How six undergrads saved u of ts rare books the star. The thomas fisher rare books library at the university of toronto is open to the public. As one of the leading research libraries in north america, the fisher acquires, makes accessible and preserves comprehensive research collections of national and international significance. Thomas fisher rare book library, university of toronto home. The sumptuous arched ceilings of the strahov theological hall in prague. Past the secured entranceway, the remnants of the artifacts rest enclosed in glass display cases adorned with banners and a bust of the man himself. These inspiring university libraries are about to blow your mind. Situated within robarts library at the university of toronto, over 700,000 volumes. Thomas fisher rare book library is a 6story lowrise building in toronto, ontario, canada.
It is named in honour of thomas fisher 17921874, who came from yorkshire to upper canada in 1821 and settled by the humber river. Carefoote, interim head of rare books and special collections at the university of toronto. The rare books library is the smaller building with the tower, in the front. An overdue library inventory at u of t finds some lost. The pair is not only responsible for the buildings marble facade, but also its chairs, tables, chandeliers, and even trash cans, making the entire library a gleaming example of the neoclassical beauxarts style. The thomas fisher rare books library at the university of toronto has an ugly. This catalog is wellresearched and presents thoughtfully. The library itself is composed of over 20 libraries across 9 campuses. No card or fee is required for library services though visitors wishing to use the collection must complete an onsite registration. He was previously the editorial director of progressive architecture magazine and has written nine books, over 50 book chapters or introductions and over 400 articles in professional journals and major. Thomas fisher rare book library, university of toronto. The beinecke librarys robust collections are used to create new scholarship by researchers from around the world.
Celebrate canada 150 in a treasure of a rare book library located on the st george campus of the university of toronto, a wonderful exhibition of canadas history titled struggle and story. Thomas fisher rare book library, university of toronto on. The thomas fisher rare book library at the university of toronto features. Several of its plate volumes focus on architecture and contain the first detailed drawings of ancient egyptian monuments. Raptis rare books maintains an extensive selection of rare art books and rare books on architecture in our library. The thomas fisher rare book library is located at the northwest corner of st. The college of designs school of architecture offers distinctive study opportunities, a strong academic and practicing faculty, and excellent facilities within the context of a top research university and a vibrant metropolitan area. The department of rare books and special collections and the university archives didnt have a permanent home until 1973 when the thomas fisher rare book library was opened. It contains darwins proof copy of on the origin of the species among other notable works.
Educated at cornell university in architecture and case western reserve university in intellectual history, he previously served as the editorial director of progressive architecture magazine in. Among the collections items are the nuremberg chronicle 1493, shakespeares first folio 1623, newtons principia. Media in category thomas fisher rare book library the following 30 files are in this category, out of 30 total. Located on the university of toronto campus, this collection is open to the public, with over 800,000 books to peruse. The fisher library houses the department of rare books and special collections. The library is also home to the university archives which, in addition to institutional records, also contains the papers of many important canadian literary figures including margaret atwood and leonard cohen. The library is considered one of the most significant examples of brutalist architecture in north america and a listed heritage building by the city of toronto. The thomas fisher rare book library houses the department of rare books and special collections including books, manuscripts and other materials, and the university of toronto archives and records management services utarms, which holds the official records of the university. How to access the resources of the thomas fisher rare book library may be used by all scholars and researchers, whether or not. Browse university of toronto thomas fisher rare book. The majority of the fishers holdings are available in the library catalogue. Part of the university of toronto, thomas fisher rare book library harbours. Cloistered by a shell of stone, the 1963 beinecke rare book and manuscript library in yale, us, is one of the worlds foremost collections of rare manuscripts.
