Fonds consists of research materials and notes, modern correspondence, photocopies of historical documentation, and genealogical resources for the Need family as well as other people living in both England and Newcastle District. The historical documentation includes wills, gravesite information, lot and concession records, military records, correspondence. As well as the Need family, there is also biographical information on other families, including the Dunsfords, Langtons, Campbells, and Sawers.

These research materials were accumulated by Dawn Bell Logan and used to write books, articles, and biographical entries about Thomas Need, including Thomas Need : settler in the backwoods of Upper Canada (self published, 2022), and the Dictionary of Canadian Biography entry for Thomas Need (V. 12). Photographs are of some sites in Lincolnshire, U.K, Peterborough, Canada, the Trent Severn Waterway, Thomas Need’s descendants, and gravestones of Need family members.

Fonds is organized into four series: Thomas Need journals and correspondence; Research materials and manuscripts; Dawn Logan correspondence; and Files on Dawn Logan’s publications.

Thomas Need Biography

Thomas Need (1808-1895) emigrated from Nottingham, England to Upper Canada in May 1832 and settled in Verulam Township in Victoria County in 1833 around Sturgeon Lake. He had graduated from University College, London, in 1830 and rejected the idea of becoming a member of the clergy. This contributed to his decision to leave England.

While in Upper Canada, Need was a member of the government commission that oversaw the construction of what became the first lock of the Trent-Severn Waterway, founded the Village of Bobcaygeon in 1834, and served as a magistrate for the Court of Requests from 1835 to 1837.

Need anonymously published his book Six years in the bush or extracts from the journal of a settler in Upper Canada (London, 1838) on his experiences in Upper Canada. The book was based on his journal entries he made in his personal journal which he called the “Woodhouse Journal.” Need returned to Nottingham, England permanently in 1847 and died in 1895. His authorship was confirmed with the publication of John Langton’s letters in 1926 and he was subsequently recognized as a contributor to early Canadian literature.

Source: Biography – NEED, THOMAS – Volume XII (1891-1900) – Dictionary of Canadian Biography. http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/need_thomas_12E.html. Accessed 11 Jan. 2024.

Fonds consists of manuscript copies, correspondence, newspaper clippings, research materials, and notes related to the English translation by Professors Dawn and Denis Smith of the 1998 edition of El Ultimo dia de Salvador Allende by Oscar Soto. The English title is The Last Day of Salvador Allende: a Chronicle of the Assault on La Moneda Palace, Santiago de Chile.

Folders in the box include the following:

Folder 1

• Correspondence, 1999-2001: correspondents include Dawn Smith, Denis Smith, Alicia Soto, Oscar Soto, and Bella Pomer
• Book proposal, manuscript submissions, letters to editors, newspaper clippings, notes, right to translate, 1999-2001

Folder 2

• “Allende Files”: Correspondence, 1998-1999; includes correspondence with Alicia Soto
• “Notes for Oscar Soto” regarding the translation of text
• Notes regarding contracts, fees, and rights to the translation

Folder 3

• Typed drafts of the English translation of the introduction to Oscar Soto’s The Last Day of Salvador Allende (also floppy disk labeled “New Introduction 30.12.99”)

Folder 4

• Manuscript copy of The Last Day of Salvador Allende: A Chronicle of the Assault on La Moneda Palace, Santiago de Chile by Oscar Soto, translated into English by Professors Dawn and Denis Smith (also floppy disk copy of same manuscript)
• Photocopy of blueprint of La Moneda Palace

Folder 5

• News articles on the Pinochet trial from November 1998 to May 2000
• Printed email correspondence between Denis Smith and various editors of newspapers

File consists of seven photographs of Darek Dawda, a recipient of the Symons Medal in 1995.

File consists of a photograph of the 18th Premier of Ontario Bill Davis in an academic gown.

File consists of one headshot of Arlene Davis, a recipient of the Eminent Service Award in 1989.

File consists of three photographs of Robertson Davies in academic gowns. Davies received an honorary degree (Doctor of Letters) from Trent University in Fall 1974. One photograph includes Eugene Forsey and an unidentified individual.

File consists of Prof. John Wadland’s subject file on Robertson Davies. This file contains newspaper and magazine clippings. The articles focus on topics such as the works of Davies, the opinions of Robertson, and the awards and honorariums to Robertson Davies.

File consists of eight photographs of Cheryl Davies, the President of the Trent Alumni Association from 1997 to 2001. Photographs include Lisa Devon, Glen Easson, Rebecca Davies, Francy Poapst, and Bob ?.

File consists of a photograph of Lois Davidson a recipient of the Eminent Service Award in 2001.

The fonds consists of 19 documents including deeds, conveyances, and a map of the mill and water power property of Samuel Dickson and relating to land in the Water/McDonnel/Hunter Streets and river area of Peterborough, Ontario (Upper Canada and Canada West). Also an 1823 grant of Lot 1, Communication Road, Smith Township collected by the Davidson Family.

Fonds is comprised of correspondence, memos, legal documents, and reports pertaining to the administrative career of David Morrison at Trent University.

Fonds consists of correspondence, questionnaires and reports generated by Professor David R. Cameron who was commissioned by the Department of the Secretary of State (superseded by the Department of Canadian Heritage) to investigate the status of Canadian Studies in the 1990s. His report, "Taking Stock: Canadian Studies in the Nineties" was published by the Association of Canadian Studies in 1996. Materials include readers' comments on the draft report.

This collection is comprised of research files, published articles, government documents, reports and supporting documents all pertaining to Indigenous issues in Canada.

File consists of a photograph of David Moore, Bruce MacLeod, Susan Mackle Vice-President (Development), Todd Willcox, Mike McClintock, Jack Ruttle, Paul Wilson Director of Athletics, John McCarney, and John Burbidge Associate Vice-President (Student Services).

This addition to the fonds consists of correspondence, research notes and photographs as well as manuscripts of Professor David S. Macmillan while he was researching topics and papers for publication or lectures.

This fonds consists of correspondence, research notes and original documents which were collected by Professor David Macmillan during his research. Items such as voters' lists for Victoria County, Ontario and a series of broadsides advertising land in Victoria County; documents from the Hudson's Bay Company, East Indies; minutes from the Barbados Board of Legislative Council, a Sydney Australia Company, and the Sydney Australian Committee of the New Steam Company; and a number of reproduction engravings and prints are included in the fonds. Also included in the fonds is a copy of Macmillan's 1964 Ph.D. thesis: "The Scottish Australian Connection..." and assorted pamphlets relating to New South Wales.

Collection consists of disparate materials collected by Professor Macmillan who was a philatelist. The correspondence and documents pertain to writers in Great Britain and the British Empire. The subject matter ranges from military campaigns between the British and the French, mutiny in the West Indies and India and the sugar and slave trade in the West Indies. Subjects of letters include: battles in India, trade routes in West Indies and Asia; wars with France, Spain, and Austria.

This collection is comprised of disparate documents collected by Professor David Macmillan. The scope of the papers is primarily North America, 1680 to 1920.