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Description found in Archives

Title

Topley Studio fonds [graphic material]. 

Fonds consists of

883 lower level description(s)

Arrangement structure

Show Arrangement Structure

Accession

1. Topley Studio fonds [graphic material]
2. Topley Studio fonds [graphic material] (2002-01338-1)
3. William James Topley collection [graphic material] (2008-00727-8)

Date(s)

1868-1926

Place of creation

Canada

Extent

ca. 150,000 photographs : b&w.
1 photograph : b&w.
53 albums (ca. 120,000 photographs) : contact prints ; 3" x 5".
Negative Glass - wet collodion

Scope and content

The Topley Studio fonds includes primarily though far from exclusively, portrait studio photography taken in Ottawa in the period 1868-1924. Portraits of Governors-Generals, Prime Ministers, members of Parliament, Sentators, civil servants and residents of Ottawa are included in the fonds. There are also numerous photographs of the city of Ottawa and the surrounding area; views were, however taken at various points across the country primarily from the 1890's onwards. Included in the fonds is work by other other photographers, notably Charles Horetzky and the Studio of Thomas and Philander Stiff operators of Stiff Brothers. In addition, one large photograph showing the E.B. Eddy lumber operations, old Hull, Aug. 1902.

Conditions of access

Graphic (photo)
90: Open
Access given through a photo archivist f
or the glass plates
Graphic (photo)
90: Open
Volume
from 1 to 3
6
90: Open
Graphic (photo)
90: Open
Box
00339E
00343F
00346C
00350F
00363C
00364B
00372A
00403A
from 00408C to 00408D
00409F
00410A
00410D
00411E
00414A
00416D
90: Open
Graphic (photo)
90: Open
Box
00428B
00435D
00453A
00453F
from 00455C to 00455D
00458D
90: Open
Graphic (photo)
90: Open
Box
from 01953 to 01966
from 01970 to 01973
from 01984 to 01988
from 04775 to 04777
2001009259
2001534498
from 00598E to 00598F
from 00599A to 00599E
from 00600A to 00600E
from 00601A to 00601E
from 00602A to 00602E
from 00603A to 00603E
from 01951/X1 to 01951/X2
from 01952/X1 to 01952/X2
01953A
from A 0121 to A 0132
from A 0134 to A 0172
from A 120-1 to A 120-2
from A 0133-1 to A 0133-2
B 0129
C 0536
from RV3 142 to RV3 144
from RV3 148 to RV3 150
RV6 154
RV8 315
OS 0200
from PF 0042/X1 to PF 0042/X2
from SC 0495 to SC 0498
from FDA 0202 to FDA 0227
INT 017
90: Open
Archival reference no.
R639-0-5-E
Library of Congress class no.
03924
05841
04824
04823
04917
05464
05198
GL00168 (2M/Dap-1A)

Terms of use

Copyright: Expired.
Credit: Name of photographer (unless otherwise indicated "William James Topley Studio" / National Archives of Canada / Copy negative number

Finding aid

Graphic (photo) Original index cards by subject in 1936-270 box FDA 0227. Original bound main index in 1936-270 box FDA 0202. Original bound stock in 1936-270 box FDA 0226 with copy in 1936-270 box FDA 0206. Alphabetical index cards in 1936-270 box FDA 0204. Original appointment books by negative number in 1936-270 box FDA 0204. General repairs, 'H' series, 1921 price list and correspondence in 1936-270 box FDA 0206. Original bound alphabetical indexes for 1879-1923 located in 1936-270 boxes FDA 0207 to FDA 0209. Original index to groups located in 1936-270 boxes FDA 0210 to FDA 0218. Original index to women in 1936-270 boxes FDA 0218 to FDA 0223. Original index to men in 1936-270 boxes FDA 0224 and FDA 0225. Forty-two bound albums of contact prints in chronological order in Gatineau to be consulted under supervision: fragile. FA-001 (Paper)
http://data2.archives.ca/pdf/pdf001/p000002389.pdf

H.M. Ami series Series level description On-line series FA-001 (Other)

Graphic (photo) As a result of the Nitrate Rehousing Project, one box of negatives has been split into two: Former container 2000924175 is now Vol 2, 2001737260 (items 149712 to 149029) and Vol. 3. 2001737261 (items 149031 to 149709) 90 (Electronic)

Creator / Provenance

Topley Studio.

