This collection consists of publications of the Canadian Rose Society and Canadian Peony Society, as listed below.

In box 1

• The Canadian Rose Annual, published by the Canadian Rose Society: 1965, 1975, 1982; 1983; 1985-2003
• The Canadian Rose Book, A collector's Item, limited edition, Canadian Rose Society, 1980
• Colour Classification of Garden Roses, The Canadian Rose Society, 1993
• Guidelines for Judging Roses, The Canadian Rose Society, 1981
• Horticultural Judging Standards, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, [198-?]
• American Rose Annual, 1986

In box 2

• The Rosarian, published by the Canadian Rose Society: 1977 (spring, summer), 1982 (summer), 1984 (fall), 1985 (spring, summer, fall), 1986 (fall), 1990 (spring, summer, fall), 1991 (summer, fall, winter), 1992 (spring)
• Canadian Rosarian: 1992 (summer, autumn), 1993 (spring, summer, autumn), 1994 (spring, summer, autumn), 1995 (spring, summer, autumn), 1996 (spring, summer, autumn), 1997 (spring, autumn), 1998 (spring, summer, fall), 1999 (spring, summer, fall), 2000 (fall)
• The CRS CommPoster, the newsletter of the Canadian Rose Society, vol. 1 nos. 1 and 2 (2004)
• The Peony - C to C, published by the Canadian Peony Society, vol. 1-6 (1998-2003)
• The Peony in Canada, published by the Canadian Peony Society, 2001

File consists of Prof. John Wadland’s subject file on agriculture. Newspaper clippings, brochures, magazines, and photocopied articles cover topics including (but not limited to) agricultural policy, farming, farmer’s organizations, and issues. Also included are some reports and brochures from the Government of Quebec.

File consists of two notebooks, one of which seems to be records of the South Monaghan [Agricultural Society?], 1882-1908, plus a notebook of clippings regarding compensation for flooding of the area farm land by the Trent Canal system, 1915. Also, one portrait (unidentified) of a woman, ca. 1890.

This document is a contract covering the sale of a lot in the Township of Zorra to Robert McKay, signed by Peter Robinson and dated 18 August 1835.

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.

This 73-page typewritten manuscript is an anecdotal record of the information McBain amassed about the properties in northeast Cavan Township. It includes a record of the hamlet of Springville west of the Cavan-Monaghan boundary and of Fairmount (formerly Morrow), a crossroads on the 12th Line, and references to Ida and Mount Pleasant on the middle road. There are in-depth references to properties and families on the 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th lines east of the middle road to the Monaghan boundary.

This fonds consists of two certificates: a Horticultural Service Diploma dated 1952, awarded to Sheila Boyd by the Bobcaygeon Horticultural Society for "meritorious service to horticulture"; and, a Canadian Legion certificate dated 1955, awarded to Sheila Boyd as an expression of appreciation for her work with Bobcaygeon Branch 239.

This collection consists of a copy of the pamphlet "Deed of Settlement of Pugets Sound Agricultural Society" [printed in 1912], a photocopy of pages of an article with the title "Exile in the Wilderness" by Jean Murray Cole, University of Washington Press, 1979, which refers to this Society, and a letter dated January 6, 1994 from Anne Morton to Hugh Anson-Cartwright with enclosures which establish the date of printing of the pamphlet as approximately 1912.

This collection consists of eighteen prize lists from agricultural fairs in Ontario including the Canadian National Exhibition, the Ontario Provincial Winter Fair, the Central Canada Exhibition in Ottawa, the Western Fair in London, Ontario; the Dominion Exposition in Regina, Saskatchewan; the Canadian Industrial Exhibition in Winnipeg, Manitoba; the Central Exhibition in Cobourg, Ontario and various small town agricultural societies lists.

Agricultural fair prize lists were produced in advance of the fair in order to attract people to compete in various categories. The categories consisted of a number of different elements that were part of agricultural life for a number of people. For instance categories included entries of the best cow or calf, horse showmanship, poultry, pig and sheep breeds. Produce competitions ranged from wheat, barley, rye, corn and oats to homemade pickles, jams and jellies. There were usually floral arrangement and best vegetable arrangement competitions. Ladies would often be able to enter competitions involving sewing and handywork. The prize lists always had advertisers and a list of contributors to the prizes. The book was divided into sections so that each competitor could find the competitions he/she desired to enter, a list of the categories and a small description of who could enter as well as the prizes to be awarded. The cover of the book listed when the fair was to take place and inside there was a list of fair organizers and contestant rules, dates and deadlines.

