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.

This item is a contract between Thomas Watson, teacher, and the Trustees of the Joint Board Grammar and Common School, Port Hope. The contract is for 1 year at a salary of one hundred and twenty pounds.

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.

This fonds consists of one 1850 notebook entitled "J.K. Roche's Field Notes, Port Hope" which contains survey notes on properties in Port Hope, Canada West, and which belonged to the estate of John D. Smith. There are also two survey documents describing Lot 3, Concession 1 in Hope Township which is signed by John K. Roche and is dated July 20, 1844, and one which is signed by Geo. A. Stewart, Ward, and is undated. Also included in the fonds are three unidentified and undated school building architectural drawings.

This item is a Public School Daily Register folder dated 1895 for Public School #3 from Camborne in Hamilton Township. It includes an attendance record for January, 1897, along with a report of number of male and female students in December, 1896. The register folder spells out in some detail the subject requirements for the various grades.

This item is a record book for accounts and minutes of the school board for the schools near Elizabethville in Hope Township, Ontario.

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 certificate from the St. John's Church of England in Port Hope to Doris M. Hancock for completing part one of the first year of the standard teacher training course.

This fonds consists of voters lists, public school pupils records and an account book, all relating to Cavan Township and in particular, School Section No. 3.