Additional name(s)

Horetzky, Charles, 1840-1900.
Photographer: Topley, John George, 1850-1923.
Photographer: Topley, William de Courcy.
Photographer: Topley, William James, 1845-1930.
Photographer: Topley, Horatio Needham, 1847-1910.
Stiff Bros.

Biography / Administrative history

Topley Studio, founded by William James Topley, established 1872, Ottawa, Ont. and flourished at 90 Wellington St., Ottawa, 1872-1875; and 132 Sparks St., 1878-1924. Formerly Notman's Ottawa branch (originally opened in 1867). At various times assisted by brothers John and Horatio, and at least by 1891, by his son, William de Courcy. In 1907, William James Topley sold the studio and its contents to his son William de Courcy Topley who continued the business until 1926. Images are largely fashionable portraiture. An associates Company, the Topley Optical Instrument Company, sold optical goods such as theodolites, telescopes, etc.

Works located in: University of British Columbia, Library, Special Collections, Vancouver, B.C.; Public Archives of Nova Scotia, Halifax, N.S.; Metropolitan Toronto Libary, Toronto, Ont.; Metropolitan Toronto Library Theatre Department, Toronto, Ont.

Exhibition(s): 1970, Reflections on a Capital, PAC, Ottawa (group). 1971, 75 Years of Photography 1896 to 1970, Ottawa Camera Club. 1980, City Blocks, City Spaces, PAC, Ottawa.

Additional information

Fonds consists of both original glass plate negatives in a variety of sizes from 4" x 5" up to 24" x 36" and a series of photographic albums, used both for indexing, and for ordering purposes. The Topley Studio carried out extensive photographic work on behalf of the federal government, as well as selling photographic equipment and supplies. The Index consists of 66 albums of photographs by the Topley Studio and two account books (one from the Topley Studio and one from the Notman studio). The pages of the albums are set up like contact sheets, and as the title suggests, are indexes to the Topley negatives, usually arranged in chronological and numerical order. To take an example, one of the album from 1875 to 1877 contains negatives 17551 to 22197. Each photograph and/or space for a photograph bears a brief description and negative number. In many of the earlier albums several photographs are missing from their designated spots. The indexes date from 1868 to 1923 and contain a large number of portraits. It is by no means a complete index to the Topley Fonds as many of the photographs taken by Topley are not included. As well, the indexes do not indicate to which of the various size groups a negative may belong, making it difficult to use effectively as a finding aid. In addition, there are a number of photographic albums compiled by William James Topley consisting of scenic views around Ottawa, and in the Gatineau and Ottawa river valleys.

Custodial history
The Topley Studio grew out of the William Notman Studio branch located in Ottawa, opened there in 1868. William James Topley manager and chief photographer at the Notham Studio's Ottawa location, took over proprietorship of that Studio in 1872, and operated it under the Notham name until about 1875 when he opened at a new location under his own name. He continued in business until 1910 when the business was transferred to his son William de Courcy Topley, who continued it until 1926. The fonds was sold to the Public Archives of Canada by William de Courcy Topley in 1936. William James Topley's brother Horatio Needham Topley also worked in the business.

Availability of other formats note
The following items have been digitized: PA-011337 PA-013342 PA-011543 PA-011616 PA-011418 PA-010401 PA-010256 PA-010409 (DAPDCAP).

Source

Private

Related control no.

1. 1936-270 PIC
2. 2002-01338-1
3. 2008-00727-8

MIKAN no.

138219