News

Latest Issue of The Halcyon now available

The Dec. 2020 issue of the Friends of Fisher newsletter is available for digital download The Dec. 2020 issue of the Friends of Fisher newsletter is available for digital download

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Online Event, Dec. 14: New Stories Within (or From) Ancient Texts

The Fisher Library’s Judaica librarian, Nadav Sharon, and librarians from the Jewish Public Library in Montreal will be jointly holding a public Zoom presentation. The Fisher Library’s Judaica librarian, Nadav Sharon, and librarians from the Jewish Public Library in Montreal will be jointly holding a public Zoom presentation.

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In-person research visits suspended

Please note that as of November 22, there will be no in-person visits to the Fisher.

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Seltzer Lecture available on YouTube

Margaret E. Schotte spoke on "For Merchants and Mariners: The Business of Nautical Manuals." Margaret E. Schotte will speak on "For Merchants and Mariners: The Business of Nautical Manuals." Registration information available.

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Between the Pillars

Launching on Friday Oct. 23, learn more about the Fisher's collections and its staff in a relaxed and comfortable chat setting. Launching on Friday Oct. 23, learn more about the Fisher's collections and its staff in a relaxed and comfortable chat setting.

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Pathy Lecture by Thomas Keymer now available

The first Friends of Fisher lecture was broadcast on Sept. 24. It's now available via the Fisher's YouTube channel. The first Friends of Fisher lecture was broadcast on Sept. 24. It's now available via the Fisher's YouTube channel.

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Newest issue of the Halcyon now available

Fisher staff share some of their favourite items in the collections

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Fisher Resources to Visit While We Are Closed

While the Fisher Library is physically closed, our online resources remain open at all times While the Fisher Library is physically closed, our online resources remain open at all times.

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Fisher Library closed as of Monday March 16

In order to support community efforts to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus, we will close for an indefinite period. In order to support community efforts to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus, we will close for an indefinite period. Please watch our web site for when we will re-open

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Postponement annoucement: Katz Lecture on April 16

Lecture featuring Dr. Michael F. Suarez Director of Rare Book School and Professor of English, University of Virginia will be postponed until a later date. Lecture featuring Dr. Michael F. Suarez Director of Rare Book School and Professor of English, University of Virginia will be postponed until a later date.

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Latest issue of The Halcyon now available online

The Dec. 2020 issue of the Friends of Fisher newsletter is now freely available for download from the web site The Dec. 2020 issue of the Friends of Fisher newsletter is now freely available for download from the web site.

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Black History Month Open House - February 20

The Fisher will be showcasing various materials to celebrate Black History Month Please visit between 3 and 6 pm to view materials that celebrate February's Black History Month.

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Holiday cards now on sale!

The Fisher is again offering cards featuring images from our collection. They can be purchased by visiting the reference desk. The Fisher is again offering cards featuring images from our collection. They can be purchased by visiting the reference desk.

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Fisher Open House: November 7

The Fisher will again be opening its doors to the public to view recently acquired material The Fisher will again be opening its doors to the public to view recently acquired material. Please join us between noon and 5 pm.

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New Flickr Set: Luggage Labels

A new album is now up on our Flickr site featuring samplings from our collection of Luggage Labels from the late 19th century to WWII. The collection is a set of 3,550 beautifully drawn and painted labels by famous artists and printers that were collected over a 25-year period. The collection features famous cities, political parties and hotels.

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20th Century Feminist Periodicals at the Fisher

These periodicals chronicle important social issues as they developed and inform today’s political climate. The Pedestal: A Woman’s Liberation Paper, for example, illuminates some critical days in the movement for equitable abortion access. These periodicals chronicle important social issues as they developed and inform today’s political climate. The Pedestal: A Woman’s Liberation Paper, for example, illuminates some critical days in the movement for equitable abortion access.

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Fisher joins Bloor St. Culture Corridor

It is joining the city's most diverse arts and culture district that features twenty-two organizations. It is joining the city's most diverse arts and culture district that features twenty-two organizations.

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New Flickr set: Italian decorated papers

A sampling of the Fisher's Italian decorated papers from the 17th to 20th century, many with decorated papers, is available on our Flickr site A sampling of the Fisher's Italian pamphlets from the 17th to 20th century, many with decorated papers, is available on our Flickr site.

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New acquisition: 15th-century illuminated manuscript from an important voice in the history of women’s literature

The Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library is pleased to announce the acquisition of a 15th-century illuminated manuscript of Christine de Pizan’s Livre de paix New manuscript at the Fisher by one of the first women in the West to earn a living by her pen

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December issue of the Halcyon now out

The latest issue of the Friends of Fisher newsletter features a special donors section, who write about their collecting. It is available for download. The latest issue of the Friends of Fisher newsletter features a special donors section, who write about their collecting. It is available for download.

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New Acquisition: A Meruaylous Discourse vpon the Lyfe, Deedes, and Behauiours of Katherine de Medicis, Queene Mother

Book attributed to Henri Estienne, the great 16th century French Protestant printer on his (less-than complimentary) feelings about the dowager Queen of France.

