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in the [map collection](https://www.trentu.ca/library/archives/maps) and in the vertical unpublished [research files](https://www.trentu.ca/library/archives/vertical_research_files).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

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      Hierarchical terms

      City of Peterborough

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        City of Peterborough

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          City of Peterborough

            34 Archival description results for City of Peterborough

            34 results directly related Exclude narrower terms
            Kawartha Heritage fonds. 1984 additions
            84-007 · Fonds · 1980-1981

            This addition to the fonds consists of galley proofs and research notes collected prior to publication of Kawartha Heritage, 1981. The fonds also contains correspondence about the Kawartha Heritage Festival held the same year.
            Kawartha Heritage fonds. 1987 additions
            87-017 · Fonds · 1981-1982

            This addition to the fonds consists of notes, correspondence and documents relating to the publication and sale of "Kawartha Heritage".
            Linden Hall fonds
            89-008 · Fonds · [ca. 1910-1969]

            This fonds consists of one photograph album, dating from around 1910 to the 1960's. There are assorted programmes and flyers, mostly from Middlebury College, Vermont and this includes programmes for the Coronations of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. Also included in the fonds is a 1924 newsletter for Franklin Square House (Girls' Home) and the "Second Book of Verse" by Betsey Buttles with some loose greeting cards and poems.

             Hall, Linden
            Martha Ann Kidd fonds. Additions
            99-014 · Fonds · 1988

            This fonds consists of the manuscript of the publication "Historical Sketches of Peterborough" by Martha Ann Kidd and Louis Taylor. Also included are unbound sections of the publication, a newspaper clipping, and the invitation list for the book launching.

             Kidd, Martha Ann
            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
            Peterborough's Architectural Heritage / Martha Ann Kidd
            84-006 · Fonds · 1978

            This item is a corrected carbon text of Peterborough's Architectural Heritage edited by Martha Kidd and published in 1978.

            Peterborough's Architectural Heritage was written by Martha Ann Kidd and published by the Peterborough Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee in 1978. The Peterborough Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee was established through a by-law made by the City of Peterborough after the Ontario Heritage Act of 1974 was passed by the Province of Ontario. Committee members consisted of Victor Barry, Edgar J. Boland, Teresa Bradburn, Eric V. Jackson, Martha A. Kidd, J.J. Overvliet, Eldon P. Ray, Jennie Spurway, Margaret Fleming and Betty Ross. The committee developed a number of guidelines for its activities and set out to compile a list of pre-1890 structures within the boundaries set by the Otonabee River, Parkhill Road, Park Street and Townsend Street. The list consists of photographs of the buildings and text containing information about the buildings architectural style and information about most of the homeowners. The list was compiled in order to aid Peterborough City Council in determining whether a permit for drastic exterior alteration or demolition should be issued for any of the properties. This list put the properties into the heritage designation category and was made available to anyone who wanted to see it. (Taken from: Kidd, Martha Ann. Peterborough's Architectural Heritage. Peterborough Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee, 1979.)

             Kidd, Martha Ann
            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.
            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.