McGill Library
McLennan Library Building3459 rue McTavish
Montreal, Quebec
H3A 0C9
Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
Peter P. Silvester Fonds
General material designation
Parallel title
Other title information
Title statements of responsibility
Title notes
Level of description
Fonds
Repository
Reference code
CA MUA MG4274
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)
Physical description area
Physical description
2 metres of textual records
39 photographs
1 35mm negative strip
ca. 1100 35mm slides
3 microfiche
ca. 120 electronic disks
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
(1935-1996)
Biographical history
Peter (Peet) Silvester, born January 1935 in Tallin, Estonia, was the only son of Helga Peet Silvester and Robert Silvester. When he was 12 years old, Peter Silvester immigrated with his mother to Canada. They settled in Edmonton, Alberta, where he attended the Victoria Composite High School from which he graduated in 1952. Later, Peter Silvester moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Engineering at the Carnegie Institute of Technology. Following his graduation in 1956, Peter Silvester went on to obtain his Masters in Applied Science from the University of Toronto in 1958. At this time, he married his wife, Elisabeth. In 1964, Peter Silvester obtained his PhD from McGill University in Montreal, Canada. Dr. Silvester remained at McGill University until 1995, when he retired and moved to Victoria, British Columbia where he passed away in October of 1996.
Custodial history
The records were kept by the creator until his death. From 1996 to 2009, the spouse of the donor maintained the records until the records were donated to the McGill University Archives.
Scope and content
The fonds consists of documents, photographs and electronic media relevant to the personal and professional history of Dr. Peter (Peet) Silvester. The scope predominately covers the period from 1965 to 1996, and includes Dr. Silvester’s published articles, copies of his books, including some translated editions and 35mm slides and photographs used as illustrations and as visual aids in presentations. His personal papers cover the period from his immigration to Canada and to his death, and include some photographs, correspondence between Dr. Silvester and his wife, Elisabeth, and daily journals.
This fonds is divided into nine series. The first series contains his personal papers, with the remaining series covering his professional career. The second series is largely correspondence, and the remaining seven series relate to his research and publication of articles and books. The series covering correspondence and research are organized by subject, and the articles are organized chronologically.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
Arrangement
The fonds had a natural arrangement which was preserved. Some series had no formal title, and a title was imposed by the archivist based upon the content of the series.
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script note
The material is predominately in English.
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
Some files are restricted under the An Act respecting Access to documents held by public bodies and the Protection of personal information (R.S.Q., chapter A-2.1).
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Finding aids
Associated materials
Accruals
Further accruals are expected.
Alternative identifier(s)
Accession no.
2010-0146
Wikidata Q identifier
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q62035980