City of Toronto
Exhibit Empowers People to Access Toronto’s Archival Records to Explore Their Local History
About the Art
For this project, we include a selection of photographs from the exhibit itself, rather than creating new artworks. The curators of If These Walls Could Talk are Neil Brochu, Supervisor Reference & Outreach, City of Toronto Archives, Sarah Carson, Supervisor Collections Management & Standards, City of Toronto Archives, and Jessica Algie, Reference and Digital Engagement Archivist.
Archival photographs from “If These Walls Could Talk” exhibition curated by staff in the Toronto Archives.
The “If These Walls Could Talk” exhibit tells the stories of 11 unique homes in Toronto, demonstrating how people can easily access and use archival records to discover their local history.
The exhibit, created by staff in the Toronto Archives, tells the unique stories of 11 homes across Toronto, ranging from a Georgian house in the downtown core to a strip mall in the inner suburbs. Each property’s history is plotted through key records, such as building permits, photographs and maps and interactive displays help bring their histories to life.
“If These Walls Could Talk” shows that people do not need to be an archivist or historian to explore the City of Toronto’s archival records. The exhibit illustrates how various tools and resources can be easily accessed and used to make local historical research available to everyone. Through multiple programming avenues such as curated tours and self-guided experiences, visitors to the Toronto Archives can learn how to retrieve archival records and how to use various record types, including maps, photographs, reports, correspondence and more to uncover hidden histories across Toronto.
This exhibit not only educates the public about Toronto’s history, but also promotes the accessibility and importance of archival records. By providing direct access to these resources and demonstrating their use in a creative and engaging way, the exhibit encourages community involvement and helps residents understand the government’s role in documenting local history. This initiative is an example of City of Toronto’s efforts in openness, transparency and civic engagement, educating the public on the vital role of archival resources in preserving history.
All accompanying materials available in English.