This item is a photocopy of an 1840 report written by Henry Ruttan, Sheriff of Newcastle District, as a response to the circular letter of Lord Sydenham. Discussed in the letter are the militia, the roads and other internal improvements, the land granting system, the state of education; the (projected) union of the two provinces and responsible government. Several uncritical pages are missing.

This item is a large broadside advertising the first annual Agricultural Show, in Bridgenorth, for the Smith Branch Agricultural Society on October 6, 1855. It lists exhibit and competition categories and prizes as well.

This item is a deed of the sale of land, 1861, to John Wilson, a yeoman of the Township of Manvers, in the County of Durham.

This item is a photograph album with captions describing the harvesting of wild rice by Indigenous people on Rice Lake.

This item is an account book of Alvin Bee, Concession 1, Lots 26, 27, 28 of Hope Township, relating to expenditures for his farm. Also included is a 1907 tax notice.

This item is a broadside advertising Horses for Sale by the Patterson Brothers of Millbrook, Ontario, who bred and sold horses as a business enterprise.

This item is a notebook written by William Howden and kept between 1860 and 1903 on the subject of animal husbandry. It contains various recipes for horse medicine and newspaper articles on stallions available for stud.

This item is a broadside advertising stud services of the Hambletonian Stallion "Boxer" from Springville. On the front part of the page is a description of the stallion and the dates of what towns he will be going to and when. On the back of the page is a tabulated pedigree chart.

This fonds consists of three photograph albums. The bulk of the photographs are unidentified; however, some of the photographs are apparently members of the Sawers, Crawford, Lawrie, and Beck families. There are some photographs of ranching and farming in Western Canada.

This fonds consists of records encompasing three generations of the Boyd family of Bobcaygeon. The fonds has been divided into the following series: photographs and glass negatives; Reverend Henry C. Avant; Mossom Boyd; Mossom Martin Boyd (Mossie); Lillian de Grassi Boyd; the De Grassi papers which are records of Dr. Alex De Grassi, Lillian Boyd's father, a physician from Lindsay, Upper Canada; Gardiner Cust Boyd; Mildred Boyd; Winnett (Brownie) Boyd; Laurence Chadwick Boyd; Mossom de Grassi Boyd; A. Sheila Boyd; stamps; artifacts; business which deals with the Boyds interests in lumbering; agricultural papers which deal with the Boyd's farming interests in buffalo and cattle; and, estate papers. The strength of this fonds lies in its completeness. Nothing was thrown away and there are grocery lists, laundry lists, staff salary books, furniture receipts, party and wedding invitations, school report cards, ship and railway timetables, diaries and approximately 20,000 pieces of correspondence. This has resulted in a remarkable record of a large household from the 1880s to the 1980s and an invaluable source for social and business historians.

This fonds consists of diaries written by W.J. Standen concerning life on his farm near Barrie, Ontario. The fonds also contains a photocopy of the Standen family history.

This fonds consists of 45 issues of the magazine: Canadian Horticulturalist and Beekeeper which was published in Peterborough, Ontario from 1881. Four additional issues (March, 1897, November, 1897, March, 1898 and January 1899 were donated in 1993 by Jean Cole via the Friends of the Bata Library) and in 1994, additional issues (May 1890-June 1896, scattered) were added courtesy of the Friends of the Bata Library.

This is a microfilm collection of farmers diaries from Upper Canada dating from 1799 to 1894.

This item is a spiral bound, privately printed genealogy of the McIntyre family of Otonabee.

This fonds consists of a number of issues of a handwritten newspaper, written weekly by agricultural students of Colonel Samuel Strickland of Lakefield, Canada West. The issues are scattered and topics covered include agriculture, local events, local gossip, and politics. Also included are four letters of George M. Douglas relating to the newspaper.

This fonds consists of 18 audio cassette recordings on local history topics made primarily by Enid Mallory. Ms. Mallory interviewed people throughout Peterborough County, many of them descendants of pioneer settlers. The topics include pioneer settlement, Riel Rebellion, Cavan Blazers, Warsaw, early stores (Choate, Lakehurst, Buckhorn), farming, cheese factories, Young's Point, Keene, the lumber industry, and the Chemong Bridge.