91�Թ� Libraries

Learn long and prosper: 91�Թ�’s Fisher Library becomes ‘eternal archive’ on Star Trek: Discovery

Christopher.Sorensen — Fri, 17 May 2024 20:51:35 +0000

Learn long and prosper: 91�Թ�’s Fisher Library becomes ‘eternal archive’ on Star Trek: Discovery

Christopher.Sorensen Fri, 05/17/2024 - 16:51

Cutline

Hy'Rell (Elena Juatco) leads Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and Book (David Ajala) through the Eternal Archive and Gallery in an episode of Star Trek: Discovery that was filmed in 91�Թ�'s Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library (photo by Marni Grossman/Paramount+)

Adina Bresge

Topic

City & Culture

Culture and Media

Film

Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library

91�Թ� Libraries

Subheadline

The Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library was chosen as a filming location for the latest episode of the sci-fi series because of its unique architecture and "commitment to preservation and the pursuit of knowledge"

The team behind Star Trek: Discovery didn’t have to venture too far into the final frontier to find the perfect venue for a boundless library containing all the knowledge of the universe.

The 91�Թ�’s Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library stars as a complete repository of cosmic wisdom in the latest episode of the sci-fi series, titled “Labyrinths,” which premiered this week and is available to stream on Paramount Plus.

The Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library (photo by 91�Թ� Communications)

With its tiered stacks of timeless tomes, the Fisher library – a brutalist architectural marvel – serves as more than a retro-futuristic TV setting, says Michael Cassabon, director of advancement at 91�Թ� Libraries.

“I think the university is trying to imagine an ideal future and bring it into the present … whether it’s working on inclusion, diversity and equity, or science and exploration,” he says.

“The Star Trek future represents a lot of what we’re trying to materialize.”

A self-proclaimed “Trekkie,” Cassabon says he had to set his fandom aside when reviewing the request to bring the USS Discovery to Fisher Library, which holds about 800,000 volumes and 5,000 linear metres of manuscripts.

Sonequa Martin-Green as Michael Burnham in Star Trek: Discovery (photo by Marni Grossman/Paramount+)

The Toronto-based production has previously filmed at various 91�Թ� locations. However, camera crews rarely gain access to Fisher Library’s valuable stacks and a shoot of this scale was unprecedented, Cassabon says.

The deciding factor? The pivotal role Fisher Library would play in the run-up to the series finale, offering the galaxy a glimpse of the rich trove of knowledge preserved within its walls.

“It was exciting that Fisher Library wouldn’t just be a backdrop,” Cassabon says. “It was like the library itself was a character – a very important character – in the story.

“The Fisher Library is a national treasure, and we thought this was a really good way of making it known to a lot of folks out there.”

The fifth and final season of Star Trek: Discovery sends the crew on an interstellar scavenger hunt to uncover a hidden ancient power. The final clue lies in the “eternal archive,” an infinite library safeguarding the secrets of the universe.

As soon as Star Trek: Discovery location manager Melissa Warry-Smith read the site description, she says only one place came to mind.

“Not only does [Fisher Library] look like it is from the future and could in fact have been plucked directly from the Star Trek universe, but the library’s commitment to preservation and the pursuit of knowledge is intrinsic to the core values of Star Trek,” Warry-Smith says.

Larry Alford, right, university chief librarian, observes filming from a director's chair (photo by Michael Cassabon)

“The library is a stunning example of what we can achieve when we care deeply about preserving and sharing knowledge, and commit to coming together to use that knowledge for a shared vision of a better future for all – and what could be more Star Trek than that?”

This respect for the preservation of knowledge shaped the production team’s approach to shooting the scenes, says Cassabon.

Filming took place overnight to minimize disruption to readers and researchers. The crew worked with Fisher’s librarians and archivists to implement strict protocols to protect its precious collections, including using heat-free lighting to prevent damage to delicate materials.

Cassabon and Larry Alford, university chief librarian at 91�Թ� Libraries, were on set for part of the shoot.

For Cassabon, meeting the show’s cast and crew was a fanboy moment.

“It was super surreal for me,” he says. “These are my childhood heroes.”

Filming took place overnight to minimize disruption to readers and researchers`(photo by Marni Grossman/Paramount+)

Cassabon adds that many researchers, professors and students have drawn inspiration from Star Trek as they look to tackle some of the greatest challenges in the world – and beyond.

Many of the show’s themes are reflected on campus, he says.

For example, the episode’s search through the “eternal archive” echoes the work of a 91�Թ�-led international research collaboration that’s using new techniques to unearth long-hidden stories lurking within Fisher Library and other collections, Cassabon says. And he notes that Star Trek has a nearly six-decade history of breaking new TV ground when it comes diverse representation and inclusivity – another one of the university’s core values.

“So much of Star Trek is imaging a world where … the things that label and divide us have faded away,” Cassabon says. “The university is all about trying to create a more inclusive and just world. It’s all about working together in harmony toward progress.”

Both 91�Թ� and Fisher Library are credited in “Labyrinths,” which is dedicated to “librarians everywhere, dedicated to the preservation of artifacts, knowledge, and truth.”

