Multicultural History Society of Ontario

Type: Education Centre

Established in 1976, this not-for-profit educational institution collects, preserves, and makes available irreplaceable records of our histories of migration and ethnicity. It undertakes educational programming to increase appreciation of the importance of diversity to the development and ongoing vitality of the province.

Programming:

Conservation/Preservation:

Archives

Contains materials related to ethnic and immigration history, including

  • ethnic newspapers, news releases
  • oral history tapes
  • historical photgraphs
  • microfilm collections
  • organizational records
  • personal records
  • passports, diaries, scrapbooks
  • documents from social clubs, mutual aid societies, churches, and political organizations.

Online Resources

Develops and manages digital collections and links to multicultural organizations with digital collections.

Public Programming:

Educational programming

Develops and distributes publications, mounts and circulates exhibitions, and stages conferences, public lectures, and special events. The MHSO also provides professional and technical services and training to teachers and students, scholars and community historians, heritage and cultural organizations, and members of ethnicultural and indigenous communities.

Exhibitions

Travelling exhibits related to ethnic, racial and immigration history are available such as,

  • Chinese Canadian Women, 1923-1967
  • Family Stories, Treasured Memories
  • Many Rivers To Cross: The African Canadian Experience

See the MHSO website for more information about the SOciety’s exhibitions.

Online

The MHSO has developed a number of virtual exhibis and digital learning resources. Links to these sites can be found through the society’s website:

  • http://mhso.ca/wp/multi-faceted-websites/
  • http://mhso.ca/wp/learn-online-resources/

Oral History Museum

Gallery contains oral testimonies with photographs and multimedia technology, illustrating immigration adaption in late 20th-century Toronto. The Museum contains over 9,000 hours of interviews from members of 60 ethnic groups.

Volunteer/Internship/Placement Opportunities:

This institution does accept on- and off-site volunteers and interns. Activities range from content research and archival management to promotions and website development.

Address & Contact Information:

Administrative Headquarters and Oral History Museum
901 Lawrence Avenue West, Suite 307
Toronto, Ontario
M6A 1C3

Phone: 416-979-2973
Email: infor@mhso.ca
Website: http://www.mhso.ca

Hours of Operation:

Administration
Tuesday – Friday: 9:30 am – 4:00 pm

Administration
Tuesday – Friday: 9:30 am – 4:00 pm
Visitors are recommended to call before visiting the Oral History Museum.
Phone : 416-979-2973

Archives
Tuesday – Friday.  By appointment only

Key Words: migration, ethnicity