Browse Items (687 total)

A photograph taken by an unknown person in 1951. A Black sleeping car porter makes the bed in a train car. Maintaining neatness and cleanliness was an important part of porters’ roles. There were specific rules they had to follow: certain ways to…

This is a record chart from 1969 which features “Get Back” by the Beatles as the most popular song, as well as songs from the musical “Hair,” which featured R&B songs and was known for its commentary on the Vietnam War as well as featuring Black…

This is a RPM Singles Chart from 20 May 1967, featuring the top 100 singles in Canada at the time, and featured Jackie Shane in the 98th spot for her song “Stand Up Straight and Tall.” This song was released as a single prior to the release of her…

This RPM Chart from 1966 showcases Jackie Shane in the 95th spot for her song “Any Other Way” 3 years after its initial release, which had been rereleased. This is the only song of hers that appears in the RPM Weekly ever. “Any Other Way” is her most…

This RPM Chart showcases Dianne Brooks in the 85th spot for the top albums. Her album “Some Other Kind Of Soul” was her first album she had released as a solo artist, and had eventually gone on to release 2 more solo albums before becoming a backup…

This is a clip of RPM Magazine featuring the top songs playing in major cities across Canada, and featured Dianne Brooks playing in two different cities. When a song was not popular enough to be in the national top 100 list but still was popular…

Rufus Rockhead, founder of popular nightclub Rockhead’s Paradise joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force in 1918. Serving with the Canadian Forestry Corps in France, Rockhead cut down trees and would process them for the construction of barracks,…

This photo captures a festive moment as Santa Claus visits the Negro Community Centre, spreading holiday cheer to children and families in the neighbourhood. Holiday gatherings reinforce intergenerational ties, bringing together families, neighbours,…

This dramatic Highland view shows Duncanson’s engagement with the European Romanticism style. Including it shows how he was intentionally bridging Old World traditions with the New World setting.

This work highlights Duncanson’s command of atmospheric marine style paintings, a genre central to nineteenth-century North American art. Its inclusion shows how Black artists engaged with concepts of mobility and distance through the maritime…