Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- [ca. 1849]-1859 (Creation)
Level of description
Manuscript Collection
Extent and medium
23.4 metres
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Sir Edmund Walker Head was born in 1805. He was an Oxford scholar and tutor, and published several books. His success as Lieutenant-Governor of New Brunswick between 1848 and 1854 led to his appointment as Governor-General of Canada in 1854, a position he held until 1961. He faced difficult problems during his administration, primarily caused by the antagonism between French and British inhabitants, but he retired from office before the political issues that led to confederation in 1867 reached a peak. He died in 1868.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
The collection was presented by Sir Edmund’s heirs, Madame Yvonne Mahuzies and her daughter, Marguerite Mahuzies, to the University of Toronto in 1977 and placed on deposit in the Thomas Fisher Rare book Library in 1988.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
A collection of fifty-one watercolours and drawings of Canadian scenes by Sir Edmund Walker Head and Lady Head. They were made when Sir Edmund was Lieutenant-Governor of New Brunswick (1848-1854) and Governor-General of Canada (1854-1861). A fragment in Lady Head's hand from the cover of the portfolio in which many of the sketches were kept is also included.
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://fisher.library.utoronto.ca/stack-retrieval-request
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
- English