First University of Toronto Library

The University's original library located in University College was destroyed by fire on Valentine's Day, 1890.  Within days an international campaign was started to rebuild the collection and to construct a new library.

Donors from around the world ensured that the collection was ready when the new separate library opened in 1892.

"The day after the fire, gifts of books began to pour in.... A local Library Restoration Committee was formed, and money was raised for it by the Young Lady Undergraduates, the students at Parkdale Collegiate, the Toronto Orchestral Society, the Toronto World newspaper....."

"A Restoration Committee was formed also in Britain.....Another high-powered committee was formed in Germany.... Donors included...Queen Victoria and her grandson Kaiser  William."

"The result of this amazing outflow of generosity amounted, within two years, to about 41,000 volumes, the makings of a larger and better collection than had been lost in the fire."

(Quotations from Evolution of the Heart: the University Library: the first century 1827-1923, p. 5-6; Image no. 2002-37-2MS courtesy of the University of Toronto Archives Image Bank.)

Further renovations were undertaken in 1909/10 and the opening of the renovated building was marked by the Varsity in October 1910 (pdf)