Sources & Resources

The best places to see and learn more about the work of Ottawa artists are the Ottawa Art Gallery, the Carleton University Art Gallery, and the municipal art galleries. The National Capital Region also includes several national institutions that hold the work of Ottawa-area artists, although such works may not be on display at any given time. These include the National Gallery of Canada, Library and Archives Canada, the Canadian War Museum, the Canadian Museum of History, the Indigenous Art Collection of Indigenous Affairs Canada, and the Canada Council Art Bank. There are also artist-run and commercial galleries with a long history of supporting Ottawa region artists, including SAW Gallery, Gallery 101, EBA Collective, Studio Sixty-Six, St-Laurent + Hill, and Axenéo7. In the past few decades, the history of art and artists in the Ottawa region has become the subject of an increasing scholarly interest, and this section offers suggestions for further reading.

Critical Publications

Bloom, Glen, Emily Falvey, Ben Gianni, and Catherine Sinclair. The Ottawa Art Gallery: Collections. Ottawa: Ottawa Art Gallery, 2008.

Burant, Jim. History of Art and Artists of Ottawa and Surroundings, 1790–1970, Part I: The Fine Arts in Ottawa to 1879. Ottawa: Ottawa Art Gallery, 1993.

Burant, Jim. History of Art and Artists of Ottawa and Surroundings, 1790–1970, Part II: The Fine Arts in Ottawa, 1880–1945. Ottawa: Ottawa Art Gallery, 1994.

Burant, Jim, ed. History of Art and Artists of Ottawa and Surroundings, 1790–1970, Part III: The Fine Arts in Ottawa, 1946–1970. Ottawa: Ottawa Art Gallery, 1995.

Burant, Jim, and Robert Stacey. North by South: The Paintings of Peleg Franklin Brownell, 1857–1946. Ottawa: Ottawa Art Gallery, 1998.

Herbert, Walter, and Jean-René Ostiguy. Survey Exhibition No. 1: The First Comprehensive Survey of the Visual Arts in the Ottawa-Outaouais and the Ottawa Valley. Ottawa: Visual Arts Ottawa Committee, 1975.

Sinclair, Catherine, et al. Àdisokàmagan / Nous connaître un peu nous-mêmes / We’ll All Become Stories. Ottawa: Ottawa Art Gallery, 2018.

Taylor, John. Ottawa: An Illustrated History. Toronto: James Lorimer & Co., 1984.

Key Archival Sources

Library and Archives Canada, the National Gallery of Canada, and the Ottawa Art Gallery all hold artist files on Ottawa artists. The following is a list of particularly significant holdings at these institutions and others.

David Milne Papers, Library and Archives Canada.

F. Maud Brown Papers, Library and Archives Canada.

Frank Maurice Jenkins Papers, Library and Archives Canada, MG 30, D183.

Harry Orr McCurry Papers, Library and Archives Canada, MG 30, D186.

Henri Masson Fonds, Library and Archives Canada, MG30-D396.

Madge Macbeth Fonds, Library and Archives Canada, MG30-D52.

Ottawa Literary and Scientific Society Fonds, Ottawa City Archives, MG 53.

Record Group 37: Public Archives of Canada, Library and Archives Canada.

Royal Canadian Academy Papers, Library and Archives of Canada.

Topley Studio Fonds, Library and Archives Canada.

William Goodridge Roberts Fonds, Library and Archives Canada.

Further Reading

Allen, Jan. Annie Pootoogook: Kinngait Compositions. Kingston: Agnes Etherington Art Centre, 2011.

Anderson-Dolcini, Catherine. “One Percent for Whom? Canada’s Public Works Fine Art Programme, 1964–1978: Its Rise and Demise.” MA Thesis. Carleton University, 2000.

Arpin, Pierre. Portrait of a Collector: A Tribute to O.J. Firestone. Ottawa: Ottawa Art Gallery, 1994.

Backhouse, Constance. Canadian Government Motion Picture Bureau, 1917–41. Ottawa: Canadian Film Institute, 1974.

Bell, John. Ottawa: A Literary Portrait. Ottawa: Pottersfield Press, 1992.

