The fonds consists of the diaries of Harriet Pengelley (1835-1836), Robert Pengelley (1835), and A.E. Marguerite (Rita) Pengelley (1940-1941); correspondence; sketchbooks (1829-1830); drawings; and photographs. In 1994, an addition was made to the fonds which included a photocopy of a diary of Robert Pengelley (1837-1840) and textual records regarding the Pengelley family. In 2018, an addition of Pengelley family genealogical information was received.

Collection consists of pamphlets, flyers, newsletters, and government reports regarding agricultural policy, issues, and regulations, especially pertaining to the Durham County region. Subjects include soil conditions, pesticide and herbicide use, etc.

The fonds consists of the deeds and other land records relating to property in Seymour Township.

This addition to the fonds consists of research papers, government reports and newspaper clippings concerning northern environment, mercury poisoning, acid rain and Indigenous land issues.

The 15 microfilm reels from the Department of Lands and Forests holdings contain field survey notes for most townships in southern Ontario dating from 1784 to 1945. The handwritten guide to the survey notes was prepared by students in a geography course at Trent University. This guide is available in the Reading Room.

This 73-page typewritten manuscript is an anecdotal record of the information McBain amassed about the properties in northeast Cavan Township. It includes a record of the hamlet of Springville west of the Cavan-Monaghan boundary and of Fairmount (formerly Morrow), a crossroads on the 12th Line, and references to Ida and Mount Pleasant on the middle road. There are in-depth references to properties and families on the 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th lines east of the middle road to the Monaghan boundary.

This collection consists of a number of articles written by Norman McBain about families in Cavan and about topics of interest in the Cavan area, i.e. inns, taxes, schools, etc. It also includes the following: an article by E.S. Clarry on an 1821 petition to the King regarding voting rights; a bylaw re taverns; the history of Fairmount Church and Methodist givings; an 1896 ballot for Cavan officers; a clipping re George Berry; a list of Overseers of Highways, fence viewers, etc.; an audited financial statement of Cavan for 1875; a newspaper report of Cavan Council business; an invoice re sidewalks; notes on Cavan town hall; and several pages of original hand-written notes re persons holding various offices in Cavan. Also included are copies of clippings re Cavan Blazers, school graduation results, etc.

Fonds consists of four notebooks of poetry and penmanship belonging to Mary Smithson Nimmo, South Monaghan Township, Ontario.

This fonds consists of three notebooks which belonged to various members of the Nimmo family. The notebook belonging to Robert Davidson Nimmo holds accounts from 1860 to 1865. The notebook belonging to T.J. Nimmo contains recipes for tanning and taxidermy, circa 1893. There is an account book belonging to Mrs. R. Nimmo dating from 1898 to 1906 and a diary of A.R.M. Nimmo from 1908.

Fonds consists of correspondence, tax receipts, pamphlets, and invitations found in a home purchased by Martha Hendriks in 2001. The home is located at 1202 Morton Line, Cavan, Ontario and was owned previously by a farmer named Daniel Nill (1915-[1985]). Included are letters written by Frances [ ], New York, to Daniel Nill between 1933 and 1940. Also included are letters, agreements, pamphlets, etc. associated with John Mason, William Mason, Orlie Mason, and G.A. Mason. These items are dated between 1886 and 1915.

This fonds consists of assessment records and lists of inhabitants for the United Counties of Northumberland and Durham in the District of Newcastle.

Fonds consists of one ledger identified as having belonged to Moscrip, Allan & Company. The business sold hardware, machinery, and farm equipment, and repaired same. Some customers were contractors, blacksmiths, wagoners; addresses of customers were Hamilton Township, Cobourg, Oshawa, Peterborough, Port Hope, and Bowmanville. Some business was carried on with schooners. Other customers included Dr. Gilchrist; Thomas Trail [Traill]; Cobourg-Peterborough Distillery; Ontario Distillery; Cobourg, Peterborough & Marmora Railway and Mining Co.; R.A. Waddell, Sheriff; and merchants and farmers. Accounts for 1867 listed Trustees of Common Schools with charges for two school bells. The ledger includes an index.

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 collection consists of two legal documents. One is written on parchment, dated 6 May 1647 and written in German. The second document is dated 11 December 1806 and appoints 16 men as Justices of the Peace for the District of Newcastle. It is signed by Francis Gore, Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada at York.

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 item is the marriage certificate of Henry Lapp of Baltimore, Canada West, and Hannah Hoag of Ausable who were married before the religious society of Friends at Westlake on April 27, 1848.

The fonds consists of concert and theatre programs from Millbrook, Ontario; World War I materials including prisoner-of-war post cards, and photographs; and theatre programs, menus and other material relating to entertainments which allied prisoners in German war camps devised for their own amusement and which were collected by Lieutenant W.E. Massey-Cooke.

This collection consists of deeds, mortgages, leases, and an account sheet, 1864, for the Townships of Dummer, Burleigh and Anstruther.

This collection consists of the following documents: a deed from Gilbert Bogart and Cornelius Van Horn to Gilbert A. Clapp, Adolphustown Township, 1827; deed from Azel Hawkins to John Brown, Hope, 1830; deed from Luke Bedford to John Brown, Hope, 1830; deed from John Megrath to John Donaldson, Otonabee, 1836; deed from Joseph Clarke to John Brown, Hope, 1838; deed from John Potter to Philip Potter, Darlington, 1840; deed from John Kennedy to James Crofts Kennedy, Port Hope, 1864; conditions of sale document re Alexander Lackie, Millbrook, with poster attached, 1887. The John Brown mentioned in three of the documents was an important merchant in Port Hope and a member of the Assembly of Upper Canada.

This fonds consists of two items: a poster with white and red lettering on a blue background, advertising English Bulldog puppies for sale at Lakeland Kennels in Bewdley, Ontario, proprietors H.J. and Mrs. Goss; and a 1948 certificate naming "Lakeland Lucky Ace" a champion, by the Canadian Kennel Club.

The fonds has been divided into three general series. Series A consists of business and legal papers of the Kerr and Kerr Law firm which was run by William Kerr and his son William F. Kerr. Included in this series are many individual case files. Series B consists of the papers of Victoria College which was located in Cobourg, Ontario. Included in this series are papers dealing with the large land holdings of the College, historical documents relating to the College's early beginnings and the land deals which allowed it to expand within the town of Cobourg and Haldimand Township, as well as the papers of the officers involved in the negotiations and the the final move of the College to Toronto at the end of the nineteenth century. Series C consists of the personal papers and business correspondence and documents of John W. Kerr, Senator William Kerr's brother, and also a Lawyer in Cobourg, Ontario.

This collection consists of a covering letter providing some historical background of the Rail Trail movement, a bibliography on the subject, two issues of the organization's periodical, a map of Southern Ontario called "Trails for Today and Tomorrow" showing proposed trails and green-ways, and a folder outlining Kawartha Rail Trails.

This fonds consists of assorted records relating to the international rooms at the University of Pittsburg, research notes and material on Cavan Township in Ontario, programs of the Kawartha Summer Theatre, the history of Fraserville pastoral charge, records relating to James Fallis, anatomy overlays "structures of the head", northern housing committee reports and solar energy newsletters.

This fonds consists of documents, from 1869 to 1902, including sale of timber receipts, deeds of land and quit claims of John E. Proctor of Brighton, Ontario.

This fonds consists of day books, account books, miscellaneous invoices, and photographs relating to the John Bee family who operated a saw mill near Port Hope in the 1850's.