Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1973 - 1979 (Creation)
Level of description
Manuscript Collection
Extent and medium
1 box, 16 folders (15 letter-sized, 1 oversized).
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Shelley Freeman is a visual artist based in Montreal, Canada. She first studied painting, drawing and typography at York University in Toronto, through a Bachelor of Fine Arts (class of 1974). After taking a typography course co-instructed by Stan Bevington (1943-) and Nelson Adams (1942-2019) of Coach House Press (CHP) in the fall of 1973, Freeman was able to secure a summer job at the press herself, from April 1974 to August 1975. During her time at CHP and beyond, Freeman kept in touch with Adams. In these postcards and letters, Adams reflects on his travels in Europe in the mid-1970s and his decision to enroll in Library School and become a Junior Fellow at Massey College, at the University of Toronto, beginning in September of 1976. He also shares updates on his ongoing printing projects and passes along samples of his hand-printed cards and pamphlets.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Gift of Shelley Freeman, 2022
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Contains series:
- Handwritten correspondence from Nelson Adams to Shelley Freeman, c.1976-1979. Includes postcards, printed cards, letters and attachments including samples of cards and other materials hand-printed by Nelson Adams at the Commonplace Press.
- Letterpress materials hand-printed by Shelley Freeman during her time as a student and employee at CHP, as well as related project materials
- Photographs of the space and staff at CHP and York University between 1973-1975. All black and white, unless otherwise noted. Extent: 23 photographs.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
No restrictions on access.
Material may be requested in person at the Fisher Library Reference Desk, or in advance using our online stack retrieval request form: https://fisher.library.utoronto.ca/stack-retrieval-form