New archive exhibit documents Toronto

Posted on 27. Nov, 2008 by Archivist in Biz/Tech, Life

Donated documents from Torontonians are displayed at the exhibit showcasing 125 years of public health history in the city.

The Toronto Archives has set up  a new exhibit documenting 125 years of public health in the city.
The new exhibit will last until the end of 2009. It is titled ‘An Infectious Idea’ and features documents and photographs that illustrate the history of public health in the city.
Most of the documents that are shown at the exhibit have been donated by Torontonians that have either inherited or found them.
“We appraise the collection when someone comes in and has something they want to donate,” said Manda Vranic an archivist at the Toronto Archives. “We’ll talk to them about it and decide if it’s something that we want to have at the archives.”  
When it comes to helping people understand Toronto’s health history, 19-year-old freelance photographer Amanda Belvdre said pictures are the best way to do so.
 “People look back on pictures when they are trying to visualize information,” she said.
Humber creative photography co-ordinator Neil Fox agrees and said,
“People are very visual they can look at an image and understand.”  “As we become more of a culture it becomes more important to document it.”
According to the city of Toronto website, the archives have photographs dating back to 1840.
 Vranic said when it comes to the development of Toronto, these photographs help illustrate how much the city has changed since the middle of the 19th century.