Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1856-2018 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
20.53 m of records (99 boxes)
4160 digital files (8 GB)
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Michael Bliss was born in Kingsville, Ontario, in 1941. He is a professor of Canadian history at the University of Toronto and a prolific writer on a wide range of Canadian topics. He has received national prizes for both his literary journalism and his scholarship. His book, 'A Canadian Millionaire: The Life and Business Times of Sir Joseph Flavelle' (Macmillan of Canada: 1978), established his reputation as a distinguished historian and biographer. His next two books on the insulin discovery and on Banting are recognized as definitive works and have received much acclaim since their publication. Both have utilized extensively the collection of Banting's papers in the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Fonds consists of 7 accessions
- B1986-0032: Personal records of J. W. Michael Bliss, Professor in the Department of History. (9 boxes, 1958-1975)
- B1987-0043: Personal records of J. W. Michael Bliss, Professor in the Department of History. (11 boxes, 1962-1982)
- B1988-0076: Correspondence regarding and drafts, with comments, of manuscript for J. W. Michael Bliss's book, "Northern Enterprise: five centuries of Canadian Business" published by McClelland and Stewart, 1987. (5 boxes, 1985-1986)
- B2006-0015: Personal records of Michael Bliss, professor of history, consisting of correspondence, consulting and editorial work, manuscripts and publications, lecture notes and associated teaching files, addresses, references; 1,216 slides illustrating a wide variety of subjects in Canadian history; 93 slides illustrating the Montreal smallpox epidemic of 1885; photographs relating to themes in Canadian business and general history. (31 boxes, 1881-2005)
- B2017-0007: Further personal records of Michael Bliss, Professor Emeritus of History, consisting of personal and family correspondence, and photographs; other correspondence; scrapbooks; interviews; files relating to the University of Toronto, including memorabilia from his years as a senior fellow on the Massey College; addresses; drafts of articles, a play, books (including biographies of Sir William Osler and Harvey Cushing, and Bliss’ memoirs), short stories and book reviews; files on consulting and editing projects; files on professional organizations, especially the American Osler Society. (38 boxes and 4104 digital files, 1856-2017)
- B2017-0008: Handwritten, typed, and word-processed journals, along with digital versions covering Bliss’ life and career from 1967 to 2017. (3 boxes and 56 digital files, 1967-2017)
- B2021-0023: Records surrounding his health and subsequent death. Includes his medical records, diary and notes he made about his health, and email correspondence from friends who reviewed his medical records after his death, on behalf of the Bliss family. Also includes items following his death including obituaries and tributes, letters of condolence, and the guest book from the Memorial Service at Massey College.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Restrictions exist, and are listed at accession and series-level. See accession and series description for details.
Accession B2006-0015 and B2017-0008 is stored off-site. Please allow 2-3 business days for retrieval. Contact 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
Uploaded finding aid
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Records related to the writing of Bliss' books 'The Discovery of Insulin' (McClelland & Stewart: 1982) and 'Banting: a Biography' (McClelland & Stewart: 1984) are held by the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library. See link below.