In photos: Richard Charles Lee Canada-Hong Kong Library marks 15 years as a 'hub for academic exploration’

Christopher.Sorensen — Thu, 28 Mar 2024 14:42:59 +0000

In photos: Richard Charles Lee Canada-Hong Kong Library marks 15 years as a 'hub for academic exploration’

Christopher.Sorensen Thu, 03/28/2024 - 10:42

Cutline

Vivienne Poy, former senator and former 91�Թ� chancellor, cuts a cake celebrating the 15^thanniversary of 91�Թ�’s Richard Charles Lee Canada-Hong Kong Library (photo by Paul Terefenko)

91�Թ� Libraries Staff

Topic

The 91�Թ�’s Richard Charles Lee Canada-Hong Kong Library celebrated its 15th anniversary this week as a hub for academic exploration and cultural dialogue.

The library houses the largest research collection dedicated to Hong Kong and Canada-Hong Kong studies outside of Hong Kong itself – and plays an important role in enriching knowledge and understanding about Hong Kong and its connections with Canada.

It is named after Richard Charles Lee, a prominent figure in Hong Kong and father of Vivienne Poy, a former senator and former 91�Թ� chancellor who played a crucial role in promoting cultural exchange between Canada and Hong Kong.

Larry Alford, 91�Թ�’s university chief librarian, spoke about the library's influence on the community at a reception and open house event.

“From its inception, this library was envisioned not just as a repository of knowledge but as a catalyst for academic exchange and cultural dialogue,” he said, noting that the library leverages Toronto’s unique cultural diversity and plays a pivotal role in nurturing relationships with international students, scholars and researchers.

“Given Toronto's substantial Hong Kong diaspora, the Richard Charles Lee Canada-Hong Kong Library stands as a vital hub for academic exploration. It attracts not just members of the diaspora but also a wider audience from across the metropolitan area, Canada and the world.”

Alford was joined at the event by Poy, who talked about the library's rich history and humble beginnings, and Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, who shared her perspectives on the library's impact on the city and emphasized its significance within the community.

The event also included a Faculty of Music clarinetist’s performance of three iconic Hong Kong songs and a poetry recital by representatives of the 91�Թ� Cantonese Debate Group.

Photographer Paul Terefenko was there to capture the event.

Maria Lau (photo by Paul Terefenko)

Maria Lau, director of the Richard Charles Lee Canada-Hong Kong Library addresses attendees at the reception.

(photo by Paul Terefenko)

Vivienne Poy, former senator and former 91�Թ� chancellor, spoke about the rich history and humble beginnings of the Richard Charles Lee Canada-Hong Kong Library.

(photo by Paul Terefenko)

Mayor Olivia Chow emphasized the significance of the Richard Charles Lee Canada-Hong Kong Library, highlighting its impact not only on university students and Toronto residents, but also on a global scale. She also noted its pivotal role in preserving history and digitally archiving significant items, particularly those of importance to Hong Kong.

(photo by Paul Terefenko)

Clarinetist Jasmine Chan of the Faculty of Music performs for attendees at the event.

(photo by Paul Terefenko)

Vivienne Poy, right, and Neville Poy meet with event attendees.

(photo by Paul Terefenko)

From left to right: Maria Lau, Vivienne Poy, Olivia Chow and Larry Alford.

91�Թ�’s Black History Month Luncheon to mark 22 years of celebrating Black excellence

mattimar — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 20:19:27 +0000

91�Թ�’s Black History Month Luncheon to mark 22 years of celebrating Black excellence

mattimar Thu, 02/01/2024 - 15:19

Cutline

The 22nd edition of the Black History Month Luncheon, to be held at Hart House on Feb. 28, will feature former governor general Michaëlle Jean, top row, middle, as the keynote speaker (photo of Michaëlle Jean by Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty, others by Johnny Guatto and Mariam Matti)

Mariam Matti

Topic

Our Community

Black History Month Luncheon

Black History Month

Division of University Advancement

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Subheadline

The luncheon is one of many events taking place across 91�Թ�’s three campuses during Black History Month

Over the past two decades, the 91�Թ�’s annual Black History Month Luncheon has grown in popularity and significance across 91�Թ�’s three campuses – and beyond.

Glen Boothe, the luncheon’s co-founder, attributes the event’s ongoing success to a “diversity for all” approach that stems from an inspiring mix of Black culture, history and, of course, delicious food.

“It gets bigger every year, and it’s heartening to see because that’s an indication that the message is resonating with more people,” says Boothe, who works for 91�Թ�’s division of advancement.

Michaëlle Jean (photo by Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images)

This year’s luncheon – the 22nd edition of the event – will be held inside the Great Hall at Hart House on Feb. 28 and will feature keynote speaker Michaëlle Jean, the former governor general of Canada. She will be joined by spoken-word poet – and Ontario’s first poet laureate – Randell Adjei.

Boothe encourages those who cannot attend in-person to organize a viewing party and watch the livestream of the luncheon, which will be emailed to individuals who register for the event.

The luncheon will also have a separate program – and livestream – for students from high schools across Greater Toronto. They will be joined by Dalton Higgins, an author and journalist, Esie Mensah, a choreographer who has worked with Drake and Rihanna, Aiza, a singer and songwriter, Brandon Gonez, the CEO of Gonez Media, and Stacey McKenzie, a model and motivational speaker.

“We like to showcase the idea of Black excellence, especially to the high school students, to say to them, ‘This is what you can aspire to,’” Boothe says.

