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The Changing Campus – 66 Years of Building Ryerson

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Ryerson’s campus is a work in progress. Since the school’s inception in 1948, it has been slowly increasing its footprint in the downtown core through acquisition, demolition, renovation, and original construction. From the original Department of Education Buildings the campus has pushed East to Jarvis Street, South to Dundas Street, West to Yonge Street with the new Student Learning Centre, and further West with the Ted Rogers School of Management at Bay and Dundas Streets.

The following photographs are highlights from the new Archives and Special Collections exhibit documenting Ryerson’s 66 year evolution.

Ryersonian Newspaper Nov. 29, 1966
Ryersonian front page news story about the start of demolition and construction for Howard Kerr Hall.
The Ryersonian November 29, 1956
Victoria Street construction site
Demolition of buildings along Victoria Street, making way for Unit 1 (Jorgenson Hall) and the Podium building. The Library site has not yet been cleared.
(RG 122.10.092)
Jorgenson Hall and Podium Building
Contruction of Jorgenson Hall and the Podium Building.
(RG 122.10.098)
Library Building
The Library building under construction. You can see the Sam the Record Man building in the bottom left hand corner of the photo.
(RG 122.10.093)
RAC construction
Construction of the Ryerson Athletic Centre (RAC). This was Ryerson’s first green roof building.
(RG 76.14.235)
RAC construction
Construction of the rotunda at the front entrance of the RAC. Patrons will eventually enter into the building through the facade of the old Ryerson Hall Building.
(RG 76.14.235)
Rogers Communications Centre
The Rogers Communications Centre and bridge over Church Street. The bridge connects the RCC with Howard Kerr Hall.
(RG 76.14.264)
Rogers Communications Centre
Completed bridge between Howard Kerr Hall and the Rogers Communications Centre.
(RG 76.14.1053)
SLC construction
Construction workers pouring concrete for main floor of new Student Learning Centre.
Student Learning Centre
The changing corner of Yonge and Gould Streets.

The exhibit runs from April 11 to June 30th and is located on the 4th floor of the Library in the Special Collections windows.

A campus reborn: The Roy Horney photographic collection

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The Ryerson campus is in a constant state of growth and change. The last several years have been exciting ones with the re-opening of the Image Arts Building, The Mattamy Athletic Centre, and the construction of the Student Learning Centre. But what about the first major change to the Ryerson campus – the construction of Howard Kerr Hall?

Through the donation of a scrapbook of photographs and some of the hundreds of slides, taken by former faculty member Charles Roy Horney to the Ryerson Archives, we see the transformation that began with the demolition of the Toronto Normal School buildings and the construction of Howard Kerr Hall.

F536_15_01_06
C. Roy Horney seated at his desk.
(May 1957)
(F 536.15.01.06)

Charles Roy Horney started teaching math and physics at Ryerson in 1952, and worked here until his retirement in 1983. During his time at Ryerson he acted as departmental head, assistant chairman and even the Registrar. He was also the coach of the Ryerson Zebras – the early men’s soccer team.

His photographs allow us to piece together a timeline of demolition and construction that was previously unknown to Archives staff.  Here is a sample of the images:

