Title and statement of responsibility area
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- Graphic material
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- Source of title proper: Title specified by donor.
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Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)
Dates of creation area
Date(s)
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ca. 1950 - 1956 (Creation)
- Creator
- Melbourne H. Bryce
Physical description area
Physical description
275 photographs : lantern slides, b&w and hand col. ; 8.3 x 8.3 cm
1 slide projector w/ carrying case
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Archival description area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Mel Bryce was born Melbourne H. Bryce in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, and moved to Toronto as a child. He was educated at Kent Public School, Harbord Collegiate Institute, and Toronto Normal School where he took his teaching course. He served as the principal of King George Public school from 1937 until his death in 1956, due to a heart attack.
Bryce was passionate about local history, serving as a member on the York Township Historical Committee. He contributed historical photographs from his personal collection for the publication "York Township: An Historical Summary, 1850-1954", written by J.C. Boylen, secretary of the Ontario Historical Society. The book was jointly commissioned and published by The Board of Education and The Municipal Corporation of the Township of York. He also wrote on the history of the region and completed a biography of King George Public School. He was known for giving illustrated, historical talks to schools and other adult community groups in the Township. In an era that predated television, these lectures were very popular.
Bryce was an avid pianist, incorporating this into his lectures as well as play for the schoolchildren. He was also past master of the Mimico Lodge No. 269, a member of the Cyrene Preceptory Knights Templar No. 29, and a member of the Rameses Shrine.
Mel Bryce lived with his wife, Grace Bryce, and their two children, Catherine and Beverly, at 31 Baby Point Rd.
Name of creator
Biographical history
Grace Bryce (nee Murray) was a member of the York Township Museum Board, and the York Historical Society. She is featured as an interviewer in "Stories of York", published in 1980.
Grace Bryce lived with her husband, Mel Bryce, and their two children, Catherine and Beverly, at 31 Baby Point Rd.
Custodial history
Grace Bryce left the lantern slides to her daughter, Beverly Bryce-Campbell, after her death. Beverly donated the collection to Heritage York in 2000, by way of Madeleine McDowell.
Scope and content
Collection consists of lantern slides from the personal collection of Mel Bryce. These slide would have been used as part of Bryce's local history lectures. The images predominately document the changing landscape and architecture of York Township and surrounding areas from the 1850s - 1950s, including Lambton Mills, The Humber Dam, Lambton Tavern, and Dundas Street. Also included is Bryce's Spencer Lens Company Delineascope Model D projector, which he would have used for his lectures.
Lantern slides were very popular during the time for academic, commercial, and religious purposes. The lantern slides among Bryces collection represent many examples created by producers from the Toronto area. Included are those produced by The Ryerson Press; United Church Publishing House; Charles Potter; The Methodist Book and Publishing House; Presbyterian Publications; as well as many unmark lantern slides.
Many of the images featured are also found in "York Township: An Historical Summary, 1850-1954", written by J.C Boylen. Compared to the black & white reproductions in the book, many of those same images are rendered in brilliant handpainted colours on the slides, including many photographs by Toronto photographer James V. Salmon (1911-1958).
Notes area
Physical condition
A number of slides are cracked or damaged.
Immediate source of acquisition
Arrangement
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Availability of other formats
Images available as uncompressed archival-quality TIFF master files.
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Associated materials
Accruals
No further accruals expected.
General note
Slide 118 does not exist. One slide was catalogued twice in error.
Conservation
Slides digitized by Heritage York over the course of 2015-2021.
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Language of description
- English