Collection

Focussed on the Canadian Universal and International Exhibition of 1967 and the permanent exhibition Man and His World, this collection illustrates the importance of these two events.

First, several records chronicle how Expo 67 was organized by the Canadian Corporation for the 1967 World Exhibition (CCWE), beginning in the spring of 1963. These pertain to facilities administration, design choice, and the planning and construction of the various areas of the site: Cité du Havre, Île Sainte-Hélène, Île Notre-Dame and La Ronde. Other records, such as plans, directories, portfolios and lists, document the management of human resources and offer information about the participants, exhibitors and sponsors. There are flyers, brochures and press releases that promoted the event to both the general public and the world of business. Monographs published by the CCWE describe the circumstances surrounding the City of Montreal's successful bid to host the fair, while periodicals issued by its public relations department provide day-by-day updates on the project's progress. Albums, a score of the theme song, posters, memorabilia and several tie-in products also evoke the communication strategies developed both before and after Expo 67.

Guides and plans (official and unofficial), passports, visas, flyers, brochures and transport tickets provide a wealth of general information about the exhibition site, access to the fair and the many services offered to visitors (accommodations, parking, shops, restaurants, etc.). Various documents, such as catalogues, postcards, press clippings, menus, ephemera, photographs and stamps, illustrate what was presented in the 40 or so national pavilions, the regional pavilions (Canadian provinces and some American states), theme pavilions, industry pavilions and Habitat 67. Tickets, programs, an activity report and other publications underscore the wide array of festivals, concerts, performances and attractions planned for the World Festival, the festivities commemorating Canada's Centenary of Confederation and National Days.

Magazines, newspapers and press clippings chronicle the media coverage surrounding Expo 67 and events hosted at the site from 1967 to 1981. In addition, these records document the visits of numerous personalities like Queen Elizabeth II, Maurice Knight, Renée Claude, Gilles Vigneault and Stéphane Venne. This collection also includes several notes, press releases and publications associated with the anniversaries and commemoration of Expo 67.