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- Source of title proper: Title based on the creator of the fonds
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Dates of creation area
Date(s)
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1988-1998 (Creation)
- Creator
- Gzowski, Peter
Physical description area
Physical description
50 cm of textual records and other materials
6 photographs
24 audio cassettes
19 computer disks
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Archival description area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Peter Gzowski was a Canadian broadcast journalist, best known as the host of Morningside on CBC radio (1982-1997). Gzowski was born on July 13, 1934, in Toronto, Ontario. He grew up in Galt, Ontario and was educated at Ridley College in St. Catharines, Ontario and the University of Toronto. Gzowski was appointed Trent University’s eighth Chancellor in 1999, a position he held until his death on January 24, 2002 . Gzowski College, named after Peter Gzowski, opened at Trent University in 2003.
Gzowski edited “The Varsity” as an undergraduate student at the University of Toronto (1956-1957). He went on to work for town newspapers in Timmins, Ontario, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan and Chatham, Ontario. He became managing editor of Maclean's Magazine in 1962.
Gzowski’s radio career started with CBC's "This Country in the Morning" (1971-1974). He later hosted "90 Minutes Live" (1976-1978), a national late-night television program, and was the host for a brief revival of CBC’s “Fighting Words” television series on CHCH in Hamilton (1982-1984). He became the host of “Morningside” in 1982 and remained its host until the show went off air in 1997 .
Gzowski wrote numerous books, including Peter Gzowski's Book about This Country in the Morning (Hurtig Publishers, 1974), Peter Gzowski's Spring Tonic (Hurtig Publishers, 1979), The Game of Our Lives (McClelland and Stewart, 1981) and several volumes of Morningside letters (McClelland and Stewart, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991, and 1994).
Gzowski contributed to adult literacy education through his annual golf tournament fundraiser, the Peter Gzowski Invitational (PGI), which began in 1986. Hosted at multiple locations across Canada each year, the PGI has raised millions of dollars since its inception. In 2002, the Peter Gzowski Foundation for Literacy was funded by an endowment from the federal government and took over responsibility for the PGI.
In 1974, 1983, and 1985, Gzowski won ACTRA (the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists) awards for best host-interviewer on radio. He has also won three National Magazine Awards, one of which was for his 1981 profile on Wayne Gretzky. Gzowski was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in1986 and appointed a Companion of the Order of Canada in 1998. He received honourary degrees from the University of New Brunswick (D.LITT., 1984) and Trent University (LL.D., 1988). Other honours include the Governor General's Performing Arts Award (1995) and the International Peabody Award for Broadcasting (1997).
Custodial history
This fonds was created by and in the custody of Peter Gzowski before it was donated to Trent University Archives
Scope and content
This addition to the fonds consists of manuscripts for the "Morningside Years" and "Friends, Moments, Countryside", correspondence between Peter Gzowski, McClelland and Stewart and other editorial staff. There are 'mail bag' and 'ROA' (read on air) letters addressed to the Morningside show, some of which are included in the "Morningside Years." Also included is one complete radio program schedule and a program for "Peter Gzowski's Invitationals play the Winter Garden." There are also nineteen computer disks consisting of letters, transcripts of "Morningside" interviews, and chapters of the "Morningside Years". Twenty-four audio cassette tapes of Gzowski's interviews with various Canadian authors and scientists such as Margaret Laurence, Margaret Atwood, Dr. Tak Mak, William O. Mitchell, Robertson Davies, William Unruh, Jean Chretien, Alice Munro, Timothy Findley are also included. As well, there are a total of six photographs of Peter Gzowski and his staff.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
This fonds was donated by Peter Gzowski.
Arrangement
Language of material
Script of material
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
None
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Finding aids
Associated materials
Associated material located at the Archives of Ontario and York University Archives.
Accruals
This fonds, along with 95-008, 98-010, and 01-004, is an addition to 92-015
General note
Table of Contents
Series A: Original manuscripts of "Friends, Moments and Country side" and related materials
Series B: Original manuscripts of "The Morningside Years" and related materials
Series C: Correspondence from Morningside listeners
Series D: Correspondence between Peter Gzowski and editorial staff regarding ideas for a new book
Series E: Morningside broadcast Program
Series F: "Peter Gzowski's Invitational Play the Winter Garden" Program
Series G: Photographs of Peter Gzowski and Staff
Series H: "The Morningside Show" Audio Cassettes
Series A: Original manuscripts, etc. re "Friends, Moments and Country side"
Box 1
Folder
1: Original manuscripts of "Friends, Moments, Countryside"
2: Related correspondence with Edna Barker (editor) 1997-1998
3: Related correspondence with Edna Barker (editor) undated
Series B: Original manuscripts of "The Morningside Years" and related materials
Box 2
Folder
1: Original manuscripts of "The Morningside Years"
2: Editorial correspondence 1997
3: Copyright permission letters and miscellaneous items
4: Bills and receipts 1997
5: Edna Barker's "Morningside" notebook
6: Computer backup disks of "The Morningside Years" (12 items)
Series C: Correspondence from Morningside listeners
Box 3
Folder
1: 1994
2: 1995
3-5: 1996
6: miscellaneous dates
7: undated
8: Letters on foreign women 1994-1997
9: Letters on foreign countries 1995-1997
10: Letters from Section Seventeen 1997
11: Original letters of "Life with Jessie" 1995
12: Computer backup disks (4 items)
Series D: Correspondence: Peter Gzowski and editorial staff re new book idea
Box 4
Folder
1: Correspondence between Edna Barker and Peter Gzowski 1996
2: Possible chapters for the new book 1996
Series E: Morningside broadcast Program
3: Morningside broadcast Program for Christmas Eve 1996
Series F: " Peter Gzowski's Invitational Play the Winter Garden" Program
4: Program 1993
Series G: Photographs of Peter Gzowski and Staff
5: Photographs of Peter Gzowski and staff (6 items) undated
Series H: "The Morningside Show" Audio Cassettes
Box 5
Folder
1: Transcripts of "The Morningside Show interviews" (3 computer disks): Louis Riel Verdict; Trial of Louis Riel; Margaret Laurence on Censorship
2: Twenty-four audio cassettes of interviews with various Canadian authors, scientists, etc. (Cassette Tapes):
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Alice Munro Moons of Jupiter both sides
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April 21, 28/83 Brenda Milner
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Brian Little
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Dr. Tak Mak
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Feb 10/94 Milner/Hillen
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June 1/84 Gerhart Herzberg
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Riel May 6 1985 Part 1 of 2
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Louis Riel p 2 of 2
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Mar 29/96 William Unruh
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Margaret Atwood
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Margaret Laurence
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May 20/87 John Polanyi
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May 21/93 Dr. Axelrod
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Oct. 19/93 Dr. Michael Smith
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Oct 20/94 Hubert Reeves
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Princess Prunella, Cunning Man
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A-side Alice Munro B-side Headhunter items
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A-side Henry Mintzberg B-side Steven Hanessian
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A-side Mar 21/89 Werner Israel B-side Jan 6/92
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A-side Margaret Atwood B-side Robertson Davies
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A-side Alice [Munro?] B-side 1. Alice M[unro] 2. TIFF [Timothy Findley] Piano Man's Daughter
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A-side Alice Munro, Tim Findley B-side Alice Munro selected stories
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A-side Cat's Eye B-side Margaret Laurence
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Mitchell/Davies/Findley