-Etchers and Engravers (1941-1946); as its vice-president (1943-1946); and as its President (1947). He exhibited his work through the Society from 1940-1952. Peacock's etching ability was further recognized through etching commissions for the annual Christmas dinner at Hart House, University of Toronto. Peacock spent most of his life in Toronto but eventually returned to Canton, where he died in 1990.

The collection consists of a binder containing (loose and bound) records of sale for Wilbur Kells Peacock's work, including bills of sale, receipts, orders, lists of buyers, letters, and records for individual plates. The collection also includes material related to the Society of Canadian Painter-Etchers and Engravers, including lists of members, annotated exhibition brochures, newsletters, writings by the artist, invitations, and letters. There is also a photograph of the artist, a list of the previous artists involved in the Hart House Wardens Christmas etching, lists of costs for art supplies and equipment, Christmas card lists, lists of addresses for institutions, lists of library books, newspaper clippings, a handwritten compilation of comments made by the Press about Peacock's work, a letter to Peacock from his niece typed on letterhead designed by the artist for the Standard Engineering Institute, further writings by Peacock, and notes on art compiled by the artist from various library books.

Immediate source of acquisition: Purchased by the National Gallery of Canada Library and Archives, ca. 1998.

Terms governing use and reproduction: Permission to reproduce or publish material from the Wilbur Kells Peacock Papers must be obtained from the National Gallery of Canada Library and Archives.

Finding aids: Box list available.

Related material: See Visual Resources database record for the collection for more information on the photograph.