Bruce Peel Special Collections

Bruce Peel Special Collections holds numerous collections that include a range of materials written or published by Canadians or about Canada, both fiction and non-fiction. In addition to books extending back to the seventeenth century, this also includes ephemeral and archival materials. The focus is Western Canada and the Prairie Provinces; however, the Peel library also houses general Canadian materials covering a broad spectrum of topics and regions. Notable items include first editions such as Anne of Green Gables (1908) by Lucy Maud Montgomery and the first Canadian book to sell over a million copies, Beautiful Joe (1894) by Margaret Saunders. Topics range from the early exploration of Canada (including the Prairies and the Rocky Mountains) to immigrant narratives and Indigenous culture and heritage. Numerous collections in the Peel library fall under the general heading of Canadiana, including the A.C. Rutherford Collection, the Gregory Javitch Collection of books about Indigenous peoples, the Chinese Experience in Canada Collection, the Sir Samuel Benfield Steele Family Archive, and the Miriam Green Ellis Archive.  

Collection Formats: 17th Century, 18th Century, 19th Century, 20th Century, 21st Century, Art Work, Artists Books, Books, Correspondence, Ephemera, Fine Press Books, Limited Edition Books, Manuscripts, Photographs, Postcards, Specialty Bindings -- click to see other collections with this format