In 2022, 91�Թ� established the Black History Month Luncheon Award and committed to matching donations up to a total of $50,000. The award supports a Black undergraduate student in financial need. Air Canada is one of the sponsors of the event and has donated airline tickets for a raffle. The lunch is also sponsored by Coca-Cola and TD Bank.

Randell Adjei (photo by Jeremychanphotography/Getty Images)

The luncheon is one of many events across 91�Թ�’s three campuses that mark Black History Month.

From workshops to events highlighting Black authors, 91�Թ� Mississauga has a full program of Black History Month events, including a dinner and a welcome ceremony on Feb. 2 in the Kaneff Centre rotunda.

At 91�Թ� Scarborough, a tri-campus event called Our Stories on Feb. 7 will elevate the voices of international students with a focus on Black History Month – one of several events happening on the campus in February.

On the St. George campus, there’s a wide array of Black History Month events and programming offered by faculties, departments and other campus organizations. Details can be found at the Anti-Racism & Cultural Diversity Office, Hart House and 91�Թ� Libraries, among others. They include a series of free events – organized by libraries at 91�Թ�, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto Public Library and York University – to improve coverage of Black histories on Wikipedia and Wikidata, and a student-run Black hackathon organized by the 91�Թ� chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers.

As for the luncheon, Booth says he is thankful for the ongoing support.

“Initially this was an event within our community and now I feel everybody’s support and excitement.”

91�Թ� marks Orange Shirt Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Christopher.Sorensen — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 19:58:33 +0000

91�Թ� marks Orange Shirt Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Christopher.Sorensen Fri, 09/29/2023 - 15:58

Cutline

Attendees wear orange shirts at a tri-campus event at Hart House ahead of Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (photo by Polina Teif)

Adina Bresge

Topic

Our Community

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Ontario Institute for Studies in Education

Subheadline

Events took place across the three campuses in advance of Sept. 30

The 91�Թ� community came together to commemorate Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation by honouring survivors of Canada’s residential school system, reflecting on its lasting impact on Indigenous communities and recommitting to reconciliation.

Attendees packed the Great Hall at Hart House for a tri-campus event Friday, with hundreds more tuning into a livestream – one of several events across the university’s three campuses in advance of Sept. 30.

The Hart House event included a panel discussion on the Indian Residential School Survivors’ Storybase, a project at 91�Թ� Libraries that aims to make the stories of residential school survivors more accessible by compiling accounts from across the internet into a single searchable resource.

From left: Angela Henshilwood, Desmond Wong, Mikayla Redden and Grant Hurley (photo by Polina Teif)

Mikayla Redden, information services and instruction librarian at New College Library, says storytelling was instrumental in shedding light on the horrors of the residential school system and she hopes the storybase can be a tool to help address its ongoing harms.

“Stories are a huge part of the reason that we know the truth, the courage of residential school survivors in telling their stories for decades – even in the face of disbelief and denial from the Canadian masses,” Redden said.

“They're the reason we're here today. They are the reason for this day. They're the reason for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and everything that resulted from it.”

From left: Ayeza Ahmad, Alexandra Gillespie, David Kim and Rose Patten (photo by David Lee)

Redden, who is a mixed-race woman of Anishinaabe and Anglo settler heritage, says library staff met last year to discuss ways they could go beyond reading lists to amplify the voices of residential school survivors, their families and communities.

They wanted the project to meet an educational need without “taking” from Indigenous Peoples by enlisting their labour or exacerbating intergenerational trauma, Redden said.

“Canadians of all ages, from all walks of life can access the storybase, and they can use these stories, to listen to more of the truth, and learn and unlearn,” Redden said. “Hopefully, they can take what they've learned, encourage others to do the same and turn the emotions that they are feeling … into an action. And that's what reconciliation is, it's an action.”

From left: Andrew Bomberry and John Croutch of the Office of Indigenous Initiatives (photo by Polina Teif)

Redden was joined on the panel by Grant Hurley, Canadiana librarian at the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, and Desmond Wong, outreach librarian at OISE Library, in a discussion moderated by Angela Henshilwood, head of the Engineering & Computer Science Library.

David Kim, warden of Hart House, emceed Friday’s commemoration, which also featured remarks by Alexandra Gillespie, 91�Թ� vice-president and principal of 91�Թ� Mississauga.

Gillespie thanked 91�Թ� Mississauga student MJ Singleton for designing the orange shirts worn by many at the event, which shows a mother holding hands and walking forward with her two children beneath the words “Every child matters.”

91�Թ� Chancellor Rose Patten described the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as “one of the most important days in the life of our community and our country.”

The Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy building is lit up orange (photo by Steve Barratt)

“In so many ways, Canadians have only begun to take and show responsibility for this,” Patten said at the event. “And doing so requires an unfaltering commitment from all of us.”

After the event, First Nations House hosted a fire for Indigenous community members in the Earth Sciences Courtyard.

Also on Friday, Professor Kisha Supernant of the University of Alberta gave a talk at New College about her research using ground-penetrating radar to identify the sites of potential unmarked graves at former residential schools and her work with Indigenous communities to preserve the sites.

Meanwhile, at 91�Թ� Scarborough Campus Farm, footage of the Indigenous Garden was livestreamed from sunrise to sunset.

Earlier in the week, Orange Shirt Beading Workshops were held at the St. George, 91�Թ� Mississauga and 91�Թ� Scarborough campuses.

