Open Collections

MacDonald, J. E. H.

This bookplate's design is divided into three sections. At the top, the University of Toronto shield sits to the left of the text. In the middle is a picture of Hart House as seen from above. The name of the donor is in the lower third.

Architecture; Universities & colleges

Hart House

Still Image

The Hart House building was given to the University of Toronto in 1919 by the Massey Family, whose foundation donated the book that this bookplate was in. The Massey Foundation was formed in 1918 to fund and create new projects. The foundation also funded Massey College and the Hart House Theatre, among other projects. For more information on the Massey Family and Foundation, there is an entry in the online Encyclopedia of Music in Canada. The artist of this bookplate J.E.H. (James Edward Hervey) MacDonald was born in Durham, England on May 12, 1873 and he died in Toronto, Ontario on November 26, 1932. After his family immigrated to Hamilton, Ontario in 1887, MacDonald became an apprentice with the Toronto Lithography Company and eventually worked for Grip Printing and Publishing Co. MacDonald studied at the Hamilton School of Art and the Ontario College of Art and Design, where he eventually taught and became the principal in 1929. MacDonald was extremely active in the Canadian art community and was a founding member of the Group of Seven. MacDonald produced a large number of paintings and other art work but only approximately twenty bookplates. This particular plate is depicted in the publication, "Designs for bookplates," by J. E. H. MacDonald, 1966. This work may have been published by MacDonald's son, Thoreau MacDonald, as the initials, "T.M." appear in the preface. The collection also contains another ex-libris featured in this publication, see: BP MUR CAN P G736. Thoreau MacDonald, was a renowned Canadian book illustrator in his own right, and also a bookplate artist. For an example of his work, see: BP MUR CAN P H656 There is a second copy of the Hart House Library plate in the UBC general collection, see: BP GEN CAN I H3788
References:
1) McGregor, N. & Wardrop, P. (2009). Encyclopedia of Music in Canada. Retrieved June 4, 2009, from: http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=U1ARTU0002242
2) Hart house history. (2009). University of Toronto. Retrieved June 4, 2009, from: http://www.harthouse.utoronto.ca/hh/page.php?id=ABT02 Hart House Library. Retrieved June 4, 2009, from: http://angel.library.ubc.ca/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/bookplate&CISOPTR=318&CISOBOX=1&REC=1
3) The Grants. (2006). Queen's university. Retrieved May 12, 2009, from: http://www.queensu.ca/secretariat/cataraqui/grant.html
4) Thoreau and J.E.H. MacDonald Collection: Finding Aid. National Gallery of Canada. Retrieved May 12, 2009, from: http://national.gallery.ca/english/library/biblio/ngc015.html
5) Artist's Page. (2009). Cybermuse. Retrieved May 12, 2009 from: http://cybermuse.gallery.ca/cybermuse/search/bio_e.jsp?iartistid=3428Craigellachie.
6) BCGNIS Geographical Name Details. Retrieved May 12, 2009 from: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcgn-bin/bcg10?name=4772

RBSC Bookplates

2010

Images provided for research and reference use only. Permission to publish, copy, or otherwise use these images must be obtained from Rare Books and Special Collections: http://rbsc.library.ubc.ca

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