Fonds 01-004 - Peter Gzowski fonds. 2001 additions

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Peter Gzowski fonds. 2001 additions

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    Title notes

    • Source of title proper: Title based on the creator of the fonds

    Level of description

    Fonds

    Repository

    Trent University Archives

    Reference code

    01-004

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    Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)

    Dates of creation area

    Date(s)

    • 1986-1999 (Creation)
      Creator
      Gzowski, Peter

    Physical description area

    Physical description

    80 cm of textual records
    148 photographs
    11 negatives
    3 drawings
    7 paintings

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    Archival description area

    Name of creator

    Gzowski, Peter
    (1934-2002)

    Biographical history

    Peter Gzowski was a Canadian broadcast journalist, best known as the host of Morningside on CBC radio (1982-1997). Gzowski was born on July 13, 1934, in Toronto, Ontario. He grew up in Galt, Ontario and was educated at Ridley College in St. Catharines, Ontario and the University of Toronto. Gzowski was appointed Trent University’s eighth Chancellor in 1999, a position he held until his death on January 24, 2002 . Gzowski College, named after Peter Gzowski, opened at Trent University in 2003.

    Gzowski edited “The Varsity” as an undergraduate student at the University of Toronto (1956-1957). He went on to work for town newspapers in Timmins, Ontario, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan and Chatham, Ontario. He became managing editor of Maclean's Magazine in 1962.

    Gzowski’s radio career started with CBC's "This Country in the Morning" (1971-1974). He later hosted "90 Minutes Live" (1976-1978), a national late-night television program, and was the host for a brief revival of CBC’s “Fighting Words” television series on CHCH in Hamilton (1982-1984). He became the host of “Morningside” in 1982 and remained its host until the show went off air in 1997 .

    Gzowski wrote numerous books, including Peter Gzowski's Book about This Country in the Morning (Hurtig Publishers, 1974), Peter Gzowski's Spring Tonic (Hurtig Publishers, 1979), The Game of Our Lives (McClelland and Stewart, 1981) and several volumes of Morningside letters (McClelland and Stewart, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991, and 1994).

    Gzowski contributed to adult literacy education through his annual golf tournament fundraiser, the Peter Gzowski Invitational (PGI), which began in 1986. Hosted at multiple locations across Canada each year, the PGI has raised millions of dollars since its inception. In 2002, the Peter Gzowski Foundation for Literacy was funded by an endowment from the federal government and took over responsibility for the PGI.

    In 1974, 1983, and 1985, Gzowski won ACTRA (the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists) awards for best host-interviewer on radio. He has also won three National Magazine Awards, one of which was for his 1981 profile on Wayne Gretzky. Gzowski was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in1986 and appointed a Companion of the Order of Canada in 1998. He received honourary degrees from the University of New Brunswick (D.LITT., 1984) and Trent University (LL.D., 1988). Other honours include the Governor General's Performing Arts Award (1995) and the International Peabody Award for Broadcasting (1997).

    Custodial history

    This fonds was created by and in the custody of Peter Gzowski before it was donated to Trent University Archives in June 2001

    Scope and content

    Fonds consists of letters written to Peter Gzowski in his role as broadcaster for CBC's "Morningside" show. The hundreds of letters include such subjects as literacy, Prime Minister Jean Chretien, and Edith Babb. Also included are contracts, correspondence, notes, and memos relating to Peter Gzowski's career with CBC; records relating to Gzowski's association with the "Peter Gzowski Invitational Golf for Literacy" tournament; Gzowski's association with Ridley College, and Trent University (Margaret Laurence tribute, Timothy Findley conference, chancellorship); and greeting cards, personal calendars, photographs, family genealogical information, and correspondence relating to awards received. The fonds also includes correspondence, partial manuscripts, and notes relating to various books which Gzowski has written.

    Notes area

    Physical condition

    Immediate source of acquisition

    This fonds was donated by Peter Gzowski.

