Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
General material designation
- Textual record
- Moving images
- Graphic material
Parallel title
Other title information
Title statements of responsibility
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title based on the content of the collection.
Level of description
Reference code
Edition area
Edition statement
Edition statement of responsibility
Class of material specific details area
Statement of scale (cartographic)
Statement of projection (cartographic)
Statement of coordinates (cartographic)
Statement of scale (architectural)
Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)
Dates of creation area
Date(s)
-
[19--] ; 1928-2017 (Creation)
- Creator
- Whims, Ralph
Physical description area
Physical description
17.5 cm of textual records
30 photographs
1 videocassette
Publisher's series area
Title proper of publisher's series
Parallel titles of publisher's series
Other title information of publisher's series
Statement of responsibility relating to publisher's series
Numbering within publisher's series
Note on publisher's series
Archival description area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Ralph Whims is a retired teacher living in Sainte-Julie, Quebec. Whims was one of the first Black teachers working in Montreal’s English school system, and he spent his career at Lorne School in Pointe-Saint-Charles. Whims developed an interest in social work and teaching while involved with the Negro Community Centre. He attended the Negro Community Centre as a child and sat on the board of directors from 1994 to 1997. In the 1970s, Whims organized a weekly dance for high school kids. His experience as a chaperone at these dances was the subject of the documentary film The Chaperone (2013). This film chronicles the day that Whims took on a biker gang that showed up at a school dance taking place at Rosemont High School in the early 1970s. As a side business, Whims worked as a disc jockey in the 1960s and 1970s, and had what he describes as a “mobile discotheque.” Whims mother, Bernice Jordan Whims, inspired him to work in music, and as a child he started a band with two friends. Whims played the alto saxophone in a band with jazz drummer Norman Marshall Villeneuve. Whims had two daughters with his late wife Suzanne Trudel Whims. His grandfather was jazz pianist Lou Hooper Sr. His father was Lou Hooper Jr.
Custodial history
Scope and content
The Ralph Whims Collection contains documentation concerning Black History in Montreal; the Negro Community Centre; Union United Church, the Coloured Women’s Club; The Red Feather and the Welfare Federation; Railway Porters; the Elks; the documentary film Show Girls; and Jazz in Montreal. The collection is comprised of articles and clippings; photographs; posters, brochures, and programs; books and magazines; and a videocassette.
The Ralph Whims Collection is divided into 4 series:
C012/A Textual records
C012/B Photographs
C012/C Books
C012/D Moving images
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
Materials were donated to Concordia University Library, Special Collections by Ralph Whims on March 12, 2018.
Arrangement
Material are arranged in the order of receipt.
Language of material
- English
- French
Script of material
Language and script note
Materials are mostly in English. Some documents are in French.
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
Access to the videocassette is restricted until it is digitized in order to protect the original.
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
In most cases, reproductions are allowed for the purpose of research and private study in most cases. Use of material in a publication may only be done with written consent of the copyright owner(s).
Finding aids
Box listing is available.
Generated finding aid
Associated materials
Accruals
Further accruals are not expected.
Rights
Copyright belongs to the creator(s).
Conservation
Documents were placed in acid-free file folders and archival quality boxes.