McGill Library
McLennan Library Building3459 rue McTavish
Montreal, Quebec
H3A 0C9
Abraham Jacob Livinson Fonds
Fonds
70 cm of textual records and photographs
Abraham Jacob Livinson was born in Montréal and received his education at the High School of Montreal. He earned his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree from McGill University in 1911, followed by a Bachelor of Civil Law (B.C.L.) in 1914, and a Master of Arts (M.A.) in 1916. His master's thesis was titled "The Pedagogical Value and Psychical Influence of the Motion Picture on Present-Day Educational Systems." Livinson was a writer, teacher, and lecturer who participated in various committees for several organizations, including the City Improvement League of Montreal. His papers are held at the McGill University Archives and the Canadian Jewish Congress Charities Committee National Archives.
Most of the Livinson papers consist of lecture notes taken between 1905 and 1914 for undergraduate courses in philosophy, literature and history, and for courses in the Law Faculty. Two scrapbooks of clippings and photographs reflect Livinson's interest in Wilfred Laurier, approximately 1916-1949, and Abraham Lincoln, 1923-1937; there are also two 'notebooks' of clippings on books on the art of writing, memorable quotations, and speeches, 1936. Livinson's journals, sometimes kept under his own name and sometimes under the pseudonyms 'André Penuel' or 'André Charles' consist primarily of philosophical reflections and aphorisms, 1936-1942, 1947-1948, 1952. A short essay on Barbados, 1936, is accompanied by photographs, and there are also a number of photographs of Montréal scenes. Livinson's autograph collection consists of letters from prominent men, largely Montrealers, in business and government.
Originals, photographs and printed materials.