This fonds consists of legal documents which are mostly protests against Alexander McIntosh for promissory notes that were not honoured. The protesters are local Peterborough businesses and banks. There are also by-laws and other documents of a legal nature from North Monaghan township including some information on School Sections Nos. 1-4 and a class list for School Section No. 3.

This fonds consists of two typescripts of diaries written by Captain Thomas G. Anderson. The first diary consists of reminiscences of his early life, covering the years from 1795 to 1800 (10 pages). The second diary was written while Captain Anderson was the visiting Superintendent of Indian Affairs at Cobourg, Canada West from September to December 1849. It includes an account of a journey to settle an Indigenous land claim on Lake Superior and Lake Huron (34 pages).

Hon. Duncan Graham was an Independent Liberal Member of Parliament for Ontario North from 1897 to 1900. His papers contain a form letter from the Canadian Pacific Railway dated April 3, 1900; a letter dated October 10 from S.A. Cunningham threatening to withdraw his support for Graham in the next election and a cancelled cheque from Graham and Dougall McQuaig to E.H. Henry dated October 10, 1899.

This fonds consists of a two-volume biography of Eliza Jane (Hughes) McAlpine, 1854-1938, written by her grandson, Wallace McAlpine, fifty years after her death. The biography contains the Hughes family history from the Napoleonic era, follows Eliza's parents to Canada in the 1840's, describes the marriages of her siblings, and gives a fine sense of life in Durham County in the early years of Canada's nationhood. Eliza's battle with spinal meningitis is recounted. The volumes trace the events, joys, and sorrows of the sizeable Hughes family, the accomplishments of Eliza's husband, Dr. John McAlpine, and the experiences with horses and subsequently automobiles. The extraordinary impact of Hardy's "Tess of the D'Urbervilles" is described. The famous Sir Sam Hughes was Eliza's brother and some of his exploits are described. Eliza's tour of Europe is described as it took place just before the outbreak of World War I. Lt. A.A. MacLeod's story is told. There is an account of Lt. Col. Cyril D.H. McAlpine's fateful expedition in the Arctic; a biographical sketch of J.W.L. Foster who painted a portrait of Eliza; an account of M.P. Tom Stinson's visits with Eliza; Eliza's disgust with Vicki Baum; her pleasure in talking with Chief Paudash; and finally her death and its aftermath. The volumes provide a wide, varied sketch of the times in which the events transpire.

Attached to the pages within the volumes are approximately 30 photographs, most of which are portraits, and are both in black and white, and colour.

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 collection consists of a reprint of E. (Elias) Burnham's address to electors in 1844; a Township of Otonabee Treasurer's report from 1877; and an address in support Liberal Candidate, Fraser, of Brighton, Ontario in 1926.

This item is a photograph of the Council members of Northumberland and Durham county from 1907. The photograph also shows counties' gaol, municipal and counties' buildings, and house of refuge. The name "B.K. Van Buren" is taped on the bottom.

This fonds consists of 4 original documents pertaining to the land on which Victoria College, Cobourg, was situated. One document is the declaration of Rev. S.D. Rice verifying the signatures of the Attorney General (John A. Macdonald) and the Deputy Registrar (Thomas Mayor) on the other three documents.