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in the [map collection](https://www.trentu.ca/library/archives/maps) and in the vertical unpublished [research files](https://www.trentu.ca/library/archives/vertical_research_files).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

            305 Archival description results for City of Peterborough

            305 results directly related Exclude narrower terms
            20-004 · Fonds · 1746; 1815-1991

            This fonds consists of Professor Brunger's research in 19th century Canadian historical geography, mainly in Upper Canada/Ontario, focused on emigration from the U.K. and settlement in Newcastle (Peterborough County) District and London (Talbot Settlement) District. Included in the research materials are several maps, a small collection of photo negatives, and microfilm reels.

            Brunger, Alan
            20-005 · Fonds · 1970-2018

            This fonds consists of programmes, rules and regulations, membership records, annual reports, minutes, correspondence and research material of the Lyceum Club and Women's Art Association of Peterborough.

            Lyceum Club and Women's Art Association of Peterborough
            20-006 · Fonds · 1926-2005

            Fonds includes letters between John Quentin Brown and family members and photographs primarily of Quentin and his immediate family. Also included is a copy of The Army’s Mister Brown: A Family Trilogy, 1941-1952.

            Brown, John Quentin
            Kathleen Bowley fonds
            20-008 · Fonds · ca. 1900-2010

            Fonds is comprised of photographs, letters, speeches, articles, newspaper clippings and historical research notes related to the life of Kathleen Richmond Barclay Bowley. Much of the fonds relates to Bowley’s interest and experience in the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service and her participation in the Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) Peterborough Club. Also included are dozens of Barclay family ancestral letters.

            Bowley, Kathleen
            20-009 · Fonds · 1911; 1962-2012

            Fonds is comprised of annual reports, historical accounts, photographs, newspaper clippings, programs and membership lists of Shining Waters Presbyterial UCW.

            Shining Waters Presbyterial United Church Women
            20-012 · Fonds · 1977-2020

            This fonds consists of 7 binders, 8 photo albums and 30 booklet programs pertaining to Peterborough’s Beta Sigma Phi and local sorority chapters. Included are meeting minutes and correspondence, photos, cards, and newspaper clippings. Along with the photos are detailed descriptions of the events being photographed and the members within each photo.

            Beta Sigma Phi (Peterborough, Ontario)
            John Merton Bowes fonds
            20-013 · Fonds · 1950-2020

            This fonds contains records of John Merton Bowes’ 70-year career as a real estate agent in Toronto and Peterborough. The records include photographs, reports, advertisements, and other paper records of his professional career beginning in the 1950’s up to his retirement in 2020.

            Bowes, John Merton
            Marisa Scigliano fonds
            22-003 · Fonds · fl. 1985-2021

            Fonds is comprised of research and exhibit materials related to Glenn Madill. Included are some of Glenn Madill’s employment records, correspondence between Marisa Scigliano and archival repositories, photocopies of articles, personal notes, maps, posters, etc. Included are photographs forming the ‘Moccasin Madness’ and ‘Magnetic Moccasins’ parts of Scigliano’s ‘Moccasin Mania’ exhibit: approximately 33 enlarged mounted colour photographs taken by Scigliano on the Symons Campus, Trent University, in the fall of 2013; 16 enlarged black and white photographs taken by Madill in the 1920s during his northern expeditions (images found through research at the National Research Council).

            Scigliano, Marisa
            23-006 · Fonds · 1988-2021 (predominant 2016-2021)

            Fonds consists of board meeting minutes, planning committee minutes, newspaper clippings, newsletters, promotional material, and other records documenting the activities of Jamaican Self-Help (Peterborough). Some of these activities include managing volunteers, fundraising efforts around addressing poverty in Jamaica particularly in schools and with students through school programming, and communication with its supporters and donors.

            Jamaican Self-Help (Peterborough)
            Helen Marryat fonds
            69-001 · Fonds · 1912-1964

            The fonds consists mostly of Helen Marryat's (nee Helen Fowlds) personal experiences as a nurse in World War I, and her activities as a local historian. There are clippings of her articles in local newspapers, historical maps (drawn by Gerald Marryat) and other materials relating to settlement of Hastings and district such as education and nursing. Also included are the correspondence and photograph collections of her brothers, Donald and Eric (mostly from World War I), and material on Frederick Marryat (1792-1848), navy captain and novelist. In December 2001, Trent University Archives launched an online exhibit which depicts Helen Fowld's experiences in World War I. All her letters and diaries are transcribed and are found at the following site: http://digitalcollections.trentu.ca/exhibits/fowlds/ffowldswelcome.htm

            Marryat, Helen
            69-1002 · Fonds · 1839-1842

            The fonds consists of two photocopies of drawings of early Peterborough by Edward C. Caddy. The first is a drawing of Conger Hill, 1839-1842, and the second is a drawing of the Courthouse and St. John's Church, 1839.

            Caddy, Edward C.
            69-1004 · Collection · 1833-1933

            This item is carbon copy of a typescript history of St. Andrew's United Church titled "One Hundred Years' History of St. Andrew's Church, Peterborough 1833-1933." It was written and later published by E. Bruce Fowler.

