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in the [map collection](https://www.trentu.ca/library/archives/maps) and in the vertical unpublished [research files](https://www.trentu.ca/library/archives/vertical_research_files).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

            50 Archival description results for City of Peterborough

            50 results directly related Exclude narrower terms
            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
            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
            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
            16-002 · Fonds · ca. 1940s-2014

            Fonds consists of two boxes of materials related to the life of Spencer J. Harrison, artist and gay activist.

            Harrison, Spencer J.
            06-001 · Fonds · 1986-2005

            Fonds consists of two boxes of materials related to the life and times of Spencer J. Harrison, artist and gay activist.

            Harrison, Spencer J.
            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.
            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
            88-023 · Fonds · 1977-1987

            This fonds consists of records that were left when the Peterborough Women's Committee disbanded in 1987. The files provide a record of a decade of women's political concerns from a local point of view.

            Peterborough Women's Committee
            08-001 · Fonds · 1986-2007

            Fonds consists of administrative and promotional material, meeting minutes, budgetary records, programs, artist contracts, membership lists, and correspondence relating to the Peterborough Concert Association.

            Peterborough Community Concert Association
            99-007 · Fonds · 1971-1996

            This fonds consists of Peterborough Community Concert Association administrative and promotional material, correspondence, meeting agendas and minutes, budget reports, series programs, newspaper clippings, membership lists, newsletters, artist contracts, and other related material.

            Peterborough Community Concert Association
            97-004 · Fonds · 1963-1996

            This fonds consists of photographs, programmes of concerts, as well as financial statements, budgets, etc. There are also newspaper reviews and adds for the concerts, administrative papers, minutes of meetings, lists of board and executive members, contracts, and campaign reports.

            Peterborough Community Concert Association
            79-001 · Fonds · 1945-1974

            The fonds consists of the constitution and by-laws of the Peterborough Community Concert Association. Also included are correspondence, contracts, minutes, programmes, clippings and publicity materials of each concert season spanning a twenty-nine year period.

            Peterborough Community Concert Association
            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
            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
            94-004 · Fonds · 1940-1993

            This addition to the fonds consists of annual reports, programmes, constitution, minutes and accounts relating to the Lyceum Club and Women's Art Association of Peterborough. Some of the records pertain to the Drama Study Group.

            Lyceum Club and Women's Art Association of Peterborough
            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
            10-009 · Fonds · 1947-2017

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

            Lyceum Club and Women's Art Association of Peterborough
            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
            88-009 · Fonds · 1905-1968

            This fonds consists of minutes, financial records, scrapbooks and other records relating to the Lyceum Club and Women's Art Association of Peterborough. The scrapbooks contain articles on the clubs history as well as photographs and other notes of interest.

            Lyceum Club and Women's Art Association of Peterborough
            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
            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
            75-1006 · Fonds · 1964-1972

            This fonds consists of copies of papers written by J.E.R. and H.V. Munro of Peterborough, Ontario, on the following topics: The Shanleys - Pioneer Railway Builders, manuscript 14 pages, (London, Ontario); Katherine Wallis - 1945 address to Women's Art Association of Peterborough, manuscript, 9 pages; Women's Art Association of Peterborough through 60 years, 1965, 8 pages; Pioneer; A Chronology of Prince Edward County and the Early Pioneers, 1964, 28 pages; and The Village of Demorestville in the Township of Sophiasburg in the County of Prince Edward, Ontario, 1971, 23 pages and 6 pages correspondence from 1972.

            Munro, J.E.R. and Helena V.