Vision

• Outdoor location-based exhibition bringing archival records into the context of specific locations across the University of Toronto campus, accompanied by an interactive virtual map tour hosted on ArcGIS Story Maps

Preliminary organizing framework

Big Idea

Looking back on how the University of Toronto has responded to crises and calls for change over time may help us navigate the present moment of uncertainty and shift our attention from the institution to the individual community members who push the University forward.

Goals

• Promote the ongoing importance of the Archives in documenting the institutional past, present, future of the University of Toronto. The Archives are part of a dynamic/growing community. Archives are not just repositories for items of the past, but rather significant players/contributors to the current moment. Especially in a university/urban setting, they play an active role in documenting shifts in the community, cityscape, etc.
• Since the Archives remain closed as a result of COVID-19, the exhibition will bring the Archives to the community, rather than the community to the Archives and connect archival materials to relevant locations across campus
• Uncover and spotlight some lesser-known stories from the history of the University
• By focusing on presenting digital surrogates of archival material, promotes digital preservation and access as well as the value of primary sources
• A project that could keep growing; the Archives could continue to add highlights around campus even beyond the end of our launch
• Build relationship between Archive and different faculties/individuals on campus through coordinating display locations and featured stories