Series 5 - Publications

Over his 38-year career, Prof. Israel has written extensively on the history of South Asian people. This series contains records relating primarily to three publication projects: the Safe Haven project for the Multicultural History Society of Ontario (MHSO) and Royal Ontario Museum, Encyclopedia of Canada’s Peoples (1999; also sponsored by the MHSO) and In the future soil: a social history of the Indo-Canadians in Ontario (1994). (see Series 3 for general correspondence related to the MHSO). There is also one file of correspondence and partial manuscript relating to publication of selected articles from History Today, and published as Pax Britannica (1968). Prof. Israel was editor and wrote the introductory essay.

The records relating to “Safe Haven. The refugee experience of five families” consist entirely of the manuscript for the book submitted to Prof. Israel in 1994 for his comments. Prof. Israel also prepared the Preface (not included) and undertook research on the Tamil community. At this time Prof. Israel was Chairman, Board of Directors of the Multicultural History Society. An exhibition was also produced by the MHSO for the new Heritage Gallery of Canada’s peoples at the Royal Ontario Museum.

The records relating to the Encyclopedia of Canada’s Peoples include manuscripts of articles on South Asian people edited by Prof. Israel and files on three of the four articles he prepared for this publication: the Ismailis, South Asians and Pakistanis. The manuscript relating to the article on Ahmadis is not included.

The records relating to In the further soil: a social history of the Indo-Canadians in Ontario consist of correspondence, manuscript, Microsoft Word and Pagemaker files, and research notes.

The remaining records deal specifically with his publications on India and Indian migration, especially to Canada. These include notes and correspondence regarding his contribution of chapters in the books, The Congress and Indian Nationalism: Historical Perspectives and Reformers, Writers and Editors: Social Transformation in Maharashtra 1830-1940. They also include notes and research regarding an incomplete work entitled Violence and Empire: James Neill in the Indian Mutiny.