Snapshots in History: March 15: Remembering King’s College, University of Toronto

On March 15 and beyond, take a moment to remember the establishment of King’s College on March 15, 1827, initially a Church of England-sponsored institution of higher learning that has since morphed into the more pluralistic University of Toronto. King’s College was granted a Royal Charter by then-King George IV for the "establishment of a College… for the education of youth in the principles of the Christian Religion, and for their instruction in the various branches of Science and Literature… at or near our town of York… to continue forever, to be called 'King's College.'"

The intention was for King’s College to be operated by members of the Church of England, with the university’s president being the archdeacon of York (soon to be Toronto) who at the time was John Strachan. Students of any faith were permitted. The current site of the downtown St. George campus (150 acres of vacant forested land) was bought for £3,750. English architect Thomas Fowler completed the design of King’s College in 1829. However, the institution’s close ties to Anglicanism became a topic for political debate in Upper Canada. Consequently, King’s College’s first students would not be enrolled until the year 1842 and new legislation in 1849 from the newly-instituted “responsible government” would result in the more secular University of Toronto on January 1, 1850, following failed attempts by reformer Robert Baldwin in 1843 and conservative William Henry Draper in 1844-1845. Strachan had already left King’s College and lobbied for a charter and funding for a religious university -– the cornerstone of the University of Trinity College was laid on April 30, 1851 with classes commencing in January 1852. As a counterpoint, the non-religious, non-denominational University College was created as a Provincial College and as a constituent college of the University of Toronto on April 22, 1853, carrying out teaching responsibilities of the former King’s College. Following the advent of the secular University College, Knox College (Presbyterian) and Wycliffe College (Anglican Church seminary with emphasis on Protestantism) affiliated with the University of Toronto in 1885 and became federated schools in 1890. Victoria University (formerly in Cobourg) was initially opposed to federation but financial benefits persuaded this institution to join in 1890. Following the death of Strachan, Trinity College followed suit in 1904. St. Michael’s College, a Roman Catholic institution, joined the federation in 1910.

The addition of New College (1962), Innis College (1964) and Woodsworth College (1974) provided the University of Toronto with three additional constituent colleges that are monetarily dependent upon and accountable to the University’s central administration. Massey College, a college for graduate students, was established in 1963 with support from the Massey Foundation. Regis College, a Jesuit seminary, agreed to federation with the University of Toronto in 1979. The University of Toronto also has campuses in Scarborough (1966) and Mississauga (1967).

The University of Toronto has followed a decentralized governance model with authority shared amongst its affiliated colleges, academic faculties and central administration. Currently, the University has a unicameral Governing Council; previously, it had a bicameral board of governors and a university senate.

The University of Toronto has a variety of faculties, including the Faculty of Arts and Science, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design, Faculty of Dentistry, Faculty of Forestry, Faculty of Information, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Music, Faculty of Nursing, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Social Work, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Rotman School of Management, Toronto School of Theology, and Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. The University of Toronto also has the third-largest academic library system in North America, following those of Harvard University and Yale University in size -– measured by the number of volumes held.

Consider the following titles held by Toronto Public Library collections:

Books: