Friday 25 January 2019

Making a phase box for architectural drawings

Here at the Archives of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto, our holdings include over 1,000 architectural drawings, with further accruals being accessioned regularly. The majority of these drawings are stored in tubes, as seen below.


A recent accession came into the archives that included several architectural drawings. While the majority of them fit nicely into tubes, two drawings in particular were simply too large. Trying to squeeze an oversized roll into a small tube is a losing battle that feels a lot like this:



Once I realized that tubes were not a viable option, this forced me to get crafty. Scouring the web, I found a tutorial for making a non-adhesive phase box for a rare book. I was determined to adapt this simple method to suit the architectural drawings. After my first box was a success, I decided to create my own tutorial as I worked through my second box.

First, here are the supplies that you will require:


I used Neutracor B-Flute Board, but you can use any archival board depending on the amount of support your object needs.

Additionally, you will need the following supplies and tools:


To prepare the architectural drawings, roll them tightly and secure the roll with cotton tape.


Next, measure the roll and record its length, width and height.


*To ensure that the box would fit the roll, I added an extra inch onto each measurement. I also made the height and width the same measurement so that the box would be a perfect square.

Thus, my final working measurements were:
L = 25"
W = 6"
H = 6"

The first piece that is cut is the vertical piece. This is the piece that the roll will sit on. It will be need to be wide enough and long enough to accommodate the object's length, width and height. It also requires extra board to serve as flaps.
Ideally, the length of each flap would measure half the length of the object (in this case, 12.5") in order to cover the entire object once they are folded down. Unfortunately, my board was not long enough for this, so I used what board was left.
Width = W
Length = Flap [fold] H [fold] L [fold] H [fold] Flap
 

Using a pencil and ruler to make the fold lines, carefully fold the board. I refrained from folding the flaps until assembling the box to ensure that everything lines up in the end.


The second piece that is cut is the horizontal piece. This is the piece that wraps around the entire roll, enclosing it in a box.

Width = W [fold] H [fold] W [fold] H [fold] W
Length = L


Using a pencil and ruler to make the fold lines, carefully fold the board.


To start assembling the box, the vertical piece is placed on top, with the horizontal piece acting as a cradle. Use tape to temporarily hold the pieces in place.


This is where I took a moment to assemble my box in order to determine where the flaps need to be folded. Folding the horizontal piece together, you can use tape to temporarily hold the box together. By folding up the vertical piece to enclose the box, you can mark where the flaps need to be and fold them carefully so that they can be tucked inside the box.


Next, go back a step. Decide how many ties you require to keep your box secured. I decided on three. Use the box cutter to make rows of two slits, being sure to cut through both pieces.


Next, cut your cotton tape into lengths that can be wrapped around the box and tied. To thread the cotton tape through more easily, I used a safety pin as a 'needle'.


When the tapes are threaded through, pull them so that the boards are fixed in place. Remove the temporary tape.


Now you're ready to box up the object. Place the roll on the vertical piece, fold up the horizontal piece overtop, and tuck in the vertical flaps.


Once the box is closed, tie the tapes to secure.


Stick a label on it, and you're done!



Friday 18 January 2019

Party Like It's 1947


"Drum majorettes in a monster two-hour long parade which was a feature event of the Marian Congress Saturday, with 20 religious floats."

June, 1947

PH 09M/56P
ARCAT Photograph Collection

It's time to celebrate! Strike up the band! This week was Cardinal Collins' birthday. He was born January 16, 1947. Here in the archives we started wondering what it would have been like for for Cardinal McGuigan in 1947. He had been made Cardinal the year before and was a celebrated leader in the city. The second world war had just ended, and people were thinking about what to do with returning soldiers, as well as reconstructing Europe, and the threats of communism and fascism. The population was rapidly growing as European immigrants moved to Canada and country folk became city dwellers. Lots of changes were coming!

In Toronto there were about a million people. The Maple Leafs won the Stanley cup that year, the St. Mike's Majors won the Memorial Cup, and the Argos won the Grey Cup. The movie Gentleman's Agreement picked up three Oscars including best picture, and music by Frank Sinatra, The Andrews Sisters, and Al Jolson was popular. Radio was well established in the home, though it would soon give way to television.