    Arrangement

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        Location of originals

        Availability of other formats

        Restrictions on access

        Personal letters may not be quoted without permission of the writer.

        Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication

        Finding aids

        Associated materials

        Associated material located at the Archives of Ontario and York University Archives.

        Related materials

        Accruals

        This fonds along with 95-008, 98-010, 99-015 is an addition to 92-015.

        General note

        Artifactual memorabilia has been removed from this fonds.

        General note

        Box 1

        Folder

        1. "Bulletin Board Stuff", 1986-1987: 8 photographs, drawings, newspaper clippings, cards, envelope of misspellings of "Gzowski", paintings (Note: oversized painting removed to Large Materials Cabinet - Drawer 39)

        2. "Bulletin Board", 1989-1990: 52 photographs, letters, cards, drawings, newspaper clippings, etc.

        3. "Bulletin Board", 1990-1991: 22 photographs (some of Simon Fraser University convocation ceremony), letters, cards, newspaper clippings, etc.

        4. "Bulletin Board", 1991-1992: 8 photographs, obituary of Roy M. Gzowski (1890-1910), newspaper clippings, cards, etc.

        5. "Peter's Bulletin Board", fall 1992: 1 photograph, newspaper clippings, etc.

        6. "Bulletin Board", 1992-1993: notes, cards, etc.

        7. "Bulletin Board", 1993-1994: 1 photograph, autographed photograph advertisement by Kurt Browning, etc.

        8. "PG Bulletin Board", 1994-1995: 9 photographs, letters from University of Toronto regarding honorary degree, cards, etc.

        9. "PG Bulletin Board", 1995-1996: 2 photographs, coloured print of "Lieut-Col. Casimir Stanislaus Gzowski (Peter's forebear)", photocopy of letter from Robertson Davies to Peter Feniak regarding Gzowski (1978), etc.

        10. Appointment books, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991

        11. Calendars, appointment book, 1991, 1992 (3), 1994, 1995, 1996

        12. Greeting cards and letters (mostly "get well" from 1996)

        13. as above

        14. Photographs: 10 photographs, 11 negatives (includes photographs of Gzowski, George Fox)

        15. Biographical material, 1996-1999

        16. Awards, 1996-1999 (includes Order of Canada promotion, 1998, honorary degrees, etc.)

        17. Gzowski family genealogy (information mostly provided through letters from "Morningside" listeners ; 5 photographs)

        18. Personal, miscellaneous: donations, nomination of Robert Munsch to Order of Canada, 1996-1999

        19: Gzowski's 61st birthday: surprise book proposal by Susan Musgrave, 1994

        20: Trent University: correspondence re Margaret Laurence tribute, 1987; Timothy Findley conference, 1995; chancellorship, 1999, etc.

        1. Gzowski promotion programmes relating to speaking engagements; letters of invitation to speak at conferences, or give lectures, 1998-1999

        2. Speeches: Ridley College, 1988; Canadian Women's Shelter, 1996; speech schedule

        3. Peter Gzowski Invitational Golf for Literacy: brochures, correspondence, etc., 1992-1999

        4. PGI, The North, 1992

        5. PGI, NWT, 1993-1994

        6. PGI, NWT, 1995

        7. PGI, golf speeches

        Loose in box: plaque re 2003 PGI Golf Tournament (added in Sept. 2005.)

        Box 2

        Folder

        1. Huron Carole Benefit Concert Tour (Note: Toronto concert hosted by Gzowski, 1996)

        2. Gzowski "misspellings"

        3. "Morningside" & CBC: internal correspondence, memos, contracts, notes, etc., 1987-1997

        4. "Gzowski in Conversation", schedule, advertisement, 1998

        5. McClelland & Stewart Inc.: correspondence, book tour schedules, contracts, etc., 1986-1993 (includes materials relating to Gzowski's "Canadian Living")

        6. Letter from Gzowski to Doug Gibson re ideas for a book on Wayne Gretzky, 1988

        7. "A Sense of Tradition: A Century of Ridley College Memories, 1889-1989": correspondence, research material, proofs, etc., 1987 (edited by Gzowski; introduction written by Gzowski)

        8. "Fifth Morningside Papers", 1994: contract, permission letters, publicity tour schedule, cover art, sections of manuscripts, 1 photograph

        9. "The Morningside Years", 1997: promotional material, book tour schedule, correspondence, 5 photographs

        Box 3

        Folder

        1. Various partial manuscripts written by Gzowski

        2. Stephen Leacock's manuscripts (photocopies of)

        (Note: sent to Gzowski from Hedge Road Press, 1988)

        Materials added to Box 3, received from the Communications Department, Trent University, March 21, 2002: materials related to the Peter Gzowski Tribute, February 12, 2002: 1 VHS videocassette, 1 audiocassette, 2 mini audiocassettes, 9 compact discs (Please note that these materials are subject to copyright)

        Materials added to Box 3 & 3a, received from the Administration Office, Trent University, July 19, 2002: materials related to the Peter Gzowski Tribute, February 12, 2002: condolence messages received on Trent website, video tape called "Peter Gzowski: The Writer on the Radio", final version of fax-out and poster for memorial, copies of pamphlet for memorial tribute, condolence message book read out by actors, stage directions, Trent Magazine and Mcleans issues re Gzowski, newspaper clippings, photographs of Gzowski

        Materials added to Box 3a, received from the Alumni Office, Trent University, August 29, 2006: one folder of Peter Gzowski condolence messages sent by email to the Communications Department, Trent University, January - February, 2002

        Box 4

        Folders 1-13: Letters from "Morningside" listeners & "Gzowski in Conversation" viewers; letters re Gzowski's involvement with literacy in Canada

        (Note: the materials in Folders 1-13 were received unsorted; they have been sorted by Archives staff, by year)

        1. 1987-1989 (includes 1 photograph)

        2. 1990 (includes 1 photograph)

        3. 1991

        4. 1992 (includes 3 photographs)

        5. 1993

        6. 1994

        7. 1995

        8. 1996

        9. 1997

        10. 1998 (includes 1 photograph)

        11. 1998

        12. 1999

        13. undated (includes 3 photographs)

        14. "Morningside": correspondence from listeners, 1989 (original folder heading: "Foreign forms sent - possible letter writers 1989")

        15. "Morningside": correspondence from listeners, 1989-1990 (original folder heading: "Foreign - ROA 1989-90") Note: ROA = read on air

        16. "Morningside": correspondence from listeners, 1991-1994 (original folder heading: "Foreign - Yes")

        17. "Morningside": correspondence from listeners, plus Gzowski's replies, 1992-1993 (includes 2 photographs) (original folder heading: "PG reply, done")

        18. "Morningside": correspondence from listeners, 1992-1993 (includes 2 photographs) (original folder heading: "PG Reply")

        19. "Morningside": correspondence from listeners, 1996 (includes 1 photograph) (original folder heading: "Nice Thanks")

        20. "Morningside": letters from Mary Grant re her son, Regan's, battle with AIDS, 1991-1992

        21. "Morningside": letters & papers from Rev. Christopher White, 1992

        22. "Morningside": letters from Dennis Kaye re ALS benefit art auction, 1992

        23. "Morningside": letters re Edith Babb, 1995

        24. "Morningside": Jean Chretien interview transcript; correspondence from listeners re interview, 1995

        25. Gzowski's responses to "Morningside" listeners, n.d.

        Large Materials Cabinet - Drawer 39: 14 outsized items including drawings, paintings, greeting cards, etc.

        Box 4

        "Peter Gzowski: 'Mr. Canada's' Year as Varsity Editor," University of Toronto Magazine, Summer 2002

        CBC radioONE audiocassette: Re: Peter Gzowski, 18 Oct 04, Shelagh Rogers

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