Conservation/Preservation:
Artefacts
Many artefacts are used in the permanent on-site exhibit, others are stored off-site with Heritage Trust. Objects at the museum include:
- Period furniture (pews, stove, desks, clock).
- Slates.
- Children’s text books.
- Children’s ephemera.
- Children’s apparel (pinafores, collars, gloves, dresses, shoes).
Public Programming:
Exhibitions
Museum presents three panels that are a quick overview of the site to visitors.
Tours
Tours are offered year-round to the public. Visit website for dates and times.
- For school aged children, experiential curriculum targeted towards grades 1 to 8 presents life as a Victorian child.
- Older students can tour the facility and the adjacent neighborhood to learn more about 20th century immigration to Toronto.
Conservation / Preservation:
Archives
Records of University of Toronto include,
- Records of the Board of Governors of the University of Toronto and King’s College Council, minutes of reports of Upper Canada College from 1878 – 1901, records of the Women’s University Residence Associations from 1894-1905, and records of the University Press from 1902-1908.
- Records of administrative offices and bodies, including those of the Chief Financial Officer, Community Relations, Alumni Affairs and Development, Ethics Review, Governing Council, Human Resources, External Hiring Committee, Labour Relations, Public Relations, Student Housing, Student Record Services, Tenure Appeal Committee, Treasury Department, Bursar, Chancellor, Comproller, vice-presidents and provosts.
- Records of the many departments, faculties, schools, institutes, libraries, and selected colleges that comprise the University of Toronto.
Private records include,
- Papers, correspondence, photographs, and other records of prominent individuals, families, and groups associated with the University of Toronto, including faculty, artists, administrators, and alumni and student organizations.
- Records of selected Federal Government and military departments and organizations.
Conservation / Preservation:
Archives / Library
Materials from the York Region District School Board and its predecessors including: York Region Board of Education, older community school boards from the area (Markham, East Gwillimbury, King Township, etc.), spanning from 1850 to more contemporary items.
Holdings include:
- Attendance sheets
- Financial transactions (cash)
- Building plans
- Curriculum development
- Classroom books
- Misc correspondence
- Videos, photographs
Artefacts
- Textbooks from late 19th century and 20th century
- Desks and slates from late 19th century
- Children’s games and toys
- Equipment such as: typewriters, projectors, stereos, glass slides
- Sports related memorabilia: t-shirts from sports teams, school banners, misc sports trophies schools awarded to students
Public Programming:
Re-enactments / Theatre
Museum offers school aged children artefact analysis and experiential tours, recreating the atmosphere of a classroom in 1850 and 1900.
Exhibitions
Exhibits are located at public offices of the York Region district School Board. Online exhibits are available on the museum website.
Conservation/Preservation:
Archives / Library
- Records and manuscripts from 1847 to present.
- Historical collection of publications such as yearbooks, newspaper clippings, board of education minutes, annual reports, newsletters, report cards.
- Vertical files and pamphlets.
- Broadside collection, audio-visuals.
Artefacts
- Fine arts collection (20th century; Canadian Inuit; modern-historical period; prints, drawings, and sculpture).
- Classroom artefacts relating to many aspects of the curriculum including ceremonial objects, communications devices, electricity.
- Furniture / furnishings, household objects, imaging, photographs, video, medals, military history and technology, oral history, sports equipment, toys and games, medals, trophies, musical instruments.
Public Programming:
Exhibitions
- The museum is housed in a neo-classical inspired building dating back to 1915.
- The first floor of the former Toronto Board of Education administrative office houses a restored boardroom, now an education museum. Adjacent to the boardroom, the original walnut paneled Trustees’ Committee Room functions as an additional display area and researchers’ reading room.
- Displays include furniture of the Board and school classrooms, textiles, and tapestries.
Tours
Guided Tours offered in English.
Educational Programming
Classes or workshops and lectures.
Conservation/Preservation:
Archives / Library
The Ryerson University Archives Collection dates from 1783 to the present, with the majority of records relating to Ryerson University and dating from 1948 to the present. Collections include,
- Correspondence and files of senior-level, administrative and academic departments.
- Reports, minutes, and agendas of committees, including the Board of Governors and Academic Council.
- Financial records, including statements and budget and audit records.
- Human resources records.
- Records of student, faculty, staff, and alumni organizations.
- Annual reports, contracts, agreements, and other legal documents.
- Policy and procedure manuals.
- Publications such as student, staff, and faculty newspapers and newsletters, manuals, handbooks, course calendars, and yearbooks.
- Photographs, including prints, negatives, transparencies, and digital images.
- Motion picture films and video tapes, sound recordings, oral interview tapes, and transcripts.
- Cartographic and architectural records.
- Paintings, drawings and prints.
- Electronic records, speeches, and addresses.
- Subject files, including, primarily, secondary source material on Ryerson-related topics, private papers and manuscripts, published books and articles by members of the Ryerson community (The Ryerson Authors Collection).
- Selection of images representing people, places, events, and activities from Ryerson’s history.
- Special Collections has acquired and preserved photography, film, and cultural history objects. These holdings comprise archival materials, cultural artefacts, and rare book collections, including,
- approximately 4,000 books on photography.
- 1,000 original audiovisual recordings documenting shipwrecks in Canadian waters such as the Titanic, Edmund Fitzgerald and H.M.S. Breadalbane.
- extensive photographic archives from Kodak Canada Inc. and Canadian Architect magazine.
- Collections of cultural artefacts also form part of the archives and include,
- historical photographic materials, Inuit sculpture, and a significant collection of objects depicting former Soviet leader Vladimir Ilyich Lenin.
- Photographic technology collections include antique cameras and darkroom equipment.
- The archives maintains a comprehensive collection of files that complement its main holdings, and contains clippings and other documentation of a secondary source nature, on people, departments, buildings and general topics related to Ryerson University and its history and operation.
Public Programming:
Exhibitions
This archives has digitized photographs, posters, drawings, artefacts, and other items from its archival collections or advertisements put on display as exhibitions and events in the Library.
Conservation / Preservation:
Artefacts
A variety of items that might have been found in Victorian-era one-room schoolhouses, including:
- wall maps, text books, lunch pails, water containers, school furniture and student supplies, teaching materials and equipment
- household items, toys and games, as well as documents, letters, and cards.
Public Programming:
Tours
The schoolhouse is open for visitors on the second Sunday of each month. A volunteer will be there to answer any questions and give information about the schoolhouse and its programme.
Re-enactments / Theatre
To visit a Victorian era class in action, please contact the contact the Schoolmaster at britannia.schoolhouse@peelsb.com
Other
As well as these opportunities to visit the Schoolhouse, Friends hold special events throughout the year in the heritage building. These are listed in the on-line Events Schedule and highlighted in the CurrentNews section.
