The legacy of the collection
Recognizing a significant archival gap, McCurdy formed one of the most important collections on the history of Ontario’s Black communities. Its legacy looks forward to the promise of the future as much as it preserves stories of the past.
The McCurdy fonds helps us gain a fuller understanding of the histories and stories of Amherstburg’s role in the Underground Railroad, and of Black Canadians’ journeys and contributions to Ontario, Canada and the world at large. But the true value of the collection lies in its use by researchers like you. What stories will you uncover, and how will you share them?
The McCurdy collection and the fight for equal rights
The abolition of slavery and economic growth in the Black community represent great achievements, but they should not obscure ongoing problems. From the earliest period to the present, the community has worked to improve civil and human rights. McCurdy’s collection offers evidence of this history. This flyer from the Central Citizens’ Association for the Advancement of Coloured People, Windsor, outlines rights that were still denied to Black people in the 1950s. The Ontario Human Rights Commission recognized McCurdy’s role in the fight for equal rights with this Certificate of Merit.
Stories yet to be told
McCurdy became well known for his efforts, and people began sending him family photos for inclusion in his archive. Many individuals remain unidentified, but the collection preserves their memory as part of our collective history, their stories waiting to be fully told. Among them are teachers, ministers, doctors, nurses, lawyers, homemakers, soldiers and farmers. Named or unnamed, these records are profound evidence of the rich heritage of Black communities in Ontario and the undeniable value of archival collections in preserving and shaping our collective memory.
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Economy, education, community and family
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