  • Front of the Ryerson Hall Building. Egerton Ryerson statue is in its original location. This photo is one of the only colour photographs of the original Normal School buildings in the Archives’ collections. (April 26, 1961) (F 536.16.06)
  • Home Economics “Dream House” where students lived and studied. (April 1961) (F 536.15.04.05)
  • South gates for original campus out onto Gould Street. Parking lot that became Lake Devo and O’Keefe Breweries Head Office which became Heaslip House are visible in the background. (August 1961) (F 536.15.08.02)
  • South East corner of Unit I – Howard Kerr Hall. (September 1961) (F 536.15.01.02)
  • Clearing of lot in front of Ryerson Hall. Egerton Ryerson Statue and end of Howard Kerr Hall visible on the left and Oakham House and O’Keefe House visible on the right. (1961) (F 536.15.13.03)
  • The Egerton Ryerson statue and plinth undercover during construction. (October 1961) F 536.15.14.01
  • Last section of Howard Kerr Hall. The section featuring the clock and carillon tower. This section would eventually house the Principal’s office and the Board Room. (1962) F 536.15.24.01
  • North end of campus along Gerrard Street. Gorrie’s Motors is visible in the background. (July 1961) F 536.15.03.06
  • Excavation for foundation of the North and West section of Howard Kerr Hall. Partially demolished building appears to be sitting on an island. (1961) F 536.15.13.04
  • Same view as picture above – but building is completely demolished allowing for further foundation excavation. (October 1961) F 536.15.16.01
  • Construction of the steel framework on the North West corner of Howard Kerr Hall at Victoria and Gerrard Streets. (March 1962) F 536.15.17.05
  • Same view of building as photographed above – but with exterior brick work complete, staircase in place and “Athletes” bas-reliefs above the doors and between the windows. (1962) F 536.15.24.02
  • Demolition of the heating plant building. (1963) F 536.15.30.03
  • Looking South along East road inside Howard Kerr Hall. A juxtaposition of old and new. (1963) F 536.15.26.03
  • A poignant photograph – one of the last taken of the old cupola on the Ryerson Hall building. Visible underneath it is the date of construction, 1842. (1963) F 536.15.32.02
  • Main entrance into Ryerson Hall with the name sign visible on the right side. The facade is is the only section of the original building that still stands – as the entrance to the RAC in the Howard Kerr Hall quad. The Ryerson Hall sign is now on display in the Ryerson Archives. (1963) F 536.15.32.05
  • Aerial view of Howard Kerr Hall and the almost completed quadrangle. The facade is visible on the right. Construction continues on the fountain and walkways that intersected the quad. Before the construction of the RAC – there was parking around the outside circle of the quad. (c. 1964) F 536.14.206

This amazing collection of photographs is now available for viewing in our database.

Roy Horney fonds

The Wellesley Hospital School of Nursing celebrates its centennial!

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Although the Wellesley Hospital School of Nursing graduated its last class in 1975 when it officially became part of Ryerson’s School of Nursing, we celebrate its history and spirit – kept alive by its active and dedicated Alumnae Association – on what would have been its 100th anniversary year.

The school opened in 1912, with the official opening of the Hospital, It graduated its first class of 10 nurses in 1915, and its last class of 71 nurses in 1975.  In between it graduated 2083 nurses. Its Alumnae Association was created in 1915 and is still active today.  In 2011 The Association donated its collections of papers and artifacts to the Toronto Metropolitan University Archives (see earlier blog post Wellesley Alumnae donation )

To celebrate Wellesley’s centennial, the Ryerson Archives has created an exhibit and slide show. Both will be available for viewing in the Archives until the end of September.  The Archives will be open for Alumni weekend on Saturday September 22. Contact us at (416) 979 5000 ext. 7027 to find out opening times for that day. Please enjoy the images included below – some are from the exhibit itself, and others are taken from the collection.

  • 1972 Open House poster (RG 946.03.13.02)
  • E. K. Jones portrait
  • Portrait and uniforms in Archives window
  • Florence Nightingale letter and portrait (RG 946.02.01)
  • Exhibit in Archives reading room
  • Display case featuring items from The Wellesley Hospital School of Nursing Collection
  • Elizabeth Flaws portrait (RG 946.03.01.01.07.02)
  • Homewood – Original Wellesley Hospital building.
  • The Wellesley Hospital School of Nursing graduation pin (RG 946.03.04.02)

Are you a Wellesley grad?  Was someone in your family a Wellesley girl? You can now email The Wellesley Hospital School of Nursing Alumnae Association at: thewellesleyschoolnsgtoronto@gmail.com

Parades and Picnics from Ryerson’s Past!

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It is almost that time of year again…time for Ryerson’s parade and picnic.  The annual event has students marching down Yonge Street to catch the ferry for a day of music and fun on Toronto Island.  In honour of this rite of passage for all Ryerson students, please enjoy this selection of images of parades and picnics from decades past.

  • Ferry ride to the Island, 1963 Picnic
  • Photographic Arts float, 1963
  • Picnic tug ‘o’ war, 1966.
  • Parade, undated.
  • Viking float, ca. 1987.
  • Eggy in the parade, 1994.

Feature from the Collection: The Wellesley Hospital School of Nursing

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The Archives latest acquisition is The Wellesley Hospital School of Nursing collection.  Donated by their Alumnae Association, this collection includes such wonderful items as a scrapbook from World War II, photographs of almost every graduating class, uniforms and a beautiful silver tea set.

