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in the [map collection](https://www.trentu.ca/library/archives/maps) and in the vertical unpublished [research files](https://www.trentu.ca/library/archives/vertical_research_files).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

            100 Archival description results for City of Peterborough

            100 results directly related Exclude narrower terms
            Helen Anderson fonds
            89-1041 · Fonds · 1938-1944

            This fonds consists of two books of poetry by Frederick Montague de la Fosse, "Verses Grave and Gay" and "A Dream and An Allegory" which are signed by the author and given to Helen Anderson from him. Also included in the fonds are some poems, all signed by de la Fosse and letters to Helen Anderson from de la Fosse as well as two photographs of de la Fosse; one as a young man (signed on the back) and one of him as an older man.

            Anderson, Helen M.
            IMC-133 · File · 1913
            Part of Isolated manuscripts collection

            Presented to Pearl [McIntosh] by Gordon [McIntosh] (1892-1973), Christmas 1954. This Bible includes handwritten genealogical information with references to Peterborough and the names McIntosh, Larmer, Petrie, Seymour and Irvine. Loosely enclosed is a note: "Bible in the Memoirs of Lawrence Larmer wife: & Hazel McIntosh, Millbrook, Ontario"; also an 'In Memoriam' card re Stanley Gordon McIntosh, a photograph of a house titled "Larmer Home 1925", and a newspaper clipping regarding the immigration of the McIntosh family from Scotland in 1827. The Bible is in very poor condition; handwritten notes of a biblical nature appear in the margins of many pages throughout.

            IMC-049 · File · 2004-2009
            Part of Isolated manuscripts collection

            The photographs were taken by Mr. William Martyn who lives on Alexander Ave. in Peterborough, Ontario, next to the hospital. Over the years, whatever the weather, Mr. Martyn produced a complete chronicle of the building/demolition process. Many hours too, were spent arranging and compiling the photographs on the disks into a comprehensive slide show.

            97-1017 · Fonds · 1988-1992

            This fonds consists of materials relating to the stage production of "18 wheels", July-August 1992, and includes 13 related photographs and 24 negatives. Also included are stage sketches for the plays "Man of La Mancha", "Rock and Roll", "The Red Lion", and "We Must Kill Toni", plus 13 unidentifed photos.

            Arbor Theatre
            94-1002 · Item · 12 May 1985

            This item is a pamphlet regarding the Brown Memorial rededication at Centenary Park in Peterborough, Ontario.

            Edward Templeton Brown, grandson to Frances and Thomas Stewart, was born at Goodwood, the family farm in Douro Township, Canada West, on December 24, 1852 to Edward Wilson Brown and Elizabeth Lydia Stewart. In 1879 he went to the Northwest Territory to help survey Riding Mountain National Park. After the survey was completed he worked for the Hudson's Bay Company. In 1880 he joined a party, led by Major Boulton, heading for the Shell River area of western Manitoba to settle on land. He joined Boulton's Scouts and during the Battle of Batoche was killed in action on May 12, 1885. The community in Peterborough decided to raise a memorial stone to Edward Brown to commemorate his death in the Riel Uprising.

            01-1002 · Collection · 1930's

            This collection consists of 14 photograph negatives of Peterborough Normal School, undated, and portraying people and the grounds of the school. The negatives are enclosed in a J.J. Gilfillan, Orono, Ontario, photographer's envelope, with the name Calvin Hamm, Orono, Ontario written on it. Calvin Hamm was born on March 28, 1909 at Orono, son of Ernest Hamm and Florence Hughson. He was appointed Principal of the Morley Consolidated School at Stratton in September 1935 and received his B.A. at Western University in June 1943. He later taught high school in Fort Frances (taken from a typed information enclosure which accompanies the collection). Also included is a Peterborough Normal School Christmas Card, undated; a Peterborough Normal School Literary Society invitation, 1930; and a photograph of the "Floating Bridge, Bridgenorth, Chemong Lake, 1933."

            Peterborough Normal School
            73-1005 · Fonds · 1958

            The fonds consists of carbon copies of Surveyor's correspondence regarding a municipal drain dated November 6, 1958; and 3 undated identical maps for zoning in the City of Peterborough.

            Peterborough Chamber of Commerce
            Dickson family fonds
            94-1005 · Fonds · 1853-1957

            This fonds consists of letters from Hugh Munro, Edinburgh, to his son Samuel Munro and daughter-in-law Emma Davidson Munro as well as letters to Samuel Dickson from his mother in Ireland. There are also photographs and newspaper obituaries of Laura Davidson, President of Peterborough (Dickson) Lumber Company from 1934 to 1957; photographs of the Dickson home on Dickson Street, Peterborough and typescript histories of the Dickson Lumber Company.

