Retail Retrospective
October 11, 2025 to January 11, 2026
Vintage shopping bags from our Special Collections tracing the history of retailers that defined eras in Toronto. Inspired by a 1960s TPL exhibit featuring shopping bags, Art of the Shopping Bag.
Seasons in Art
June 21 to September 21, 2025
Original art organized into four thematic sections—one for each season. Included paintings dating back to 1807, photography, illustrations from children’s books, fantasy art and more.
Wish You Were Here
February 15 to June 2, 2025
Over 100 staff-picked postcards of local landmarks, old street views and scenes beyond Toronto. Most of the postcards—including some made of silk and leather—were from the first half of the 20th century.
Patterns and Puffed Sleeves: Celebrating Costume Design through Anne of Green Gables
October 5, 2024 to January 26, 2025
Original costume designs by Martha Mann and Marie Day (from TPL) paired with production photos and costumes (on loan from Sullivan Entertainment). Marked the 150th anniversary of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s birth.
Unexpected Treasures: Art, Archives and Artifacts
July 6 to September 15, 2024
An eclectic mix of hidden gems across the different collections that make up our Special Collections. Highlighted new acquisitions and unexpected items—from the late 1500s to 2022.
Eat In or Dine Out: A Culinary Exploration of Our Special Collections
March 30 to June 16, 2024
Culinary curiosities such as early cookbooks, menus of iconic dining spots in Toronto, ads and more food-related items. Examined the history of what people ate at home and around town.
Osborne 75
November 11, 2023 to February 18, 2024
Key items from our Osborne Collection of Early Children’s Books: first and limited editions, original artwork, manuscripts and more. Celebrated the 75th anniversary of the collection.
Art from the Vault
July 15 to October 22, 2023
Long-held treasures and new acquisitions from our Canadian Documentary Art Collection. Showcased vistas, landmarks, streetscapes and portraits. Also explored the behind-the-scenes work to preserve the art.
Post No Bills: Toronto Street Posters from the 1950s to 1990s
April 8 to June 25, 2023
Toronto street posters from our Alan and Thomas Suddon Collection. Explored trends in graphic design, the city's shifting politics, businesses and cultures.
Mischief and Mirth: The Wonderful World of Fairies
December 10, 2022 to March 19, 2023
Rare books and art on the myth and magic of fairies. Included items from the Osborne Collection, Merril Collection and Arthur Conan Doyle Collection—plus fairy costumes on loan from The National Ballet of Canada.
Virtual exhibit | Video overview | Reading list (kids) | Reading list (adults) | Colouring pages (PDF)
Block by Block
August 20 to November 20, 2022
A culmination of a program by the same name which documented stories of civic life in four Toronto neighbourhoods since 2018. Featured stories of displacement, migration and arrival. In collaboration with Toronto Ward Museum.
Consulting with the Ether
May 7 to July 30, 2022
Original artworks by students in the Indigenous Visual Culture courses at OCAD University juxtaposed with items from our Special Collections. Curated by students Dehmin Cleland, Tiffany Hon, Grace Point and Katie Pretti.
A Study in Sherlock & His Creator: 50 Years of the Arthur Conan Doyle Collection
February 5 to April 16, 2022
Highlights to mark 50 years of the collection. Included rare editions, art, posters, film stills and memorabilia of Sherlock Holmes stories. Doyle’s other published works and items related to spiritualism were also displayed.
Virtual exhibit | Video overview | Reading list | Colouring pages (PDF)
Spaced Out: 50 Years of the Merril Collection
February 5 to April 16, 2022
Exciting, strange and wonderful items held at our Merril Collection of Science Fiction, Speculation and Fantasy (originally the “Spaced Out Library”). Celebrated the collection’s 50th anniversary.
Art of the Book
February 15 to March 12, 2020 and August 9 to September 19, 2021
A celebration of the beauty and artistry of books from cover to cover. Showcased rare, fine press and artist-made books mainly in our Special Collections in the Arts—from 1400s printed books to contemporary works.
You, Me, Us: Outstanding Books For and About Young People with Disabilities
November 16, 2019 to January 26, 2020
Highlights from The International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) Collection for Young People with Disabilities. Large print and braille exhibit booklets, a tactile floor plan, audio tour and braille wall text were available.