On the left is Linda Cooper Wellesley ’68 – Associate Director, Collaborative Degree Program Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing and on the right is Shirley Heard Wellesley ’62 – Alumnae Association President. Also in the picture is a small part of the collection now housed in the Toronto Metropolitan University Archives. Photo courtesy of University Advancement.

The Wellesley Hospital officially opened on August 27, 1912 – with the Nursing School starting the same year.  The first class of graduates left the school in 1915.

Wellesley Hospital Class 1915
(RG 946.03.04.01.01)

The School graduated its last class in 1975.  Two years previous, the Ontario government mandated that nursing schools be taken out of the Hospitals and placed into Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology.  The Wellesley school was moved to Ryerson Polytechnical Institute, along with the school’s from Sick Kid’s Hospital and Women’s College Hospital, and amalgamated with Ryerson’s School of Nursing.

The following are some photographs of items in the collection. Stay tuned for further blog posts on The Wellesley Hospital School of Nursing collection as we come closer to their 100th Anniversary in August of 2012.

  • Portrait of Elsie K. Jones, Superintendent of Nursing at the Wellesley from 1937-1964. Portrait was a gift from the Nursing students. Portrait painted by Kenneth Forbes.
  • Examples from the silver service and Limoges china. China was used to serve patients their meals in the early days of the Wellesley Hospital.
  • Two Examples of Nursing Uniforms. Uniform on left was worn from 1949 – 1959 when Wellesley Hospital joined with Toronto General Hospital. The uniform on the right was worn from 1960-1968, after the Wellesley became an independent Hospital once more. Photo courtesy of University Advancement.
  • Nursing Cape. Photo courtesy of University Advancement.
  • Scrapbooks from the collection. Photo courtesy of University Advancement.

Name the Dog Contest – And the winner is…

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After 3 weeks of submissions and much debate by our panel of judges:

The second runner up in our contest is Debra-Jo Sujka of the Library.  She submitted the names Victoria and Gould for the location of the library where the dogs are now housed.

The first runner up is Deanne Wright in the Registrar’s Office. She submitted the names Mente and Artie – for Ryerson’s Motto “Mente et Artificio” (With Mind and Skill).

And the winner of the Toronto Metropolitan University Archives Name the Dog contest is……………………

Daisy and Risis submitted by Marion Sharp of Human Resources.

Marion selected the name Daisy after Ryerson’s first general purpose computer – An IBM 360-model 30 christened DAISY ( “Direct Access Information System”). Its functions were varied and included student registration, payroll, grade reporting, library circulation control, academic support and student directories.

Marion also chose the name RISIS, after the Ryerson Integrated Student Records System. This system was designed by Ryerson for maintaining student record information.  RISIS II was implemented in 1984. In 2005 the RISIS system was replaced by Peoplesoft.

Thank you to all the people who submitted names for our contest.

A Contest that is for the Dogs!

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Help us name the Oakham House dogs

The Ryerson Archives are the proud owners of a beautiful set of matching Labrador Retrievers. They have settled in and gotten used to their new home and now it is time to give them names!

The contest is open to all University faculty, staff and students, and there is only one rule: The names MUST have significant meaning to Toronto Metropolitan University. This can include either historical (The Archives is a good place to look for this!) or contemporary significance. So enter and win prizes for first, second, and third place AND have your picture taken with the Archives’ mascots!

A bit of history on the dogs

The dogs were designed by architect William Thomas to hitch horses to and were located in front of his Oakham House residence. Thomas lived in the house until his death in 1860. The house was sold to another family and then in 1899 the house, along with the dogs, was sold to the Society for Working Boys- a home for disadvantaged youth in Toronto.  When Toronto Metropolitan University acquired  the building in 1958, the dogs, originally located at the building’s Church Street entrance, were no longer there.  They had been removed to the new location of the Boys Home.  When Ryerson retrieved the dogs in 1982, the Toronto Historical Board wanted the pair to be mounted in their historical place in the front of the house.  In the interest of protecting them from vandalism they were placed inside the house, and then adopted by the Archives in 2010.

Please send your name suggestions, along with an explanation as to why you chose those names, to archives@ryerson.ca.  Please include your full name and a number or email address where you can be reached should your submission be chosen.  Contest closes April 8th, 2011.