Flags will be lowered to half-mast across 91�Թ�’s three campuses on Sept. 29 ahead of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which is formally recognized across Canada on Sept. 30.

Members of the Indigenous 91�Թ� community in need of support can reach out to:

The National Indian Residential School Crisis Line (1-866-925-4419)

Students:

91�Թ� Telus Help Student Support can be accessed 24-7.

Other mental health resources, programs and supports are available through the student mental health resource page.

Staff and faculty:

Employee and Family Assistance Program (1-800-663-1142)

Survivors' Flag raised on 91�Թ�'s three campuses

Christopher.Sorensen — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 13:23:39 +0000

Survivors' Flag raised on 91�Թ�'s three campuses

Christopher.Sorensen Mon, 09/25/2023 - 09:23

Cutline

The Survivors' Flag flies alongside the Varsity Blues and 91�Թ� flags at Varsity Stadium on the St. George campus (photo by Jason Wang)

Jelena Damjanovic

Topic

Our Community

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Orange Shirt Day

Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education

Hart House

New College

91�Թ� Libraries

Subheadline

91�Թ� will mark Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with an event in advance of Sept. 30

As the 91�Թ� community prepares to mark Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the Survivors’ Flag, which honours Indigenous lives and communities impacted by the residential school system in Canada, has been raised on each of its three campuses.

On the St. George campus, the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education (KPE), in partnership with First Nations House and the 91�Թ� Office of Indigenous Initiatives, raised the Survivors’ Flag at Varsity Stadium last week. It will be lowered to half-mast on Sept. 30 when the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is formally recognized across Canada.

Professor Gretchen Kerr, dean of the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education, said the flag is an important sign of support and solidarity with Indigenous communities.

“Public commemoration of the painful history of Canada’s residential school system, whose tragic consequences continue to reverberate today, is a vital component of the reconciliation process,” said Kerr. “It’s also a time for settlers to reflect on taking action to strengthen relationships with Indigenous Peoples and build a better future together.

“I take this opportunity to invite all students, staff and faculty members of KPE to attend Truth and Reconciliation events where their schedule permits and to spend some time reflecting on their own efforts towards reconciliation.”

91�Թ� will commemorate Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with a tri-campus event on Sept. 29 in the Great Hall at Hart House that can be attended in person or watched via YouTube livestream. It will feature remarks by Alexandra Gillespie, 91�Թ� vice-president and principal of 91�Թ� Mississauga, and 91�Թ� Chancellor Rose Patten.

Emceed by Hart House warden David Kim, the event includes a panel discussion on making residential school survivors' stories accessible at 91�Թ� libraries. The panel, moderated by Angela Henshilwood, head of the Engineering and Computer Science Library, features Grant Hurley, Canadiana librarian at the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, Mikayla Redden, information services and Instruction librarian at New College Library, and Desmond Wong, outreach librarian, OISE Library.

“There is no way to quantify the trauma suffered by the victims and survivors of residential and day schools. Yet this trauma has been shared – as Phyllis Webstad did by recalling the childhood experience that gives Orange Shirt Day its name,” Kelly Hannah-Moffat, 91�Թ�’s vice-president of people strategy, equity and culture, said in a statement.

“I urge non-Indigenous members of the 91�Թ� community to seek out this and other survivors’ stories to gain greater knowledge, to foster deeper compassion, and to strengthen your resolve to engage in work that restores mutual respect and understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.”

Margaret Atwood reveals she’s writing a memoir: NBC’s Today

Christopher.Sorensen — Wed, 08 Mar 2023 16:20:26 +0000

Margaret Atwood reveals she’s writing a memoir: NBC’s Today

Christopher.Sorensen Wed, 03/08/2023 - 11:20

Cutline

(image courtesy of David Fernandez, Fisher Library)

Topic

Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library

91�Թ� Libraries

Victoria College

Her bibliography includes more than 50 titles spanning fiction, poetry and essays, but author Margaret Atwood says she’s tackling new terrain in her next book: her own story.

Atwood revealed on the NBC’s Today show that she’s working on a memoir – a project she’d previously denied any interest in tackling.

“That’s the kind of thing you say in your youth,” Atwood, 83, told host Jenna Bush Hager during an interview shot inside the 91�Թ�’s Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library. “You say that when you’re maybe 70.”

Atwood – who completed her bachelor’s degree at Victoria College and was a 91�Թ� writer-in-residence in 1972 – talked about her latest collection of short stories, Old Babes in the Wood, and leafed through selections from her extensive archives housed at Fisher, which may serve as a useful resource as Atwood turns her pen on herself. “You can’t just make stuff up,” she says.

Back in the studio, Bush Hager told her Today co-hosts she was excited to spend time with Atwood at her alma mater. “91�Թ� was where Margaret did her undergrad, so it was very cool to be back there with her,” Bush Hager said, thanking Thomas Fisher for hosting the interview. “They very rarely let people film there, but of course, when the queen of Canadian literature comes, they roll out the red carpet.”