Plum Blossom from the Bitter Cold: Selections from the Chinese Canadian Archive
August 17 to October 27, 2019
Family photos, correspondences, government documents and more community-donated items preserved in our Chinese Canadian Archive. Also included a detailed overview of what an archive is.
Retro Futures
May 18 to July 28, 2019
Futures-that-might-have-been, as envisioned in rare books, magazines, artwork and ephemera from our Merril Collection of Science Fiction, Speculation and Fantasy. Timed for the 50th anniversary of the 1969 lunar landing.
For the Record: An Idea of the North
February 16 to April 28, 2019
Mixed media exhibit on the role Soundsystems, radio shows and DJs, as the backbone of hip hop culture, played in Toronto's music scene. A partnership with Northside Hip Hop Archive, and curated by Mark Campbell.
Alice Opens the Door
November 17, 2018 to January 27, 2019
A joyful look at how Alice's Adventures in Wonderland opened the door to reading for generations of children. Featured a wide range of books and artifacts from our Osborne Collection of Early Children’s Books.
Pathways: Following traces of Indigenous routes across Ontario
August 18 to October 28, 2018
Works by contemporary Indigenous artists as well as historical material from TPL and Library and Archives Canada. The launch featured Ceremonial Conductor Michael White and Spoken Word Artist Jennifer Murrin.
Alter Ego: Comics And Canadian Identity
May 12 to July 29, 2018
Comics and graphic novels from our Special Collections, as well as superhero items on loan. Explored comic book heroes in Canada—both fictional and real. Originally created by Library and Archive Canada and presented by TPL.
Toronto Revealed
February 10 to April 22, 2018
Works from our Canadian Documentary Art Collection that captured Toronto's changing streetscape from the mid-20th century to the present day: homes and alleyways, diners and corner stores, markets, parks and community hubs.
I Am Canada: Celebrating Canadian Picture Book Art
November 11, 2017 to January 21, 2018
Original picture book art from our Osborne Collection of Early Children's Books and the private collection of Scholastic Canada, which was celebrating its 60th anniversary.
Pop Sherlock
August 19 to October 22, 2017
Sherlock Holmes items from our Arthur Conan Doyle Collection: books, manuscripts, music, graphic arts, TV stills, movie scripts and more. Explored Holmes' role as an icon that has lasted generations and spanned the globe.
Destination Canada
May 20 to July 30, 2017
Stories of newcomers told through posters, photos and written accounts in our Baldwin Collection of Canadiana and Chinese Canadian Archive, as well as mementos from Passages Canada, a storytelling program of Historica Canada.
Vice & Virtue
February 11 to April 30, 2017
Tabloids, photos, manuscripts, posters and pamphlets from our Baldwin Collection of Canadiana. Explored moral reform in Toronto as it faced rapid growth and industrialization at the turn-of-the-century.
Once Upon a Time: Fairy Tales from the Osborne Collection of Early Children's Books
November 5, 2016 to January 22, 2017
Classic stories and traditional tales from around the world explored through books, toys, games and art from our Osborne Collection. Coincided with a display of The Sleeping Beauty costumes from the National Ballet of Canada.
The Art of Cartography
July 6 to September 15, 2024
World maps, atlases, sea charts, celestial maps, city plans and other cartographic curiosities from our Special Collections. Examined the unexpected beauty of maps—real and imagined—from the 16th to 19th century.
The Changing Face of Toronto
May 14 to July 23, 2016
Mosaic of photographic portraits of ordinary people who lived and worked in 20th-century Toronto. Curated by former Toronto Star photo archivist Carol Elder. Part of the Scotiabank Contact Photography Festival.
Special Collections: A to Z
February 20 to April 24, 2016
An alphabet of curiosities—from “Arctic Exploration” to “Zero Gravity”— from several TPL collections. Featured rare books, original art, games and costume designs from Toronto and beyond.
Maurice Sendak: 50 Years, 50 Works, 50 Reasons
December 19, 2015 to January 31, 2016
Retrospective of over 50 original artworks by author/illustrator Maurice Sendak. Celebrated the 50th anniversary of Where the Wild Things Are. Exhibit toured by Opar Media, LLC. Our exhibit included Osborne Collection items.
