Index:
Photographs by Arthur Goss

Table of Contents

Arthur Goss began his working life at age 11 as an office boy in the City of Toronto Engineer’s Office.  Eventually rising to the position of City Photographer, he remained an employee of the department his entire life.

As a young man, Goss joined the Toronto Camera Club and was instrumental in forming the Studio Club.  While his personal interest lay in pictorial photography, the City’s Department of Public Works Photography and Blue Printing Section employed him from 1911 to 1940 to document a wide range of municipal activities.  These images produced a photographic record of Toronto characterized by striking realism.

Besides documenting engineering projects, Goss also worked on assignment for other City departments and agencies, including Parks, Public Health, and the Board of Education.  Over 35,000 images produced by his section are in the City of Toronto Archives, a legacy of the years Goss spent as Toronto’s first official photographer.

Index of work in this exhibit:

Rear yard, 512 Front Street East. City of Toronto Archives, RG 8-32-315 27-Aug-14

Children in Price's Lane. City of Toronto Archives, RG 8-32-320 c. 1912 

Rear dwellings, 210 Chestnut Street. City of Toronto Archives, RG 8-32-319 27-Aug-14

Loitering on Elizabeth Street. City of Toronto Archives, SC 231-1846 15-May-12

In the fountain at Allan Gardens. City of Toronto Archives, SC 231-696 1928

Hockey and skating rinks, Willowvale Park. City of Toronto Archives, RG 8-52-1097 10-Feb-23

Skating rink, Withrow Park. City of Toronto Archives, RG 8-52-1094 10-Feb-23

Hockey rink, Withrow Park. City of Toronto Archives, RG 8-52-1095 10-Feb-23

Children's slide, Kew Gardens. City of Toronto Archives, RG 8-52-252 17-Jan-14

S.H. Armstrong and playgrounds staff, Moss Park Recreation Centre. City of Toronto Archives, RG 8-52-1196 26-Aug-24

Girls' section, McCormick Recreation Centre. City of Toronto Archives, RG 8-52-602 c. 1915

Rotary swing, O'Neill Playground. City of Toronto Archives, RG 8-52-153 1-Oct-13

Site rented for City playground, Earlscourt. City of Toronto Archives, RG 8-52-625 20-Jul-16

Athletic grounds, Moss Park Recreation Centre. City of Toronto Archives, RG 8-52-1029 5-Jul-22

City playground, Boys' Home. City of Toronto Archives, RG 8-52-357 29-Jul-14

City playground, Earlscourt Methodist Church. City of Toronto Archives, RG 8-32-302 24-Aug-14

Girls' gym class from Carlton Playground. City of Toronto Archives, RG 8-52-677 31-Mar-17

Library, McCormick Recreation Centre. City of Toronto Archives, RG 8-52-653 30-Nov-16

Raffia work demonstration, O'Neill Playground. City of Toronto Archives, RG 8-52-454 5-Sep-14

Industrial work display. City of Toronto Archives, RG 8-52-459 11-Sep-14

Billiards room, Moss Park Recreation Centre. City of Toronto Archives, RG 8-52-657 1-Dec-16

Boys' gym class, McCormick Recreation Centre. City of Toronto Archives, RG 8-52-675 31-Mar-17

Ball-and-rope game, Leslie Grove Playground. City of Toronto Archives, SC 231-542 28-Aug-15

Maypole dancing, Carlton Playground. City of Toronto Archives, RG 8-52-342 18-Jul-14

Child spectators, St. Andrew's Playground. City of Toronto Archives, RG 8-52-425 26-Aug-14

Gymnastics demonstration, Elizabeth Street Playground. City of Toronto Archives, RG 8-52-690 11-Aug-17

Boys' basketball team from Elizabeth Street Playground. City of Toronto Archives, RG 8-52-1369 1929

Girls' basketball team from St. Andrew's Playground. City of Toronto Archives, RG 8-52-433 26-Aug-14

Boys' volleyball game, St. Andrew's Playground. City of Toronto Archives, RG 8-52-361 29-Jul-14

Girls' foot race, Playground Games, Exhibition Park. City of Toronto Archives, RG 8-52-470 19-Sep-14

Boys' speed skating race, Moss Park Recreation Centre. City of Toronto Archives, RG 8-52-491 27-Feb-15

Girls' hockey team, Moss Park Recreation Centre. City of Toronto Archives, RG 8-52-998 15-Apr-22

City playgrounds swim competition, Broadview YMCA. City of Toronto Archives, RG 8-52-527 26-Aug-15

Girls' foot race, Moss Park Recreation Centre. City of Toronto Archives, RG 8-52-1278 30-Jun-26

Boys' softball game, Bayside Park. City of Toronto Archives, RG 8-52-440 28-Aug-14

Boys' baseball team from St. Andrew's Playground. City of Toronto Archives, RG 8-52-1305 17-Oct-26

Queen Alexandra Public School grounds. City of Toronto Archives, RG 8-11-89 1913

Girls' play period, Victoria Park Forest School. City of Toronto Archives, RG 8-11-74 1-Aug-13

Motion picture show, Parks Department's Perth Avenue Recreation Centre. City of Toronto Archives, RG 8-52-665 15-Mar-17

Parks Department's supervised playground, Roden Public School. City of Toronto Archives, RG 8-52-779 1919

Arthur Lismer and a sketching group, Children's Art Centre. City of Toronto Archives, RG 8-2-34 10-May-34

Saturday Morning Class copying pictures, Art Gallery of Toronto. City of Toronto Archives, RG 8-2-12 c. 1931

Saturday Morning Class in the Print Room, Art Gallery of Toronto. City of Toronto Archives, RG 8-2-18 c. 1931

Illustrating a story, Children's Art Centre. City of Toronto Archives, RG 8-2-29 4-May-34

Puppet-making group, Children's Art Centre. City of Toronto Archives, RG 8-2-21 May-34

©2001. City of Toronto