City of Peterborough

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Scope note(s)

  • Early sketches and drawings of Peterborough are located in the following fonds: 83-1022 copy of an 1828 sketch by Basil Hall made with the Camera Lucida; 95-1004 unknown engraving [Bartlett?] 1882; 95-1017 sketch of Government House by Mary Sanford 1832 (copy); 02-1002 composite panorama of Ashburnham from St. John's Church ca. 1874 (a representation produced in 2001); 89-1065 Peterborough, U.C. on the Otonabee River signed
  • Special Collections maintains an impressive collection of books relating to the City of Peterborough. The "Trent Collection" contains all the obvious published histories such as _Peterborough, Land of Shining Waters; Peterborough Scrapbook...1825-1975_ Poole's _A Sketch of the Early Settlement...of the Town of Peterborough_ ; Jones' and Dyer's _Peterborough the Electric City_ and Guillet's _Valley of the Trent_. These titles represent only the most obvious sources; all of these (and many more) are catalogued on [Omni](https://www.trentu.ca/omni) and are available, for reference use only, in our Reading Room.
  • We also hold many idiosyncratic items in the [pamphlet collection](https://archives.trentu.ca/index.php/pamphlet-collection), in the [map collection](https://www.trentu.ca/library/archives/maps) and in the vertical unpublished [research files](https://www.trentu.ca/library/archives/vertical_research_files). Also pertinent to the study of Peterborough are all the extant [newspapers for the area which are available on microfilm](https://www.trentu.ca/library/archives/newspapers). In addition, various citizens of Peterborough have written historical columns for newspapers. We have the papers here in the archives for some of these authors. Their research files and copies of their columns can be a rich source of information. See, for example, the papers of [Helen Marryat](https://archives.trentu.ca/index.php/69-001), [Richard Choate](https://archives.trentu.ca/index.php/86-027), [Howard Pammett](https://archives.trentu.ca/index.php/77-010) and [Wilson Craw](https://archives.trentu.ca/index.php/86-003).
  • One important source of information on Peterborough often overlooked is the "Dobbin Index." Francis H. Dobbin was a journalist working in Peterborough from 1864 until 1914. During this time he collected news items and also wrote brief descriptive essays. These are catalogued (F 5547 .P4D622) and are available to researchers in our Reading Room. Some of his longer pieces were published posthumously as Our Old Home Town. It too is catalogued (F 5547 .P4D6) and can be accessed in the Reading Room.
  • The subject headings for the "Dobbin Index" of newspaper references, synopses, notes and essays are: 1. Introduction 2. Biographies 3. Churches 4. Education 5. Events 6. Fires 7. Industries 8. Institutions and Societies 9. Military 10. Municipal 11. Politics 12. Railway 13. Trent Canal
  • It was in May of 1819 that the first settlers came to the region in Newcastle District which is now known as Peterborough. One of these settlers was Adam Scott (1796-1838), and he built a saw and grist mill on the west bank of the Otonabee River (at the location were King St. now crosses the river). This location, then known as Scott's Plains, was to become the City of Peterborough. The area had been previously surveyed by Samuel Wilmot in 1818, and at that time, he recommended to the surveyor general that land be set aside for the development of a town at the junction of Smith, Douro, North Monaghan and Otonabee Townships, along the shores of the Otonabee River. In 1825, the recommended townsite was surveyed again by Richard Birdsall and the creation of a town plan was undertaken. From 1819 to 1825, the only inhabitants of Scott's Plains were Adam Scott's family and a few hired men. This changed with the arrival of the Peter Robinson immigrants in 1825 who numbered close to 2,000 people. Many of them settled in the townships surrounding Scott's Plains, which was renamed in 1826, to Peterboro by Sir Peregrine Maitland, in honour of Peter Robinson. By 1827, there were 20 buildings located within the townsite, and in the summer of 1828, another 20 houses were built. Shops, taverns, schools and churches began to sprout within the town boundaries. Timber, and then lumber, dominated the Peterborough industrial base from 1825 to 1875. But this was not the only form of industry. Peterborough also had a tannery, three iron foundries, and several woolen and grain mills. The location of Peterborough along the shores of the Otonabee was extremely important in the development of Peterborough as a manufacturing centre. The river provided not only water power, but a means of transportation for both people and goods. In 1890, Edison Electric, later known as Canadian General Electric, set up a plant in Peterborough, and by 1892, it became the site of the CGE head office for Canadian Operations. In 1900, Quaker Oats also came to Peterborough. Not only did Quaker employ a substantial number of people, they also used locally grown grains in the production of their cereals. The period between 1875 and 1930 was one of rapid industrial growth in Peterborough. As well, the population was constantly increasing. In 1838, the population was between 800 and 900, and by the 1852 census, it had risen to 2,191. In 1871 it had increased to 4,611 and it became necessary for Peterborough to annex land from the surrounding townships. In 1872, 239 acres were annexed from Smith, 50 acres from Douro, and 581 acres from North Monaghan. After the annexation, the population was close to 7,000 inhabitants. Peterborough officially became a city in 1904 and continued to grow and by 1921, the population had increased to 21,000.