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New holiday cards on sale

We have new holiday card designs available for sale. Some older designs are also on sale. Looking for a unique card to send out this holiday? We have two new designs available for sale. Please visit the Fisher to purchase.

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Fisher Open House: Thursday November 15

Once again, the Fisher will be displaying some of our recent acquisitions to the public. The open runs from noon to 6 pm. Want to see some of our latest acquisitions? Please visit us when we hold our semi-annual Open House between noon and 6 pm.

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Audio from McLuhan symposium now online

All of the audio from the recent Many McLuhans symposium can be accessed online The complete audio from September's Many McLuhans Symposium honoring the UNESCO designation can be streamed from McLuhan Centre's web site.

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New Audio Content Available

We've added some new audio content: the last Friends of Fisher lecture is now online, and there's a self-guided audio tour of the current exhibition on monsters We've added some new audio content: the last Friends of Fisher lecture is now online, and there's a self-guided audio tour of the current exhibition on monsters.

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Culinary exhibition featured on CBC's Metro Morning

Co-curators Liz Ridolo and Irina Mihalache were interviewed by CBC Toronto's morning program on the Fisher's current exhibition, Mixed Messages. It is available online. The audio of the segment featuring co-curators Liz Ridolo and Irina Mihalache is available online to stream.

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New issue of the Halcyon now available online

The June 2018 issue of the Friends of the Fisher is available as a downloadable PDF. This issue focuses on recent purchases made by the library New issue looks at recent purchases made by the library.

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Take a Tour of Sacred Books

CBC Radio's Tapestry visited the Fisher Library CBC Radio's Tapestry visited the Fisher Library

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Exceptional acquisition of books designed and illustrated by Czech artist and writer Josef Čapek

Among the newest acquisitions of Josef Čapek’s work are his book covers and illustrations to translated works by Gustave Flaubert, Tristan Corbière, , W.B. Yeats, H.G. Wells, Francis Jammes, Jean Vignaud, Rose Macaulay, Georges Duham Experimental artist found his artistic voice above all in designing books

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Oldest English-language book in Canada now at Fisher

William Caxton's 1481 publication of Cicero has been added to the Fisher's holdings. William Caxton's 1481 publication of Cicero has been added to the Fisher's holdings.

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Canada in Print exhibition catalogue wins prestigious award

The Fisher is honoured by the Katharine Kyes Leab and Daniel J. Leab "American Book Prices Current" Exhibition Award in the Division Two Category The Fisher is honoured by the Katharine Kyes Leab and Daniel J. Leab "American Book Prices Current" Exhibition Award in the Division Two Category.

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Kiddell Lecture now online

Prof. Peter Blayney's Lecture on "How Many Printers Does It Take to Change a Liturgy?" can be viewed online or downloaded Prof. Peter Blayney's Lecture on "How Many Printers Does It Take to Change a Liturgy?" can be viewed online or downloaded

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New student blog for current culinary exhibition

Students share their personal experiences working with Canadian culinary materials and assisting with the various components of the exhibition process. Students share their personal experiences working with Canadian culinary materials and assisting with the various components of the exhibition process.

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Fisher Digital Collections have a new look!

The University of Toronto Libraries' Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library and Information Technology Services (ITS) department are pleased to announce the re-launch of four digital collections! Four digital collections have an all new look!

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Ginsberg Photo Exhibition Now Open

The exhibition features over 100 photos from the largest collection of Ginsberg photographic prints in the world.

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Marshall McLuhan collections added to the UNESCO Memory of the World Register!

The Marshall McLuhan collections held at the University of Toronto and Library and Archives Canada have been recognized as being of international significance Marshall McLuhan collections at UofT and LAC recognized by UNESCO

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Cosmopolitanism in the Archive

Fascinating new web exhibition brings together graduate students and scholars to highlight 18th century holdings from the Fisher! Fascinating new web exhibition brings together graduate students and scholars to highlight 18th century holdings from the Fisher!

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New Flickr set - early photographs of Rio de Janeiro

View a collection of eight albumen prints of photographs from Marc Ferrez, the greatest photographer to emerge from Brazil in the late-nineteenth century A set of 8 beautiful albumen prints can be viewed on our Flickr

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Students tell the stories of objects in "Finding Myself in the Archives"

Examining historic objects with a connection with migration, movement and travel

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June issue of the Halcyon available

The newest issue of our newsletter the Halcyon is now available online

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UofT Showcase 150

View snapshots from the last 150 years seen through UofT's archives and special collections on a new digital timeline

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Scholars in Residence visit Fort York

A group of Jackman Humanities Institute Scholars in Residence who are working with the Fisher's culinary collection had the opportunity to experience the Foodways Program at Fort York

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Fisher Library Shakespeare catalogue wins prestigious Leab Award

The catalogue from the Fisher Library's recent exhibition "So Long Lives This: A Celebration of Shakespeare’s Life and Works 1616-2016.” has won an RBMS award for excellence Fisher Library Shakespeare Catalogue wins prestigious Leab Award

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New Flickr Album: Brazilian "cordel" woodcut illustrations

We’ve added a new album to our Flickr page: a selection of woodcut illustrations featured on the covers of Brazilian “cordel” chapbooks – or, the tradition of popular pamphlet poetry We’ve added a new album to our Flickr page: a selection of woodcut illustrations featured on the covers of Brazilian “cordel” chapbooks

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Fisher event profiled on the CBC

Linda LeGeyt discusses Canadian Wildflowers ahead of her Katz Memorial Lecture "Where Art Meets Science: Traditions in Canadian Botanical Art."

