Toby Brooks is an American-born social advocate and activist living in Canada with her husband David. Toby worked at a home for women survivors of domestic abuse in Ontario in the 1970’s and 1980’s. While furthering her education she came across the story of Vancouver poet Pat Lowther, murdered at just 40 years of age by her husband in 1975 when just on the brink of professional recognition. Pat Lowther’s untimely death resonated with Brooks, who spent the better part of the next two decades researching and interviewing Lowther’s friends, family, and colleagues. The end result was a biography entitled “Pat Lowther’s Continent: her life and work” published by gynergy books in 2000. Toby also organized a series of tributes dedicated to Pat Lowther. The first was held in 1995 at Emmanuel College in Toronto, with others following at various locations on what would have been her milestone birthdays.

This collection consists of textual records compiled primarily by Toby Brooks, but also some research material from her collaborator Dona Sturmanis. The records are mainly correspondence, interview transcripts and photocopies of poems. There are also copies of research records obtained from other archives or organizations.

There are 3 series contained within this collection: Research and writing ([ca. 1959-2006]); Toby Brooks-Dona Sturmanis collaboration ([before 2000]); and Pat Lowther tributes and readings ([ca. 1985-2006])