Title: Celia Franca-Fouding Artistic Director of the National Ballet of Canada
Place: Toronto, Ont..
PHOTOGRAPHER: Bell, Ken, 1914-
National Archives of Canada, negative no. PA - 153946

The National Ballet of Canada, internationally recognised, foremost among Canadian ballet companies, and producer of such celebrated stars such as Karen Kain, Frank Augustyn and Veronica Tennant, to a great extent owes its existence to the determination and dedication of a handful of women.

For many Canadians, the National Ballet and Celia Franca are almost synonymous. Celia Franca's contribution to dance in Canada has been universally recognised. She has received honorary degrees from seven Canadian universities and has been awarded the B'nai B'rith's Woman of the Year Award (1958), the Centennial Medal (1967), the Order of Canada (1967) and the Molson Award (1974).

In 1981, Celia Franca donated her personal papers to the Manuscript Division of the Public Archives of Canada. The Celia Franca Papers (MG 31, D113) date from 1937 to 1981, and are contained in 34 boxes occupying 5.7 meters of shelf space. Although the programs, memorabilia, printed material, photographs and costume designs are open for research purposes now, researchers wishing access to the rest of the papers before January 1, 2002, must apply to Miss Franca for her permission.