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in the [map collection](https://www.trentu.ca/library/archives/maps) and in the vertical unpublished [research files](https://www.trentu.ca/library/archives/vertical_research_files).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

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        City of Peterborough

          Associated terms

          City of Peterborough

            100 Archival description results for City of Peterborough

            100 results directly related Exclude narrower terms
            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
            Peter Robinson report
            92-1001 · Item · 4 May 1827

            This item is a report of the selection and despatch of the Irish immigrants that Peter Robinson settled in the Peterborough area in 1825, including names of the ships used, numbers carried, a list of townships in which the immigrants settled and the results of the harvests in 1826. A transcript of the report is included.

            Robinson, Peter
            96-1007 · Item · 13 Nov. 1828

            This item is a document cover sheet with an inscription "Glengary 13th Nov. 1828, Bishop McDonell, Cornwall, Private, 25 Nov., [to] The Honbl. Peter Robinson, His Majestys Wardon of Woods in Upper Canada & c., York".

            Robinson, Peter
            Town sketches collection
            95-1017 · Collection · [ca.1828-1900]

            This collection consists of two photographs and five prints of various towns. The two photographs are of Port Hope and are hand-coloured. One photograph (item #1) is of Trinity College School before the fire. The other photograph (item #2) is framed and matted. It is of Port Hope's harbour taken from the western hill. There is one coloured reproduction print (item #3) of Port Hope which is matted and framed. This print was presented by Mr. and Mrs. M.E. Lewis to Trent University on the occasion of the opening of Bata Library. There is one print (item #4) of Lindsay which was produced in 1882. Another print (item #5) is entitled "Hastings on the Trent, Ont." and was drawn by Rev. M.A. Farrar and lithographed by Brown and Bautz. Item #6 is a framed black and white photograph of an 1832 pencil sketch of Government House in Peterborough which was drawn by Mary Sanford. The last print (item #7) is a framed coloured reproduction print of York from Gibralter Point from 1828.

            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
            92-1005 · Item · 13 Aug. 1836 - 27 Aug. 1836.

            This item consists of 2 pages of banknotes printed by the Newcastle District Loan Company in August of 1836.

            Newcastle District Loan Company
            95-1008 · Fonds · 1839

            This addition to the fonds consists of one pen and ink drawing of the Court House, Peterborough.

            Caddy, Edward C.
            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.
            96-1002 · Item · [between 1840 and 1860]

            This item is a pencil sketch depicting three houses, each of which has two chimneys, with a continuous fence running along the front of all three. There is a woman, man and child walking towards one of the houses. On the back of the sketch is written "#17140 at Roy's Studio, Peterborough". The sketch is most likely by Rev. Michael Farrar and shows Hastings, Canada West.

            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
            75-1033 · Collection · 1850-1951

            This collection consists of assorted documents relating to Cobourg and vicinity. It includes marriage certificates, correspondence, indentures, opera house programmes, choral and church programmes, an oil sketch by Alice M. Duncan, and photographs and postcards. It also includes a copy of the "Cobourg World", April 8, 1898 Volume 25, and No. 43.

            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
            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
            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
            98-1000 · Collection · 1860-1932

            These documents pertain to property in the city of Peterborough (lot 8 on the north side of Townsend Street and on the south side of Dalhousie Street west of Aylmer St.) once owned by Reverend Vincent Clementi. They consist of deeds, mortgages, and include the will of Clementi and his wife Elizabeth. Grantors and mortgage holders include James Hall Sheriff, Allan Macdougall, J.D. Collins, George Barlee, Thomas and Jane Fairbairn, R. Boucher, Katherine Dennistoun, G. Stevenson, H.C. Rogers. Clementi bought the property in 1874.

            Clementi, Reverend Vincent
            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.
            97-1012 · Collection · 1868; 1880

            This collection consists of two marriage certificates. One is a handwritten certificate documenting the marriage of Charles Luduc and Sarah Walton, officiated by Pastor Michael [Tunlin], and dated 21 January 1868 at Cobourg. The other is a standard printed certificate, dated 28 February 1880 in Peterborough, and documenting the marriage of William Storms and Emma Preston. There is one family name in common on the two documents: Preston.

            Preston family
            01-1024 · Item · 1875

            Item is a map entitled Romaine's Map of the Town of Peterborough and Village of Ashburnham. It is "Compiled from Registered Plans and Actual Surveys", and is "Published by Robert Romaine, at the Office of the "Peterborough Review", Peterborough, Ont., 1875". Further description follows: scale equals 4 chains to 1 inch, size 164.5cm x 116cm, original, mounted on linen, laminated, 1875.

            Romaine's Map of the Town of Peterborough and Village of Ashburnham / Robert Romaine
            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
            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.
            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