Proposal for a Research Archive

The Wilma Morrison Collection in the Archives of Ontario

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25071/28169344.175

Keywords:

archives, Black women, leisure, travel, belonging

Abstract

The main purpose of the essay is to propose preliminary research in the Archives of Ontario (AO) based on Wilma Morrison’s photographic collection. In this essay, I, the researcher, provide meaning about the photographs based on the history of Black women’s labour, rest, leisure, and belonging. These themes are tied to theoretical perspectives of the archives and provide practical ideas how the AO can build relations with their local community, Jane and Finch, for community engagement.

References

About. (n.d.). Counter Archive. Retrieved July 14, 2026, from https://counterarchive.ca/about

Archives of Ontario. (2026a). Wilma Morrison Fonds. https://aims.archives.gov.on.ca/scripts/mwimain.dll/144/DESCRIPTION_WEB/WEB_D ESC_DET/SISN%2024752?SESSIONSEARCH&NOMSG=%5Bao_opac%5D/includes/

error/norecordArchives.htm

Archives of Ontario. (2026b). Biological Sketch. https://aims.archives.gov.on.ca/SCRIPTS/MWIMAIN.DLL/fViOV1tGHI1b2RK/PEOPLE_VAL_SYN/PERSON_ID/P2826?JUMP&DISPLAY=INDEXPROV

Art Gallery of Ontario. (2017). Free Black North April 29 – October 1, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20200207224438/https://ago.ca/exhibitions/free-black-north

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Morrison, W. (1955a, September 5). The Morrisons [Photograph]. Wilma Morrison fonds (F 4721, Photo Album, Box B948702, Image I0057084). Archives of Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Morrison, W. (1975-1972). Aboard the Norma-Gladys [Photograph]. (F 4721, Photo Album, Box B945700, Folder Photograph Album 1975-1972). Archives of Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Morrison, W. (1955b). Harvested Field, Sea of Potatoes, Clouds and Rain, Sandy – Clean Beaches, Prince Edward Island and Looking Back to Nova Scotia [Photograph]. Wilma Morrison fonds (F 4721, Photo Album, Box B945700, Folder Album 1975-1972). Archives of Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Morrison, W. (1985, July). Summer 1985 and Appomatox Bar B.Q. Good Food July 1985. [Photograph]. Wilma Morrison fonds (F 4721, Photo Album, Box B945700, Folder Album 1984-1986 (1 of 2)). Archives of Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Morrison, W. (1955c). The Most Important Part of Vacation/Scallops and And lobsters [Photograph]. Wilma Morrison fonds (F 4721, Photo Album, Box B945700, Folder Photograph Album 1975-1972). Archives of Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Senier, S. (2014). Digitizing Indigenous History: Trends and Challenges. Journal of Victorian Culture, 19(3), 396–402. https://doi.org/10.1080/13555502.2014.947188

Sharpe, C. (2023). Ordinary Notes. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Stanworth, K. (2002). In Sight of Visual Culture.. Symplokē, 10 (1/2), pp. 106-117. https://www.jstor.org/stable/40550536

Thompson, C. (2019). BLACK CANADA AND WHY THE ARCHIVAL LOGIC OF MEMORY NEEDS REFORM. Les ateliers de l'éthique / The Ethics Forum, 14(2), 76–106. https://doi.org/10.7202/1071133ar

Yeo, D. (2019, February 19). The real book behind Green Book: a means to keep Black Americans safe but also a guide to having fun. Toronto Star.

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Published

2026-09-02

How to Cite

Williams, R. (2026). Proposal for a Research Archive: The Wilma Morrison Collection in the Archives of Ontario. YU-WRITE: Journal of Graduate Student Research in Education, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.25071/28169344.175

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