Film Archives

The National Film Board


The National Film Board (or the NFB) is a great resource for sourcing Canadian films (both documentary and fiction), allowing you to watch much of their collection online, or in the actual mediatheque located at   150 John Street (fairly close to Union Station). The NFB website is very user-friendly, allowing you to search by specific director, title,  or by category. For example, if you were searching for a film by its theme –– say a film on the genocide crisis in Rwanda –– you might first click on "foreign countries"  and then follow divergent categories such as "United Nations" or "Conflict and Civil War," which would bring you to a series of titles on your chosen topic. For my own research, some of the documentaries on Indigenous conflict with white/dominant culture may be of interest, as I might be discussing the politics of Gary McHale's racist projection of victimhood onto the white community of Caledonia during the Six Nations land claims protest.  

One thing that is important to note is that even though the NFB catalogues films made by Canadians, the scope of films archived here is not relegated to this nation alone (as my previous example shows). Thus, like the CBC Digital Archives, the NFB has a wealth of interesting films for those working outside of a Canadian context as well! Another feature that I would like to point out is the ability for viewers to develop their own archive on the website itself by developing a "homepage," to which they can add films and television programs they wish to view.  All that is required is that you submit your email and create a username and password!

N.B. I advise that you look into changing your profile picture... the one the site selected for me was a historical photograph of an Indigenous person (???)



Toronto International Film Festival archive (at the Lightbox)


Another extensive archive of films is located at the TIFF Lightbox, at Peter St. and King. If you haven't had a chance to see a film here, I highly recommend it!

In terms of archival material, TIFF specializes in Canadian directors. It has extensive collections of material from film itself to notes, correspondence, storyboards, and etc. in its Film Reference Library, which is free and accessible to the public. The TIFF also has special collections that can only be accessed by appointment, and sometimes with a fee. These collections include the Deepa Mehta Archive, the David Cronenberg Archive, and the Guy Maddin Archive (as well as many more...)

Provincial Archives

Archives of Ontario:

·         The Archive of Ontario holds a wide selection of materials relating to history in Ontario. From looking through the website, I found some interesting collections such as an archive of materials on enslaved Africans in early Canada (something I myself hadn't realized was part of Ontario's history, given the narratives of freedom and anti-slavery that are circulated), as well as a collection of materials from  Black civil rights activist Daniel G. Hill, a number of genealogical services and holdings for people with roots in Ontario, as well as quite a large collection of paintings from Ontario artists. One archive that potentially relates to Matt's work is one on the development and urbanization in Ontario. 

      http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/english/index.aspx

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            The ROM

    

      The ROM has, as one would imagine, a huge collection of archival material, although most of their  holdings are more archaeological. However, the ROM also has a library collection, which is catalogued through the U of T. You can also get in touch with research staff here: http://www.rom.on.ca/collections/staff.php

            The AGO

"     The AGO has, aside from collections of art, some interesting materials that folks working in the 17th to   20th century might be interested in. For example, the AGO's Rare Books collection holds art history books from the 17th century to the present, Neoclassical folios from the 18th century, a variety of British and Canadian periodicals dating from the 18th century to today, travel guides (Baedekers, Blue Guides), art sales catalogues, and the like. 

       http://www.ago.net/research-library-archives

Other Special Archives

Below are examples of some specific and identity and/or politically based archives in the city. While these archives might not be related to the work folks are doing in this class, I think they are important to know about nonetheless as the histories collected here have been nearly lost to violence and oppression.



Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives

Tucked away at 34 Isabella Street (between Yonge and Church), this archive is valuable for those interested in queer history, especially histories within Canada. The CLGA holds a diversity of materials, from photographs and videos to audio recordings, books, paintings, ephemera such as pamphlets and posters, journals, and etc. While many of the archive's materials can only be accessed at the site itself, the CLGA also offers online resources for The Body Politic (queer Canadian periodical), The Pink Triangle Press, and others.



The Sarah and Chaim Neuberger Holocaust Education Centre


This education centre has quite a large archive –– the Frank and Anita Ekstein Holocaust Resource –– available for research. The Centre's site boasts "over nine thousand books" as well as films, recorded testimonials (400 of which are the Centre's own), artifacts, and photography. A bit of a hike from downtown, the Centre is on Bathurst St. and Sheppard.

Using Other Academic Institutions

I'm sure we have all had to come into contact with the various academic institutions in Toronto -- particularly through that sometimes frustrating and glacially-paced system known as RACER. These universities also have valuable special collections and archival materials that are open to visiting scholars, all of which can be viewed online. While I have not compiled an extensive list of institutions nor what's on offer at the ones I've mentioned, I hope you'll find the information below helpful!