Bell, Michael. Image of Canada. Ottawa: Public Archives of Canada, 1972.

Boggs, Jean Sutherland. The National Gallery of Canada. Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1971.

Bond, Courtney C.J. City on the Ottawa: A Detailed Historical Guide to Ottawa. Ottawa: National Capital Commission, 1967.

Bond, Courtney C.J. An Ottawa Chronology, 1900–1949. Ottawa: privately published, 1984.

Bond, Courtney C.J. An Ottawa Chronology, 1950–1983. Ottawa: privately published, 1984.

Bond, Courtney C.J. Where Rivers Meet: An Illustrated History of Ottawa. Burlington: Windsor Publications, 1984.

Bond, Courtney C.J., and John W. Hughson. Hurling down the Pine: The Story of the Wright, Gilmour and Hughson Families. Old Chelsea: Historical Society of the Gatineau, 1964.

Bond, Courtney C. J., and Philip Pocock. Statues and Monuments in Ottawa and Hull. Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1963.

Borcomann, Jim, ed. Goodridge Roberts. Ottawa: National Gallery of Canada, 1969.

Brown, Maud. Breaking Barriers: Eric Brown and the National Gallery. Ottawa: Society for Art Publications, 1964.

Browness, Stephanie Martel. “Site, Space, and Memory: The Construction of Meaning in Commemorative Public Space.” MA Thesis. Carleton University, 2010.

Burant, Jim. “The Military Artist and the Documentary Art Record.” Archivaria 26 (Summer 1988): 33–51.

Burant, Jim, ed. A Place in History: Twenty Years of Acquisition of Paintings, Drawings, and Prints at the National Archives of Canada. Ottawa: National Archives of Canada, 1991.

Burrett, Deborah. Lasting Impressions: The Canadian Printmakers’ Showcase 1969 to 1974. Ottawa: Carleton University Art Gallery, 1996.

Canadian Museum of History. “Archaeological Sites in the Ottawa Valley.” Accessed at http://www.historymuseum.ca/cmc/exhibitions/archeo/kichisibi/k700-1e.shtml.

Cartwright, Jennifer. “A Temporary Custodian: The R.D. Bell Collection of Inuit Art.” This Is Carleton 1, no.15 (September 9, 1999).

Clément, Daniel, ed. The Algonquins. Ottawa: Canadian Museum of Civilization, 1996.

Creates, Marlene. Evidence: The Ottawa City Project. Ottawa: Art Gallery at Arts Court, 2008.

Creates, Marlene. Memory/Souvenir. Ottawa: Art Gallery at Arts Court, 1987.

Dallett, Tim. Driving the Ceremonial Landscape. Ottawa: Gallery 101, 1996.

Dewar, Marion, Chantal Hebert, John Ramlochand, Melissa Rombout, and John Ralston Saul. Ottawa: On Display. Ottawa: Ottawa Art Gallery, 2000.

Dewdney, Selwyn, and Kenneth Kidd. Indian Rock Paintings of the Great Lakes. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1962.

Dickson, Jennifer. The Last Silence: Pavane for a Dying World. Ottawa: Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography, 1991.

Doyle, James. Annie Howells and Achille Frechette. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1979.

Durr, Pat. Made in Ottawa. Ottawa: Ottawa Art Gallery, 1993.

Firestone, O.J. The Other A.Y. Jackson. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1979.

Fischer, Doug, ed. Our Times: A Pictorial Memoir of Ottawa’s Past. Ottawa: Ottawa Citizen, 2000.

Fischer, Doug, ed. To the Editor: A Century of Letters. Ottawa: Ottawa Citizen, 2000.

Foy, Lydia, ed. Facing History: Portraits from the National Archives of Canada. Ottawa: National Archives of Canada, 1993.

Fraser, Ted. Kenneth Lochhead: Garden of Light. Regina: MacKenzie Art Gallery, 2005.

Frederickson, N. Jaye. The Covenant Chain: Indian Ceremonial and Trade Silver. Ottawa: National Museum of Man, 1980.

Fry, Philip. Picture a Place: Art contemporain d’ici. Ottawa: Ottawa Art Gallery, 1992.

