The series consists of chronologically arranged files on York Wilson's commercial art projects and commissions.
Included are proofs, clippings or copies of advertisements, magazine and book covers, story illustrations, and miscellaneous graphic designs documenting Wilson's commercial work, 1930-1949, for such trade and popular magazines as 'Provincial's paper', 'Liberty', 'Macleans', 'Canadian home journal' and 'National home journal', for paperbacks published by Collins White Circle Books, and for clients such Kellogg's, Cris-Craft, Imperial Oil, North American Life ('This is our Heritage' series), CIL, Brown Industrial Instruments, Heinz Foods, O'Keefe's Brewing Company, Hydro Electric Power Commission of Ontario, and Amalgamated Electric Corporation.
There are also files documenting York Wilson's mural work. In 1940, Roy Thomson commissioned Wilson to decorate an office in the Timmins Press building and this commission led to subsequent projects for McGill University 1954, the Salvation Army, Toronto 1955, Imperial Oil, Toronto 1957, the O'Keefe Centre, Toronto 1959, Port Arthur General Hospital 1965, Dow Corning Ltd, Toronto 1965, Bell Canada, Toronto 1965, Queen's Park, Toronto 1968 and Central Hospital, Toronto 1970. Wilson's last mural, a commission from Carleton University for the opening of the Students' Union Building, was completed in September 1970. Contents of the mural files range from a single photograph to files containing contract information, insurance forms, photographs and correspondence. There are architectural drawings for the Salvation Army, Queen's Park and Carleton University projects, consisting of 1 blue-line and 1 black-line print by John B. Parkin Associates for the Salvation Army mural; 4 blue-line prints by Associated Architects for the Queen's Park Project; and 1 black-line print by Janis Kravis, Architect, for the Carleton University mural. Among the mural files are documents supplied by Lela Wilson regarding mural contracts which were not awarded to York Wilson (for instance, Malton and Gander Airports) and information on the mural process and choice of materials.
The series also includes miscellaneous project files relating to two tapestry commissions (one completed in 1973 for Simpson's Sears), Wilson's participation in Exercise Muskox 1944 (a Department of National Defence winter clothing and equipment test exercise), and annual Christmas cards designed by Wilson. A copy of the UNESCO award-winning book, 'Face at the bottom of the world and other poems' (1969), with poems by the Japanese poet Hagiwara Sakutaro and illustrations by York Wilson, can also be found in this series. Of note is a file which contains three photographs of the last works done by York Wilson, completed in 1982-1983 during his stay at Toronto's Queen Elizabeth Rehabilitation Hospital., Also included are examples of Wilson's commercial artwork comprising advertisements for magazine ads; proofs for Victory bond fund-raising and recruitment campaigns; watercolours commissioned by Imperial Oil for a publication documenting the move of an oil refinery in 1948; and work relating to a "Save the Children" charitable campaign. Also included is a portrait painting by York Wilson of Scott Symons. Works by other artists include a drawing by Léon Bellefleur of a seated nude and an abstract design by Eric Aldwinkle.
A small amount of material acquired in 2006 includes material relating to a commission for Seagrams; notes on the symbols used in a 1970 mural for Carleton University; and correspondence relating to the Salvation Army and Imperial Oil murals. The additional records are numbered as Volume 418 under the Archival Reference number R4154.
