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New Treasures: Highlights from Recent Acquisitions (March - August 2012)

This exhibition showcases some fascinating treasures, from photographs, to artifacts and textual records which the Library has received as donations in the last two years.  Through donations of primary research materials, the Archives is able to enhance its collections and promote scholarhship. The generosity of the many donors is appreciated.

IAN THOMAS

Donated by Ian Thomas

Exhibit imageIan Thomas fonds. – 1964-2009. – 2.03 m of textual records, graphic material, sounding recordings and other material.

Ian Thomas is a Canadian composer, musician, and author. He was born on 23 July 1950 in Hamilton, Ont. Thomas began working as a musician in the 1960s with his first band “Ian, Oliver, and Nora”. With the addition of a two more members they became “Tranquility Base” and performed as the Pop-Group in Residence with the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra. Thomas briefly worked as a producer for the CBC before returning to the stage.

In 1973, Ian Thomas reached national and international success with the single “Painted Ladies”, garnering a Juno (Gold Leaf) Award for Promising Male Vocalist. Over the next two decades Thomas would release over a dozen albums under his own name as well as writing hits for a number of international musicians. In 1991, he joined a number of fellow Canadian musicians in “the Boomers” and would release another four albums with them into the early 2000s. Starting in 2003, he toured both as a solo artist and with “Lunch at Allen’s”. His career has won him a number of awards recognizing his quality as a musician and as a humanitarian.

In addition to his performing career, Thomas wrote music for a number of movies and television shows as well as a stage-musical adaptation of Frankenstein. Thomas has worked on a number of projects with his brother, comedian Dave Thomas. Ian Thomas has authored two books, Bequest and The Lost Chord, published by Manor House Press. Copies of these books are included in the fonds.

The archive consists of music, correspondence, certificates and awards, press and promotional materials, photographs, audio discs, realia and other material.

 MARTA HIDY

Donated by John Dvorak

Exhibit imageMarta Hidy fonds. – 1910-2010. – 3.95 m of textual records, graphic materials and audio-visual materials. – 13 posters.

Marta Iren Hidy was born in Budapest on January 11, 1927 and died in Hamilton on November 4, 2010.  She began learning the violin at age three, with her mother as her teacher. Her first concert was given at age 6. Hidy began her professional career at the age of 15 by winning the prestigious Remenyi Competition as the most eminent violinist of the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest. She went on to achieve international recognition as the winner of the Prague Chamber Music Competition in 1950 and the Wieniawsky Violin Competition in Poland in 1952.  From 1953-1957 she was Hungarian State Soloist, during which time she appeared with orchestras in Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Poland and Romania.

Hidy and her husband, Anton (Antal) Dvorak and their two small children fled Hungary during the revolution. In 1957 they immigrated to Canada, settling in Winnipeg, where Marta Hidy established the Hidy String Quartet and served from1957-65 as concertmistress of the CBC Winnipeg Orchestra, and assistant concertmistress of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. She formed the Hidy Trio from 1961-8 and produced the recording Music at the Canadian Pavilion (1967, CBC Expo 24).  Hidy left Winnipeg to serve as concertmistress (1964-74) and later assistant conductor (1969-1974) of the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra.  In 1974 she formed the Ensemble Sir Ernest MacMillan. She was also conductor of the Chamber Players of Toronto from 1977-1979 and from 1980-1991. In 1978 Hidy founded Trio Canada with cellist Zdenek Konicek and pianist Valerie Tryon.  She also played in the McMaster String Quartet from 1978-1989.  Hidy has appeared as concert soloist with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Hamilton Philharmonic, and the Regina Symphony Orchestra.  In addition to giving concerts in North America, Hidy has appeared as a soloist in New Zealand, Hungary, Japan, China and Hong Kong.  Hidy was a founding member of McMaster University’s Music Department.  She began teaching violin and chamber music in 1965 and retired as Professor in 1992.  Hidy has performed as guest soloist under Alexander Brott and Boris Brott.
The archive consists of correspondence; personal and memorabilia; photographs and graphic materials; audio-visual; concert programmes; clippings; teaching and professional and concert posters
 

BALLOONING

Donated by Lorne Shields

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Ballooning collection. – 1784-1956. – 27 items. This collection consists of a variety of artifacts (a coin token, brass and wooden boxes), a barometer, illustrations and art, books, cards, and ephemera about ballooning from the late eighteenth century to the first decades of the twentieth century.

