Fonds consists of three textual series comprised of: a copy of a crossword puzzle book illustrated by Arthur Lismer (n.d.); correspondence relating to Lismer's career and honours and awards (1914-1970); manuscripts, lectures and broadcasts (originals and copies) on a variety of topics including A.Y. Jackson, Tom Thomson, Lismer's career, art, and art education (n.d., 1913-1954). Fonds also includes one art series consisting of 18 drawings by Arthur Lismer.
Lismer, Arthur, 1885-1969 : Arthur Lismer was born in Sheffield, England. He studied at the Sheffield School of Art and later at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp. In 1911 he immigrated to Toronto where he worked for the Grip Engraving Company and taught at the Ontario College of Art. He established a Children's Art Centre at the Art Gallery of Toronto, where he was educational supervisor, 1929-1936. He spent a year in South Africa, 1936-1937, organizing children's art classes and taught at Columbia University Teacher's College, 1938-1939. He was briefly educational supervisor at the National Gallery of Canada, before assuming that post at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts in 1940. He was assistant professor of fine arts at McGill University, 1948-1954. Lismer was a founding member of the Group of Seven, and was a member of the Arts and Letters Club, Toronto, Ontario Society of Artists, Royal Canadian Academy of Arts, Canadian Group of Painters, Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour, and Federation of Canadian Artists. See: Canadian Encyclopedia, 1985, p. 101; and Encyclopedia Canadiana, vol. 6, p. 147.