John J. Audubon's Birds of America
September 26 to November 29, 2015
Sampling of images from TPL’s rare double-elephant folio edition of Audubon's Birds of America (1827–1838). These large engravings were grouped by habitat and displayed with quotations from Audubon's field notes.
Toronto's Sporting Past
July 4 to September 5, 2015
A nostalgic look back at field, water and winter sports in the city through materials from our Special Collections—including images and rare publications that first set out modern Canadian rules and regulations of sports.
Exposed: Highlights from the Toronto Star Photograph Archive
April 18 to June 14, 2015
Highlights from our Toronto Star Photograph Archive, including photos that defined the 20th century. Our first exhibit devoted to the one million photographs that make up this archive.
Freedom City: Uncovering Toronto’s Black History
January 31 to March 29, 2015
Original paintings, drawings, photos, manuscripts and broadsides that cover the history of Black Toronto. Enhanced by the research and contributions of Canadian historians and authors Karolyn Smardz Frost and Afua Cooper.
Four Families, One War
November 1, 2014 to January 11, 2015
Letters, photos, sheet music and war posters that examined the dual narrative of the Great War (at home and on the Front) through four Toronto families. Supported by Henry N. R. Jackman. Marked the 100th anniversary of WWI.
Dreaming Big: Toronto’s Waterfront – 1852 to Tomorrow
August 9 to October 11, 2014
The history—and future—of Toronto’s waterfront as told through art, architecture, design and media. Included both original items from the Waterfront Toronto collection and historical material from our Special Collections.
Magnetic North: The Enduring Pull of the Arctic
May 17 to July 19, 2014
Interpretations of the Arctic by artists, explorers and academics from TD Bank Group's collection of Inuit Art and contemporary Canadian art, as well as our Special Collections.
Coffee, Beer and Mosh Pits
February 8 to April 27, 2014
Posters, photographs and film footage of Toronto’s music scene from the 1960s to 2014. Coincided with a TPL event featuring musical artists Murrary McLauchlan, Lorraine Segato and Brendan Canning.
The Gilded Age of Fashion: 1890-1914
October 19, 2013 to January 5, 2014
Art deco fashion illustration, costume designs, fashion plates and ladies' magazines from our Special Collections. Included a section on Canadians reimagining the Gilded Age for plays by George Bernard Shaw and Oscar Wilde.
Flight: A Thrilling History of an Idea
July 13 to September 22, 2013
Rare and unique items from our Special Collections that explored the idea of flight—both real and fantastical. Included a selection of wildlife prints from John J. Audubon’s Birds of America.
War Stories: Toronto and the War of 1812-14
March 30 to June 22, 2013
At the Albert Campbell District Branch, Anita and Gabe created two displays for Remembrance Day. The displays include poppies, historical books, and poppy Remembrance Day. The displays include poppies, historical books, and
Adventures with Sherlock Holmes
January 5 to March 10, 2013
A journey into the mysterious world of the Great Detective, featuring rare and unusual books, manuscripts, artwork and more from our Arthur Conan Doyle Collection. Marked 125 years of Sherlock in print.
Royal Fanfare: An Exhibition of Rare Engravings, Photographs, and Royal Souvenirs
September 22 to December 2, 2012
Original materials from royal celebrations and court festivals from the 16th to 20th century. Featured illustrations of lavish events alongside personal artifacts such as collectables and toys.
A Passion for History: The Legacy of James Bain
June 16 to September 1, 2012
A celebration of the legacy of collector James Bain, TPL’s first Chief Librarian. Featured maps, prints and books, many of them newly donated by the Bain family. This was the first exhibit in the newly-renovated TD Gallery.
Capturing Canada on Paper and Canvas
January 31 to March 15, 2009
Thirty-seven landscape views from the 1780s to 1910s by notable Canadian artists William Armstrong, Anthony R.V. Crease, John A. Fleming, Anne Langton, William G.R. Hind, Lucius O'Brien, James Peachey, George Reid and others.