The yale university beinecke rare book and manuscript library holds the distinction of being the largest building in the world that serves the express purpose of preserving rare books and manuscripts, which alone undoubtedly makes it one of the best libraries in the world. The thomas fisher rare book library is currently closed owing to covid19 restrictions. As part of the university of toronto libraries, the fisher prioritizes the acquisition, preservation and accessibility of rare and special collections of local, national, and international signi cance. Leonard cohen archives live on at u of t library the star. The thomas fisher rare book library houses the department of rare books and. If your date is a literature lover whose heart melts at the scent of a book, take them to the thomas fisher rare book library. The university of sydney library is one of the largest library in the southern hemisphere, with a collection of over 5. California history, art gallery, and a massive reading room on the eighth floor. Among the collections items are the nuremberg chronicle 1493, shakespeares first folio 1623, newtons principia 1687, and darwins proof copy with annotations. The thomas fisher rare book library is a library in the university of toronto, constituting the largest repository of publicly accessible rare books and manuscripts in canada. The fisher, as its commonly called, is the largest rare book library in canada and its open to the public. The fisher library is privileged to be the custodian of the single most important archive of wolfe manuscript records in the world. The thomas fisher rare book library is the largest repository of publicly accessible rare books and manuscripts in canada. Thomas fisher rare book library university of toronto.
Canada in print the thomas fisher rare book library, university of toronto 20 march9 september 2017. Apr 15, 2016 the fisher, as its commonly called, is the largest rare book library in canada and its open to the public. Thomas fisher rare book library, university of toronto toronto. Browse through our entire collection below, view details about individual books and contact us to ask a question or find out more information. Mar 19, 2012 the thomas fisher rare book library houses the department of rare books and special collections including books, manuscripts and other materials. Discover thomas fisher rare book library in toronto, ontario. The thomas fisher rare book library, canadas largest, is essential for scholars of many disciplines who seek the broadest collection of materials relevant to their research. The library is named in honour of thomas fisher 17921874, who immigrated from yorkshire, settled along the humber river in 1822, and became a successful merchant. Thomas fisher rare book library toronto, ontario atlas. Canada in print that the fisher exhibition will no doubt be one of dozens if not hundreds of exhibitions. Thomas fisher rare book library, toronto 1218534 emporis. University of toronto thomas fisher rare book library notes of an exile to van diemans land.
One of canadas most incredible rare book collections holds hundreds of thousands of gorgeous tomes that the general public can touch. If you wish to reproduce any images of rare books and special collections material in publications or on the internet please contact rare books and special collections for permission. The centre contains canadas largest health science collection and is physically the largest science library in the country. Stepping into the library for the first time a few weeks ago was not unlike stepping into a cathedral. The thomas fisher rare book library houses the department of rare books and special collections including books, manuscripts and other materials.
A university of toronto library card is not necessary to access the collections, but onsite registration is required. Aug 25, 2017 an overdue library inventory at u of t finds some lost treasures. Stream tracks and playlists from fisher rare book library on your desktop or mobile device. It serves the faculty, staff, students and alumni of the. Floor plans thomas cooper library, university libraries. The thomas fisher rare book library houses the department of rare books and special collections including books, manuscripts and other materials, and the. The gerstein science information centre university of toronto. Architecture, landscape, and design eberhard zeidler library 27 robarts 22 thomas fisher rare book 12. Behind the scenes at torontos thomas fisher rare book library.
Fisher rare book library free listening on soundcloud. In all circumstances any reproductions must be credited to rare books and special collections, the university of sydney library. Jan 25, 2012 the sumptuous arched ceilings of the strahov theological hall in prague. About thomas fisher rare book library, uoft flickr. Hours and location thomas fisher rare book library. Mezzanine library administration office of equal opportunity programs south caroliniana library user services student success center main level. Visitors can request to view and handle some of the worlds rarest books, such as shakespeares first folio 1623 and margaret atwoods original works. The thomas fisher rare book library is an esoteric time capsule accessed mostly by grad students a bibliophiles utopia. Explore the falls at your own pace during roughly three hours of free time, and upgrade to include a cruise up the niagara river into the basin of the canadian horseshoe falls for extra closeup views.
Located on the university of toronto campus, this collection is open to the public, with. Finding aids to manuscript holdings are available online. For a break from the bustle of the city, the thomas fisher rare book library is a unique mustsee. Nov 16, 2016 leonard cohen archives live on at u of t library. University of torontos thomas fisher rare book library awards. Completed in 20, the library houses a rare book collection of 17 000 titles. Thomas fisher is a professor in the school of architecture, director of the minnesota design center, and former dean of the college of design at the university of minnesota in minneapolis. Thomas fisher rare book library, university of toronto, toronto, on. Sydney architecture images sydney university fisher library. Thomas fisher, professor and director of the minnesota. All these items are sitting readily and freely accessible to the public at the university of torontos thomas fisher rare book library, an important cultural institution that many torontonians know little about. The travails of the thomas fisher rare book library cranbrook. Affiliated with the university of toronto, the thomas fisher rare book library houses more rare books than any other collection in canada.
