Genealogists, either beginners or experienced, often know someone who served in the Royal Air Force (RAF) Bomber Command in the Second World War. This could be someone in their family or other circles. RAF personnel served as: pilots navigators flight engineers wireless operators bombardier/bomb aimers aerial gunners. Camp Borden recruit, 1940. Toronto Star Photograph Archive. […]
Some of the world's most renowned and talented music artists were born and raised in Ontario. Many photos of these musicians have been digitized from our Toronto Star Photograph Archive, searchable on Toronto Public Library's website, Digital Archive Ontario. The images below — all from the Toronto Star Photograph Archive — feature a few Ontario […]
Ontario has a rich history of railway companies. In its earliest days, railways transported people and materials to develop infrastructure, cities and more routes throughout the province and across Canada. Many companies were temporarily successful but then faced bankruptcy and were absorbed by larger railways such as the Canadian Pacific Railway and Canadian National Railway. […]
Best wishes to everyone during the 2018 holiday season! The library's Digital Archive — which has over 150,000 historical items — includes many wonderful holiday-themed photos of Toronto. Here are a few interesting photos from the archive, along with some brief feel-good stories to put you in the holiday mood. All photos are courtesy Toronto Star Photograph […]
The Armistice of 11 November 1918 ended fighting on land, sea and air in World War I between the Allies and their opponent Germany. Also known as the The Treaty of Compiègne from the place where it was signed, it came into force at 11 a.m. Paris time on 11 November 1918 ("the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the […]
On Monday September 24 from 7:30-9 pm North York Central Library and the North York Historical Society proudly present a talk from Howard Moscoe, former North York and Toronto City Councillor and Chair of the Toronto Transit Commission. All are invited to this lively talk on his political career experiences from his book, Call Me Pisher: […]
Toronto Blue Jays logo history courtesy National Post, 2011. Read full logo commentary by Jonathan Rivalt. With their Inaugural Season in 1977, the Toronto Blue Jays joined the Montreal Expos as the only other team representing Canada in Major League Baseball. On September 29, 2004 the Expos announced the team would move to Washington D.C. […]
Ontario has a distinguished history in aviation. From Ontario's first flight of the Silver Dart at Camp Petawawa in 1909 to the present jet age, the province can’truly be proud of its rich history in the skies. Using images from Toronto Public Library's Digital Archive and other institutions, this post examines three stories of Ontario's aviation history. […]
Discover one of Ontario's most beautiful towns, Stratford, Ontario located in Perth County, situated on the traditional territory of the Anishinabek Nation and Haudenosaunee Confederacy. The settlement began with the surveying of the Huron Road by the Canada Company in 1828 by agent William "Tiger" Dunlop. Some of Stratford's historical highlights include: 1832 Thomas Mercer […]
Join speaker Paul Racher of Archaeological Research Associates on Wednesday March 21 7:30-9 PM for a lively discussion on the topic of Truth and Reconciliation in relation to the field of archaeology. As part of the discussion, indigenous artifacts from archaeological digs will be presented. Note: Due to the temporary closure of North […]