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in the [map collection](https://www.trentu.ca/library/archives/maps) and in the vertical unpublished [research files](https://www.trentu.ca/library/archives/vertical_research_files).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

            7 Archival description results for City of Peterborough

            7 results directly related Exclude narrower terms
            13-001 · Fonds · 1996-2005

            Fonds consists of four albums of materials related to the Beta Sigma Phi of Peterborough, Ontario. Materials are dated 1996-2005 and include photographs, greeting cards, invitations, correspondence, and newspaper clippings. The four albums are covered and decorated in cloth design; three are titled Xi Delta Nu and one is titled Beta Sigma Phi.

            Beta Sigma Phi (Peterborough, Ontario)
            16-004 · Fonds · 1955-2009

            Fonds consists of 17 scrapbooks and albums of materials pertaining to Peterborough’s Beta Sigma Phi and local sorority chapters. Included are photographs, greeting cards, invitations, newspaper clippings, and memorabilia.

            Beta Sigma Phi (Peterborough, Ontario)
            Elaine Goselin collection
            08-019 · Fonds · 1976-1992

            This collection is a series of 25 scrapbooks. Twenty-three of the books chronicle the history of Arbor theatre and 2 relate to the youth theatre company Acorn. The collection was amassed by Ms. Elaine Goselin, longtime volunteer with Arbor. Goselin collected all play bills, donor and membership material, newspaper clippings, play reviews, biographies of performers and so forth. Arbor theatre Company was started in Peterborough Ontario in 1976. John Plank was the first Artistic director.

            Goselin, Elaine
            07-005 · Fonds · 1956-2007

            This fonds consists of meeting minutes, correspondence, membership records, scrapbooks, photographs, and issues of Hi Phi Record.

            Preceptor Psi Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi
            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.

            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
            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