            Dickson family
            Stephen A. Otto fonds
            96-1004 · Fonds · [ca. 1866], 1975

            This fonds consists of four photographs, two of which are copies of photographs found in the Geale-Rogers Papers (82-022). One of these two is a duplicate of photo #400, Box 14, and is of Calcutt House, Peterborough. A negative is attached. The other is a duplicate of photo #27 of Album #6, Box 15, and is of a cottage on Little Otter Island, Stoney Lake, Ontario. A negative is attached. The other two photographs are of the Canadian General Electric Company building, Peterborough. One is an exterior shot and the other an interior. Also included is a negative of photo #48, Box 1 Folder 4 of The Peterborough City Photograph Collection (83-008), and is of the Salvation Army Barracks, Peterborough. None of the photographs and negatives are dated. Also included is a photocopy of a map of Stoney Lake, with Little Otter Island highlighted.

            Otto, Stephen A.
            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.

            Benson Mills day book
            71-1002 · Item · 1 June 1848-28 Dec. 1849

            This item is an original day book from the Benson Mills (also called Creek Mills and Peterboro Mills) which describes work done, for whom work was done, and value of work done.

            Benson Mills
            97-1024 · Item · [1986]

            This item is a 4-page photocopy of an 1869 deed of land of property on the east shore of Little Lake, Peterborough, now known as Beavermead Park, which indicates that the land was once owned by Canada's first prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald. The property at the time of his ownership was valued at $310.00.

            Beavermead Park
            Bruce LeCouffe CD
            02-1009 · Collection · 2002

            CD consists of the scanned 400-page letterbook of Walter J. Francis. The letters are dated 1898-1906 and relate to the engineering practice of the writer. Of particular relevance to the Peterborough area are letters concerning the building of the Peterborough Lift Lock.

            LeCouffe, Bruce
            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
            97-1015 · Item · [1860]

            This photograph shows William Brownscombe at his potters wheel shaping a large stone jug with a narrow neck. Another jug stands on a shelf to his left.

            Brownscombe, William
            Eugene F. Eggleton fonds
            89-1007 · Fonds · 1915-1924

            This fonds consists of a series of five documents relating to Eugene F. Eggleton. There is a sworn statement by his sister, identifying him, his honorable discharge papers from the U.S. Army, his marriage certificate with Elizabeth Ann Kelly of Peterborough, an invoice for the burial of Eugene P. Eggleton, and the notification of birth registration for their daughter Mary Patricia Eggleton.

            Eggleton, Eugene Fredrick
            C.W. Hedley diary
            05-1001 · Item · Photocopied 1989

            Item consists of a multi-page photocopy of the 1895-1896 diary of C.W. Hedley.

            Hedley, C.W.
            01-1007 · Fonds · 1840, 1995

            Fonds consists of 7 watercolours done by Edward C. Caddy. Likely locale of some of the paintings was supplied by Professor Gordon Roper; these locations include Scotland (2), Gull Lake, Stoney Lake, Lake Superior. Two have no indication of location. Also included is a two section map showing Herriots Mill near Kitchiwannoe Lake, and a map (mockup) of Peterborough, Ontario entitled "Location of Built Heritage (demolished and standing) in relation to the MNR building site", 1995.

            Caddy, Edward C.
            92-1002 · Fonds · 1854-1870

            This addition to the fonds consists of 10 letters (some fragments) written by Frances Stewart to her granddaughter and relatives in England, concerning her pioneer life in the Peterborough area. There is also one photograph of Harriet as young child which was photographed in London, England (biographical information is written on the back of the photograph).

            Stewart, Frances Anne
            94-1001 · Fonds · 1823-1856

            This addition to the fonds consists of two original letters written by Frances Stewart to relatives in Ireland. There is also an original invoice from a linen draper and haberdasher.

            Stewart, Frances Anne
            Harold B. Rye receipts fonds
            96-1008 · Fonds · 1934

            This fonds consists of two receipts dated 1934, one of which relates to a license for Rye's Pavilion granted by the Canadian Performing Right Society, Ltd., and the other to fees charged by W.H. Cunningham for tuning Mr. Rye's piano.

            Rye, Harold B.
            Harold Reid collection
            97-1029 · Collection · 1880-1997

            This collection consists of a ledger dated 1880-1905 created by Robert Henry Reid which records transactions for goods sold or services exchanged for goods. The merchandise involved appears to be that of a general store or farm supply depot. Also included is a journal (and typescript) created by Frederick Reid describing his move west from Ontario to Edmonton between 1907 and 1909. A biographical note about Fred by his son is included at the end. Collection also includes a letter to Harold A. Reid from Florence Reid and two copy photographs: one of Fred and Louise Reid, 1949 and one of the school house which Frederick Reid attended, 1946.

            Reid, Harold