Watch the Today Interview

‘That object has a story’: Alexandra Gillespie on CBC’s Metro Morning

lanthierj — Fri, 09 Dec 2022 20:37:23 +0000

‘That object has a story’: Alexandra Gillespie on CBC’s Metro Morning

lanthierj Fri, 12/09/2022 - 15:37

Cutline

Professor Alexandra Gillespie heads the Old Books New Science Lab at 91�Թ� Mississauga (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Topic

Research and Innovation

Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library

91�Թ� Libraries

91�Թ� Mississauga

At first glance, the dusty and worn pages of an old book from centuries ago might not seem to reveal more than their written content. But a closer look unlocks a treasure trove of knowledge, Professor Alexandra Gillespie told CBC Radio’s Metro Morning on Dec. 8.

Hidden Stories: New Approaches to the Local and Global History of the Book is the latest in a series of projects co-ordinated by the research team at the 91�Թ� Mississauga’s Old Books New Science Lab, led by Gillespie, who is also a 91�Թ� vice-president and the principal of 91�Թ� Mississauga. It aims to explore the systems, peoples and cultures that make a book, including its physical and biological properties that reveal new knowledge.

“When you love books, you don’t only love the thing that you’re reading, you also love the object that’s in your hands, and that object has a story to tell,” Gillespie told host Ismaila Alfa. “We’re also really interested in the books whose stories haven’t been told…The story of media is not a straight line from Gutenberg to Zuckerburg. On the contrary, it’s a rich line with many forking paths that takes in all parts of the world.”

The Hidden Stories project examines manuscripts in the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library and across the world including China, Ethiopia, east Africa, North America, Tunisia and Nepal.

Listen to the CBC Radio interview

Hidden Stories Project: 91�Թ� researchers lead international collaboration on centuries-old books

lanthierj — Tue, 06 Dec 2022 20:14:13 +0000

Hidden Stories Project: 91�Թ� researchers lead international collaboration on centuries-old books

lanthierj Tue, 12/06/2022 - 15:14

Cutline

Researchers analyze a manuscript as part of the The Book and Silk Roads project. UTM Old Books New Science Lab is co-ordinating a follow-up project, Hidden Stories, which has received funding from the Mellon Foundation. (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Topic

Research and Innovation

Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library

91�Թ� Libraries

91�Թ� Mississauga

At first glance, the dusty and worn pages of an old book from centuries ago might not reveal more than their written content. But a closer look unlocks a treasure trove of knowledge.

It’s those obscured treasures – hidden stories – that 91�Թ� researchers want to uncover.

91�Թ� is launching a collaborative and interdisciplinary project entitled Hidden Stories: New Approaches to the Local and Global History of the Book, funded by the Mellon Foundation. The Mellon Foundation has given a $2.69 million grant for the next four years to support the project, which involves a collaboration with 130 researchers – humanists, scientists, librarians, curators, conservators and others – at 91�Թ� and from 60 institutions across the world.

It’s the latest in a series of projects in global book history co-ordinated by the research team at UTM’s Old Books New Science Lab.

“I became really interested in the way that there were stories about books that could be told that were not only about the texts that are in them,” says 91�Թ� Vice-President and 91�Թ� Mississauga Principal Alexandra Gillespie, who leads the Old Books New Science Lab.

“That’s this ‘hidden stories’ idea, that there are stories about the makers of books, the users of books, that leave all kinds of traces that are non-textual.”

The Hidden Stories project will run from November 2022 to January 2027 and aims to explore the systems, peoples and cultures that make a book, including its physical and biological properties that reveal new knowledge. Everything from fungal growth on its pages to the trade routes involved in the materials used to make the book will be studied.

Alexandra Gillespie, vice-president and principal of 91�Թ� Mississauga, and principal investigator for the Hidden Stories project, joins researchers working on The Book and the Silks Roads project, March 2022. (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

This latest project is named after a public exhibition displayed at the Aga Khan Museum from October 2021 to February 2022. That display, which included contributions from 91�Թ�, the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library and other collaborators, showcased manuscripts including a 17th century manuscript of the Bhagavad Gita from Kashmir.

The Hidden Stories project examines manuscripts in the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library and across the world including China, Ethiopia, East Africa, North America, Tunisia and Nepal.

Some of these books are so fragile that opening them to read would destroy the manuscript. To get past this hurdle and access its contents, researchers conduct micro-CT scans of the book, layer by layer – not page by page. Because the pages are wavy, and both the ink and the page are made of carbon, reconstructing a 3D model of the scanned layers involves the use of AI.

The project leaders are Gillespie, Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) Professor Suzanne Conklin Akbari, and 91�Թ� Libraries (UTL) IT Director Sian Meikle, who will provide oversight for project goals and outcomes. Akbari was a professor at 91�Թ� for nearly 25 years, including serving as director for the Centre for Medieval Studies between 2013 and 2018 before moving to IAS in New Jersey. She was the co-curator for the Aga Khan Museum exhibition from which the project sprang.

Jessica Lockhart (Photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

“We’re working together to preserve and share the knowledge of the past,” says Jessica Lockhart, the Old Books New Science Lab’s head of research, calling this the “most ambitious project” the lab has ever undertaken.

The results of the research will be made available through open-source code, open data repositories, academic publications, media posts, podcasts, videos and exhibits.

UTL project librarian Rachel Di Cresce will direct the project’s technical development and approach to intellectual property, data rights, data sovereignty, sustainability, curation and preservation. IAS research associate Melissa Moreton will co-ordinate individual research clusters based all over the globe, from South Asia to the Americas.

