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To See and Be Seen: T-shirts from the Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives

Posted on June 24, 2014 by Cecile

Presented on the occasion of WorldPride 2014 in Toronto, To See and Be Seen features t-shirts from the Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives (CLGA) from the 1970s onwards, representing the fight for visibility and recognition of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer (LGBTQ) communities. These t-shirts, from organizations such as ACT UP, Queer Nation and local LGBTQ Pride events, demonstrate a range of messages from expressions of identity, political and social struggles, to the celebration of community, love and pride.

Guest curated by Professor Joseph Medaglia from Ryerson’s School of Fashion, this exhibition is produced in collaboration with the CLGA, the Toronto Metropolitan University Library and Archives (RULA) and is supported by the Textile Museum of Canada and the School of Fashion.

Real Photo Postcard Exhibit

Posted on November 19, 2010 by Cecile

Experience a touch of the past by taking a look at the real photo postcard exhibit on the main floor of the Library, near the Reference collection. Real photo postcards were popularized in the early 20th century, and enabled people to make postcards from any picture they took. Their popularity was aided by Kodak releasing an affordable, folding pocket-sized camera in 1903, designed for postcard-size film.

A sampling of books, and some examples of real photo postcards are on display. To learn more about real photo postcards and to see some additional examples, please view the following library resources. Special Collections, located on the 4th floor of the Library, also contains the Kodak Canada Corporate Archives and Heritage Collection, which consists of photographs, negatives, advertising records, magazines, pamphlets, daily record books, recipe books, cameras and other photographic equipment produced by Kodak Canada Inc. and other Kodak manufacturing facilities around the world. The camera collection includes an example of the folding camera used to make real photo postcards.

Special Collections is accessible Monday – Friday, 10 am – 5 pm by appointment only – please contact Beth Knazook, Photographic Specialist at eknazook@ryerson.ca or phone x4996.

Day of the Dead Exhibit

Posted on October 28, 2010 by Cecile

Just in time for Hallowe’en…have a look at the Day of the Dead exhibit on the main floor of the Library, near the Reference collection.

To learn more about Day of the Dead, please see the following title, part of which also available online through Google Books. To see an example of a Day of the Dead celebration, view the following digital image available through ArtStor.

Additional digital images relating to Day of the Dead are accessible via ArtStor, an online repository of hundreds of thousands of digital images, covering artistic traditions across many times and cultures including architecture, painting, sculpture, photography, decorative arts, and design as well as many other forms of visual culture.

For help searching ArtStor, or any other library resource, please visit the Reference Desk on the main floor, or chat with us online at AskON.

Architecture Resources on Display

Posted on March 12, 2010 by Cecile

A selection of resources from the Library’s collection relating to Architecture are on display in the glass case near the Reference area on the main floor. Included are books by Ryerson Architecture faculty, as well as photos from the Canadian Architect collection, which was recently donated to Special Collections.

To learn more about Library resources relating to Architecture, please view the following research guide.

Rare Books Display on the 4th floor

Posted on March 4, 2010 by Cecile

Check out the display cases on the 4th floor of the Library which showcase items from Special Collections. The items on display change regularly, so look for future updates on what’s new!

The current display features a selection of items from the Rare Book collection, which holds around 500 items covering topics from art, literature, Canadiana and photography from the early 1700s to the present. The oldest book in the collection is a first edition of Alfred, An Epick Poem in 12 Books by Sir Richard Blackmore, published in 1723. The poem tells the story of King Alfred the Great of England (849-899), but the author has dedicated it to Prince Frederick of Hanover, the eldest son of King George I of England, and has clearly intended the young prince to learn from his text: “…he, who loves his country and wishes well to mankind, cannot chose a more effectual means to promote their happiness, than by inspiring into a young prince such generous sentiments, such just ideas of political prudence…”