Source note(s)

    Display note(s)

      Hierarchical terms

      City of Peterborough

        Equivalent terms

        City of Peterborough

          Associated terms

          City of Peterborough

            233 Archival description results for City of Peterborough

            233 results directly related Exclude narrower terms
            05-001 · Fonds · 1958-1991

            Fonds consists of financial records, annual reports, minutes of Board meetings, 2 photographs, and printed programs relating to the Peterborough Women's Christian Association (YWCA).

            Young Women's Christian Association
            97-002 · Fonds · [1930]-1993

            This fonds consists of Young Women's Christian Association scrapbooks from 1976-1993, and a photograph of the YWCA swim club "The Silver Finnettes" from the 1930's. Also included are several identified and unidentified photographs of YWCA staff and volunteers, and of buildings. There are also slides of the staff, and miscellaneous slides.

            Young Women's Christian Association
            94-011 · Fonds · 1939-1989.

            This addition to the fonds consists of ledgers, annual reports, program information, and other records regarding the YWCA women's residence and nursery school. There are also many photographs, mostly from the 1960's, of events and of people, who were associated with the Peterborough Young Women's Christian Association.

            Young Women's Christian Association
            91-003 · Fonds · 1897-1991

            This addition to the fonds consists of original Peterborough YWCA incorporation documents from 1897, YWCA photographs, financial and business documents, and other records including audio cassettes with oral interviews and tea meetings.

            Young Women's Christian Association
            85-001 · Fonds · 1908-1983

            This fonds consists of records relating to the history, administration and programs of the Peterborough Young Women's Christian Association (Y.W.C.A.).

            Young Women's Christian Association
            W.T.C. Boyd fonds
            01-019 · Fonds · 1878-1917

            Fonds consists of 27 diaries of William Thornton Cust Boyd dated 1878 through 1917. Five of the diaries, 1884-1888, include financial records. The diaries recount the private and public life of Boyd, and include references to his wife, Meta, and their children, and social activities with family and friends including boating excursions and picnics. He refers throughout to Richard Birdsall Rogers (1857-1927), superintending engineer of the Peterborough Lift Lock, in social and business terms, and the two often conduct business relating to the Trent Valley Canal. Activities which Boyd participated in regularly include yachting and boating (on the "Calumet", "Ogemah", and "Ajax"), curling, hunting, gardening, tree planting, playing cards, skating, canoeing, and attending the theatre. He recounts details of the illnesses, deaths and funerals of acquaintances and family members, including his step-brother, Mossom (Mossie) Martin Boyd. Boyd recounts in detail the building of his house by John E. Belcher ([184-]-1915), architect, civil engineer, and surveyor. This house is now operated as Case Manor Nursing Home. The diaries speak of local and federal politics, World War I, and the activities of the church. They also detail the activities of the Lindsay, Bobcaygeon and Pontypool Railway Company, the Trent Valley Navigation Steamship Company, and the day-to-day operation of the family lumbering and cattle/buffalo enterprises.

