The fonds consists of records relating to Bill Lewis’ life, with a focus predominantly on the work he was doing in his later years as a researcher and instructor at the University of Toronto and as an AIDS activist. There is correspondence, articles and article drafts written by Lewis, students, or…
194.5 cm of textual records
Approx. 143 black and white photographs; 7 colour photographs
1 lab coat
Extent
1.82 m
History / Biographical
William (Bill) Lewis was born in Ottawa, Ontario in 1950. Growing up he attended schools in Edmonton, St. James, and Winnipeg. He graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science Honours degree and in 1978 with a PhD from the Department of Microbiology. During his time in Winnipeg he was one of the founding members of Gays Against Equality at the University of Manitoba. He was employed with the University of Toronto by 1980 within the Department of Surgery and later the Department of Microbiology. The courses he taught were within the departments of Microbiology and Molecular Biology and Genetics. Lewis was well published within his field. During the last few years of his life, Lewis’s research began to focus on HIV/AIDS. He was one of the founding members of the AIDs Committee of Toronto (ACT) in 1983. He actively worked to counter negative myths around HIV/AIDS contraction and was involved in the drafting of a variety of brochures around safe sex, STD’s, and HIV/AIDS. Lewis was a long-term partner of Michael Lynch. He died suddenly in September of 1987 from AIDS.
Scope and Content
The fonds consists of records relating to Bill Lewis’ life, with a focus predominantly on the work he was doing in his later years as a researcher and instructor at the University of Toronto and as an AIDS activist. There is correspondence, articles and article drafts written by Lewis, students, or other researchers, diaries, journals, notes and notebooks, funding applications, teaching materials, and brochures.
Any files containing personnel or student information are restricted for 75 years after creation. Files are clearly marked as restricted. Any curriculum vitae, transcripts, or other personal information relating to individuals other than Bill Lewis are not to be published.
Conservation
All records were put into acid-free folders, staples were removed, and plastic covers removed.
Arrangement
The records were kept in the same files as the creator had placed them. Original folder titles were kept except where no folder title was provided, in which case a supplied title was provided. Files were placed into series and, for the most part, arranged alphabetically or chronologically to make files more searchable.
Contains series:
1- Personal Records
2- Correspondence
3- Academic and Research Work
3.1 – Academic Correspondence
3.2 – Research Correspondence
4- Articles
5- Teaching and Course Files
6- Student Files
7- Gay Groups
