Introduction

The McGill University Photography Collection database consists of photographic images retrieved from the administrative and private papers held in the University Archives. While the bulk of the collection revolves around the McGill University milieu, including the Montreal General and Royal Victoria teaching hospitals, there is significant representation from other parts of the Montréal community, for example the Montreal Parks and Playground Association.

Finding Aid Format

The subject index entry is followed by a subject description of the image which includes the basic photo type, e.g., Portrait, and a context description. Also included is the chronology, e.g., the date or approximate date that the photo was taken, the name of the photographer, the photo I.D. number, and a physical description of the photo with the size (always given in centimetres unless noted).

Finding Aid Subject Divisions

The finding aid is based on the following seven major subject divisions:

I People

II Organizations

III Events

IV Buildings

V Views

VI Specimens

VII Works

I. People

McGill academic and non-academic staff, students, administrative officers, members of the Board of Governors, and Visitors are all represented in the finding aid. Medical staff, nurses and support personnel from the Montreal General and Royal Victoria teaching hospitals can also be found in this category.

While the emphasis is on Montreal, Quebec and Canada, the catchment area is world wide and includes representation from politics, the military, the arts, science, labour and native peoples.

The subject index portion of the entry should have the following simple format: Last name, First name.

Formal occupational titles (e.g., Dr., Prof., Principal, Prime Minister, Governor-General) are not generally employed with names in the People subject index; additional biographical information concerning the person in question is included in the subject description.

Royalty are listed under their conventional title and peers, if in the peerage at the time of at least one of the photos, are entered under a brief form of their best known title (e.g., Strathcona, Lord; Tweedsmuir, Lord); baronets and knights (e.g., Dawson, John William) are listed in the subject index without title.

Married women are entered under their married name, then maiden name and first name if known. If the first name and/or maiden name is not known, then married women will be listed under their married name with the title of Mrs., e.g., Brown, John, Mrs.

Titles are generally used if the first name of the person is unknown, eg. Dr. Jones

II. Organizations

Mainly, McGill faculties, schools, departments, research institutes, student groups and administrative offices. Also a wide range of other organizations from the Black Whale Handicrafts Shop to the Black Watch Regiment to the Canadian Club of Montreal.

For McGill University organizations the phone directory or administrative handbook is the authority source but for external organizations the full title with no abbreviations is used.

Organizations - Special cases

1. Student Organizations-General rule

If a group photo of a student organization was identified as a copy of one found in Old McGill then the photo was indexed under the name of the group and not under the names of the individuals. Again, the individuals are usually identified in Old McGill. If the individuals are not clearly identified in Old McGill but are identified on the photograph then the names of the individuals are included in the People index. For example, all photographs of student organizations in existence prior to the first issue of the Old McGill are listed in both the People and Organization categories.

1.1 Class Photos

Class photos are listed according to the year of graduation, e.g., Class of 1980. Individuals found in the Class photos are not listed separately in the People index. There are various alphabetical listings of McGill graduates produced by the Graduates' Society which the researcher may consult to ascertain when the individual graduated. Once the graduating class is known then the appropriate Class photo may be consulted. Generally, the Class photo clearly identifies the individual graduates.

1.2 McGill Sports Teams McGill sport teams are not listed under the heading of either McGill or team name, e.g., Redmen but are indexed under the name of the sport followed by "Team", e.g., Football Team. A further sub-division is permitted after the main entry regarding the gender of the team; the choices are Men, Women and Mixed, e.g., Soccer Team, Men. More precise information about the team can be found in the accompanying subject description. If it was not clear that a particular team was involved in the photograph then the name of the sport was used, e.g., Football.

1.3 Student Activities

In order to identify those images of student life which could not be readily be included in other organization sub-categories, e.g., students walking across campus, a separate sub-category was created for Student Activities.

III. Events

The events concern such campus activities as convocations, open house, carnival, award banquets, student protest, dinner parties, and seminars.

IV. Buildings

Primarily, this category contains McGill University buildings, Royal Victoria and Montreal General Hospital buildings (with addresses). Also includes buildings from other locations in Canada, United States, and Europe. In the subject description the building views are further sub-divided into interior or exterior. If the name of the building was not known then the type of building was used in the name category, eg. Church, Barn

V. Views

Mostly views of the McGill University campus. These are not views of buildings, instead they are more general views of landscapes or aerial views. Views of the McGill Campus are classified under Campus. The category also includes some views of Montréal and locations across Canada and Europe.

VI. Specimens

Microscopic views of geological and other scientific specimens, e.g., Geology, Fossil; Anatomy, Skull. Also includes images of Trophies, Medals, Documents, Apparatus(scientific) and Artifacts. If the view can clearly be identified as a teaching aid then it was also classified under teaching aid and the name of the department, e.g., Teaching Aid, Geology

VII. Works

Photographic images of works of art with the name of the artist and the title of the work. The same rules which apply to the listing of names under the People index should also apply to the name of the artist index. In the subject description the type of work is recorded, e.g., Painting, followed by the rest of the subject description. If a work is of a person the name of the person was included in the People category.

Gordon Burr and Josée Martel with editorial assistance from Bruce Dolphin and Robert H. Michel