Fonds - Fr. Dan Donovan fonds

Correspondence

Identity area

Reference code

Title

Fr. Dan Donovan fonds

Date(s)

  • 1980 - 2023 (Creation)

Level of description

Fonds

Extent and medium

46.4 cm of textual records. - 2 books. - 1 DVD.

Context area

Name of creator

(1937-)

Biographical history

Father Daniel Donovan is a Canadian theologian, priest, and contemporary art collector. Born in Toronto in 1937, Father Donovan completed his undergraduate degree at St. Michael’s College and later studied theology at Université Laval in Quebec City from 1958 to 1962. As a continuation of his graduate studies, he spent four years in Europe where he acquired a Licentiate in Sacred Theology (SSL) from the Biblical Institute in Rome, and a doctorate degree from the University of Münster in Germany.

Father Donovan returned to Canada in 1967. In 1971, he began teaching in the Faculty of Theology at St. Michael’s College. Although retired in 2002, he continues to teach part-time in the university’s Christianity and Culture program. In addition to his academic service, Father Donovan has also conducted morning mass at St. Basil’s Catholic Parish and assisted as a homilist at Toronto’s Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish for over 20 years.

Father Donovan is notably known for the creation of the Donovan Art Collection, a selection of contemporary art that is installed across the St. Michael’s College campus.

Archival history

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Records were maintained by Father Donovan before their donation to the archive.

  • First accrual of records occurred in 2022 (accession 2022 19)
  • Second accrual of records occurred in 2023 (accession 2023 29)

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Fonds consists of records created by Father Donovan throughout the course of his maintenance of the Donovan Art Collection and time as a professor at St. Michael’s College. Records include various administrative documents, financial documents, correspondences, research materials, publications, and lists regarding artwork in the collection and their locations on campus.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

Fonds is incomplete as future accruals are expected.

System of arrangement

Fonds arranged into 9 series in consultation with Father Donovan, while also reflecting the received organization of the material.

  1. Correspondence
  2. Acquisitions and Tax Receipts
  3. Publications
  4. Art Collections Lists
  5. Financial Accounts
  6. Art Loans
  7. Catalogue Planning Material
  8. Stewardship Reports
  9. Artist Reference Files

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Access to several series with administrative and financial records is restricted. Please see series-level access notes.

Conditions governing reproduction

Language of material

  • English
  • French
  • German

Script of material

Language and script notes

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Finding aid available.

Uploaded finding aid

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Subject access points

Place access points

Name access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Rules and/or conventions used

Dates of creation revision deletion

Created by V Tywonek-Sobota, February 2024.

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

Sources

Accession area

Related subjects

Related people and organizations

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