            Boyd, W.T.C.
            89-1018 · Fonds · [between 1918 and 1928]

            This scrapbook contains clippings about World War I and photographs of the Trent Canal and River system including Lakefield Canoe Co., Kirkfield and the Peterborough Lift Lock. The people in the photographs are unidentified.

            78-1001 · Fonds · 1958

            This fonds consists of three letters, two of which were written to William Hamilton Munro and Mrs. Angela Munro by Bessie [?] of Ottawa, Ontario commenting on the 1958 gas explosion in Ottawa, the Peace River Project and W.A.C. Bennett. The third letter is a carbon copy of a letter sent to Mr. Franklin R. Little, Editor of the Northern New York Publishing Company from Robert Moses, Chairman of the Power Authority of the State of New York. It is in reference to an article published by Mr. Little titled "Underground Leak at Power Pool Feared Threat to Seaway Hydro Energy." A carbon copy typescript of the article is included with the letter.

            Munro, William Hamilton
            80-033 · Fonds · 1877-1964

            This addition to the fonds consists of maps, correspondence and related documents of the Bronson Company, the Gatineau Power Company, and the Ottawa Power Company collected by William Hamilton Munro.

            Munro, William Hamilton
            William Hamilton House fonds
            96-1006 · Fonds · 1985

            This fonds consists of one 13-page document concerning the designation of the William Hamilton House at 459 Reid Street in Peterborough, Ontario in accordance with the provisions of the Ontario Heritage Act of 1974. The fonds includes correspondence, legal and architectural description of the property and building, historical background, and photocopies of photographs of the house.

            William Hamilton House
            89-011 · Fonds · 1961-1985

            This fonds consists of records dealt with by We-Peterborough, primarily the civil disobedience and cruise missile protest. Regarding civil disobedience, the fonds contains various study kits, articles and publications. It also includes articles, legal correspondence and minutes of meetings.

            We-Peterborough: World Emergency Centre for Assertive Non-Violence
            Wallis family fonds
            14-001 · Fonds · 1774-1895

            Fonds is comprised of three bound volumes of correspondence, sketches, paintings, diaries, receipts, newspaper clippings, deeds, baptismal and marriage records, family trees, and scrapbooks pertaining to the Wallis family. Included also are several documents pertaining to the Forbes family, related to the Wallis family through marriage. The Peterborough-born sculptress Katherine E. Wallis (1860-1957), whose papers are located in Trent University Archives, was a member of the Wallis family.
            The volume spines are inscribed as follows:

            • Papers of Louisa Charles John Mary and Adah Wallis 1854-1882 (Vol. I) (Located in Box 1);
            • Papers of Louisa Charles John Mary and Adah Wallis 1883-1895 (Vol. II) (Located in Box 2);
            • Captain R.M. Forbes, R.N. 1774-1846 and Family (Located in Box 3).
              Fonds is also comprised of typed transcriptions of some of the items; these are located as received within the volumes.
            Wallis family
            Town & Gown Concerts fonds
            99-1007 · Fonds · 1969-1987

            This fonds consists of Town & Gown Concerts programmes, correspondence, minutes, newspaper clippings, press releases, and financial statements, 1969-1979. Also included are miscellaneous programmes of Trent University Performing Arts Series, Trent Music Hall Society, Theatre Trent, Peterborough Festival of the Arts, Community Concert Association, and Peterborough Symphony Orchestra, 1970-1987.

            Town & Gown Concerts
            17-001 · Fonds · 1949-2015

            Fonds consists of personal and business correspondence, notes, reports, minutes, invitations, and other documents pertaining to the life and career of Thomas H.B. Symons.