 

 

 

WOMEN’S ROYAL CANADIAN NAVAL SERVICE

Donated by Marian Ross

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Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service / Royal Canadian Air Force Women's Division uniform collection. – [194-]-1963. The collection consists of uniforms worn by women (Patricia Gray, D.H. Currie, and possibly others) in the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service and the Royal Canadian Air Force Women’s Division, respectively established in May 1942 and July 1941. The items in the collection are as follows: no. 1 Lieutenant’s medical uniform (black blazer, 4 gilt buttons, and matching tie and skirt); round cap (H.M.C.S. Cornwallis on tally) with signatures of other Navy staff on the top and dated July 7 ’63, belonging to D.H. Currie; 2 black great coats, one coat with a blackish green lining and 2 gilt buttons, and the other with a black lining and 4 gilt buttons; no. 3 working blue jacket, white collar, 12 gilt buttons, and blue skirt; 3 cream-coloured blouses; white pinafore; 2 cuffs, each with a gilt button; white kerchief; black Oxford shoes; Navy blue skirt; black tie; 2 black skirts; and Navy blue top with matching pants.

ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE WOMEN'S DIVISION

Donated by Morris Norman

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The Women’s Division of the Royal Canadian Air Force was created in 1941 because of a shortage of personnel. It was disbanded in1946. The creator of this album is not known. It contains photographs taken at the Prince of Wales Barracks, Kingsway and the W.D. Barracks in Edmonton; an aircraft display, Edmonton Station, May 1945 (B24 Liberator, Super Fortress, Flying Fortress); and the visit to Edmonton by Princess Alice, Honorary Air Commander of the Women’s Division, and her husband, the Earl of Athlone, Governor-General of Canada, 3 May 1945 (the photographs do not show the couple). There are other photographs of the Gremlins Basketball Team, 1944-45 and aircraft and personnel at Jasper, Alberta. There are also photographs of St. George’s Island Zoo, Calgary; Vancouver, B.C.; as well as weddings and other gatherings. Found loose with the album are photographs of an unidentified parade, a formal group military photograph and other photographs and news clippings.

GUERNICA EDITIONS INC.

Donated by Antonio D'Alfonso

Exhibit imageGuernica Editions Inc. fonds. – 1974-2008. – 13.8 m of textual records and graphic material. Guernica Editions was founded in 1978 in Montréal, Québec by Antonio D’Alfonso. The company is dedicated to the bridging of cultures in Canada and publishes both original works and translations in three languages, English, French, and Italian. Guernica is named after the Spanish city of Guernica which was destroyed during the Spanish Civil War in 1937. The firm has published over 300 titles and 500 authors from around the world. Antonio D’Alfonso was born in Montréal in 1953 and is a graduate of Loyola College and the Université de Montréal. In addition to his work in publishing, he has written several books, and has been a literary critic and film maker. The archive consists of correspondence, author proofs, artwork, photographs and printed material. 

ADVERTISING COLLECTION

Donated by Morris Norman

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Advertising collection. – 1867-1975 – 63 cm of textual records and graphic material. – 154 oversize items. The collection consists of Canadian, American, and British advertisements for products, services and businesses. It includes pamphlets, leaflets, posters, calendars, display cards, trade cards, and proofs. Researchers may wish to consult the Canadian company catalogues collection.

 

 

 

WILFRID T. GRENFELL COLLECTION

Donated by Carl Spadoni

This collection consists of over 30 editions of books by Wilfrid T. Grenfell (1865-1940), a medical missionary to Newfoundland, Labrador.  It includes many signed and inscribed copies of his works; correspondence, photographs, ephemera and postcards.

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Selection of materials for exhibit by Renu Barrett

Exhibit by Renu Barrett and Audrie Schell

Photographs and online exhibit by Renu Barrett

See Exhibit slideshow:

 

 

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