The King was George VI, the Prime Minister was William Lyon Mackenzie King, and the Premier was George Drew:

"Deeply grateful for your kindness. As I was leaving immediately I had no opportunity to thank you before departure. Have just returned from Germany where conditions are beyond imagination. Will look forward to discussing this with you on my return. - George Drew."

May 27 1947

MG DA33.19
Cardinal McGuigan Fonds


The Pope was Pius XII:

A portrait of Pope Pius XII

1940s

PH 62/33P
ARCAT Photograph Collection
The Pope's inscription reads, "To Our Beloved Son, James Charles Cardinal McGuigan, Archbishop of Toronto, to his Clergy, Religious and Faithful We lovingly impart Our Paternal Apostolic Benediction.

Pius pp.XII

From Castelgandolfo, November 8th, 1947"

PH62/33P
ARCAT Photograph Collection


In 1947 Cardinal McGuigan lived at 264 Old Yonge Street, where he was visited by a few Sisters of Saint Joseph on September 6:




One of the highlights of his year must have been his June trip to the Marian Congress in Ottawa, where he was Papal Legate:

Cardinal McGuigan with other Papal representatives at the Marian Congress.

June 1947

PH 09M/42P
ARCAT Photograph Collection


The Congress drew a few hundred thousand pilgrims to Ottawa, and there were many spectators for the parade held in its honour:

"People cling like flies to every vantage point to watch the monster two-hour long parade which was a feature event of the Marian Congress Saturday, with 20 religious floats."

June 1947

PH 09M/54P
ARCAT Photograph Collection


Besides being a frozen moment in time on a sunny Saturday in June 1947, photos like this allow us to see some of the fashions that year. Many of the women's outfits were still the boxy utility style of wartime, but were giving way to more feminine shapes:

The hats were the best! 

Looking very cool in those shades.

For more of 1947's high points, including footage of Cardinal McGuigan at the Marian Congress, the CNE, the Stanley Cup game, and the Santa Claus Parade, check out this amazing video posted by Library and Archives Canada:





And for more footage of Cardinal McGuigan and the Marian Congress, check out this video:







Friday 11 January 2019

Director's Cut: 1914 Album - Archdiocese of Toronto property record

One of my favourite items in our archival holdings is a photo album from 1914 featuring exterior shots of many of the churches in the Archdiocese of Toronto. We've shared several photographs from this album in various posts.

Collage of photos previously scanned from PH 31P/227AL. Includes: Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Toronto (01); St. Mary's Parish, Toronto (03); St. Anthony's Parish, Toronto (04); Holy Family Parish, Toronto (06); St. Helen's Parish and rectory, Toronto (07); St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto (08); St. Cecilia's Parish, Toronto (11); St. Patrick's Parish, Toronto (13); House of Providence, Toronto (17); Loretto Academy, Toronto (19); St. Stanislaus Parish, Toronto (21); Sacred Heart Orphanage, Sunnyside, Toronto (22); St. Michael's Cathedral rectory, Toronto (23); St. Michael's Cathedral, Toronto (24); St. Michael's School, Toronto (25); St. Clare Parish, Toronto (29); St. Ann's Parish, Toronto (35); St. Joseph's College School, Toronto (37); St. Catharines School, St. Catharines (40); St. Joseph's College School and Convent, Toronto (43); and St. Paul's Parish and rectory, Toronto (45).





This photo album was commissioned in 1914 and reflects the geographical boundaries of the Archdiocese at that time. Each page consists of one representative photograph of the building, mounted on a fabric backing. Buildings include churches, schools and institutions owned by or associated with the Archdiocese of Toronto. The album is not a comprehensive property survey, however, as some of the existing churches within the city of Toronto and the majority of rural churches were not photographed for this project. In total, there are 45 black & white or sepia tone photographs.

How PH 31P/227AL is being preserved.

ARCAT Staff Photo

Typewritten in blue ink on the fabric support of each print is the name or location of the photographed building. To enhance the long-term preservation of the photographs, the album was taken apart and the photos were placed in individual archival sleeves. Unfortunately the original cover was not photographed before it was discarded, but included the title "Archdiocese of Toronto, CANADA".

This album is credited to Pringle and Booth of Toronto, and was apparently a feature of the waiting room at the former location of the Chancery Office at 355 Church Street. When the offices were moved to our current location at 1155 Yonge Street, someone wisely decided that this album should be preserved in the Archives.

