Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1942-1987 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1 box
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Helen Dow was a Professor of Fine Arts at Guelph University. She published articles and a major book on Alex Colville (The Art of Alex Colville. Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 1972). She was a colleague of Colville's at Mount Allison University ca. 1961-1962 and corresponded with him from 1963 onward. She also purchased many of his paintings and drawings.
Name of creator
Biographical history
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Gift of Helen J. Dow, 1987.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
This collection consists primarily of a long sequence of letters from Alex Colville to Helen Dow, many of which contain detailed comments on individual paintings as well as on his aesthetic and philosophical views. In addition, there is correspondence from Colville's wife, Rhoda, thanking Dow for small gifts, and from his daughter, Ann, who worked at Fischer Fine Art Ltd., in London, England, the firm handling Colville's English sales. There is also a copy of Colville's B.A. thesis.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Material may be requested in person at the Fisher Library Reference Desk, or in advance using our online stack retrieval request form: https://aeon.library.utoronto.ca
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
- English
Script of material
Language and script notes
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)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Colville, Alex (Subject)