A component of the project is to find better ways to conserve old manuscripts. While some of the books are too fragile to open, other manuscripts made of parchment degrade through a process of gelatinizing. “It’s where the page starts to physically break down on the molecular level,” Lockhart says. “We don’t really have a good conservation solution for that, so that’s part of the work.”

Other conservation issues include what’s known as the carbon black problem. CT scans of books with charcoal ink reveal that the ink and the page are both made of carbon, which makes it difficult to distinguish in a scan, as is the case with some 16th century Kashmiri birchbark manuscripts. Researchers have turned to machine learning, imaging scientists, Sanskrit scholars, librarians and conservators to figure out how to conserve the book and read it.

But the project is much more than scanning old books. In addition to imaging and machine learning, it includes DNA analysis, ecosystem analysis, data management and cataloging. It also involves directing funding toward communities of origins – the communities where the manuscripts were initially found.

PhD student Arka Chakraborty holds a palm leaf manuscript. (Photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

One of the project’s primary investigators, Gillespie is interested in "disrupting the traditional narrative about the arrival of printing in Western Europe” which, she explains, is “inconsistent with pre-modern textual culture.”

That narrative, which she refers to as the “Gutenberg myth,” is that the arrival of printing in Western Europe in the 15th century is what produced modernity.

But Hidden Stories aims to change this narrative by studying diverse and creative ways of knowledge-sharing that have existed millennia before the development of the printing press in Europe. Those stories range from the squashed bug flattened between the pages of an old book to textual traditions in non-Western societies that were suppressed by colonialism or Western scholarship.

“The stories we tell about the past shape the way we live in the present,” Gillespie says.

“Recovering knowledge people have ignored, neglected, stolen or excluded, recovering knowledge, sharing it, doing it truthfully, openly, is necessary for our world to thrive,” she adds. "It's also a tool for cultural resilience – a way of giving hope for the future by affirming the cultural vitality of the past."

(Photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Among the project’s most important collaborators are members from Indigenous communities, including the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Munsee Delaware Nation, both located in what is now Ontario. Since the Munsee homeland is in what is now New York and New Jersey, that collaboration is carried on through IAS faculty. Meanwhile in Nepal, 91�Թ� collaborators are working with the local community to clean and catalog a collection of manuscripts in a monastery.

Akbari says the project developed organically and soon spread into a web of connections of interested researchers.

“It started very early on with conversations among medievalists at Toronto,” she says. She hopes Hidden Stories will generate research, speak to a wider public, create exhibitions and effect change in curricula.

“The book is a conduit that lets us find ourselves in the past,” she says. “It’s about the different ways of accessing the past, telling those stories in a good way, respecting the evidence and respecting how people have told the story over time.”

91�Թ� celebrates official opening of Robarts Common

Christopher.Sorensen — Tue, 13 Sep 2022 13:19:08 +0000

91�Թ� celebrates official opening of Robarts Common

Christopher.Sorensen Tue, 09/13/2022 - 09:19

Cutline

Robarts Common, the new five-story addition to Robarts Library, provides room for 1,200 students to study in quiet or to socialize in soundproofed rooms and accessible spaces (photo by Matt Volpe)

Topic

The 91�Թ� community recently gathered at a special ceremony to formally open Robarts Common, the new five-story addition to Robarts Library that was designed as a dedicated space for students.

With ample natural light, room for 1,200 students to study in quiet or socialize in soundproofed rooms and accessible spaces for the entire U of T community, Robarts Common is a human-centred, collaborative area. Opening in advance of the 50th anniversary of Robarts Library, Robarts Common is part of a wider revitalization of the iconic building in the heart of U of T’s downtown campus.

The stunning new space was made possible through the support of a generous gift from the late Russell and Katherine Morrison, along with support from more than one thousand other donors.

“Russell and Katherine Morrison understood well the library’s central place in a student’s intellectual development and educational experience,” said 91�Թ� President Meric Gertler at the official Robarts Common opening ceremony on Sept. 9. “They were profoundly dedicated to ensuring that U of T students would have access to the very best library and study spaces – state-of-the-art, comfortable and beautiful. And through their vision and generosity, they have done just that, together with the many other donors who have made these light-filled spaces possible.”

A dream to create an amazing space for students

“Dedicated spaces like the new Robarts Common are vital not just for the student experience but also as a way to encourage more open inquiry and research, more democratic debate and more civic engagement – all critical factors in the future success of our country and, indeed, our world,” said Chair of 91�Թ�’s Governing Council Janet L. Ecker.

“Robarts Common is the realization of a dream shared by my late parents, along with so many others who gave generously to help create this amazing space,” said Robert Morrison, the son of Russell and Katherine. “This glorious new building will highlight the importance of the library in student life, and will inspire discovery, daring creativity, and a life-long thirst for knowledge.”

The Morrisons, who donated $40 million to U of T, were both ardent supporters of 91�Թ� Libraries. Katherine Morrison was among the first generation of students to use Robarts, which opened in 1973, and she recalled spending most of her time there during her graduate studies – a key factor in the Morrisons’ inspiration to support Robarts Common. The university awarded Russell and Katherine Morrison honorary degrees in 2004 in recognition of their tremendous dedication to students and higher education.

Devoted entirely to student use, the new addition is a “campus living room” and is available to anyone from across U of T’s three campuses. Robarts Common includes hundreds of spots for quiet reading, eight dedicated group study rooms, ample, comfortable seating and full connectivity. The addition represents a significant enhancement for the nearly 18,000 daily visitors to Robarts Library.

