In a recent article on Torontoist.com about Elvis Presley’s concerts at Maple Leaf Gardens, a number of photos from the Toronto Telegram Archives were used. One of them shows my mother in the audience. How would I go about getting a copy? Thanks for your help!

Madam,

I have in my possession (family collection) a Keystone View co, stereographic library of the Quebec Tercentenary, 2 volumes.

It seems complete, with 111 cards in it.
The cards are in excellent condition, the box is complete but more “used”.

I’m seeking for additional information on this item.
- How much cards contains the complete set (mine contaisn 111)
- How much boxes were produced.
- Complementary information : The name of the photographer, the original cost of the set (in 1908), etc…

and

- How to evaluate and where to sell this collection.

Thank you for your time and expertise.
Regards.

Jerome Labrecque
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
turbulence@radioactif.com

Image of the collection :
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/76250-keystone-stereographic-library-quebec-te

You may also wish to extract a fresh image of the article from the microfilmed copies of the Telegram.
If you want to get a copy of the front page of an issue of the Toronto Telegram, your best bet is to look up the issue on microfilm reels held here, at the Scott Library’s Microtext Department (see here: https://www.library.yorku.ca/find/Record/12862) , or at the Toronto Reference Library (see here: http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDM2724880&R=2724880).

It is great that you have a number of important pieces of information: names, dates, locations and contexts.
These kinds of keywords and time frames are useful when a researcher is attempting to navigate the over 1.4 million photographic prints and negatives in the Toronto Telegram.
The Toronto Telegram Photographic Collection is arranged by subject headings (established by the Telegram staff) based on the assignment given to individual staff photographers. As a result, when you use our finding aids to locate promising assignments, you’ll have to rely on broad terms that might have been attributed to the image (i.e. The Toronto Maple Leafs, perhaps, or orphanages, charities, or special events).

Another challenge is that even if you locate a photo assignment, there might be upwards of 30 – 50 photographic negatives in each envelope. This is where your intimate knowledge of the people involved will be useful in identifying the perfect image for your purposes. Another challenge is that before the Toronto Telegram photographic collection was donated to York University in the 1970s, the Toronto Sun newspaper had a first pass over the materials, and selected a number of photographic negatives that they deemed of ‘high-value’ for their own use. As a result there are very few photographs of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Despite the challenges, this kind of archival research can be very rewarding. I hope you’re able to come visit us in person and begin your own investigation!