Collection consists of three personal notes written by Catharine Parr Traill to her grand-niece, Agnes Le Fenore. One is a two part card with the cover illustrated with cutout images of a dog and a butterfly along with a wisp of moss glued to the surface. The second part of the card is a warm salutation to Agnes and her family. The date is 24 December 1897. The second item, dated 12 May, is a note of thanks to Agnes for obtaining a cape [and cap?] for her, and also refers to fatigue and the problem of swelling feet. The third item is a letter written 1 April 1899 to "G Niece A F" [Agnes] sending belated sympathy for two in hospital and describing in some detail Traill's own plight, and the care offered by Kate and Katie.
Traill, Catharine ParrThe grasses scrapbook was compiled by Catharine Parr Traill for her friend James Fletcher and given to him 12 January 1894. The inside cover has the following inscriptions: "Grasses from Stony Lake gathered and mounted by Cathe Parr Traill - Aged 92 years." These specimens are from the Island of Minne Wa-Wa and Otter Island. July-September 1893" and "With Mrs.Traill's kind wishes to her much valued and esteemed friend James Fletcher F.S.L.S. & etc. January 12th, 1894". The scrapbook consists of 20 pages, 18 of which have pressed grasses, from the Stoney Lake area of the Island of Minne Wa-Wa and Otter Island, glued onto them. Also included in the scrapbook is a specimen list of the grasses and a photocopy of an article, entitled "Grasses from Stony Lake Gathered and Mounted by Cathe Parr Traill - Aged 92 Years". The article was written by William G. Dore and published in The Ontario Naturalist in 1966.
The framed mosses were gathered by Catharine Parr Traill in the Stoney Lake area. Prior to the Archives receiving this addition, the pages were taken apart, mounted and framed in two frames each containing three pages of mosses; one medium frame containing "Sedges & grass, with mosses, from the bank below the garden at Westove. Gathered and arranged for Katie. With Grandmother's dear love. Oct. 24th, 1889"; and one small frame with Traill's autograph.
Traill, Catharine Parr