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Arts and Literature

The Library

When a group of Toronto-area Militia officers decided to found a military institute in 1890, they included in the Charter that it was for "the promotion of Military Art, Science and Literature" among other aims and objectives.  The Library was started with a donation of 200 volumes from "the late Militia Institute".  A further large donation of 733 volumes came in 1925 from the estate of Colonel George T. Denison, so that by the mid-1930s, through donations and purchases, the collection stood at well over 10,000 volumes. Since then the collection has almost doubled to become the largest privately funded and maintained military library in Canada. Staffed by a professional Librarian, the RCMI Library is recognized by Library and Archives Canada (LAC).

The Museum

One of the largest military history museums in Canada, the Museum of the RCMI specializes in Canadian military history, 1855-present.  The Museum collection includes some of the finest and rarest military artifacts in the world with a collection of over 11,000 artifacts. A critical part of the RCMI’s function and mandate, the museum is a prestigious and highly-regarded institution.

A member of the Canadian Museum Association (CMA), the Organization of Military Museums of Canada (OMMC), and the Canadian Society of Military Medals and Insignia (CSMMI), the Museum of the RCMI observes its collection and its display spaces under museum best practice. Under the direction of our Museum Curator, our museum continues to develop new exhibitions, publications, events, and facilitate new acquisitions and donations