Gaffield, Chad. A History of the Outaouais. Ottawa: PUL Diffusion, 1997.

Gard, Anson. The Hub and the Spokes: Or, the Capital and its Environs. Ottawa and New York: Emerson Press, 1904.

Gidmark, David. The Algonquin Birchbark Canoe. Aylesbury, U.K.: Shire Publication Ltd., 1988.

Gidmark, David. The Indian Crafts of William and Mary Commanda. Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 1980.

Gidmark, David, with Denis Alsford. Building a Birchbark Canoe: The Algonquin wâbanäki tcîmân. Willowdale, ON: Firefly Books, 2002.

The Glenn and Barbara McInnes Family Collection. Ottawa: Carleton University Art Gallery, 1995.

Graham, Mayo. Treasures from the Firestone Art Collection. Ottawa: Gallery at Arts Court, 1992.

Gwyn, Sandra. The Private Capital: Ambition and Love in the Age of MacDonald and Laurier. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1984.

Hamilton-Hobbs, Emma. “From Friendless Women to Fancy Dress Balls: William James Topley’s Photographic Portraits.” MA Thesis. Carleton University, 2014.

Hanewich, Kim. History of the Algonquins; Omamiwinini: The Invisible People. Pikwàkanagàn Golden Lake, ON: Omàmiwininì Pimàdjwowin; The Algonquin Way Cultural Centre, 2009. Accessed at http://www.thealgonquinway.ca/pdf/Omamiwinini-InvisiblePeople-e.pdf.

Hessel, Peter. The Algonkin Tribe: The Algonkins of the Ottawa Valley. Arnprior, ON: Kichesippi Books, 1987.

Hirsch, R. Forbes. “The Bytown Mechanics’ Institute.” Bytown Pamphlet Series 39 (1992).

Horrall, Andrew. Bringing Art to Life: A Biography of Alan Jarvis. Montreal: McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2009.

Hubbard, Robert H. Thomas Davies. Ottawa: National Gallery of Canada, 1972.

Jenkins, Phil. An Acre of Time. Toronto: Macfarlane Walter & Ross, 1996.

Joan Holmes and Associates. Algonquins of Golden Lake Claim, Volume 1. Ottawa: Communications Branch, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, 1993. Accessed at http://www.joanholmes.ca/Execsum.pdf.

Kalman, Harold, and John Roaf. Exploring Ottawa. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1983.

Kennedy, Clyde C. The Upper Ottawa Valley. Pembroke, ON: Renfrew County Council, 1970.

King, J.C.H., and Christian F. Feest. Three Centuries of Woodland Indian Art. Altenstadt: ZKF Publishers, 2007.

Koh, Germaine. Prototype: Contemporary Art from Joe Friday’s Collection. Ottawa: Carleton University Art Gallery, 2004.

Koltun, Lilly. Jerry Grey: Rare Spirits. Ottawa: Ottawa Art Gallery, 2000.

Legget, Robert. Ottawa Waterway. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1975.

Legget, Robert. Rideau Waterway. 2nd ed. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1986.

Maitland, Leslie. Historical Sketches of Ottawa. Peterborough, ON: Broadview Press, 1990.

Major-Marothy, Eva. Towards a History of the Ottawa School of Art and the Art Association of Ottawa, 1879–1949. Unpublished manuscript commissioned by the Ottawa Art Gallery, 1978.

McGregor, Stephen. Since Time Immemorial: “Our Story”; The Story of the Kitigan Zibi Anishinàbeg. Maniwaki, QC: Kitigan Zibi Education Council, Anishinabe Printing, 2004.

Morrison, James. Algonquin History of the Ottawa River Watershed. Ottawa: Sicani Research and Advisory Services, 2005.

Mullington, Dave. Chain of Office: Biographical Sketches of the Early Mayors of Ottawa. Burnstown, ON: General Store Publishing House, 2005.

Ohlinger, Marie. “In Pursuit of French Masters: The Family of Gordon C. Edwards.” National Gallery of Canada Magazine, October 16, 2019. Accessed at https://www.gallery.ca/magazine/your-collection/in-pursuit-of-french-masters-the-family-of-gordon-c-edwards.