A campus jewel, Robarts Common was supported by more than a thousand donors

“Robarts Common reflects U of T Libraries’ global stature, and our special place at the heart of the U of T community,” said 91�Թ� Chief Librarian Larry Alford. “It is a crown jewel for the university libraries, a much-needed element of the revitalization of the historic Robarts Library, and an extension of our work not just in supporting our community – but building it.”

“[Robarts Common] will only amplify Robarts Library’s role as U of T’s heart,” said Rion Levy, who is a third year Faculty of Arts & Science student at Victoria College studying literature and critical theory and material culture and semiotics, as well as co-editor-in-chief of The Strand newspaper. “Its student-centred architecture and design has already drawn students in, and I’m sure it will quickly become a favourite spot for all kinds of scholars here.”

The official opening of Robarts Common comes during the first year of 91�Թ�’s Defy Gravity campaign, which aims to raise $4 billion towards the university’s highest priorities as well as inspire 225,000 alumni to get involved as volunteers, mentors, donors, participants and leaders, and contribute their time and talent to the university one million times collectively.

“Robarts Common embodies the spirit of Defy Gravity and how U of T and 91�Թ� Libraries continue to re-imagine the role of the modern library as a symbol of free and open inquiry,” said David Palmer, U of T vice-president, advancement. “This is a people-focused place for scholars at every level, who will forge bold new ideas and life-long connections – impacting not only their lives, but the wider world.”

91�Թ� mourns the death of Queen Elizabeth II, lowers flags to half-mast

Christopher.Sorensen — Thu, 08 Sep 2022 23:35:48 +0000

91�Թ� mourns the death of Queen Elizabeth II, lowers flags to half-mast

Christopher.Sorensen Thu, 09/08/2022 - 19:35

Cutline

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who died at the age of 96, was the longest-serving monarch in British history (photo by Tim Graham/Getty Images)

Rahul Kalvapalle

Topic

Global Lens

Princess Margaret Cancer Centre

Sinai Health

Faculty of Arts & Science

Massey College

Meric Gertler

Mount Sinai Hospital

Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy

Queen

Royalty

St. George

Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library

91�Թ� Libraries

91�Թ� Mississauga

91�Թ� Scarborough

The 91�Թ� is mourning the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-serving monarch in British history, who visited the university on numerous occasions.

Flags on all three 91�Թ� campuses are being lowered to half-mast in memory of the Queen, who died Thursday at Balmoral Castle in Scotland at the age of 96. They will remain at half-mast until the day of her state funeral.

The university will also mark the event by having carillonists play the bells in Soldiers’ Tower on Friday at noon, tolling the largest bell once for each year of the Queen’s age at the time of her passing. The royal anthem and O Canada will also be played.

91�Թ� President Meric Gertler said the 91�Թ� community joins all Canadians in mourning the loss of the sovereign, noting that, before acceding to the throne, she promised to devote her life to the service of her people.

“She fulfilled that promise with unparalleled grace and dignity, and in so doing set a magnificent example for us all,” President Gertler said in a statement. “Her unfailing devotion to duty has been a constant source of strength and continuity for generations of Canadians as well as countless others around the world.

“Indeed, it is difficult to imagine a world without her.”

Flags fly at half mast at, from left to right, 91�Թ� Mississauga, St. George and 91�Թ� Scarborough to mark the Queen’s death on Sept. 8, 2022 (photos by Nick Iwanyshyn, Johnny Guatto and Raquel Russell)

He also highlighted the Queen’s contributions to international peace and solidarity through the Commonwealth and noted the 91�Թ� community has been enriched by the contributions of students, faculty, librarians, staff and alumni who arrived from or live in fellow Commonwealth countries.

“In tribute to Her Majesty, in this time of sadness and in the years to come, let us remember and learn from her life of dedicated and extraordinarily generous service to others, and give thanks for a life very well lived.”

Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh are greeted at Hart House by 91�Թ� Chancellor Vincent Massey (Walter F. Mackenzie/91�Թ� Archives)

The Queen’s passing comes 14 months after her husband Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, died aged 99.

Princess Elizabeth visits Hart House with 91�Թ� Chancellor Vincent Massey on Oct.13, 1951 (Walter F. Mackenzie/91�Թ� Archives)

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that it is with the “heaviest of hearts” that Canadians learned of the passing of the country’s longest-reigning sovereign.

“For most Canadians, we have known no other Sovereign. Queen Elizabeth II was a constant presence in our lives. Time and again, Her Majesty marked Canada’s modern history,” he said in a statement.

Born Elizabeth Alexandra Mary on April 21, 1926, Queen Elizabeth II ascended to the crown in 1952 at age 25. She went on to become the longest-reigning monarch in British history, marking her Platinum Jubilee this past February.

She is to be succeeded as monarch by her eldest son Charles, Prince of Wales – now King Charles III.

David Onley, former lieutenant governor of Ontario and a senior lecturer in the department of political science at 91�Թ� Scarborough, said he has warm recollections of meeting the Queen at Buckingham Palace in 2008.

“The experience my wife and I had was quite amazing to us in that the conversation was not superficial. The Queen really engaged in our conversation,” Onley said.

