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in the [map collection](https://www.trentu.ca/library/archives/maps) and in the vertical unpublished [research files](https://www.trentu.ca/library/archives/vertical_research_files).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
            Margaret Love Bird fonds
            95-1002 · Item · Photocopied [between 1993 and 1995]

            This item is a 26-page photocopy of typescript of a letter of reminiscence written in 1910 by Margaret Bird, of Peterborough, Ontario, when she was an elderly woman. It tells of her abuse at the hands of her husband including one attempt to poison her. It describes her difficult life in late nineteenth-century Peterborough.

            Bird, Margaret Love
            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
            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.

            97-005 · Fonds · 1993-1996

            This fonds consists of Canadian Federation of University Women Peterborough Club conference reports, a book entitled "Seventy Five Years of CFUW", newsletters, a radio script, a speech entitled "Women Medical Pioneers", and other miscellaneous papers.

            Canadian Federation University Women's Club of Peterborough
            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
            88-008 · Fonds · 1959-1987

            This fonds consists of conference reports of the Eastern Ontario Regional, Canadian Federation of University Women and International Federation of University Women from 1960 to 1987. The fonds also includes various publications of the different chapters.

            Canadian Federation University Women's Club of Peterborough
            Kenneth Brown fonds
            12-010 · Fonds · 1906; 1925; 2012

            Fonds is primarily comprised of copies of research material. Included are reproductions of genealogical materials related to the Brownscombe family of Peterborough, Ontario, beginning with William Brownscombe (1830-1893), a descendent of Kenneth Brown's wife, Kathleen Brownscombe. Also included is material related to the Haliburton Scout Reserve, the Canadian Canoe Company and the Wm. English Canoe Company.

            Brown, Kenneth
            07-001 · Collection · 1824-1975

            Collection consists of correspondence, surveys, notes, plans, and maps of Peterborough area surveyors John Huston, John Reid, Alfred J. Cameron, and John W. Pierce. Also included are speeches, newspaper clippings, biographical accounts of various local surveyors, miscellaneous published items re Peterborough, and documents and photographs relating to Pierce's survey of the Ontario-Manitoba border in 1921.

            Pierce, John Gourley
            Jean Shearman fonds
            05-013 · Fonds · ca. 1840 - 2004

            Fonds consists of research materials relating to early nineteenth-century Irish immigrants, Thomas Alexander Stewart and Frances Browne Stewart, of Douro Township, County of Peterborough in Ontario. Included in the research materials are photographs (including 3 daguerreotypes), genealogical family charts, and articles and papers relating to Stewart family descendents and other Peterborough settler families. Also included is the personal correspondence of Jean Shearman.

            Shearman, Jean
            97-019 · Fonds · 1963-1996

            This fonds consists of the personal records of Professor Thomas H.B. Symons relating to his activities on various boards and committees as well as Trent University. It includes correspondence; addresses given; articles written; as well as manuscripts, typescripts and research notes, photographs and video tapes.

            Symons, Thomas H.B.
            Leslie Woolcott collection
            97-020 · Collection · 1983-1986

            This collection consists of various documents relating to women's issues in Canada and third world countries. Included are correspondence and documents relating to the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1985, and documents relating to the Kawartha World Issues Centre.

            Woolcott, Leslie
            J. Brown letter
            76-1001 · Item · Photocopied [ca. 1976]

            This item is a photocopy of a letter of J. Brown to his nephew Archibald Brown of Kittley, near Smith's Falls, Canada West, dated December 30, 1845. Comments on family matters, crops, number of shops, saw mills and foundries in Peterborough are written in the letter.

            Brown, J.
            05-1007 · Fonds · 194?

            Items include two George Stevens flyers and one envelope that advertise the export of Canadian unleached hardwood ashes, to be used as plant food.

            Stevens, George
            84-010 · Fonds · 1899-1910

            This addition to the fonds consists of surveyor's plans for lots mainly in Ashburnham and Peterborough drawn by surveyor Alfred Cameron.

            Cameron family
            Heritage Peterborough fonds
            88-002 · Fonds · 1984-1987

            This fonds consists of minutes, correspondence, pamphlets, placemats and a booklet By Lake and By Lock produced by Heritage Peterborough to raise public awareness of history and heritage buildings in the city and county of Peterborough.

            Heritage Peterborough
            97-021 · Fonds · 1983-1987

            This fonds consists of various Heritage Peterborough administrative documents including minutes, a manual, statements, budgets, etc. Also included are various materials and correspondence relating to historical sights in and around Peterborough.

            Heritage Peterborough
            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
            97-006 · Fonds · 1956-2000

            This fonds consists of programmes, annual reports, a memorial certificate for the 90th anniversary of the Lyceum Club and signed by Peter Adams, photos of club events and award winners, etc., administrative papers, a scrapbook, and Rug Group log books.

            Lyceum Club and Women's Art Association of Peterborough
            Langford business fonds
            83-017 · Fonds · 1892-1921

            This fonds consists of 16 bound journals, day books and cash books pertaining to William Langford, a Peterborough builder. Also included is one folder of loose receipts and price estimates.

            Langford, William
            15-007 · Fonds · ca. 1940-1996

            Fonds consists of Professor Joseph Wearing's research materials, newspaper clippings, reports, and articles related to the Liberal Party of Canada, various Liberal Party conventions and conferences, the Peterborough Riding Liberal Association, the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada, government and Canadian federal cultural policy, Canadian federal elections of the 1960s and 1970s, and The Arts. Also included are miscellaneous notes and manuscripts, as well as materials related to the video “:30 Second Democracy” and Wearing’s book, The L-Shaped Party: the Liberal Party of Canada, 1958-1980. Included also in this fonds are programs, financial and administrative records, and minutes related to Peterborough Symphony Orchestra, 1970s-1980.

            Wearing, Joseph
            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)
            J. Alex Edmison fonds
            98-001 · Fonds · 1837-1975

            This fonds consists of miscellaneous documents including Alexander Edmison's diary, a typescript of "Alex's Day", photographs, etc.

            Edmison, Alex
            G.C. Gross fonds
            89-1050 · Fonds · 1879-1894

            This fonds consists of correspondence and 75 shares in the Peterborough Gas Company; correspondence from the Ontario Bank and by-law no. 8 from the Ontario Ladies' College at Whitby, Ontario.

            Gross, G.C.