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in the [map collection](https://www.trentu.ca/library/archives/maps) and in the vertical unpublished [research files](https://www.trentu.ca/library/archives/vertical_research_files).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

            44 Archival description results for City of Peterborough

            44 results directly related Exclude narrower terms
            W.T.C. Boyd fonds
            01-019 · Fonds · 1878-1917

            Fonds consists of 27 diaries of William Thornton Cust Boyd dated 1878 through 1917. Five of the diaries, 1884-1888, include financial records. The diaries recount the private and public life of Boyd, and include references to his wife, Meta, and their children, and social activities with family and friends including boating excursions and picnics. He refers throughout to Richard Birdsall Rogers (1857-1927), superintending engineer of the Peterborough Lift Lock, in social and business terms, and the two often conduct business relating to the Trent Valley Canal. Activities which Boyd participated in regularly include yachting and boating (on the "Calumet", "Ogemah", and "Ajax"), curling, hunting, gardening, tree planting, playing cards, skating, canoeing, and attending the theatre. He recounts details of the illnesses, deaths and funerals of acquaintances and family members, including his step-brother, Mossom (Mossie) Martin Boyd. Boyd recounts in detail the building of his house by John E. Belcher ([184-]-1915), architect, civil engineer, and surveyor. This house is now operated as Case Manor Nursing Home. The diaries speak of local and federal politics, World War I, and the activities of the church. They also detail the activities of the Lindsay, Bobcaygeon and Pontypool Railway Company, the Trent Valley Navigation Steamship Company, and the day-to-day operation of the family lumbering and cattle/buffalo enterprises.

            Boyd, W.T.C.
            80-033 · Fonds · 1877-1964

            This addition to the fonds consists of maps, correspondence and related documents of the Bronson Company, the Gatineau Power Company, and the Ottawa Power Company collected by William Hamilton Munro.

            Munro, William Hamilton
            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
            89-011 · Fonds · 1961-1985

            This fonds consists of records dealt with by We-Peterborough, primarily the civil disobedience and cruise missile protest. Regarding civil disobedience, the fonds contains various study kits, articles and publications. It also includes articles, legal correspondence and minutes of meetings.

            We-Peterborough: World Emergency Centre for Assertive Non-Violence
            01-003 · Fonds · 1929-1999

            Fonds consists of personal records of Thomas H.B. Symons relating to his career and to his family. Included are records of his wife, Christine Symons, his children, Mary, Jeffrey, and Ryerson Symons, his father, Harry Lutz Symons, including his father's manuscript for "Three Ships West", and his mother, Dorothy Sarah (Bull) Symons. Also included are materials relating to Professor Symons' activities on various boards and committees, addresses, articles, manuscripts, typescripts, and correspondence, documents and notes concerning Trent University, Association of Commonwealth Universities, Celanese Canada, Science Council of Canada, Department of External Affairs, Royal Society of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, etc.. Also included are photographs of Thomas H.B. Symons, Christine Symons, and His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales.

            Symons, Thomas H.B.
            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
            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
            88-025 · Collection · 1846-1860

            This fonds is comprised of typescripts of newspaper articles from the Peterborough Weekly Despatch, the Peterborough Review and the Peterborough Examiner. The articles have been arranged chronologically under a number of subject headings by the donor.

            04-017 · Collection · 1993

            Fonds consists of photocopies of the hydro pole register of the Peterborough Light and Power Company. The register includes maps and statistical information and the originals are dated 1892-1921.

            Peterborough Light and Power Company
            73-1005 · Fonds · 1958

            The fonds consists of carbon copies of Surveyor's correspondence regarding a municipal drain dated November 6, 1958; and 3 undated identical maps for zoning in the City of Peterborough.

            Peterborough Chamber of Commerce
            97-1026 · Item · 1913

            This photograph includes portraits of 66 male graduates and 62 female graduates of the 1912-13 Peterborough Business College graduating class. Also included in the photograph are portraits of six instructors and administrators.

            Peterborough Business College
            73-003 · Fonds · 1973

            The fonds consists of a photocopy of the Charter, 1889; a photocopy of the name change Order-in-Council, April 1922; original minute books from 1893 to 1918, plus excerpted items; and the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce bulletin on the Lift Lock post-1922.

            Peterborough Board of Trade
            Peter Adams fonds
            97-1031 · Fonds · 1976-1990

            This fonds consists of three papers written by Peter Adams (one with B.F. Findlay and B.E. Goodison) concerning snow. It also includes his speech notes for a Peterborough Social Planning Council meeting, and two annual reports written in his capacity as M.P.P.

            Adams, William Peter
            96-008 · Fonds · 1974

            This fonds consists of transcripts of interviews with Peterborough and area citizens concerning their perceptions of the social, cultural, and political aspects of life in Peterborough from the early 1900s to 1974. There are also three cassette tapes forming one interview with Lorna Cotton-Thomas.

            92-1005 · Item · 13 Aug. 1836 - 27 Aug. 1836.

            This item consists of 2 pages of banknotes printed by the Newcastle District Loan Company in August of 1836.

            Newcastle District Loan Company
            88-014 · Collection · 1846-1962

            This fonds consists of ledgers, day books and other record books, mostly unidentified as to exact name and location of the business. All were situated in the Peterborough/Cobourg/Norwood/Marmora area.

            91-1025 · Collection · 1884-1979 ; (predominant 1884-1910)

            This collection consists of a number of photographs which include John Butcher, sexton of St. John's Church in Peterborough. There is one photograph of his family outside their home as well as one photograph of John at age 34. There are also a number of photographs of the Hastings Lock, Healey's Falls and steam logging and boat with log boom. There is also one photograph of William Dawson's house in South Monaghan from 1910; a photograph of "Strathormond" in Peterborough and the Champion soccer team of Fairview School from around the 1970's.

            Leggott family fonds
            12-006 · Fonds · 1863 - 1980

            Fonds consists of correspondence, legal and financial documents, newspaper clippings, photographs and memorabilia relating to the Leggott family of Lakefield Ontario.

            Leggott family
            Langford business fonds
            83-017 · Fonds · 1892-1921

            This fonds consists of 16 bound journals, day books and cash books pertaining to William Langford, a Peterborough builder. Also included is one folder of loose receipts and price estimates.

            Langford, William
            12-004 · Fonds · 2003-2017

            Collection consists primarily of photocopies and emails with information pertaining to various aspects of Peterborough's history, from both the city and the county. Brief history of the town of Lakefield is also included.

            Lakefield Heritage Research
            John R. Marshall collection
            97-1025 · Collection · [192?]; 1952

            This collection consists of a photograph of John R. Marshall, possibly in his late 30s or early 40s, and newspaper clipping memorials to Marshall at the time of his death in April 1952.

            Marshall, John R.
            John Merton Bowes fonds
            20-013 · Fonds · 1950-2020

            This fonds contains records of John Merton Bowes’ 70-year career as a real estate agent in Toronto and Peterborough. The records include photographs, reports, advertisements, and other paper records of his professional career beginning in the 1950’s up to his retirement in 2020.

            Bowes, John Merton