People:
- Ernest Isbell Barott (archive creator)
- Ernest Isbell Barott (architect)
Title:
Ernest Isbell Barott fonds
Form:
archives
Level of archival description:
Fonds
Extent and medium:
- Approximately 11 764 drawings (including reprographic copies)
Approximately 1795 photographic materials
8.75 l.m. textual records
4 medals
1 key
Scope and content:
The Ernest Isbell Barott fonds, 1912-1983, documents architect Ernest Isbell Barott’s design and construction of over 380 built projects in Canada. The fonds comprises of materials relating to projects executed by Ernest Isbell Barott during his active years at the firm, 1912-1962, as well as projects exclusively completed by the firm after Barott’s retirement, 1962-1983. Several personal items belonging to Barott are also included in this fonds.
The architectural projects documented in this archive vary in scope and size and include governmental, commercial, industrial, agricultural, recreational, educational, religious, and residential buildings. The fonds holds an extensive number of architectural drawings, consisting of surveys, sketches, presentation drawings, development drawings, working and shop drawings. The photographs present aerial views of construction sites, construction progress, architectural models, architectural drawings and the interior and exterior views of completed buildings. Photographic materials also comprise of black and white photographs, prints and postcards that personally belonged to Barott; the buildings depicted in these photographs are, mainly, located in England, France and Italy. A portrait of Ernest Isbell Barott by Rice Studios is also included in this fonds.
Textual documentation consists of ledgers, journals, agendas, cash books, bank statements, cost sheets, cost estimates, receipts, payrolls, tenders, meeting minutes and specifications and contracts between suppliers and clients. The fonds contains various manuscripts, publications, and newspaper and magazine clippings. Personal documents consist of Barott’s private correspondence, diplomas, and certificates.
The objects in this archive comprise of an Art-Union of London’s Christopher Wren medal, two R.A.I.C medals (1931, 1932), a Province of Québec Association of Architects medal (1954), and a ceremonial gold key for the opening of the New Building Henry Morgan & Co. Limited (1923).
Arrangement:
This fonds has not yet been arranged.
Biographical notes:
Ernest Isbell Barott (1884-1966) was born in Canastota, New York. From 1902-1905, Barott studied architecture at the University of Syracuse and, from 1905-1911, he worked for the New York-based architectural firm McKim, Mead, & White. In 1911, Barott moved to Montréal and worked as a chief draughtsman for the Canadian Pacific Railway Company.
In 1912, Barott established the architectural firm, Barott, Blackader &Webster with architects Gordon Home Blackader (1885-1916) and Daniel T. Webster (d.1939?). Barott, Blackader & Webster was well-established during these early years, acquiring major commissions from powerful clients across Canada such as the Canadian Pacific Railway, the Bank of Montréal, and Credit Foncier. The practice operated as Barott, Blackader & Webster until 1916, when Blackader passed away during his military service in Ypres; Webster left the firm the following year. Although the practice operated as Barott & Blackader from 1917-1935, Barott was its sole principal. From 1935-1944, Barott worked under the name Ernest I. Barott.
Subsequently, the practice underwent several title and partnership changes during Barott’s active years: Barott, Marshall & Montgomery (1944-1946); Barott, Marshall, Montgomery & Merrett (1946-1957); Barott, Marshall & Merrett (1957-1958); Barott, Marshall, Merrett & Barott (1958-1961); and Barott, Marshall & Merrett (1961-1962). After Barott’s departure from the practice in 1962, the firm was re-established and re-named Marshall & Merrett (1962-1965). At present, the firm is active in Montréal under the name NFOE associés.
Throughout his architectural career, Barott was a member of several professional associations. He was a Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (1930, 1932), a President of the Province of Québec Association of Architects (1931), an Associate of the Royal Canadian Academy (1931), and a Royal Canadian Academician (1937). Barott also received several awards for his architectural realizations. He was awarded a R.A.I.C Medal for the Colville Residence (1931), a R.A.I.C Medal for the Bank of Montréal Building (1932), a second place Design Award for the Canadian Pavilion at the New York World Fair (1939), and a Medal of Merit from the Province of Québec Association of Architects (1954).
Important projects that are present in the Ernest Barott fonds include the Canadian Pacific Railway Station, Vancouver (1912); the Canadian Pacific Railway Station and Hotel, Winnipeg (1913); the Algonquin Hotel, St. Andrew’s New Brunswick (1914); the Bank of British North America, Montréal (1914); the Crédit Foncier Building, Vancouver (1914); the Théâtre Saint Denis, Montréal (1915); the Canada Cement Head Office Building, Montréal (1922); the Hudson’s Bay Store, Winnipeg, (1927); the Bell Telephone Co. Head Office (Beaver Hall Building), Montréal (1928); the Aldred Building, Montréal (1929); the Bank of Montréal, Ottawa Main Office (1930); and the Montréal Life Insurance Head Office Building, Montréal (1957).
Conditions governing access:
- Open for use by qualified researchers. Access by appointment only.
Conditions governing reproduction:
- For copyright information or permission to reproduce material from the fonds, please contact the CCA (reproductions@cca.qc.ca).
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer:
- Gift of Orton, Nicolaidis, Fukushima, Emmian, architectes, Harold G. Thornton, la Société Abitibi-Price, Sara Tingley and the Bank of Montréal
Custodial history:
- The Ernest Isbell Barott fonds was donated to the Canadian Centre for Architecture by Stahl & Nicolaidis on December 15, 1982. Subsequent additions were made in 1985 by Harold G. Thornton, Stahl et Nicolaidis and la Société Abitibi-Price; Stahl, Nicolaidis, Fukushima, Orton on September 28, 1988; Sara Tingley on July 28, 1992; the Bank of Montréal on April 22, 1997; and Orton, Nicolaidis, Fukushima, Emmian, architectes on December 3, 1998.
Archivist's note:
- This fonds has not yet been arranged. A fonds level description was created by Patricia Di Palma on January 4, 2017.
Location:
Montréal
Island of Montréal
Québec
Canada
Credit line:
When citing the collection as a whole, use the following citation:
Ernest Isbell Barott fonds
Collection Centre Canadien d'Architecture/
Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montréal
When citing specific collection material, please refer to the object’s specific credit line.
