Born on July 17, 1876 in Clarkson, Ontario, M. O. Hammond was the only child of Alvin and Catharine (nee Nauman) Hammond. Christened Melvin Ormond, he was known throughout his life by his initials “M. O.” or, simply, “Hammond”.

As a child, he spent his time helping out with the daily chores on the family farm but it was clear that his interests were in more intellectual pursuits – reading, attending school in Clarkson and later in Oakville, doing his homework, and attending the local Methodist Church. Hammond’s interest in journalistic pursuits developed at an early age when, as a 14 year old, he was the Clarkson correspondent for the Oakville Star.

At 17, Hammond moved to Toronto to attend Central Business College. In 1895, after a brief stint with an insurance company, he secured a position with the Globe newspaper, initially as private secretary to its managing editor, J. D. Willison, but later as a general reporter, eventually securing the coveted spot as a political reporter at Queen’s Park, the seat of Ontario’s legislature.

Queen’s Park, or “the Park” as he usually called it, was a much more informal place in Hammond’s days. Reporters had frequent access to the premier and other senior politicians and Hammond was no exception.

He recounts in his diaries days where he simply dropped in on the Premier to chat or look for leads on stories. Hammond was a committed supporter of the Liberal government and considered himself an “embryonic” politician.

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M. O. Hammond at his office
M. O. Hammond
Black and white negative
Reference Code: F 1075
Archives of Ontario , I0017234

Hammond’s early years in Toronto were spent attending plays and concerts, socializing at the local Y.M.C.A., honing his skills as a photographer and attending events at the Methodist Church where he met his wife, Clara Williams, the daughter of a Methodist minister.

Hammond and Clara were married in 1900. Their son Harold was born in 1903 and a daughter Isabel in 1909.

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M. O. Hammond and Clara Hammond
at Camera Club
M. O. Hammond
Black and white negative
Reference Code: F 1075
Archives of Ontario , I0017233

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Clara Williams, Reservoir Park, June 1897
M. O. Hammond
Black and white negative
Reference Code: F 1075
Archives of Ontario, I0017225

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M. O. Hammond, Seaton St., August 2, 1896
M. O. Hammond
Black and white negative
Reference Code: F 1075
Archives of Ontario, I0017226

Hammond’s success as a political reporter landed him a posting to the Parliamentary Press Gallery in Ottawa covering events on Parliament Hill for the Globe between 1903 and 1906. He returned to Toronto in 1906 to assume the post as the editor of the Globe’s weekly arts magazine.

Throughout his nearly 40 year career with the Globe, Hammond held a number of editorial positions including that of arts editor and literary editor.

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M.O.H. in Atlantic City
Black and white negative
Reference Code: F 1075
Archives of Ontario, I0017238

While he maintained a life-long interest in politics, his editorial positions afforded many opportunities to actively pursue his interests in Canadian history and cultural activities; researching and writing articles and reviews, and illustrating these with his own photographs.

As the Globe arts editor, he was required to correspond with many of the prominent and emerging artists and writers of the day. Over his lifetime, he developed many close personal friendships with some of Canada’s finest artists and writers.

Through his reporting, critical reviews, columns, sketches, and his photography, Hammond became well-known as an enthusiastic and tireless promoter of Canadian arts and culture.

In addition to his work with the Globe, he researched and wrote extensively for many other publications and published several books and pamphlets relating to Canadian artists and historical figures.

Hammond died suddenly in the fall of 1934 at the age of 58. His death prompted an outpouring of gratitude for his efforts in promoting and popularizing Canadian culture. Newspaper reports written of his death demonstrate that he had a reputation that extended well-beyond Ontario’s borders.

Shortly after his death, the Art Gallery of Toronto (later Art Gallery of Ontario) mounted an exhibit of his photographs at the Gallery noting that “the earlier photographs made by Mr. Hammond have acquired a high historic value, as they are a record of celebrated Canadians in portraiture, and show how streets and buildings have changed with the growing cities of Canada”.

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Lachlan MacTavish, Newton MacTavish,
John Russell, October 3, 1926
M. O. Hammond
Black and white negative
Reference Code: F 1075
Archives of Ontario, I0001635

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East Toronto & Norway
M. O. Hammond
Black and white negative
Reference Code: F 1075
Archives of Ontario, I0017230

Publications:

• 1917 “Confederation and its leaders”
• 1926 Canadian Footprints
• 1930 Painting and Sculpture in Canada

Memberships:

• Charter member of the Arts and Letters Club
• National Executive member of the Canadian Literary Club
• President of the Toronto Camera Club
• Rep of the Camera Club at the CNE
• Member of the Canadian Historical Society
• Member of PEN