100 Years of Documentation Files

To celebrate a centenary of thoughtful archiving, 100 Years of Documentation Files presents a selection of ephemera from the Library and Archives’ documentation collection.

Started in 1920 by Eric Brown, the Gallery’s first Director, this idiosyncratic and often-consulted collection consists of more than 80,000 files. From newspaper clippings to exhibition notices, flyers and posters, it offers valuable insights on Canadian and non-Canadian artists, art historians, art schools, collectors, curators, galleries, museums, and trustees, as well as artists’ biographical details gathered via the Gallery’s time-honoured Information Form. Despite – or perhaps because of – the transitory nature of the collection, the exhibition shares a unique historical snapshot of art in Canada.