Introduction

Grandmother’s alphabet

From Arctic Exploration to Zero Gravity, this exhibit showcases an alphabet of curiosities from the Toronto Public Library’s Special Collections.

The library’s Special Collections are made up of over four million items collected since 1884. This includes a surprising variety of materials – rare books, photographs, journals and letters, original artwork, maps, and much more – that are collected and preserved for current and future research.

The items on display run the gamut from quirky to historic. They also provide a peek into each of the library’s unique and specialized collections:Arthur Conan Doyle Collection, Baldwin Collection of Canadiana, Special Collections in the Arts, Merril Collection of Science Fiction, Speculation & Fantasy, and the Osborne Collection of Early Children's Books.

Whether you are interested in literary treasures, children’s book art, or Toronto’s history, you can discover something new and wonderful in our Special Collections.

Introduction