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Mary F. Williamson fonds:
Finding Aid
Summary |
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| Title: | Mary F. Williamson fonds. | |
| Dates: | – 1851-1998 ; predominant 1851-1900. | |
| Quantity: | – 3.5 cm of textual records. | |
Biographical Sketch
Mary F. Williamson, Professor Emerita, York University, was born in Toronto in 1933 and earned her M.A. at University of Toronto. Her research has focused on the early literature of Canadian art, on printmaking in Canada in the nineteenth century, and on art librarianship. She has contributed articles to the Dictionary of Canadian Biography and The Canadian Encyclopaedia, and is an active member of several international editorial boards. She has taught art librarianship at graduate library schools in North America, and published numerous articles in this area of specialization. Selected published works include The Study of Art in Canada (1976); The Art and Pictorial Presses in Canada: Two Centuries of Art Magazines, with Karen McKenzie (1979); and Art and Architecture in Canada: A Bibliography and Guide to the Literature, with Loren Lerner (1991). Williamson has also been active with professional library associations, and as a private citizen in local residents' associations.
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Scope and Content
The fonds mainly consists of photocopies of handwritten letters from literary and artistic figures in Canada, such as Susanna Moodie (1803-1885) and George Munro Grant (1835-1902), addressed to Louisa Annie Murray (1818-1894), Canadian teacher, literary critic, and writer on women's issues. Although Murray's literary career was beset with publication difficulties, she went on to become a major Canadian prose writer of the 1870s. Murray was supported by many of her contemporaries, especially Daniel Fowler (1810-1894), Canadian painter, farmer, and writer. Murray met Fowler when visiting her brother on Amherst Island, Ontario. A substantial number of the letters in this collection are from Fowler to Murray, 1866-1894, although letters from Murray to Fowler are absent. The letters contain discussion of literary matters, criticism, and books read. Specific items in the fonds include 1 typescript of a letter from Daniel Fowler to James Spooner (b. 1802), 1878; 20 photocopies of handwritten letters from Fowler to Murray, 1864-1894; 1 letter from Fowler's wife Elizabeth to Murray, 1894; 1 letter from Elizabeth Fowler to Murray's sister Nannie Murray, 1894; photocopies of handwritten letters from various literary figures to Louisa Annie Murray, 1851-1900;.2 biographical sketches of family members by Murray's niece Mary Louisa Murray; 3 clippings that reference Murray's literary contributions; 1 sheet of notes on the materials provided by King; 4 letters from King to Williamson, 1978-1979; 1 letter from York University Professor Judith Zelmanovits to Williamson; 1 finding aid. by the York University Archives, 1979; 1 letter from Williamson to Smith, 1980; 1 letter from Smith to Williamson, 1982; corresponding typescripts of the Fowler letters transcribed by Professor Frances K. Smith of Queen's University, 1982; 1 obituary from 1998 for Louisa Murray King.
Source of supplied title proper: Title based on contents of fonds.
Immediate source of acquisition: Donated to the National Gallery of Canada Library and Archives by Mary F. Williamson, Toronto, August 2005.
Location of originals: The location of the original letters is unknown. Louisa Murray King, the owner, died February 15, 1998.
Terms governing use and reproduction: Permission to reproduce or publish material from the Mary F. Williamson fonds must be obtained from the National Gallery of
Canada Library and Archives.
Related groups of records: Textual records related to Mary F. Williamson are located at the archives of York University, Trent University, and Queen's University.
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Index Terms |
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| Names: | ||
| Fowler, Daniel, 1810-1894 | ||
| Murray, Louisa Annie, 1818-1894 | ||
| Williamson, Mary F., b. 1933 | ||
| Document Types: | ||
| Correspondence. | ||
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Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
[Title of item], Mary F. Williamson fonds, National Gallery of Canada Library and Archives.
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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]
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