The York University Archives has been recently named in honour of Dr. Clara Thomas, Professor Emirata of English at York University from 1961 to 1984. York University's archives has been a beneficiary of Dr. Thomas' extensive literary connections, moral and financial support, and good will for many years.
In an environment devoted to the pursuit, dissemination and preservation of knowledge, the Clara Thomas Archives offer a steadily expanding array of unique resources to support research and teaching.
Recent acquisitions reflect the themes of the department’s acquisition mandate: Canadian writers, Canadian women, the arts, social reform, and the multi-cultural imagination. Donations during 2005 include:
the research notes and interview recordings created by author, journalist and broadcaster Steve Paikin for his books The Life, The Dark Side and Public Life, Private Tragedy
the course and subject files of Diane Martin that document her career as an academic, lawyer and social activist, including her work with the Innocence Project
scripts, speeches, production records and CBC office files created by Norman Campbell in his role as composer and television producer/director
the daily journal of Hank Kobryn, who served as business agent for Local 700, the Ironworkers, from 1953 to 1969, as well as written decisions that capture his decisions as a member of the Labour Relations Board
New gifts of private papers arrive on a regular basis throughout the year. To learn more about our holdings and how to access them, check out our website at http://www.library.yorku.ca/acs/ArchivesSpecialCollections/index.htm. Faculty are encouraged to contact the University Archivist, Michael Moir, to discuss possible acquisitions of archival records or collections of rare publications currently in private hands that may be useful in supporting current or emerging research initiatives at York University.
