Library and Archives Canada/Bibliote`que et
Archives Canada
In 1872, as a branch of the Department of Agricul-
ture, the archives began collecting documents of
national significance. Today, the archives hold mil-
lions of films, documentaries, architectural draw-
ings, works of art, music, and the most substantial
holding of Canadian photography in the country.
Collected since the 1870s, with images dating back
to the 1850s, the photography department now
holds over 21.3 million photographic images. Simi-
lar to museums, the archives is an institution pro-
viding knowledge to the public through their
collections and services. The majority of photo-
graphs were acquired from Canadian studios,
newspapers, and government agencies. All of the
works deal with Canadian life, Inuit peoples, gov-
ernment, and history.
http://collectionscanada.ca
MacKenzie Art Gallery
One of the earliest art collectors in western
Canada, Norman MacKenzie, directed in his will
that the majority of his collection be given to the
University of Saskatchewan in the hopes that an
art gallery would be built to house it. In Septem-
ber of 1953, the Norman MacKenzie Art Gallery
officially opened. With a range of historical to
contemporary art, including works by over 5,000
different artists worldwide, the collection repre-
sents art from Western Canada, as well as national
and international, and an emphasis on Saskatch-
ewan art. Within the collection are examples of
fiber arts, painting, sculpture, drawing, collage,
and most recently, photography.
The photography collection, although small in
comparison to the rest of the collection, is a fantastic
representation of Canadian artists. Some of the
artists include Shelagh Alexander, Lynne Cohen,
Evergon, and Frances Robson. Of the 175 and
increasing number of photographs in the collection,
the emphasis is on mid-career and established con-
temporary Canadian photographers. The Mac-
Kenzie Art Gallery has held many significant
exhibitions, the most recent ones including pho-
tography. In October of 2004, the gallery held an
exhibition titledThe Body. This exhibition show-
cased works from the permanent collection, includ-
ing photography, painting, and drawing depicting
the human figure, from Renaissance nudes to mod-
ern abstractions.
http://www.mackenzieartgallery.sk.ca
McCord Museum of Canadian History
Founded in 1921 by David Ross McCord, the
McCord Museum holds more than 1.2 million
objects. As a public research and teaching museum,
it is dedicated to the preservation and reflection of
the social history of Canada. With exhibitions,
cultural activities, tours, and publications the
museum seeks to present an interactive experience
for the public.
In 1956, the museum acquired the archives of
Montreal photographer William Notman, a verita-
ble visual history of Canada. The 450,000-plus
photographic collection encompasses the famous
Notmam & Sons studio photographs spanning
over 78 years. The photographs cover the period
of time from 1840–1935, and include landscapes,
portraits, events, and other historical photographs.
The photography collection also includes about
600,000 images by other photographers, including
Alexander Henderson and John Taylor. This ar-
chive inspired the exhibitionAfter Notman: Photo-
graphic Views of Montreal, A Century Apart, which
paired photographs taken by the Notman studio of
views of Montreal a hundred years ago with the
photographic views of Montreal today by the
photographer Andrzej Maciejewski.
http://www.mccord-museum.qc.caMontreal Museum of Fine Arts/Muse ́e des
beaux-arts de Montre ́al
Bishop Francis Fulford founded the Art Association
of Montreal in 1860 to establish an art library that
was lacking in Montreal at the time. In 1879, the Art
Association became the Muse ́e des beaux-arts de
Montre ́al/Montreal Museum of Fine Art, and was
the first institution in Canada specifically designed
for an art collection. Today, after almost a century-
and-a-half of collecting, the museum holds a collec-
tion of over 30,000 works including sculpture, paint-
ings, drawings, works on paper, and photographs
dating from antiquity to contemporary. The main
focus of the museum is the promotion of works by
Canadian and international artists to provide the
public with a breadth of artistic heritage. The
museum’s permanent collection is divided in sec-
tions, Ancient Cultures, European Art, Canadian
Art, Inuit and Native American Art, and Contem-
porary Art.
Within the contemporary collection is a signifi-
cant collection of photography. With over 600
works, the collection holds examples of Canadian
and international photographers. Important Cana-MUSEUMS: CANADA