Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1830-2013 (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
0.52m of artwork
1.2m of textual records
1 videotape
1.03m of photographs and slides
(11 Boxes)
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Barker Fairley is a renowned academic scholar, art and literary critic, author, and artist in the medium of painting. He is a recognized prominent scholar of German literature who has also been impactful in the Canadian art world. Fairley was born in 1887 in Barnsley, Yorkshire, England. He attended the University of Leeds, where he graduated with First Class Honors in both German and French. He then continued his education at Germany’s University of Jena, where he completed his Ph.D.
Fairley remained at the University of Jena from 1907 to 1910. He then accepted a position at the University of Alberta, where he stayed from 1910 to 1915. While working at this institution, Fairley met fellow educator, Margaret Keeling, whom he married in 1914. He accepted a job in the German Department at the University of Toronto in 1915, teaching German literature. Other than a short tenure at the University of Manchester from 1932 to 1936, Fairley taught at University College at the University of Toronto until he retired in 1957.
Fairley was internationally renowned as a key authority on Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. His works included, Goethe as Revealed in His Poetry published in 1932 and A Study of Goethe, printed in 1947. These books by Fairley legitimized his reputation as a prominent German literature scholar, particularly as an expert on Goethe.
Fairley was a member of the Arts & Letters Club of Toronto. While in this club, he came in contact with members of the Group of Seven. Fairley co-founded The Canadian Forum in 1920. It was a resource where he could exercise his thoughts on cultural issues and advocate for Canadian art, with particular interest in the Group of Seven. Both Fairley and Margaret demonstrated their support of the Group of Seven through this publication, despite many critics harshly judging the Group of Seven’s artwork. He demonstrated his loyalty to the Group of Seven, by travelling with them on some of their art expeditions and collecting numerous paintings they created.
The Fairley couple’s life was not without controversy. In March of 1949, Barker and Margaret, who was both an author and political activist, travelled to New York as delegates for the Cultural and Scientific Conference for World Peace at the Waldorf Astoria hotel. During this conference, Margaret was questioned by the United States Immigration Service. Barker and Margaret were deemed a threat to national security and were deported from the country. That same year, Bryn Mawr College invited Barker to provide a lecture on Goethe. However, he was denied entry as he was barred for life to enter the United States of America. Instead, Barker later printed his essays on Goethe.
Fairley pursued being a painter himself when he was 45 with the encouragement of one of his colleagues, Robert Finch. Over time, Fairley adopted a Fauvist approach to his artwork, distinguished by a limited colour palette and spare linework that critics appreciated for both capturing simplicity and emotional undertones. His artwork subjects included still life, portraits, and landscapes. Fairley garnered numerous honours throughout his life, including a variety of honorary degrees and the Order of Canada. After the death of Margaret, Fairley married Nan Purdie who was a key figure in encouraging Fairley’s later pursuits in painting. Fairley died in 1986 at the age of 99 in Toronto.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
The records in this fonds mainly document the biographical, artistic, and academic life of Barker Fairley. The records depict his careers as an educator, artist, and scholar, with an emphasis of materials related to his work with his translations and in the visual arts. Series 1 documents Fairley’s life, including a substantial amount of newspaper clippings that note important moments in Fairley’s life. There are original artwork sketches (Series 2), translations of German works for plays (Series 3), and his works related to Doughty (Series 3). There is a minimal amount of correspondence in Series 3.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
In Series 1 and Series 2 the files are arranged chronologically. In Series 3 the files are arranged in their original order.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
All files are open with the following exception:
- Series 1: B2024-0026/001(01)-(04)
These files have been restricted for conservation of the material. Please contact the University Archivist for additional information.
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
- English
- French
- German
Script of material
Language and script notes
Content in B2024-0026/005(01), B2024-0026/005(54), B2024-0026/002(04),B2024-0026/003(05), B2024-0026/003(07), B2024-0026/004(09), B2024-0026/004(13),B2024-0026/004(14) contains German and content in B2024-0026/005(06) contains French
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Uploaded finding aid
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Accession
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Name access points
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Description control area
Description identifier
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Dates of creation revision deletion
Original finding aid by Sarah Paiva, 2025
Entered into Atom by Sarah Paiva, 2025