COLLABORATION A View on Collaboration from Library and Archives Canada Guy Berthiaume he view from the reading rooms at 395 Wellington St., in hand in their own communities. While LAC’s presence online Ottawa, communicates a great deal about the nature of is often the focal point for our research support, it is the latter Library and Archives Canada (LAC). First and foremost, approach — where LAC contributes to exhibition initiatives Twe are reminded that this is a site that has always been invested at museums, galleries and other memory institutions across in the goals of cultural exchange and continuity. Our closest Canada — that ensures LAC is visible to the public and the neighbour on the Ottawa River is the active First Nations site value of our collections and services is increasingly known. on Victoria Island, which has served for centuries as a hub of Currently, our loans specialists are preparing for the year ahead knowledge, custom and commerce. The Canadian Museum during which LAC will deliver published heritage for display of History, itself designed to invoke the region’s cultural and in Montreal, watercolour paintings in Lethbridge, First World environmental heritage, can be seen on the river’s north shore, War material in Halifax, historical photographs in Quebec City, opposite the iconic profiles of the National Gallery of Canada, and more. LAC holds Canada’s most extensive collection of the Library of Parliament and the Peace Tower, all to the east of published and archival documentary heritage relating to the LAC; while to the west we overlook the Canadian War Museum. development of Canadian democracy, culture and society. I feel it is essential to our mandate that we continue to exhibit these This panorama serves as a daily reminder of how fortunate materials publically in communities across Canada. LAC is, in terms of its location in the capital, as well as its tremendous national mandate and the opportunities to In the National Capital Region, our situation within a diverse collaborate with peer institutions, both those in the immediate community of memory institutions means there is no shortage vicinity and throughout Canada. This is a site that encourages of opportunities to collaborate on exhibition projects. Apart us to look to the horizons and engage with the public on all from the familiar national institutions, Ottawa also boasts a available fronts. thriving network of galleries and museums at the municipal level. For example, over the fall of 2014 and into January In my role as librarian and archivist of Canada, I am particularly 2015, LAC was a major lender for a retrospective exhibition interested in ensuring that the way we deliver our mandate on the work of Canadian artist Alma Duncan at the Ottawa is visible to the public. LAC must dedicate itself to serving all Art Gallery. The collaboration involved a total of 105 items potential clients, from the specialized researchers who actively including sculptures, paintings, works on paper and textual seek out our collections, to the general public who are provided documents. This is also an ideal collaborative scenario in which with opportunities to encounter these historical materials first- the exhibition subsequently travels beyond Ottawa to other 42 muse l may/june 2015 Western Treaty No. 1 – Treaty No. 1 Between Her Majesty the Queen The Royal Proclamation, 1763. Photo: Library and Archives Canada/ and the Chippewas and the Crees of the Province of Manitoba Department of Justice fonds/e010778430 and the Country Adjacent – IT 255. Photo: Library and Archives Canada/ Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development fonds/ e004156536 LAC is also contributing to major initiatives led by the Canadian Museum of History. Over 50 items from LAC’s holdings will be featured in a range of exhibitions leading up to 2017. As well as original art, maps and textual material on display in those temporary exhibitions, LAC will have a significant presence in the museum’s renewed Canada Hall. parts of the province, with installations planned for the Varley daguerreotypes. Our collaboration with the National Gallery has Art Gallery in Markham, the Art Gallery of Sarnia and the Art also included our role in a major exhibition on the First World Gallery of Windsor. War entitled The Great War: The Persuasive Power of Photography which was mounted at the Gallery in the summer and fall of At the federal level, I am very proud of LAC’s support for our 2014. LAC’s contributions included reproductions made from neighbouring institutions, in particular as we collectively orient original glass plate negatives, some of which are the only ones our projects toward the celebration of the 150th anniversary of now in existence, created by official war photographers of the Confederation in 2017. At the National Gallery of Canada, LAC Canadian Expeditionary Force. has established a three-year partnership to produce a series of six exhibitions exploring 19th-century photography in Canada. LAC is also contributing to major