Series S00667 - Marshall McLuhan files

This series consists of correspondence, contracts, notes, drafts, clippings, offprints, photographs, and ephemera created and accumulated by CSWS Ltd. as agents of Marshall McLuhan and his estate. CSWS Ltd. began representing Marshall McLuhan around 1970.

The records in this series document the close working relationship and friendship between Matie Molinaro and the McLuhan family (especially her friendship with his spouse Corinne McLuhan) in managing Marshall McLuhan’s legacy, “brand”, and the rights to his work subsequent to his death in December 1980.

Files from accession 1990-018 include: correspondence of Marshall McLuhan, which was utilized in a published correspondence volume, edited by his wife Corinne and Matie Molinaro, “Letters of Marshall McLuhan” (Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1987); galleys of McLuhan works ('Laws of the media,'); correspondence and reports of the Centre for Culture and Technology at the University of Toronto; lecture invitations; various television and film proposals, scripts, and related correspondence, as well as material about McLuhan (books, articles, newspaper clippings, etc), and the 'Management game,' which includes a sample deck of cards used in the game as well as orders for the game.

Files from accessions 2010-040 and 2012-066 include: public appearance requests; requests for permission to cite and republish the work of McLuhan; research material and drafts for the book, “Letters of Marshall McLuhan” (Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1987); correspondence and reports related to the preparation, negotiations and acquisition of the McLuhan Papers by the Public Archives of Canada in 1984; correspondence with communication scholars and co-authors of works with Marshall McLuhan, including Bruce R. Powers, Barrington Nevitt, and W. Terrence Gordon; reprint agreement in 2001 and related correspondence with Mo Cohen of Gingko Press of Berkeley, California which led to renewed interest in Marshall McLuhan’s work; correspondence related to the planning of the Toronto International McLuhan Festival of the Future in 2004.

Also included are files about several members of the McLuhan family, including Elsie McLuhan (mother), Corinne McLuhan, and children Eric, Michael, Teri, and Mary.