He added that the Queen took great interest in the results of Canada’s federal election, which had taken place the night before. “I was really quite amazed as to how well-briefed she was. She wanted to know about Stephen Harper, she wanted to know about why the Liberals had lost so badly on that occasion – so it wasn’t just a superficial chit-chat.

“At the same time, I would say that she interacted with everybody like that – and that was one of the fundamental reasons for her passing being felt by so many people. Because everybody has stories – if you met the Queen, you had a story – and that was because of her degree of engagement.”

Onley said the Queen’s impeccable reputation during her seven-decade reign – he noted that her first prime minister was Winston Churchill and her last, the recently elected Elizabeth Truss; and that she had met all but one of the U.S. presidents since the Second World War – was testament to her complete devotion to the role.

“This is a particular accomplishment, and you would not have that kind of reputation if you were just effectively mailing in the responsibilities,” Onley said. “She saw it as a lifetime of service and executed that service right to the very end.”

He added that the frequency and range of the Queen’s visits to Ontario and Canada “give you the sense of the degree of interest that she had in this province, and other provinces as well.”

Queen Elizabeth II attends the Festival of Ontario at the CNE in 2002, making a stop in front of the 91�Թ� Blue Sky Solar Racing Team’s display (photo via Flickr)

Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh visited Toronto seven times, with their first visit taking place in 1951, four months before the Queen’s coronation. On that occasion, the royal couple were driven to the steps of Hart House, where they waved to cheering crowds and posed for photos.

In 1973, the Queen returned to Toronto and laid the cornerstone for the new Mount Sinai Hospital, part of Sinai Health and one of 91�Թ�’s partner hospitals. The hospital is located next to Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, named in honour of the Queen’s sister.

In 2002, the royal couple visited Toronto again during the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, which coincided with 91�Թ�’s 175^th anniversary. During the celebrations, the Queen visited a 91�Թ� display where she spoke with undergraduate students from the Blue Sky Solar Racing team who were present with their solar-powered car.

“I recall that the Queen had such a presence,” said Nicolle Wahl, director of content in 91�Թ� Mississauga’s Office of Communications, who was present at the 91�Թ� display. “[She was] very warm and curious – and it was wonderful to see how excited the students were to meet her.”

A letter written by Princess Elizabeth to 91�Թ� Chancellor Vincent Massey dated Feb. 17, 1952 (photo by Larysa Woloszansky)

The Queen’s 22^ndand final tour of Canada took place in 2010 and included a visit to Queen’s Park – named in honour of her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria and located amid 91�Թ�’s St. George campus – where she presented Ontario Medals for Good Citizenship and waved to thousands of cheering well-wishers.

The Queen’s impact on 91�Թ� did not end with her last visit to Toronto, however. In 2017, Massey College announced that the Queen agreed to designate the college’s St. Catherine’s Chapel as the third Chapel Royal in Canada, which made it the first interdenominational Chapel Royal in the country.The request for the designation was made by John Fraser, then the master of Massey College, with the support of the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation. It was inspired in part by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action.

91�Թ�’s Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library has one of 25 souvenir Bibles created to mark the Queen’s coronation in 1953 (photo by Johnny Guatto)

The Queen’s ties with Massey College can be traced back to her close relationship with the college’s founder Vincent Massey, who was Canada’s 18^th Governor General and a 91�Թ� chancellor from 1947 to 1953.

Letters written by the Queen to Massey – and preserved at 91�Թ�’s Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library – speak to a warm personal rapport.

In one letter dated February 1952, the Queen responded to a letter of condolence sent to her by Massey upon the passing of her father, King George VI. In her letter, the Queen expresses her gratitude for Massey’s condolences and notes that her father was in much better condition when Massey had last met him, but had then taken a turn for the worse. The Queen also states her regret at the fact that she was on a tour in Africa when her father died and was saddened by not being able to be home to comfort and console her mother and sister.

Another letter written from Balmoral Castle – where the Queen would eventually take her last breath – thanked Massey for being a great governor general. In another letter to Massey, written from Buckingham Palace in 1957, the Queen recounts her visit to the United States.

A letter written by Queen Elizabeth II to Vincent Massey on the occasion of his retirement as governor general of Canada (photo by Johnny Guatto)

The Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library is also in possession of one of 25 souvenir Bibles created to mark the Queen’s coronation in 1953. Bible #1 was used for the coronation ceremony – the Queen gifted Bible #17 to Massey.

Randall Hansen, professor in the department of political science in the Faculty of Arts & Science and the director of the global migration lab at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, said the Queen’s many accomplishments include overseeing a modernization of the monarchy – noting as examples her decision to agree to pay income tax and the landmark wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

“Leaving aside how it all ended, the marriage of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry was a moment of a highly modern monarchy – an inter-racial marriage and a Black Baptist American minister who oversaw the service.”

He added that the Queen’s son and heir to the throne will benefit from the prestige of the monarchy and the Queen’s impact on the institution.

“It is the institution of the Crown, it is the institution of the monarchy that bestows the prestige … that institution will bequeath on him the full prestige of the monarchy,” Hansen said. “I suspect that he’s going to be quite a successful King.”

Hansen said it was remarkable that Queen Elizabeth II, over the course of an extraordinarily long reign, was not embroiled in a scandal of any significance.

“The Queen somehow managed to be above all of that, decade after decade after decade.”