The archivist interview series is back with a Q&A from Kyle Neill, Senior Archivist at the Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives (PAMA) in Brampton, Ontario. I know you’ll enjoy reading about his work.

1. Can you give us an overview of the collections?

The Peel Archives serves as the official repository for the records of the Region of Peel and its predecessor, the County of Peel. We also collect and store the archival records of lower-tier area municipalities (the cities of Mississauga and Brampton, and the Town of Caledon). Such government records tend to include council and committee minutes and reports, bylaws, property assessment rolls, maps and plans, correspondence, voter’s lists, and photographs. Significant groups of government records exist back to the 1840s, with a much smaller number going back to 1805.

In addition to government records, we also collect and hold a wide range of non-government records that have a connection to the Peel area, including personal, family, and organizational records. Our most well-known and utilized group of records is the Wm. Perkins Bull fonds. Bull was a prominent Peel historian who set out to document every facet of Peel’s history. Starting in 1931 he and his staff collected as much information as they could, with Bull ultimately publishing 13 books, with many more unfinished upon his death. His books, draft manuscripts, surviving research material, and private papers are housed here at PAMA. The fonds is of much use as the records contained therein cover a wide range of subjects, including, but not limited to, settlers and family histories, lost hamlets, The First World War, transportation and communication, the temperance movement, natural history, agriculture, religion, sports, fraternal societies, and First Nations.

2. How long have you worked at the Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives and how did you become interested in working in this field?

I was hired on a short-term contract in May 2012 to assist with preparing PAMA for its grand re-opening (it had previously been operating as the Peel Heritage Complex). I am extremely grateful to have been given the opportunity to stay on, now serving as the Senior Archivist.

I have always loved the past, and thus completed an undergraduate degree specializing in history. During that time I thought that I wanted to be a high school teacher. While subsequently enrolled in Teacher’s College I secured an internship at the Archives of Ontario designing lesson plans using archival records. I enjoyed myself immensely, with the experience opening my eyes to career options I had not even considered. After I graduated I decided to go back to school to obtain my Masters in Information Studies, with a focus in Archives and Records Management. Since then I have not looked back, and I absolutely adore my chosen profession.

3. What are your current duties and projects?

As the Senior Archivist my primary responsibility is the care and management of the government records in our care. However, this division of responsibility with regard to government & non-government records is not hard and fast, and quite often I work with non-government records as well.

Generally speaking, my responsibilities include:

• Coordinating, in consultation with the Regional Archivist, transfers of records from the Region of Peel and our member municipalities
• Meeting with private donors regarding donations and drafting appraisal reports for review by the Regional Archivist
• Processing incoming transfers and donations
• Performing minor conservation work on records – i.e. cleaning, repairing tears, and encapsulating items in archival quality plastic (Melinex)
• Completing the arrangement and description of various records according to RAD standards
• Co-curating exhibitions in the Reading Room display space
• Supervising researchers in the Reading Room
• Responding to reference inquiries
• Overseeing the work of volunteers and interns
• Delivering presentations (on and offsite)

Two of my major projects at the moment are re-describing material in the County of Peel fonds and processing a rather large accrual to the Region of Peel fonds (council and committee records from 1973 to 2008).

4. Can you tell us about one of your favourite items?

In our collection we hold a wide array of government maps and plans, including the Official Plan for the Township of Toronto (initially drafted in 1955, updated in 1965). The Township of Toronto is perhaps better known today as the City of Mississauga.

It is a fascinating document, providing insights into the then layout of the Township as well as post Second World War planning assumptions, priorities, and processes. Besides revealing the street network and the location of schools, churches, cemeteries, and golf courses, the plan also documents the planned land uses in the Township, including residential, industrial, commercial, and agricultural.

Having been born and raised in the City of Mississauga, I was fascinated to learn upon starting here that Mississauga used to be known as the Township of Toronto. Interestingly, the City of Toronto seems to have borrowed its name from the Township. Consider that the City of Toronto was founded as the Town of York in 1793, not becoming known as the City of Toronto until 1834. However, the Township of Toronto was founded in 1805, 29 years prior. The two “Torontos” coexisted for 134 years, with Toronto Township finally changing its name to Mississauga in 1968, not long after the above Official Plan was approved.

5. Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself or your work?

I firmly believe that government archivists have an essential role to play in ensuring government transparency and accountability. We do this by identifying, preserving, and providing public access to government records, regardless of media or format, that provide evidence of the decisions, policies, and activities of the various municipal governments in this area.

I thoroughly enjoy my work and I am supremely grateful for the opportunity to be an archivist, especially given the current climate of precarious employment and cutbacks.

Thank you, Kyle Neill!

Learn more about PAMA at www.pama.peelregion.ca.