Fonds 1528 - Massey Family fonds

Identity area

Reference code

UTA 1528

Title

Massey Family fonds

Date(s)

  • ca. 1880-1969; predominant 1920-1959 (Creation)

Level of description

Fonds

Extent and medium

102.70 m of textual and graphic records, publications, and sound recordings
(587 boxes)

Context area

Name of creator

(1887-1967)

Biographical history

Charles Vincent Massey was born on February 20, 1887 in Toronto, the son of Chester Daniel Massey and Anna Vincent. His brother, Raymond Massey, was born nine years later on August 30, 1896.

Vincent Massey attended Jarvis Collegiate and, in 1906, entered University College at the University of Toronto. From 1906 to his graduation in 1910 he was active in many campus activities such as contributor to the Varsity and other campus publications, and chair of the Letters Club. In 1911 he entered Balliol College, Oxford. On his return to Canada in 1913, he was employed as Dean of the Men's residence, Victoria College and as lecturer in history.

In 1915 he married Alice Parkin and a year later welcomed the birth of his first son, Lionel. His second son, Hart, was born in 1918. In 1919 Vincent Massey was instrumental in forming the Massey Foundation from his grandfather's estate. In 1919 Hart House, named in honour of his grandfather, Hart Almerrin Massey, was opened. This was followed by the establishment of Hart House Theatre, in which he was instrumental as patron, director and actor, and later the Hart House String Quartet, which was sponsored and promoted by Vincent and Alice Massey.

Vincent Massey embarked on a long career of public service, as politician and government representative abroad. In 1926 he was appointed Canada's first minister to Washington by the newly elected Liberal government. In 1930 he was appointed Canadian High Commissioner to London by Prime Minister Mackenzie King but resigned shortly following the defeat of Liberal Party by Conservatives led by R.B. Bennett. When the Liberal's returned to power in 1935, he was reappointed High Commissioner to London. He and his wife remained in London throughout the war years. During their years in England they continued to support the arts both in Britain and Canada.

Following their return to Canada in 1946, Massey continued to be involved in Canadian arts and culture, published his book On being Canadian (1948), and from 1949-1951 served as Chairman, Royal Commission on National Development in the Arts, Letter and Sciences. Recommendations from this Commission led to the formation of the Canada Council.

Two years after the death of his wife in 1950 Vincent Massey was appointed the first Canadian born Governor- General of Canada (1952-1959). His son, Lionel, served as his private secretary. Following completion of his term as Governor-General he continued to write, lecture, and serve the arts and culture community. In 1962 he published his autobiography What's past is prologue. In 1957 he had initiated the establishment of Massey College at the University of Toronto. Six years later he attended its official opening. He died in London, England on December 30,1967.

Archival history

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Content and structure area

Scope and content

The Massey Family records consist primarily of official and personal documents created by Vincent Massey. They reflect his distinguished diplomatic career, including his terms as Canadian ambassador to the United States during the 1920s and as High Commissioner to London during the 1930s and 1940s, along with his lengthy affiliation with the Liberal Party of Canada. Also represented are his years as Governor-General of Canada and as the leader of the Royal Commission on National Development in the Arts, Sciences and Letters. The moral and financial support given by Vincent and Alice Massey to cultural development in Canada, both individually and through the Massey Foundation, is evident in a wealth of documents relating to the fields of education, music, drama and fine arts (including such institutions and organizations as the National Council of Education, Hart House Quartet, Hart House Theatre, the Dominion Drama Festival, and the National Art Gallery). Their support of the University of Toronto is also well documented. In addition to the records of Vincent Massey, some papers of Alice Massey and correspondence of many members of the Grant, Massey and Parkin families are present.

The bulk of the records are found in B1987-0082. There are two other related accessions:

  • B1998-0008: Correspondence between Vincent Massey and Sir Henry Newbolt, including a copy of memo on the Constitutional Crisis in 1926.
  • B1998-0032: Files of the Board of Syndics (G.F. McFarland, Honorary Treasurer) relating to Hart House Theatre (1929-1945), and Hart House String Quartet (1931-1942); one file on Hart House 50th anniversary (1968-1969).

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Restricted: Permission in writing from the Principal of Massey College required. Please contact the University Archives for further information.

Conditions governing reproduction

Language of material

Script of material

Language and script notes

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Finding aid for accession B1987-0082 consists of the 3 volumes:

Uploaded finding aid

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Massey Foundation fonds (MG 28, I 136) is located at Library and Archives Canada.

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Accession

B1987-0082

Accession

B1998-0008

Accession

B1998-0032

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

Added to AtoM by E. Sommers, Oct. 2017

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Accession area

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