Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
The Canadian Institute
General material designation
- Textual record
Parallel title
The Royal Canadian Institute (1914); The Royal Canadian Institute of Science
Other title information
Title statements of responsibility
Title notes
Level of description
Series
Repository
Reference code
F 367.003
Edition area
Edition statement
Edition statement of responsibility
Class of material specific details area
Statement of scale (cartographic)
Statement of projection (cartographic)
Statement of coordinates (cartographic)
Statement of scale (architectural)
Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)
Dates of creation area
Date(s)
-
1852-1858 (Creation)
- Creator
- The Canadian Institute
Physical description area
Physical description
6.5 cm of textual records
Publisher's series area
Title proper of publisher's series
Parallel titles of publisher's series
Other title information of publisher's series
Statement of responsibility relating to publisher's series
Numbering within publisher's series
Note on publisher's series
Archival description area
Name of creator
Administrative history
The Canadian Institute was established in 1849 by Sir Sandford Fleming and Kivas Tullyand. It received a Royal Charter in 1951. The Institute's purpose was "promoting the physical sciences, for encouraging and advancing the industrial arts and manufactures for effecting the formation of a Provincial Museum, and for the purpose of facilitating the acquirement and the dissemination of knowledge connected with the Surveying, Engineering and Architectural Professions.". The Institute has initiated or encouraged a wide range of scientific endeavours. In 1879 it began to promote Sandford Fleming's concept of standard time and the practicality of a universal prime meridian. Both were adopted at the Washington International Time Conference in 1884. In 1885 the Institute opened the first Museum of Natural History and Archaeology in Ontario. Its large collections, particularly in provincial archaeology, ornithology and mineralogy, were transferred to the newly founded Royal Ontario Museum in 1924. In 1893, the Institute saw the establishment of Algonquin Provincial Park, a project it had long and actively supported, and in 1914 it created the Bureau of Science and Industrial Research, a forerunner of the National Research Council of Canada. As knowledge became more specialized the Institute formed sections that often became independent organizations. For example, in 1888 the Photographic Section became the Toronto Camera Club which still operates successfully. In 1914 the Institute was given permission to add the prefix Royal to its name. About the same time it expanded its mandate to include public education in science and technology through a fall and winter lecture series. These lectures are still offered free to the public and are given voluntarily by some of Canada's most distinguished scientists. During the 1980s these lectures were broadcast under the title Speaking of Science. In 1982, the Institute awarded its first annual Sandford Fleming medal to Dr. David Suzuki for outstanding contributions by a Canadian to the public understanding of science. Recognizing the importance of bringing science to a young audience, the Institute founded the Youth Science Association in 1989, which is run largely by high school students through a lively lecture and field trip series. To celebrate its 150th anniversary in 1999, the RCI published Special Places: The Changing Ecosystems of the Toronto Region containing 39 contributions by specialists on the ecology of the area.
Custodial history
Scope and content
The Canadian Institute published a journal starting in 1852. Between 1852-1878 it was titled "The Canadian Journal"; between 1879-1890 it was titled "Proceedings"; and between 1890-1969 it was titled "Transactions".
The Series contains 14 copies of The Canadian Journal.
Notes area
Physical condition
Journals are in very good shape for periodicals from the mid 19th century. Edges show some brittleness and cracking, slight moisture markings.
Immediate source of acquisition
Arrangement
Language of material
Script of material
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
Open. Records are available for consultation without restriction.