Farr, Robin, 1926-

Robin Farr fonds. – [1954?]-2008; predominant 1963-1970. – 17 cm of textual records and graphic material.

Robin Farr was born in Vancouver in 1926. He graduated from the University of British Columbia in 1947 with a B.A. and from teacher’s college in 1948. In 1950, Farr began his publishing career with Copp Clark in Toronto. In 1960, after being appointed founding Director of the McGill University Press, he moved to Montreal to head the new publishing house for the next nine years. In 1969, after a short stint at McClelland and Stewart, Farr landed at Ryerson Press, Toronto. In 1970, the Ryerson Press was sold to the American firm McGraw-Hill Ltd. Farr ended his career at the Canada Council with a key role in developing and influencing government publishing policy. For further information, see Farr’s autobiographical document On Publishing Years included in the fonds.

The fonds consists of material created during Farr’s career. The McGill University Press material includes the initial proposal document, newspaper clippings, early design prototypes, and graphic materials produced by the press (page proofs, invitations, greeting cards, prints of R.D. Wilson artwork). The Ryerson Press material includes two logo blocks (publisher’s device), newspaper clippings, and various administrative files. Also included in the fonds: correspondence with Marsh Jeanneret, Donald Sutherland, Dick Wilson and W.H. Clarke from Clarke, Irwin & Co. Ltd.; photographs; an unpublished manuscript entitled The Crooked Axe: A Lighthearted Sketch of Canadian History to 1900 written by Farr in 2008 (unpublished at time of this description), and a copy of The Living Past of Montreal, McGill University Press, 1964, drawn by R.D. Wilson, described by Eric McLean.

Title based on content of the fonds.
The fonds (05-2010) was acquired from Robin Farr in February 2010.
Finding aid is available as part of this description.
There are no access restrictions.
Further accruals are not expected.