            St. Andrew's Church
            70-1006 · Item · 1 Jan. 1854

            This item is a debenture-mortgage issued to Samuel Zimmerman, or the holder thereof, and used as evidence in a case involving John Fisken, and the executors of the Company's stock affairs, Wm. Proudfoot and T.G. Ridout, in 1868.

            Cobourg-Peterborough Rail Road Company
            70-1007 · Item · Photocopied [before 1970]

            This item is a photocopy of Dr. Hutchison's birth register of his patients, which he kept during his practice in Port Hope, Cobourg and Peterborough. It is taken from the doctor's lecture note-book, from his days as a medical student in Glasgow (1815). The birth register contains births from 1817 to 1846.

            Hutchison, Dr. John
            71-001 · Fonds · 20 June 1827-17 Oct. 1952

            This fonds consists of various original and copied records of the business activities of Thomas Hay, and related family data, such as birth-death records, correspondence, drawings (technical and sketches) and photographs. A small genealogical table compiled by the archivist is enclosed.

            Thomas Alexander Stewart Hay family
            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
            J. Gainey fonds
            72-003 · Fonds · 1867-1937

            The fonds consists of records of several of the early Peterborough Unions. Included are: Moulders' Local 191, Journeymen Tailors 23, Bricklayers 17, Painters and Decorators 370 and 725, United Brotherhood of Carpenters 672, Barbers 402, Pattern Makers, Machinists 286 and Operating Engineers 690, the International Union of Steam and Operating Engineers and the Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen," 1917 [in Polish]. Original correspondence from sister unions in Canada is included as well as large volumes of correspondence from the American headquarters of each local. In addition there are several original minute books, secretaries' books, and treasurer's reports for the locals. Published material includes circulars, by-laws, rules of order and constitutions. There are also records dealing with the Peterborough Trades and Labour Council (1902), the Labour Educational Association of Ontario, the Trades and Labour Congress of Canada and the American Federation of Labour, material from the latter two being mostly in the form of circular-type letters.

            Gainey, J.
            73-002 · Fonds · 1973

            The fonds consists of a photocopy of the history of the 57th Regiment, Peterborough Rangers from 1914 to 1916 written by Francis H. Dobbin. It includes an index. The history from 1946 to 1970 was continued by Major D.P. Pryde.

            57th Regiment, Peterborough Rangers
            73-003 · Fonds · 1973

            The fonds consists of a photocopy of the Charter, 1889; a photocopy of the name change Order-in-Council, April 1922; original minute books from 1893 to 1918, plus excerpted items; and the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce bulletin on the Lift Lock post-1922.

            Peterborough Board of Trade
            Loyal Orange Lodge fonds
            73-1002 · Item · 1877-1923

            The fonds consists of the following three items: 1. an undated broadside with lines on Scott and Hackett who were murdered and the Right to Walk, an anonymous poem on the 1870 Riel Rebellion; 2. a broadside dated July 12, 1877, with poems on the Montreal Riots (of the same date) with the Murder and Funeral of the late Thos. Lett Hackett, by Ulster True Blue and; 3. a certificate of degree, dated March 26, 1923, of Norman Killenbeck, L.O.L. Peterborough #3.

            Loyal Orange Lodge
            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
            Francis J.A. Morris fonds
            74-008 · Fonds · 1909-1950

            The fonds consists of the correspondence and manuscripts of the Peterborough author and teacher, Francis J.A. Morris, primarily relating to his interests in botany, entomology, and classical and modern literature. The papers include both prose and poetry selections, some of which are unpublished. Morris wrote for diverse journals, among them the Canadian Forum, and the Canadian Entomologist. Also among the papers are published copies of some of his works, and copies of the works of other authors, mainly in the field of natural science and botany or entomology. There are photographs included, some of which are reproduced here.

            Morris, Francis J.A.
            Martha Ann Kidd fonds
            74-1002 · Fonds · Photocopied [between 1956 and 1972]

            This fonds consists of photocopies of addresses given by Martha Ann Kidd, local historian, sometime Chair of the Old Buildings Committee of the Peterborough Historical Society and member of the Peterborough Historical Society. It includes addresses on 1) The Quetico Foundation - Quetico by Car, CBC, 1956; 2) First Draft - The Heart of Old Peterborough, June 1971; 3) Second Draft - The Heart of Old Peterborough, October 1971: 4) Final - Peterborough Historical Society, The Heart of Old Peterborough, or, Old Buildings Lecture; and 5) The Heart of Old Peterborough, given to the Architectural Conservancy, October 26 1972.

            Kidd, Martha Ann
            Frances Stewart fonds
            74-1005 · Fonds · 1823-1854

            The fonds consists of three original letters. Two are written to Harriet Beaufort, the third and last one to Maria Noble. Letter #1 (November 9, 1823-December 6, 1823), tells of mail received, the death of Frances' daughter Bessie, description of produce, and of difficulties in communication with Cobourg. Letter #2 (January 27, 1824-February 5, 1824), describes Frances' troubles with servants, of Tom's trip to Cobourg over the Rice Lake/Peterborough Road, and his getting lost on the lake, and her new baby girl. Letter #3, written from Goodwood, (April 11, 1854), tells of Tom's death, and her reflections on it.

            Stewart, Frances Anne