Here are a few of the photographs from outside the city of Toronto that we had not scanned until now:

St. Gregory the Great Parish, Oshawa

PH 31P/227AL (31)
ARCAT Photo Collection



St. Ann's Parish, Penetanguishene

PH 31P/227AL (27)
ARCAT Photo Collection



Friday 4 January 2019

Remembering Bishop Attila MiklĂ³shĂ¡zy

On December 28th, 2018, Most Reverend Bishop Attila MiklĂ³shĂ¡zy, S.J., passed away in his residence at RenĂ© Goupil House (Jesuit Infirmary) in Pickering, Ontario. Bishop MiklĂ³shĂ¡zy was 87 years old and in his 57th year of the priesthood with the Jesuits. He leaves behind an impressive legacy as a teacher of theology and liturgy, and was deeply loved and appreciated for his work with Hungarian communities. As we show our remembrance and appreciation for the life and work of Bishop MiklĂ³shĂ¡zy, we wish to share our own archival photographs of him.

Portrait of Bishop MiklĂ³shĂ¡zy, S.J., seated wearing his episcopal garb
1989

PH27J/48CP
ARCAT Photograph Collection

Attila MiklĂ³shĂ¡zy was born in Hungary in 1931 and entered the Society of Jesus in 1949. After leaving Hungary during the revolution of 1956, he came to Canada and was ordained a priest in Toronto in 1961. He taught theology at Loyola College in Montreal from 1963-64, at Regis College in Toronto from 1968-74, at the Faculty of Theology at the University of St. Michael's College in Toronto from 1974-1984, and at St. Augustine's Seminary in Toronto from 1984-1998, where he would become Professor Emeritus in 1997 and hold the position of Dean.

St. Augustine's Seminary Faculty
1988
(Attila MiklĂ³shĂ¡zy top row, first from the right)

PH26F/02P
ARCAT Photograph Collection

In 1989, Father Attila MiklĂ³shĂ¡zy was appointed titular Bishop of Castellum Minus by the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, and became responsible for the spiritual assistance of Hungarian emigrants throughout the world. He was ordained a Bishop by Cardinal Emmett Carter on November 4, 1989, at St. Michael's Cathedral Basilica in Toronto. Bishop MiklĂ³shĂ¡zy was a member of the National Liturgical Council of the Canadian Bishops and the Canadian Liturgical Society (ecumenical). He also participated for 15 years in the Anglican/Roman Catholic Theological Dialogue in Canada. After his retirement as Professor Emeritus of Systematic Theology and Liturgy in 2006, he continued his episcopal duties by visiting various Hungarian communities around the globe. In most recent years, he spent his time translating Jesuit texts and the talks of Pope Francis into Hungarian.

Episcopal Ordination of Bishop Attila MiklĂ³shĂ¡zy, S.J.
St. Michael's Cathedral Basilica
4 November 1989


PH31C/274CP
ARCAT Photograph Collection
Episcopal Ordination of Bishop Attila MiklĂ³shĂ¡zy, S.J.
St. Michael's Cathedral Basilica
4 November 1989

PH31C/273CP
ARCAT Photograph Collection
Episcopal Ordination of Bishop Attila MiklĂ³shĂ¡zy, S.J.
St. Michael's Cathedral Basilica
4 November 1989

PH31C/267CP
ARCAT Photograph Collection
Episcopal Ordination of Bishop Attila MiklĂ³shĂ¡zy, S.J.
St. Michael's Cathedral Basilica
4 November 1989
(Bishop Attila MiklĂ³shĂ¡zy center left, Cardinal Emmett Cardinal center right)

PH31C/276CP
ARCAT Photograph Collection
Attila MiklĂ³shĂ¡zy at his Episcopal Ordination as Bishop
St. Michael's Cathedral Basilica
4 November 1989

PH31C/260CP
ARCAT Photograph Collection

Bishop Attila MiklĂ³shĂ¡zy's funeral took place on January 3rd at St. Michael's Cathedral Basilica in Toronto. Immediately following the mass, interment took place at Queen of Clergy Cemetery on St. Augustine's Seminary grounds.

PH27J/47CP
ARCAT Photograph Collection