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A handwritten list of signatures in support of the establishment of a free library in Toronto.
Petition for Free Library in Toronto, 1882
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A handwritten list of signatures in support of the establishment of a free library in Toronto.

Petition for Free Library in Toronto, 1882

Date1882
Names
(addressee)
FormatManuscript
Notes
This is the original petition for the first public library in Toronto, with nearly 2,000 signatures. Text at the top reads: “We, the undersigned Electors of the said City of Toronto, respectfully pray that a Free Library may be established in this City, under the Free Library Act of 1882.”  Two pages are currently missing: they are on display in the gallery at TRL (789 Yonge Street) until May 10, 2026. Once the show ends, we will scan the two pages and insert them into their place in this document.

Most signatories were men, but one page had “Electors” in the petition header crossed out and “Ladies” written in its place. This petition was created after the Ontario Free Libraries Act was passed, in 1882. After a campaign for a free library in Toronto, a bylaw vote in 1883 passed, with record turnout. Toronto and Guelph became the first cities in Canada to establish free libraries.
GeographyCity, town, townshipToronto
GeographyNeighbourhoodDowntown
GeographyProvince stateOntario
GeographyCountryCanada
Medium
Language
CollectionBaldwin Collection of Canadiana
Usage Rights Public Domain (Learn More)
Object NumberOS-ms-T-Toronto-Citizens-Petitions