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New Flickr Set: Canadian booksellers, newspapers, and printing ephemera

The collection, dating from the 1830s to the 1920s, consists mostly of company billheads, but also contains letters, envelopes, memorandums, and receipts from various Canadian companies. The collection, dating from the 1830s to the 1920s, consists mostly of company billheads, but also contains letters, envelopes, memorandums, and receipts from various Canadian companies.

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Protecting treasured books - CityTV went behind the scenes of the Fisher Library condensation control project

The Fisher's interim department head PJ Carefoote spoke to CityTV about the library's building project. Fisher Librarian PJ Carefoote was featured on CityTV News to discusss the library's building maintenance project. Please not the west stairs leading to the library are now closed.

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New Issue of The Halcyon now available

The December 2016 issue of the Friends of the Fisher newsletter is now available, both in print and online.

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Announcing the Fisher's Summer Seminar Series!

Next June, the Fisher is launching its first seminar series workshop: a three-day workshop course on the history and identification of book illustration.

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Holiday cards for sale

The Fisher is again selling greeting cards for the coming holiday season. They go fast, so come inside to purchase them. It's $15 for 10 cards.

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Fisher Library Condensation Control Project

We are renovating the Fisher Rare Book Library to improve the thermal performance of the exterior, which will prevent condensation inside the building.

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New Acquisition: First World War Notebook

This unpublished manuscript notebook contains first-hand accounts of stories from the battlefield collected from thirty soldiers recivers in a British Army hospital, by an American-Canadian nurse from August to October of 1915.

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Centenary of the Irish Easter Rising

While the Fisher Library does not hold considerable collections from the Easter Rising, the Alfred De Lury Collection contains several unique items from and after the rising. the Alfred De Lury Collection, that includes mostly literary and poetical material of writers from the Anglo-Irish renaissance, contains several unique items from and after the rising.

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Richardson Family World War I Letters

The Fisher Library has acquired a remarkable collection of letters written during World War I, by three brothers from Ingersoll, Ontario: Ted, Reg, and Harry Richardson, who fought with the British Army during the war.

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New Flickr Set: Canadian bookplates

A selection of of ex-libris plates is now freely available on the Fisher's Flickr site.

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French Mazarinades pamphlets

Library has recently catalogued 229 Mazarinades that date exclusively from 1649, from the period known as the Parliamentary Fronde The Fronde was a series of civil wars that occurred in France between 1648 and 1653.

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On Display: Celebrating 50 Years of the University of Toronto Archives, 1965-2015

This month, we celebrate the golden anniversary of the University Archives

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Maximum Imaginativeness exhibition now open!

The video provides an introduction and overview of the exhibition featuring modern Czech book design.

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Extended hours begins today (Sept. 17)!

We will again be open until 8 pm on Thursdays during the academic year.

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Latest issue of the Halcyon now available

The June 2015 issue of the Friends of the Fisher newsletter can be downloaded from our web site

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New Flickr Set: Bookplates

This selection showcases the hundreds of different bookplates spread across our collections

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New Flickr Set: Stereo Views of Niagara Falls

These images were created on glass by Platt D. Babbitt between 1855 and 1860

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Vesalius Catalogue Wins Prestigious Award

Vesalius at 500 wins the ACRL/RBMS Katherine Keyes Leab and Daniel J. Leab Exhibition Award for 2014

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Retrieval request form now linked from catalogue records

Patrons can now link directly to the online retrieval form straight from the record in the online catalogue

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Richard Landon's book of essays now out

A Long Way from the Armstrong Beer Parlour, A Life in Rare Books has been released by Oak Knoll Books.

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New Flickr Set Added: Bindings of Victorian Natural History Collection

Bindings with beautiful designs and decorations blocked in gold and other colours speaks to the playful, popularized version of science encouraged in the Victorian Natural History movement.

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Manzoni, Verdi, and the Project of Nation Building

Verdi's Requiem for Manzoni and the context of its composition tell us something about Italian history in the late 19th century.

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I Romani nelle Gallie and its Annotations

Annotated version of this libretto, online on the Internet Archive, lifts the veil on its past.

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Opera and the Popular Consciousness: Donizetti’s Il Furioso

The Fisher holds a copy of the libretto from the opera's opening night featuring the baritone Giorgio Ronconi.

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Libretti Digitization Project Launched

The Fisher holds an extensive collection of Italian libretti printed before 1900, and the collection offers a singular insight into the origin and development of opera.

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McLuhan Library Collection now available