Collection search - Robert Wilson Reford [textual record, graphic material, architectural drawing]

Record information – Brief
1
Robert Wilson Reford [textual record, graphic material, architectural drawing]

Hierarchical level:

Series

Date:

1840-1992.

Reference:

R3089-6-2-E, MG28-III59

Type of material:

Textual material, Photographs, Art, Architectural and technical drawings

Found in:

Archives / Collections and Fonds

Item ID number:

5113034

Context of this record:

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Robert Reford Company fonds

Robert Wilson Reford
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Record information – Details

Series includes:

186 lower level description(s)
View lower level description(s)

Date(s):

1840-1992.

Place of creation:

Canada

Extent:

1.95 m of textual records.
31 photographs : 27 prints; 3 negatives.
7 architectural plans : 50 x 48 cm or smaller.
1 drawing : sketch.

Language of material:

English

Scope and content:

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This series contains the files of Robert W. Reford (1867-1950), the eldest son of Robert Reford and Katharine Drummond. Although he played an important role in the family business, the majority of this series are personal files (especially his art collection) rather than business files.

The series includes correspondence (letter books, volumes (158-159), family papers, diaries and daybooks (163), financial statements (163-164), art inventories and documents on his art collection (162-163), subject files (159-162) and documents related to his estate (164-168).

Provenance:

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Reford, Robert W. (Robert Wilson), 1867-1951

Biography/Administrative history:

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Reford, Robert W. (Robert Wilson), 1867-1951 : Robert Wilson Reford was born in Montreal in 1867, the eldest son of Robert Reford and Katherine Drummond. He was educated at Upper Canada College. His father was the founder of the Robert Reford Company, a shipping firm in Montreal. Prior to joining his father's firm, Robert travelled to the Mediterranean, Britain, and France. In 1888, he began his apprenticeship in business, working on board a vessel in the Mediterranean. In 1889, he went to British Columbia to work in family business interests. He also worked in Antwerp and Paris prior to returning to Montreal and joining the staff of the Robert Reford Company. In 1894, he married Elsie Stephen Meighen, the daughter of Robert Meighen and niece of Sir George Stephen, Baron Mount Stephen. From 1913 to 1946, he served as president of Robert Reford Company.

One of Canada's most prolific amateur photographers, Reford documented the people and landscape of British Columbia during his business apprenticeship there. He continued his interest in photography as a member of the Montreal Camera Club in 1892. In addition to his interest in photography, Reford was a passionate art collector. He amassed one of the largest collections of Canadian and European art in Canada. An artist himself, he sketched a number of works related to native Canada.

Robert Wilson Reford died in 1951.

Exhibition(s): 1980, City Blocks, City Spaces, PAC, Ottawa, Ont. (group). 1983, Private Realms of Light, PAC, Ottawa, Ont.

Additional information:

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General note:

Robert W. Reford (1867-1951) was the eldest son of Robert Reford (1831-1913) and Katharine Drummond. In 1894, he married Elsie Meighen (Stephen) Reford (1872-1967). They had two sons: Robert Bruce Stephen Reford (1895-1972) and Lewis Eric Reford (1900-1983).

He rescued Mount Royal Rice Mills from insolvency and maintained the family interest in the Reford Cunard agency during the Great Depression. He was an active member of both the Montreal Board of Trade (serving as president 1912-1913) and the Shipping Federation of Canada (president 1920-1930).

He was one of Canada's foremost art collectors. His collection included works by Goya, Monet, Gainsborough, Reynolds, Bonnington.

Source:

Private

Former archival reference no.:

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MG28-III59
Ordering and viewing options

Conditions of access:

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Textual records

[Consultation90 Open]

Volume [R3089] 158--168

[Consultation 90 Open]

Graphic (photo)

[Consultation90 Open]

Volume [R3089]

[Consultation 99 Closed pending processing]

159;

[Consultation 99 Closed pending processing]

161--162;

[Consultation 99 Closed pending processing]

166;

[Consultation 99 Closed pending processing]

Graphic (art)

[Consultation90 Open]

Volume [R3089] 166

[Consultation 90 Open]

Architectural: technical drawings

[Consultation90 Open]

Volume [R3089] 159

[Consultation 90 Open]

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Date modified:: 2024-07-24