Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
Michael Johnstone Bank of Hamilton Postcard Collection
General material designation
- Textual record
- Graphic material
- Object
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Collection
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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)
Physical description area
Physical description
74 Postcards
3 Objects
1 Book
Publisher's series area
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Archival description area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Michael Roderick Johnstone was born in Hamilton, Ontario at the Salvation Army Hospital. He graduated from McMaster University in 1969 where he served as the Student Cultural Affairs Commissioner and President of the McMaster Students Union. He was also involved with The Silhouette, McMaster’s University’s student-run newspaper as a writer from 1962 to 1963 and with the McMaster’s Film Board. Michael returned to school at Mohawk College for nursing in the 1980’s and worked at the Hamilton General Hospital as a registered nurse in the post-operative care unit for more than 25 years until his retirement.
Michael was involved in the founding of many gay and lesbian organizations in the Hamilton area. Prior to moving back to Hamilton in 1979, he was a member of Gays of Ottawa from 1976 to 1979. Michael also served as a secretary of the Coordinating Office of the Canadian Lesbian and Gay Rights Coalition that dealt with specific issues of federal jurisdiction. At this time, the Hamilton-McMaster Gay Liberation Movement group has been established. To expand outside of McMaster University and into the broader Hamilton community, core members of the McMaster Homophile Association formed Hamilton United Gay Societies (HUGS) in 1980. Michael was one of the founding members of HUGS and served in different executive committee roles such as secretary, treasurer and president from 1980 to 1982 and again from 1988 to 1991 when HUGS changed their name to Hamilton Gay and Lesbian Alliance (HGALA). Michael was the self-appointed archivist of the Hamilton-Wentworth Gay Archives which was founded in 1982 and was also involved in the Gay Phoenix (then The Phoenix/Hamilton Phoenix) newsletter, Lesbian/Gayline and Speakers’ Bureau.
Since its founding in 1986, Michael was as a member of the Hamilton AIDS Network for Dialogue and Support’s (HANDS) Board of Directors, was the president from 1991 to 1993, and a member of the Steering Committee. He was also involved in the AIDS Prevention Task Force Implementation Subcommittee of the Regional Municipality of Hamilton-Wentworth, the AIDS Working Group on Anonymous HIV Testing, and Regional Palliative Care Program Hospice Services Group.
At the Hamilton GALA Honour Roll Dinner in 1991, Michael Johnstone along with Anne Cassel were presented with the Honour Roll Award plaque to recognize their contributions to the LGBTQ+ community in Hamilton throughout the years.
In addition to Michael’s activist work, he was a part of the Social Justice and World Outreach committees of the Hamilton Presbytery of the United Church of Canada and was an active member of the Hamilton Group of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East.
Michael passed away from lung cancer on July 26, 2018 at the Good Shepherd’s Emmanuel House hospice in Hamilton which used to be a housing residence for individuals living with HIV/AIDS.
Custodial history
Given to Local History & Archives, Hamilton Public Library, by Sandra Cruickshanks.
Scope and content
This collection principally consists of early to mid-20th century postcards collected by Michael Johnstone on the Bank of Hamilton and its expansion from Hamilton to western Canada. Examples include: the Bank of Hamilton building in downtown Hamilton, Bank of Hamilton branches in rural towns of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, and Bank of Hamilton Seasonal greetings. Furthermore, collection contains non-postcard ephemera related to the bank, including advertisements for the bank’s savings account, a notepad and 1890’s Bank of Hamilton passbook.
Notes area
Physical condition
Contains some non-postcard material.
Immediate source of acquisition
Collection was donated to the Hamilton Public Library, Local History and Archives in 2019 by the estate of Michael Johnstone, c/o Sandra Cruickshanks
Arrangement
Postcards were arranged by the subject of the postcard illustration.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
The collection is open to researchers. There are no restrictions on access.
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Copyright is held by the Hamilton Public Library. There are no restrictions on reproduction for research and private study. *
Preferred citation: Michael Johnstone Bank of Hamilton Postcard Collection (Accession#01183), Hamilton Public Library, Hamilton, Ontario.
Finding aids
File list available.
Associated materials
For related materials. Please consult accession #01182: Michael Johnstone Postcard collection.
Accruals
No further accruals expected.
General note
Title is based on the contents of the collection.