Local Flavour: Eating in Toronto, 1830-1955
October 25, 2008 to January 11, 2009
Cookbooks, trade catalogues, food labels, ads and photos that looked at Toronto history through cooking and dining. Included art and kitchen artifacts on loan from City of Toronto partners and Library and Archives Canada.
The Circus Comes to Town
July 19 to October 5, 2008
Vintage photographs, posters, artist prints, illustrated books, heralds and programs from our Special Collections. Spanned local and international circuses.
From Hanga to Manga
April 19 to June 28, 2008
Woodblock prints (hanga), Japanese comics (manga) and rare illustrated books from our Special Collections, supplemented by loans from the H. H. Mu Far Eastern Library at the Royal Ontario Museum and the Japan Foundation.
Art Under Cover
January 19 to March 30, 2008
Artists' books from Canada, Britain and the United States that challenge our traditional perception of how books tell stories, through imaginative design and alternative materials.
Collected Works: A Public Legacy
October 20 to December 31, 2007
Highlights of paintings from our Special Collections to celebrate Toronto Reference Library’s 30th anniversary. Displayed some of the earliest major acquisitions by TPL.
Stage Struck: 100 Years of the Royal Alex
July 21 to September 30, 2007
Photos, posters, souvenir books, original designs and scripts from our Performing Arts Centre at Toronto Reference Library. Celebrated a century of entertainment at Toronto’s oldest theatre, the Royal Alexandra Theatre.
Toronto's Sanctuaries: Church Designs by Henry Langley
April 18 to June 30, 2007
Architectural drawings from the 19th century, as well as photographs, prints and books of the works of Toronto-born architect Henry Langley.
Picture Perfect! An Exhibit of Canadian Picture Book Art
January 27 to April 1, 2007
Fifty-plus original book illustrations from our Osborne Collection of Early Children's Books. Its entrance was modeled as a cave that visitors could interact with and pass through.
A Case of Considerable Interest: Treasures from the Arthur Conan Doyle Collection
October 18, 2006 to January 7, 2007
Rare and unusual books, film posters, manuscripts and memorabilia from our Arthur Conan Doyle Collection. Celebrated the 35th anniversary of the collection.
Culture From the Ground Up: An Exhibit of Toronto's Alternative Culture from the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s
August 12 to September 30, 2006
Street posters, books and ephemera that traced the development of Toronto's alternative culture in the 1960s to 1990s. Topics included protest, music, poetry, education, theatre and zines.
Coming Together: A history of community, pride and resistance from the Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives
May 20 to July, 2006
Protest posters, slogan buttons, portraits and ephemera that document the rich history of 2SLGBTQ+ communities in Toronto and beyond. A partnership with the Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives, and curated by Nicholas Matte.
Setting the Stage: 20 Years of Design for Opera Atelier
February 9 to April 30, 2006
Designs, photos, costumes, props and prints to celebrate 20 years of design by Opera Atelier. Traced the Toronto-based opera company's design process beginning with Orfeo in 1986. A partnership with Opera Atelier.
Animals Are Allowed in the Library
November 12, 2005 to January 22, 2006
Original art, prints from rare books and ephemera depicting wild and domestic animals—plus mythological creatures. Included items from John J. Audubon's Quadrupeds, our Osborne Collection and beyond.
Ten Days to Show the World, a celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)
August 27 to October 23, 2005
Film posters and material from our performing arts collection. Focused on the first Festival in 1976. Included sections on TIFF's directors and programmers, censorship and film preservation efforts.
Group of Seven Style and Design
June 18 to August 6, 2005
Paintings, prints, designs, catalogues, photographs and illustrated books from Group of Seven artists. Part of The Group of Seven Project 1920-2005, an Ontario-wide celebration of the Group's first exhibition in 1920.
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Canadians On Guard: the Home Front 1939-1945
April 9 to May 29, 2005
Posters, ephemera, manuscripts, books, periodicals and photos dedicated to those who served their country at home and abroad. Coincided with May 8, 2005, the 60th anniversary of VE Day.
