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in the [map collection](https://www.trentu.ca/library/archives/maps) and in the vertical unpublished [research files](https://www.trentu.ca/library/archives/vertical_research_files).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
            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
            Shakespeare Club fonds
            95-013 · Fonds · 1953-2015

            This fonds consists of minutes, programs and membership lists of the Shakespeare Club which was a Peterborough women's club.

            Shakespeare Club
            Joseph Wearing fonds
            98-011 · Fonds · 1966-1978

            This fonds consists of materials relating to Gilbert and Sullivan productions, the Coventry Singers of Peterborough, and the Town and Gown concerts of Peterborough. Also included are materials related to the Progressive Conservatives, the New Democratic Party, the 1975 election, and Peterborough voting patterns.

            Wearing, Joseph
            97-1020 · Fonds · 1945-1995

            This fonds consists of newspaper clippings and magazine articles by and about Robertson Davies (including a newspaper clipping of his obituary); Fern Rahmel's articles "Robertson Davies: Wonder-Worker" and "Robertson Davies: "Teacher"-Director"; the stage manager's copy of Robertson Davies' play King Phoenix staged at Peterborough Little Theatre; correspondence between Robertson Davies and Fern Rahmel; and a photo of Brenda Davies and Robertson Davies.

            Rahmel, Fern
            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
            90-009 · Collection · 1949-1990

            This collection consists of theatre programs and tickets primarily of the Peterborough Theatre Guild (1967-1990) plus a variety of programs of other Peterborough-based theatre clubs and organizations such as Arbor Theatre, PCVS Senior Dramatic Club, Peterborough Arts festival, Kawartha Summer Theatre, Arbor Productions, Arbor Theatre, Canadian Images, Mackenzie Gallery, Peterborough District Guild of Arts & Crafts, Peterborough Symphony Orchestra, National Ballet of Canada, and St. James Players.

            Cole, Alfred O.C.
            12-014 · Fonds · 1982-1994

            Fonds consists of correspondence, meeting minutes and agendas, financial documents, publicity reports and fundraising campaigns, business reports, and promotional pamphlets and brochures pertaining to Arbor Theatre.

            Arbor Theatre
            11-002 · Fonds · 1981-1995

            Fonds consists of approximately 500 photographs related to Arbor Theatre productions and events. Also included are two scrapbooks of newspaper clippings, playbills, etc. related to Whispers Dinner Theatre, Peterborough, Ontario.

            Arbor Theatre
            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
            93-019 · Fonds · 1979-1992

            This addition to the fonds consists of season programs and advertisements; promotional material; newspaper clippings and photographs of settings and actors from Arbor Theatre.

            Arbor Theatre
            90-004 · Fonds · 1977-1989

            This addition to the fonds consists of publicity materials such as photographs, slides and newspaper clippings for Arbor Theatre.

            Arbor Theatre
            86-025 · Fonds · 1978-1986

            This addition to the fonds consists of posters, photographs, flyers, newspaper clippings and programs pertaining to the 1986 season of Arbor Theatre in Peterborough, Ontario.

            Arbor Theatre
            86-008 · Fonds · 1979-1982

            This addition to the fonds consists of publicity materials, correspondence, advertising materials, financial materials, press and newspaper clippings, volunteer lists, reports, programmes, mailing lists, rehearsal schedules and posters of Arbor Theatre.

            Arbor Theatre
            Arbor Theatre fonds
            85-007 · Fonds · 1977-1985

            This fonds consists of posters, publicity materials, set design sketches, brochures, programs, photographs and newspaper clippings of Arbor Theatre, Peterborough, Ontario.

            Arbor Theatre