Before Old Favorites Book Shop opened, the idea was born at The Canadian Forum head office. Lou Morris was the business manager and his wife Kay Morris was a proofreader; together they ran the book service with the help of the legendary Emily ‘Minnie’ Montague, Kathleen’s mother. Lou Morris’s Daily Life & Work in the Late 1940s Running the Canadian Forum Book Service: Morris took charge of the magazine’s specialized mail-order Book Service. This service allowed subscribers to order newly released political, economic, and literary books through the magazine’s headquarters, providing readers with hard-to-find titles while generating vital ancillary revenue. Collaboration with Kay Morris: Lou ran these operations in tandem with his wife, Kay Morris, who also served as an editor and proofreader for the journal. Together, they handled customer inquiries, packaged books, and coordinated shipments from the small coach-house office. Navigating Inventory & Space Constraints: The Book Service quickly became one of the most prominent services of its kind in Canada, causing inventory to overwhelm the tiny Huntley Street location. Lou spent considerable effort sourcing titles, tracking used and rare volumes, and managing storage space. Laying the Groundwork for The Old Favorites Bookshop: Through running the Book Service, Morris developed relationships with publishers, readers, and secondhand-book networks. This experience directly led Lou and Kay to leave the magazine’s management in the early 1950s to open The Old Favorites Bookshop on Yonge Street, which grew into one of Toronto’s most famous antiquarian and used bookstores.
Photographs
Kathleen Lillian Morris at The Canadian Forum
A profile of Kathleen Lillian Morris, née Montague, proofreader and Book Service manager at The Canadian Forum in the 1940s.
Lou Morris at The Canadian Forum
A profile of Lou Morris, business manager at The Canadian Forum in the late 1940s and early 1950s.
Canadian Forum Book Service Advertisement
A 1947 Toronto Star advertisement in which Kay Morris invites readers to consult the Canadian Forum Book Service at 16 Huntley Street for books, cards, subscriptions, and mail orders.
The Canadian Forum, January 1925
The January 1925 cover of The Canadian Forum, a monthly journal of literature and public affairs.
Documents
Photographs and documents