Drawn-Out Stories: Art of Graphic Novels
January 22 to March 20, 2005
A combination of (1) early precursors of graphic novels, such as illuminated manuscripts, fresco cycles and print series and (2) books by six contemporary graphic novelists. Included support and loans from authors and publishers.
Frozen Ocean: Search for the Northwest Passage
October 2 to December 31, 2004
Books, maps and prints from our Special Collections dating from 1578 to 1907, documenting 300 years of Arctic exploration.
Kabuki
July 17 to September 12, 2004 (Part 2)
May 8 to July 3, 2004 (Part 1)
Two exhibits: “Part 1: The Actors”; “Part 2: The Performance”. Included TPL’s prints by artists Toyokuni I, Kuniyoshi, Hirosada, Kiyohiro, Kunisada and Kunichika. Supported by Japan Foundation and Stuart Jackson Gallery.
Ontario History Quest
January 28 to April 18, 2004
Materials from TPL, Archives of Ontario and City of Toronto Archives. Told Ontario's history through the eyes of a new settler to Upper Canada, a working child at the turn of the century and a 1950s family. An interactive online module (by the same name) was designed for students and teachers but is no longer available.
Toronto Through the Lens
November 8, 2003 to January 11, 2004
Works from professional photographic studios, talented amateurs and unknown photographers in Toronto in the latter half of 19th and early 20th century. Included daguerreotypes, albumen prints, gelatin silver prints and stereographs.
Other Worlds: Get There From Here
August 22 to October 19, 2003
Books, art and ephemera from our Merril Collection of Science Fiction, Speculation and Fantasy—items to transport visitors to distant futures and fantastical lands.
Toronto: A Place of Meeting II
May 17 to August 2, 2003
Rare paintings, posters and photos from our Special Collections. New items in this second exhibit included sheet music from Toronto and a letter by Lucy Maud Montgomery. Popular items from the first exhibit returned.
Audubon Images on Stamps
February 22 to April 27, 2003
Audubon stamps from around the world and original illustrations from John J. Audubon's Birds of America and. Showed how Canada Post transforms a print into a stamp. Canada Post launched its Audubon stamps at TPL on February 21.
Celebrating Sixty Years of Curious George: The Art of H. A. and Margret Rey
December 7, 2002 to February 2, 2003
Original art, sketches and memorabilia from the creators of the Curious George books. Sponsored by Houghton Mifflin and drawn from the de Grummond Children's Literature Collection in University of Southern Mississippi.
The Toronto Reference Library: The First 25 Years
October 5 to November 24, 2002
A look at the building—from the choice of the site to plans for the future. Included photos of the site before the library was built, architectural plans and renderings, and photos of construction and the building as it was in 1977.
Toronto: A Place of Meeting I
June 29 to September 22, 2002
The first of a two-part exhibit spanning 10,000 years of the city's history. Included items from our Special Collections and outside collections.
This Magical Book: Movable Books for Children, 1771-2001
April 13 to June 9, 2002
Pop-ups and movables from our Osborne Collection of Early Children’s Books. Included elaborate Victorian creations, modern fairy tales and striking large-scale pop-ups of recent years. Sponsored by the Donner Canadian Foundation.
Ink Paper Lead, Board Leather Thread
January 19 to March 17, 2002
Wood engraved illustrations, fine bindings, books and broadsides by the Loving Society of Letterpress Printers and the Binders of Infinite Love, a group of nine private press printers and two hand binders.
Footprints of the Hound
October 20 to December 29, 2001
Manuscripts, rare editions, posters and more from our Arthur Conan Doyle Collection—plus some items on loan. Emphasized The Hound of the Baskervilles, celebrating its 100th anniversary. Also marked 30 years of our collection.
All Aboard Toronto: Railways and the Growth of the City
August 4 to October 7, 2001
Maps, prints, model trains and more that illuminated the importance of railways from 1850 to 1950 in the development of four Toronto neighbourhoods: the waterfront, East Toronto, West Toronto Junction and Leaside.
Doing Our Bit: Canadians and the Great War
October 31, 1998 to February 14, 1999
Maps, prints, model trains and more that illuminated the importance of railways from 1850 to 1950 in the development of four Toronto neighbourhoods: the waterfront, East Toronto, West Toronto Junction and Leaside.