Edith Firth

Edith Grace Firth (January 27, 1927 – July 23, 2005) was a Canadian historian and librarian. She began working for the staff of the Toronto Public Library in 1949, joining its reference division before becoming the head of the Treasure Room containing the library's rare books. Firth was the author of the book of early Toronto and art. She was made head of the Canadian History Department at the Metropolitan Toronto Library in 1977 and retired in 1982.

Early life Firth was born on January 27, 1927 in Lindsay, Ontario. She was the youngest of four children to the science teacher Thomas Firth and Amy Edge Firth; she had a brother and two sisters. Firth attended North Bay Collegiate Institute and won a scholarship to attend the University of Toronto. In 1983, Firth published Toronto Art: 150 Years through Artists Eyes about 70 works by 130 artists selected for their works depicting Toronto.

Firth was the recipient of the American Association for State and Local History Certificate of Merit in 1963, the Canadian Historical Association Certificate of Merit for Local History in 1967, the Centennial Medal in 1967, the Toronto Historical Board Award of Merit in 1974 the City of Toronto Book Award in 1984 and an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from Trent University. She was general editor of the Ontario Series of the Champlain Society Council and Publishing Committee between 1963 and 1971, the Executive Committee of the Ontario Historical Society from 1965 to 1967 and the Editorial Board from 1972 to 1977. Firth was a member of the National Archival Appraisal Board, the Presbyterian Church General Assembly on History, Bibliographical Society Canada from 1964 to 1967 and again from 1973 to 1977, the Multicultural History Society of Ontario and the Ontario Historical Studies Series.

Death She died of Alzheimer's disease in Toronto on July 23, 2005. Firth received a private burial service at the Durham Cemetery.