Mary F. Williamson (1933- ), Senior Librarian and Fine Arts Bibliographer, York University; M.A. and M.L.S. (University of Toronto). Williamson's research has focused on the early literature of Canadian art, on printmaking and book illustration in Canada in the nineteenth century, on art librarianship, and on the history of food and cookery. She has taught art librarianship at various graduate library schools in North America, and has published numerous articles on Canadian wood engraving, book and periodical illustration, art librarianship and culinary history. Italian baroque drawings have been a special interest for many years and examples from her collection have been lent to exhibitions in Canada and abroad. She has contributed articles to various encyclopaedias including: 'The Grove Dictionary of Art' (2000) and 'The History of the Book in Canada' vols. 1 and 2 (2004-2005). Her major publications include: 'The Art and Pictorial Press in Canada' with Karen McKenzie (1979); 'Art and Architecture in Canada : A Bibliography and Guide to the Literature' with Loren Lerner (1991); and 'Toronto Dancing Then and Now' (1995). Williamson has also been active with professional librarian associations, and as a private citizen in local residents' associations.
published
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Final
F0098
ON00370
The fonds consists of material which documents Williamson's career as a fine arts bibliographer, librarian and instructor along with associated professional and scholarly activities. It includes correspondence and reports prepared for collection acquisitions (e.g. Germain Bazin library, archives and postcard collection), other library initiatives, interactions with various library departments, and departments in the Faculty of Fine Arts including visual arts, dance, and theatre; material related to her work on YUFA, PLAYU (Professional Librarians Association of York University), the Librarians' Group, and other York University and library committees; exhibition catalogues, monographs, articles and conference presentations authored by Williamson; and research materials, grant files and teaching files. The fonds also includes a collection of letters and photographs that Williamson sent home during her stay at various summer camps between 1940 and 1951, material related to the Moore Park Ratepayers' Association, and a collection that Williamson acquired consisting of 63 photocopied letters from literary and artistic figures in Canada such as Susanna Moodie and George Munro Grant, addressed to Louisa Murray (1818-1894), literary critic and writer on feminist issues.
Donated by Mary F. Williamson in 1979, 1991, 1992, 1998, 2000 and 2004. Accrual 1979-007 resulted from Williamson's visit to Boston, Massachusetts in 1978, when she met Louisa Murray King, owner of the originals of these letters received by King's ancestor, Louisa Annie Murray.
The fonds comprises the following accessions: 1979-007, 1991-021, 1992-024, 1998-013, 2000-030, 2004-027, 2012-039. Further accruals are expected.
The location of the original letters that were reproduced for the 1979-007 accrual is unknown. Mrs. King, the owner, died February 15, 1998.
Related records may be found in the York University Libraries fonds (F066); the Faculty of Fine Arts fonds (F059); and the Sussex Area Residents' Association collection (F0421).
Other records may be found in the Mary F. Williamson fonds at Trent University, Ontario, and in the Alister Mathews fonds at Queen's University, Ontario. Photocopies of material relating to Louisa Annie Murray are also held at the National Gallery of Canada.
Files in accession 1992-024 containing personal salary information on third-parties are restricted.
File lists are available.
Fonds-level description available at: http://archivesfa.library.yorku.ca/fonds/ON00370-f0000098.htm
File list for accession 1979-007 available at: http://archivesfa.library.yorku.ca/filelist/1979-007.098.htm
File list for accession 1991-021 available at: http://archivesfa.library.yorku.ca/filelist/1991-021.098.htm
File list for accession 1992-024 available at: http://archivesfa.library.yorku.ca/filelist/1992-024.098.htm
File list for accession 1998-013 available at: http://archivesfa.library.yorku.ca/filelist/1998-013.098.htm
File list for accession 2000-030 available at: http://archivesfa.library.yorku.ca/filelist/2000-030.098.htm
File list for accession 2004-027 available at: http://archivesfa.library.yorku.ca/filelist/2004-027.098.htm
File list for accession 2012-039 available at: http://archivesfa.library.yorku.ca/filelist/2012-039.098.htm