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in the [map collection](https://www.trentu.ca/library/archives/maps) and in the vertical unpublished [research files](https://www.trentu.ca/library/archives/vertical_research_files).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

            17 Archival description results for City of Peterborough

            17 results directly related Exclude narrower terms
            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
            06-001 · Fonds · 1986-2005

            Fonds consists of two boxes of materials related to the life and times of Spencer J. Harrison, artist and gay activist.

            Harrison, Spencer J.
            Spencer J. Harrison fonds
            99-010 · Fonds · 1962-2000

            This fonds consists of 4 boxes of materials related to the life and works of Spencer J. Harrison.

            Harrison, Spencer J.
            Robert Bowley fonds
            02-003 · Fonds · 1823-1998

            Fonds consists of papers, articles, and manuscripts of books written by Robert Bowley. Included is research material, photographs, slides, and negatives relating to the postal history of Smith Township, Peterborough, and the surrounding area. Included also are letters dated 1823-1878 of the Baptie family who were situated in Ida, Ontario, and extensive research material related to Captain Charles Rubidge, Sir Sandford Fleming, the Pengelley/Roche families, S.J. Carver, and local historic sites. This fonds is a tremendous resource for information related to Peterborough and area in general.

            Bowley, Robert E.
            79-001 · Fonds · 1945-1974

            The fonds consists of the constitution and by-laws of the Peterborough Community Concert Association. Also included are correspondence, contracts, minutes, programmes, clippings and publicity materials of each concert season spanning a twenty-nine year period.

            Peterborough Community Concert Association
            96-008 · Fonds · 1974

            This fonds consists of transcripts of interviews with Peterborough and area citizens concerning their perceptions of the social, cultural, and political aspects of life in Peterborough from the early 1900s to 1974. There are also three cassette tapes forming one interview with Lorna Cotton-Thomas.

            90-013 · Fonds · 1957-1988

            This addition to the fonds consists of interviews with prominent NDP and labour activists recalling the 1960 by-election in Peterborough, and the early history of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) and the New Democratic Party (NDP) in the riding. As well there are related transcripts; newspaper articles and correspondence.

            New Democratic Party
            Munroe Scott fonds
            99-001 · Fonds · 1946-1996

            This fonds consists of various scripts and manuscripts, films, audio cassettes, etc., and related correspondence. Also included are photographs and personal correspondence.

            Scott, Munroe
            05-1002 · Collection · 1981; 1984

            Collection consists of an audio cassette tape and transcript of an interview with William G. Towns of Douro, Ontario, conducted by Professor Alan Brunger on 27 October 1981. Also included is an audio cassette tape of an interview with William Telford of Smith Township, Ontario, on local recreation history, conducted by Elaine Boothman for Professor John Marsh's geography 334 course in October 1984.

            88-009 · Fonds · 1905-1968

            This fonds consists of minutes, financial records, scrapbooks and other records relating to the Lyceum Club and Women's Art Association of Peterborough. The scrapbooks contain articles on the clubs history as well as photographs and other notes of interest.

            Lyceum Club and Women's Art Association of Peterborough
            John Marsh fonds
            03-002 · Fonds · 1971-1999

            Fonds consists of materials relating to conferences, colloquiums, and workshops in which Professor John Marsh was involved, and to courses taught by Professor Marsh at Trent University. Also included is miscellaneous correspondence, and reports, submissions, papers, articles, and books written by and edited by Professor Marsh. Included in the fonds are four photographs and six cassette tapes.

            Marsh, John
            86-011 · Fonds · 1984

            This fonds consists of 7 tapes of various lectures sponsored by the Friends of the Bata Library.

            Friends of the Bata Library
            Fisher Gauge Ltd. collection
            04-005 · Collection · 1997-2000

            Collection consists of 20 cassette tapes of interviews with Fisher Gauge Ltd. founder, Bill Fisher, and early executives, Tod Wilcox and Eric Graham. Also included are annotated notes on the interviews.

            Fisher Gauge Ltd.
            94-005 · Fonds · 1930-1994

            This addition to the fonds consists of materials relating to F.M. de la Fosse which includes research notes compiled by Fern Rahmel, a taped lecture by Rahmel and miscellaneous correspondence as well as an annotated manuscript for Young Bloods by F.M. de la Fosse.

            Rahmel, Fern
            Alfred O.C. Cole fonds
            04-024 · Fonds · 1957-1990

            Fonds consists of correspondence, interview audio cassettes and notes, and manuscripts relating to Alf Cole's book, Trent: The Making of a University, 1957-1987. The fonds is organized into three series: recorded interviews (audio cassettes), interview notes, and research files and chapter drafts.

            Cole, Alfred O.C.
            Alan J. Slavin fonds
            02-006 · Fonds · 1982-1990

            Fonds consists of correspondence, pamphlets, journal issues, and other material related primarily to the peace movement. Included are records of Kawartha Ploughshares and Project Ploughshares, and letters written between Alan and Linda Slavin and government officials regarding nuclear disarmament, capital punishment, etc.

            Slavin, Alan J.
            88-005 · Fonds · 1973 - 1979

            This fonds consists of the "2001: Coming of Age in Canada" Conference materials. This fonds has various notes, documents and correspondence as well as reports and audio cassettes. Also included are documents and correspondence regarding the Retired Citizens in Residence Program at Trent, 1973-1978.

            2001: Coming of Age in Canada Conference