Thomas fisher rare books library in toronto upload. A friendly place to discover and appreciate brutalist buildings and architecture. Pre1800 architectural monographs in the collection of the thomas fisher rare book library, university of toronto, 1988. Current exhibition thomas fisher rare book library. Thomas fisher is a professor and dean of the college of design at the university of minnesota. Hidden inside a simple brown case at the university of torontos thomas fisher rare book library was a rare silver and gold. Thomas fisher rare book library lc linked data service. The collection includes unique artifacts like newtons principia 1687, shakespeares first folio, the nuremberg chronicle 1493, and a babylonian cuneiform tablet dating to 1789 bc. Jan 27, 2020 the thomas fisher rare book library is the largest repository of publicly accessible rare books and manuscripts in canada. George and harbord streets, immediately south of robarts library, and accessible from the second floor of robarts library. George and harbord streets, immediately to the south of the main university library, robarts. Our online collections and services continue to be available. Find the collections, services and offices located throughout thomas cooper library.
Shelves from floor to ceiling are still stacked with books, while students plan big projects. The main building, fisher library, is named after thomas fisher, an early benefactor. The library s impressive holdings celebrate significant authors like. The resources of the thomas fisher rare book library may be used by all scholars and researchers, whether or not they are members of the university of toronto community. Dec 03, 2019 4,500 full page plates and illustrations from rare books in the thomas fisher rare book library, univ. Thomas fisher rare book library toronto 2020 all you need. More than,000 students, visitors and scholars from around the world come to the fisher library each year to research, study and attend lectures and exhibitions, and. The gerstein science information centre is seeking new resources to maintain the momentum created by the renewal of the centre in the year 2000. The thomas fisher rare book library is the largest rare book library in canada, holding over 800,000 books and 6,000 linear metres of manuscript material toronto. The two wings had been completed first, with the school of library science building renamed the claude t. Canada in print has been created from the librarys own collections of donated libraries and purchases.
Retired director of the thomas fisher rare book library, anne dondertman, is quite right in her foreword to the exhibition catalogue of struggle and story. Academic library ontario, toronto university building, canadian architecture images. Thomas fisher rare book library toronto, ontario atlas obscura. The thomas fisher rare book library is the largest rare book library in canada, holding over 800,000 books and 6,000 linear metres of manuscript material. Toronto january 27, 2015 a unique 10thcentury manuscript of an 8thcentury compendium of jewish law and a 2014 facsimile of a scroll of esther these are the two chronological bookends of the thomas fisher rare book librarys latest exhibition that spans a. Whether its huge like the thomas fisher rare book library or if it features a contemporary and unconventional architecture like biblioteca espana or the seattle public library, the effect is the same. Macleanhunter room, thomas fisher rare book library. Catalogue search results university of toronto libraries.
Doing research at the thomas fisher rare book library. Inside this stunning building youll find the department of rare books and special collections. Robarts library at the university of toronto earchitect. Thomas fisher rare book library toronto all you need to. Feb 16, 2017 how six undergrads saved u of ts rare books. The thomas fisher rare book library is located at the university of toronto, and is the largest publicly accessible collection of rare books and manuscripts in canada. View a detailed profile of the structure 1218534 including further. Architecturally spectacular, both inside and out, it boasts six floor holding 740,000 rare books, as well as 4000 feet of manuscripts. Bissell building in 1984, home of the faculty of information opening in the summer of 1972 and the thomas fisher rare book library opening in december 1972. See more ideas about architecture, library architecture and beautiful library. The thomas fisher rare book library is a library in the university of toronto, constituting the largest repository of publicly accessible rare books and. One of canadas most incredible rare book collections holds hundreds of thousands of gorgeous.
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