AGO History Fact Sheet : Name / legal identity
1900: Incorporated as the The Art Museum of Toronto under the Benevolent and Provident Societies Act (1897).
Meeting to discuss founding 15 March 1900; application for incorporation made 3 July; certified by county court judge 4 July; filed with clerk of the peace 6 July.
1903 : An Act respecting the Art Museum of Toronto*
Incorporation "confirmed and amended" by provincial legislation ("An Act respecting the Art Museum of Toronto"*) giving the museum additional "rights and powers." The additional powers allowed the museum to receive money and land by bequest, borrow money, mortgage property, etc. Officers of the museum had been told privately that the Grange was to be left to them, and these legislative changes were made in anticipation of the bequest.
1919 : Change of name to The Art Gallery of Toronto.
Decision of council 16 December 1918; changed by a statute law amendment act, assented to 24 April 1919.
1966 : Change of name to Art Gallery of Ontario.
Effective 8 July, when The Art Gallery of Ontario Act, 1966* received royal assent. Under this legislation the gallery remained a corporation without share capital.
1968 : The Art Gallery of Ontario Amendment Act, 1968.*
Changed the name and composition of the board (see AGO History Fact Sheet 4); changed the "chairman" to "president." Act received royal assent 23 July 1968.
1972 : The Art Gallery of Ontario Amendment Act, 1972.*
Authorized the gallery to dispose of land to the city; changed the terms under which trustees held office (see AGO History Fact Sheet 4). Came into effect 23 June 1972.
1978 : The Art Gallery of Ontario Amendment Act, 1978.*
Changes made to the makeup and election of the board of trustees (see AGO History Fact Sheet 4). Received royal assent 30 November 1978.
Note: an asterick * indicates that copies of the legislation can be found in the Archives.
