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in the [map collection](https://www.trentu.ca/library/archives/maps) and in the vertical unpublished [research files](https://www.trentu.ca/library/archives/vertical_research_files).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

            305 Archival description results for City of Peterborough

            305 results directly related Exclude narrower terms
            Robert Bowley fonds
            02-003 · Fonds · 1823-1998

            Fonds consists of papers, articles, and manuscripts of books written by Robert Bowley. Included is research material, photographs, slides, and negatives relating to the postal history of Smith Township, Peterborough, and the surrounding area. Included also are letters dated 1823-1878 of the Baptie family who were situated in Ida, Ontario, and extensive research material related to Captain Charles Rubidge, Sir Sandford Fleming, the Pengelley/Roche families, S.J. Carver, and local historic sites. This fonds is a tremendous resource for information related to Peterborough and area in general.

            Bowley, Robert E.
            Robert Annett fonds
            99-002 · Fonds · 1964-1973

            This fonds consists of papers regarding Professor Annett's Ph.D. dissertation, and includes data and post-dissertation data. Also included are closed records relating to Science 101a and 101b at Trent University.

            Annett, Robert
            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
            97-1006 · Fonds · [18--]

            This black and white photograph is of a man in clerical dress and is by the Roy Studio of Peterborough. On the reverse, the name "E.H.D. Hall" (a Peterborough lawyer associated with the firm of Hall, Gillespie) is written in pencil. The subject of the photograph is identified in pencil on the reverse as "Rev. Herbert Simonds [sic] ". Symonds married Emma Boyd, daughter of Mossom Boyd. They had several children including one son, Herbert Boyd Symonds (Boydie). He was killed in W.W.1.

            Symonds, Reverend Herbert
            Reid family photographs
            97-1034 · Collection · [1997?]

            This accession consists of copy photographs, several of which are of originals in the Reid family photograph album and date from the 1840's to 1900's. One is of the Robert Henry "Harry" Devinish Reid family accompanied by an identification sheet with vital statistics for each member. Included also is a set of ten copy photographs of three generations of the Reid family. This set is accompanied by a family chart providing statistics for those listed.

            Reid family
            IMC-133 · File · 1913
            Part of Isolated manuscripts collection

            Presented to Pearl [McIntosh] by Gordon [McIntosh] (1892-1973), Christmas 1954. This Bible includes handwritten genealogical information with references to Peterborough and the names McIntosh, Larmer, Petrie, Seymour and Irvine. Loosely enclosed is a note: "Bible in the Memoirs of Lawrence Larmer wife: & Hazel McIntosh, Millbrook, Ontario"; also an 'In Memoriam' card re Stanley Gordon McIntosh, a photograph of a house titled "Larmer Home 1925", and a newspaper clipping regarding the immigration of the McIntosh family from Scotland in 1827. The Bible is in very poor condition; handwritten notes of a biblical nature appear in the margins of many pages throughout.

            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
            83-1013 · Item · 1 July 1927

            This is a photograph of Peterborough residents representing the Fathers of Confederation during the town's Diamond Jubilee Celebration, July 1st, 1927. The names of the actors in the photograph are portrayed at the bottom of the photograph as well as the name of the person they were portraying.

            Fathers of Confederation
            07-005 · Fonds · 1956-2007

            This fonds consists of meeting minutes, correspondence, membership records, scrapbooks, photographs, and issues of Hi Phi Record.

            Preceptor Psi Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi
            IMC-049 · File · 2004-2009
            Part of Isolated manuscripts collection

            The photographs were taken by Mr. William Martyn who lives on Alexander Ave. in Peterborough, Ontario, next to the hospital. Over the years, whatever the weather, Mr. Martyn produced a complete chronicle of the building/demolition process. Many hours too, were spent arranging and compiling the photographs on the disks into a comprehensive slide show.

            84-006 · Fonds · 1978

            This item is a corrected carbon text of Peterborough's Architectural Heritage edited by Martha Kidd and published in 1978.

            Peterborough's Architectural Heritage was written by Martha Ann Kidd and published by the Peterborough Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee in 1978. The Peterborough Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee was established through a by-law made by the City of Peterborough after the Ontario Heritage Act of 1974 was passed by the Province of Ontario. Committee members consisted of Victor Barry, Edgar J. Boland, Teresa Bradburn, Eric V. Jackson, Martha A. Kidd, J.J. Overvliet, Eldon P. Ray, Jennie Spurway, Margaret Fleming and Betty Ross. The committee developed a number of guidelines for its activities and set out to compile a list of pre-1890 structures within the boundaries set by the Otonabee River, Parkhill Road, Park Street and Townsend Street. The list consists of photographs of the buildings and text containing information about the buildings architectural style and information about most of the homeowners. The list was compiled in order to aid Peterborough City Council in determining whether a permit for drastic exterior alteration or demolition should be issued for any of the properties. This list put the properties into the heritage designation category and was made available to anyone who wanted to see it. (Taken from: Kidd, Martha Ann. Peterborough's Architectural Heritage. Peterborough Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee, 1979.)

            Kidd, Martha Ann
            76-004 · Item · Feb. 1948

            Bound insurance plan of the City of Peterborough, special mercantile revision February, 1948, from revision July, 1943, from plan dated May 1929. Includes key of symbols. Scale varies on individual sheets.

            Charles E. Goad Company - Underwriters' Survey Bureau
            76-037 · Item · 1911

            This item is a Chas. E. Goad Company fire insurance plan of the City of Peterborough, Ontario revised in 1911 from a plan of 1904, surveyed December 1893. It includes a key plan (scale 500':01"), a key to symbols, an index, and special diagrams of major buildings such as factories and schools.

            Charles E. Goad Company - Underwriters' Survey Bureau
            76-005 · Item · Sept. 1968

            This item is an insurance Plan of the City of Peterborough which includes a key of symbols. The scale varies on individual sheets. Also included are special diagrams of various buildings ( factories, Trent University, high schools, etc.)

            Charles E. Goad Company - Underwriters' Survey Bureau
            97-013 · Fonds · 1979-1987

            This fonds consists of miscellaneous documents relating to the administration of the Peterborough Women's Committee. Also included is documentation relating to the project "Women Helping Women", as well as newsletters and annual reports.

            Peterborough Women's Committee
            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
            10-007 · Fonds · 1883-1885; 1908-1973

            Forty-seven volumes and eight boxes of records relating to Peterborough Teachers' College. Includes sessional reports, training registers, practice teaching records, 1908 to 1968; also registration and record cards, 1946 to 1973. Also included is a Public School Daily Register for Bobcaygeon, 1883-1885.

            Peterborough Teachers' College
            88-001 · Fonds · 1978

            This fonds consists of files from the Peterborough Social Planning Council from 1978 regarding children's services, demographic data, handicapped and Native peoples, senior citizens and social service profiles of Peterborough.

            Peterborough Social Planning Council