Tartu Institute’s Dr. Endel Aruja Archives and Library

TARTU College set up the Tartu Institute in 1972 to carry out the educational components of its charter. This included the creation of a library and archives for the preservation and study of Estonian culture, language and history, especially in Canada.

Dr. Endel Aruja, the first secretary of the Institute, was the creator and organiser of the library and archives, which depend on donations of material. The donations and a volunteer work force have maintained and expanded it. With a grant from the Canadian government in 1985, he formed the Bibliography Club of retired persons who volunteer in maintaining and expanding the library and archives. A major project has been the shipment of books and other printed material - some 7,500 boxes - to libraries and museums in Estonia. Dr. Aruja retired from this work in 2005.

The library has about 7,000 items in its library catalogue. Besides books, there are magazines, scientific journals, records and tapes and photographs. Most of the material is in Estonian. The archives deal with Estonian life in Canada after World War II and contain material from some fifty Estonians and institutions.

The library functions as a research and reference library. Hence, material may not be borrowed. The archives are available for researchers upon application. The policies, rules and regulations governing their use are shown on separate pages. It is the intention to put the catalogue on the Internet; at present, it can be consulted locally at the library.

Library and archives can be accessed:

every Tuesday 10AM - 3PM
or upon application to the Manager
Phone: 905-627-3856
email: rweiler7@cogeco.ca

The library and archives are located in:

Tartu College
310 Bloor St. West
Toronto, Ontario
M5S 1W4