Michael Moir

Michael Moir served as University Archivist and Head of the Clara Thomas Archives and Special Collections at York University from 2004 to 2024. With his wide-ranging knowledge of nineteenth- and twentienth-century Canadian and British history, he acquired rare editions of literary works, religious texts, examples of Victorian book arts, publications relating to the period’s social reform movements, and scientific and engineering documents, as well as numerous pieces of correspondence. The Victorian Studies Network at York is grateful to Michael for his decades of support, and for the generous legacy he leaves for current and future faculty and graduate students.

This special exhibit of Victorian-era materials from the archives was held to honour Michael upon his retirement from York University. VSNY members, librarians, students, faculty, and friends gathered to view the exhibit and to hear speeches from Joseph Hafner, Dean of York University Libraries; Ravi de Costa, Associate Dean Research and Graduate Studies, LA&PS; and Lesley Higgins, Professor of English and one of the founding members of the VSNY, celebrating Michael’s contributions and the importance of the Archives to the culture of research and teaching at York.

The VSNY thanks Anna St. Onge, Head of the Clara Thomas Archives and Special Collections, who co-organized this event, and without whose cooperation and generosity the exhibit would not have been possible; Dean Hafner for his support throughout the planning process; the Archives and Special Collections staff, especially Taylor Tryburski, the Archives and Cataloguing Assistant, and Julia Holland, the Archives Assistant, for their invaluable expertise; Jaymi-Lynn Butler, Research Assistant from the Department of English, for her photographic and organizational assistance; and the office of David Phipps, Assistant Vice-President Research Strategy & Impact at York University, which provided financial support.