Ontario Heritage Foundation. Firestone Art Collection. Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson Press, 1978.

Ord, Douglas. The National Gallery of Canada: Ideas Art Architecture. Montreal and Kingston: McGill-Queens University Press, 2003.

O’Reilly, John B. “The College of Bytown 1848–1856.” Canadian Catholic Historical Association Report 15 (1947–48).

Osborne, Brian. “The Artist as Historical Commentator: Thomas Burrowes and the Rideau Canal.” Archivaria 17 (Winter 1983/4).

Payne, Carol. The Official Picture: The National Film Board of Canada’s Still Photography Division and the Image of Canada, 1941–71. Montreal and Kingston: McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2013.

Phillips, Ruth B. Trading Identities: The Souvenir in Native North American Art from the Northeast, 1700 –1900. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1998.

Pilon, Jean-Luc. La préhistoire de l’Outaouais / Ottawa Valley Prehistory. Ottawa: Société d’histoire de l’Outaouais, 1999.

Public Art at Arts Court: A Temporary Installation of Sculpture in the Park. Ottawa: Public Arts Program and Ottawa Arts Court Foundation, 1999.

Public Art at Arts Court: A Temporary Installation of Sculpture in the Park. Ottawa: Public Arts Program and Ottawa Arts Court Foundation, 2001–3.

Reflections on a Capital: 12 Ottawa Photographers. Ottawa: Public Archives of Canada, 1970.

Ritchie, Charles. Diplomatic Passport: More Undiplomatic Diaries, 1946–1962. Toronto: MacMillan of Canada, 1981.

Roberts, Kenneth G., and Philip Shackleton. The Canoe: A History of the Craft from Panama to the Arctic. Toronto: Macmillan of Canada, 1983.

Rose, Amy Dawn. “From a Small Centre: Joe Friday’s Contemporary Art Collection.” MA Thesis. Carleton University, 2006.

Schoenherr, Douglas, ed. The Painted Past. Ottawa: Public Archives of Canada, 1984.

Sculpture Walks: Sculptures and Monuments in the National Capital. Ottawa: National Capital Commission, Visual Arts Programme, 1985.

75 Years of Photography. Ottawa: Camera Club of Ottawa, 1971.

Sinclair, Catherine. Pat Durr: Persistence of Chaos. Ottawa: Ottawa Art Gallery, 2012.

Sinclair, Catherine, and Christopher Youngs. Wyse Works: Exposing the Inevitable. Ottawa: Ottawa Art Gallery, 2011.

Slominska, Anita. “Interpreting Success and Failure: The Eclectic Careers of Eva and Juliette Gauthier.” PhD dissertation. McGill University, 2009.

Smith, Charles H., and Ian Dyck. William E. Logan’s 1845 Survey of the Upper Ottawa Valley. Ottawa: Canadian Museum of Civilization, 2007.

Smith, Frances K. Kathleen Moir Morris. Kingston, ON: Agnes Etherington Arts Centre, 1983.

Speck, Frank G. “Art Processes in Birchbark of the River Desert Algonuin, a Circumboreal Trait.” Smithsonian Institution Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin 128, no.17 (1941).

Stacey, Robert, and Stan McMullin. Massanoga: The Art of Bon Echo. Moonbeam, ON: Penumbra Press and the Archives of Canadian Art, 1998.

These Are the Marks I Make: Duncan de Kergommeaux. Ottawa: Ottawa Art Gallery, 2011.

Thomas, Ann. No Man’s Land: The Photography of Lynne Cohen. Ottawa: National Gallery of Canada, 2001.

Thompson, Allison. “A Worthy Place in the Art of Our Country: The Women’s Art Association of Canada, 1888–1987.” MA Thesis. Carleton University, 1989.

Victor Tolgesy: The Circus of Life. Kingston, ON: Agnes Etherington Art Centre, 1980.

Villeneuve, René. Lord Dalhousie: Patron and Collector. Ottawa: National Gallery of Canada, 2008.

Young, Carolyn A. Glory of Ottawa: Canada’s First Parliament Buildings. Montreal and Kingston: McGill-Queen’s University Press, 1995.