            Symons, Thomas H.B.
            15-006 · Fonds · 1962-2013

            Fonds includes personal and business correspondence, notes, reports, minutes, invitations, and other documents. Major categories include Association of Commonwealth Universities; Association for Commonwealth Studies; British-North American Committee; Symons Trust; Symons Lecture on the State of Canadian Confederation, Confederation Centre, Prince Edward Island; Peterborough, Police Chairmanship, Panel on the Trent-Severn Waterway; Trent University; Education; Statistics, Canadian Studies, Bilingualism, Northern Canada; Ontario Heritage Trust; Historica; Bata Shoe Museum; various political and public affairs; and Downsview Park.

            Symons, Thomas H.B.
            11-001 · Fonds · 1958-2010

            Fonds includes personal and business correspondence, notes, and documents. Also included are greeting cards, invitations, and photographs. Major categories include Trent University, Police Services Board (Peterborough), Trent-Severn Waterways, Bagnani Endowment Trust & Vogrie, Broadview Press, Ontario Heritage Press, Association of Commonwealth Studies, and Association of Commonwealth Universities.

            Symons, Thomas H.B.
            01-003 · Fonds · 1929-1999

            Fonds consists of personal records of Thomas H.B. Symons relating to his career and to his family. Included are records of his wife, Christine Symons, his children, Mary, Jeffrey, and Ryerson Symons, his father, Harry Lutz Symons, including his father's manuscript for "Three Ships West", and his mother, Dorothy Sarah (Bull) Symons. Also included are materials relating to Professor Symons' activities on various boards and committees, addresses, articles, manuscripts, typescripts, and correspondence, documents and notes concerning Trent University, Association of Commonwealth Universities, Celanese Canada, Science Council of Canada, Department of External Affairs, Royal Society of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, etc.. Also included are photographs of Thomas H.B. Symons, Christine Symons, and His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales.

            Symons, Thomas H.B.
            97-019 · Fonds · 1963-1996

            This fonds consists of the personal records of Professor Thomas H.B. Symons relating to his activities on various boards and committees as well as Trent University. It includes correspondence; addresses given; articles written; as well as manuscripts, typescripts and research notes, photographs and video tapes.

            Symons, Thomas H.B.
            01-007 · Fonds · 1858-1944

            Collection consists of correspondence, 1882-1899, and several envelopes dating 1870s to 1890s, most of which are addressed to Thomas Choate of Warsaw, and Mrs. John Moore [Cettie Choate, daughter of Thomas]; souvenir brochure of pictures of Peterborough, Ontario; Maccabees brochures; approximately 125 stereographs depicting scenery, architecture, and people in the U.S.A., Europe, and Canada; two photographs of the employees of Western Clock Company Limited of Peterborough, Ontario, 1938 and 1944; a temperance meeting poster for Warsaw, Ontario, 1858; and an electoral district of East Durham proclamation broadside, 1924. Also included is the Choate Family Bible donated and added to the collection in 2002. The bible contains genealogical information on the Choate family.

            Choate, Thomas Harold Kenyon
            71-001 · Fonds · 20 June 1827-17 Oct. 1952

            This fonds consists of various original and copied records of the business activities of Thomas Hay, and related family data, such as birth-death records, correspondence, drawings (technical and sketches) and photographs. A small genealogical table compiled by the archivist is enclosed.

            Thomas Alexander Stewart Hay family
            89-1015 · Fonds · 1 Sept. 1909

            This item is a Lower School Graduation Diploma from the Peterborough Institute issued to Sarsfield Sheehy on September 1st, 1909 and signed by H.R.H. Kenner, the principal and Louis M. Hayes, the Chairman of the Peterborough Board of Education.

            Sheehy, Sarsfield
            Susan Neale fonds
            17-006 · Fonds · 1938; 1957-2015

            Fonds includes reports and photographs pertaining to Susan Neale’s archaeological studies and career in the field of archaeology. The materials focus on Ontario, Nunavut, and England and include photographs and slides taken by Neale of Hambledon Hill, Edmund Point, Nettilling Lake, and Roche Bay. Many of the Roche Bay photographs are of lithics analyzed by Neale for her Trent University Master’s thesis. Also included in the fonds are personal, academic, and family records.

            Neale, Susan