York University

York's special collections have perhaps the most interest for me in terms of my project on discourses of race/racism and class because York has had a long investment in topics of social justice, which is certainly reflected in the Clara Thomas Archives. While some of the fonds are available online, I found that many were not, thus requiring that long and arduous trip north of Steeles (one day, the subway will go there). I found a wide variety of international collections on many different topics such as genocide, peacekeeping, war, development, labour issues, education, and etc. within a breadth of geopolitical locations. For example, the Mountain Fund archive contains information on "the Mountain Fund to Help Save the Boat People," a Christian foundation headed by Hamiltonian John Smith that intended to aid Vietnamese refugees. It contains a series of documents, photos, financial information, and correspondence. I also found collections on political crises in Zimbabwe (Gregory Caplan fonds), on labour and class rights issues, queer rights and activism, and etc.


University of Toronto

For all projects, the U of T is extremely valuable for its immense library system. For those interested in contemporary theory, history, and literature, I have found that the UT libraries will carry new books shortly after their publication. However, the Toronto libraries also hold special interest for those looking at more historical manuscripts, as the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, as well as many of the college libraries (the Graham, the Kelly, the Pontifical Institute) have amazing collections of medieval and early modern to the present day materials. I would definitely recommend looking at the smaller libraries, as they often have hidden gems! McMaster students can also obtain library cards in the main floor of Robarts.
        Another thing that has been quite valuable to me is the space in which to work. If you come up for some research there, you'll find that because there is a multitude of libraries, you are able to work in relative silence and comfort. The Graham has been a personal favourite of mine...

Ryerson

This university doesn't have the most extensive library, but for those interested in digital media it has quite a lot of content on film, photography, radio, and television broadcasting.

Using News Archives

Many of the following archives are available digitally online, though you can also visit the actual locations of these periodicals.

The CBC

The extent of my research on this source has been through the Digital Archives (http://www.cbc.ca/archives/), though you can also visit the CBC at their location downtown. In the Digital Archives, you are given the option of searching by keyword or looking through their categorized collections. I found the key term search to be a bit difficult, as many topics were not tagged for different key words (i.e. 'indigenous' does not get you anything on 'native') so you could potentially be missing out on some of the information that is actually there. Also, I found that even though the site will tell you your topic has, say, 60 hits, it only shows you a few!

Besides these setbacks, there is definitely a lot of material here, especially for those working in more 20th century problems and interests. I think this archive will be useful to my project, as "news-worthy" issues such as immigration and racism are fairly easy to find. I've also tried to search for some classmate's topics:

Vinh (and Michelle): Some video clips in the archive "Boat People: A Refugee Crisis" that can be perused through a scroll bar here

Kasim: I found quite a bit of material relating to 70s/80s U.K. This video I thought was particularly interesting: Marge

Jesse: an archive called "South Africa's 'race problem'"

Marquita: Not exactly related to your project, but I found an interesting round table discussion from 1970 with female activists, including Black Panther Kathleen Cleever here

Also found were collections on Indigenous issues, Chinese immigration, racism and civil rights in Halifax's "Africville," on Canadian peacekeeping (Rwanda specifically) and some collections on education (though sadly, Tyler, not charter schools!)


The Globe and Mail and The Toronto Star are also searchable, though lack the organized "special collections" feature of the CBC.

Finding Local Sources of Knowledge: An Non-Exhaustive List

Hello! This blog will be a small collection of archival and other research resources that would benefit graduate students in the humanities, with a particular focus on resources that are locally situated and free to access. The geographical boundaries of "local" here is the city of Toronto, as it is not only the largest city in Canada (and therefore hosts a wide variety of materials on various subjects) but is also a very short trip from McMaster University. There are, of course, plenty of excellent materials in Mac's stomping grounds of Hamilton; this "archive of archives" will hopefully provide an additional roster of resources that are fairly easy to access (i.e. do not require travel grants!) and also provide a sense of scholarly, public community that we may not realize we have! I think many of us might find something of interest in relation to their projects in Toronto's extensive research network, as well as items that are maybe just fun to know for general interest. For example, did you know that Ryerson has a collection of "Lenin-alia" (cigarette packs, posters, flags, and just about anything else from Russia with Lenin's likeness on it!) and that the Toronto Public Library has a Sir Arthur Conan Doyle collection?

While, like many other members of the class, my research will need to look beyond the scope of our nation, it is also important to gain some awareness of the archival materials that are a short bus or train trip away...

                                                                 new research horizons