initiatives led by the In the context of this partnership, LAC is not only contributing Canadian Museum of History. Over 50 items from LAC’s historical materials, but is also providing curatorial expertise. holdings will be featured in a range of exhibitions leading Exhibition themes and content include: early exploration in up to 2017. As well as original art, maps and textual material Canada; the work of photographer Paul-Émile Miot; images of on display in those temporary exhibitions, LAC will have a the Arctic; photographic panoramas; travel photography; and significant presence in the museum’s renewed Canada Hall. mai/juin 2015 l muse 43 Both images are taken from The Hockey Hall of Fame exhibition. Experts from the two institutions have examined over 400 items from LAC’s collection with a view for featuring reproductions of art, photographs and textual documents, together with long- term loans of original documentary heritage. This collaboration will provide the public with a wonderful opportunity to encounter LAC’s treasures directly at one of Canada’s most popular and dynamic memory institutions. I should emphasize that it is not always the scale of the collaboration that expresses its significance to partner organizations and the general public. Even the loan of a single item can embody a wealth of shared experience and the fundamental values at the heart of institutions dedicated to acquiring, preserving and providing access to Canada’s cultural memory. In this case, I have in mind LAC’s collaboration with the Canadian War Museum, where we have arranged for the display of a copy of “In Flanders Fields” handwritten by John McCrae’s — an artefact that has provided generation after generation with a focal point for reflection, commemoration and historical insight. LAC has loaned other treasured collection materials in support of 17, 1982 on Parliament Hill, by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth direct public access across the country. At the Canadian Museum II and Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. This document formally of Immigration in Halifax, LAC will have several items enacted Canada’s newly patriated constitution and enshrined featured in a new permanent exhibition exploring immigration to the guarantees contained in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Canada, from first contact to present day. LAC is also supporting Freedoms. The display of this fundamental record of Canada’s the new Canadian Museum for Human Rights by loaning a social and political development at the Canadian Museum for number of high-profile documents, including: a copy of the Human Rights represents the first time the Proclamation has been Canadian Bill of Rights signed by John Diefenbaker in 1960; on extended public exhibition outside of Ottawa. several examples of Chinese Head Tax Certificates; the 1763 Royal Proclamation by King George III in which the Crown recognizes LAC also will have a year-long presence at the Hockey Hall of Aboriginal rights; and, the first of a series of historic numbered Fame, where we are collaborating on an exhibition that will Treaties, signed in 1871 by eminent representatives of Chippewa highlight the impact the First World War had on hockey players and Cree First Nations. One of the most significant documents and how it transformed organized hockey leagues during and in LAC’s collection will also be on display at the Museum: after the War. Our contribution includes approximately 50 the Proclamation of the Constitution Act, 1982, signed on April reproductions of historical photographs, maps and posters, as 44 muse l may/june 2015 Canadian Bill of Rights signed by John Diefenbaker in 1960. Photo: Library and Archives Canada/House of Commons fonds/e010692345 well as a loan of original documents from the military service who accompanied Franklin on his first overland expedition records of Hall of Famers Conn Smythe, Frank McGee and Frank (1819–1822) and who produced a remarkable record of his own Fredrickson. Beyond these collection materials, LAC is lending expeditions to the Arctic region from 1818 until 1837. several iPads and kiosks which will help contextualize the First World War records of over 25 inductees to the Hockey Hall of I am hopeful that this is just the first of many interesting Fame. exhibitions to be presented at our Wellington Street site. The Library and Archives of Canada Act specifically encourages The range of these collaborative projects is emblematic of “exhibitions, publications and performances, to make known LAC’s function as Canada’s national library and archives. and interpret [Canada’s] documentary heritage.” Memory Just as we are physically located in the midst of an array of institutions are fundamentally connected through this active memory institutions in Ottawa, the diversity of LAC’s holdings orientation toward the public, as well as through the thematic can serve as a central source of support for libraries, archives, and historical intersections amongst our collections.