Thunder Bay
Historical Museum Society
The Records
of
Community Organizations
List of Fonds,
U-Z
E 36
Ukrainian Canadian Committee,
Fort William Branch fonds
1942-1945
1 cm. of textual records
Administrative history
The Ukrainian Canadian Committee, was formed in about
1941 by Ukrainian Canadians for the purpose of
furthering the Canadian war effort and providing a
body to speak for all Canadians of Ukrainian descent.
The Fort William branch formed as a consequence of a
meeting held in January 1942.
Scope and Content
Series E 36/1/1 - Scrapbook - 1 cm.
- 1942-1945
A scrapbook of clippings in both English and
Ukrainian dealing with the activities of the
Ukrainian Canadian Committee, particularly as they
relate to the local Ukrainian activities during the
war.
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E 35
Ukrainian National Federation
of Canada fonds
1932-1975
13 cm. of textual records
Scope and Content
The Ukrainian National Federation of Canada records
is a collection of minute books, booklets,
constitutions, posters, newsletters, clippings, and
letters regarding the Ukrainian National Federation,
the Ukrainian National Youth Federation, and the
Ukrainian War Veteran's Association.
Series E 35/1/1-2 - Ukrainian
National Federation - 2 cm. - 1944-1970
1) A minute book of the Ukrainian National Federation
(U.N.F), Geraldton Branch, 1944-55, in one bound
volume, 2 cm. It is written in Ukrainian.
2) A booklet entitled "Salute to Thunder Bay",
produced by the U.N.F. in 1970. It is written in
English and Ukrainian.
Series E 35/2/1 - Ukrainian National
Youth Federation - 3 cm. - 1945-1970
1) Constitution, 6 p.
2) Minute book of the Fort William branch,
1945-1954.
3) Photographs, posters, newsletters, clippings,
ephemera and letters mostly relating to the national
convention of the U.N.Y.F., in Fort William in
1966.
Series E 35/3/1-4 - Ukrainian War
Veteran's Association - 8 cm. - 1932-1975
1) Constitution and letters from the head office to
the Fort William branch, 1932-1943.
2) Minute book, volume 1, 1933-1934.
3) Minute book, volume 2, 1934-1965.
4) Minute book, volume 3, 1966-1975.
Administrative history
The Ukrainian National Federation of Canada (Thunder
Bay and Geraldton branches) and its affiliates, the
Ukrainian War Veteran's Association and the Ukrainian
National Youth Federation, are described as "an
established cultural-educational community
organization", providing libraries and
social/cultural events and facilities. The United
National Federation of Canada appears to be the
umbrella group for these various groups. It was a
patriotic and political organization, a nationalist,
anti-communist organization geared towards Europe as
well as Ukrainians in Canada.
The Ukrainian National Youth Federation was an
autonomous organization. Its constitution described
it as "a non- partisan and classless organization of
the Ukrainian-Canadian Youth of Canada", and its aim
was "to foster among the Ukrainian youth of Canada
the spirit of service toward Canada, and also aid the
Ukrainian nation in Europe". The organization carried
on "systematic, cultural and educational work".
Membership was open to persons of Ukrainian origin,
14 years or older.
Additional Information
Related Material - Regarding E 35/3/1-4, see
also a photograph, 989.46.1.
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E 33
Wartime Housing Community
Club of Fort William fonds
1942-1946
10 cm. of textual records
Administrative history
The Wartime Housing Community Club of Fort William
was composed of Tenants living in "wartime housing"
or temporary residences built during World War II as
emergency shelters. These people were mostly working
people as their correspondence admits. The club
addresses such issues as the conditions of the houses
(negotiating with various government departments),
the construction of community centres such as
Westfort Community Centre, the creation of a national
health insurance plan, the building of better
hospitals, and the provision of proper recreation and
reorienting facilities for local youth. The Wartime
Housing Community Club quite possibly dissolved into
the Westfort Community Centre in 1946.
According to its constitution, the Ladies Auxiliary
of the above club was developed to "promote
friendships", "to help aid the war effort" and to
promote "the good of the community". The women worked
in canteens and made garments and kits for soldiers.
Scope and Content
The Wartime Housing Club of Fort William records is a
collection of correspondence, membership lists, and
meetings regarding the Club's business, members,
policies, meetings and activities.
Series E 33/1/1 - Correspondence - 6
cm. - 1943-1946
Correspondence, both incoming and outgoing, from 9
May 1943 to 25 July 1946.
Series E 33/2/1 - Membership list -
21 fol. - 1943-1944
Membership list showing the location of the houses of
members and dividing them into geographical
districts.
Series E 33/3/1 - Minutes - 3 cm. -
1942-1944
Minutes of the Ladies Auxiliary from 1942-1944.
Includes membership lists, financial reports and a
constitution. It is handwritten.
Additional Information
Custodial History: Donated by the Westfort
Community Centre in 1989.
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E 11
West Algoma Council of Women
fonds
1894-1973
70 cm of textual records
Administrative history
The West Algoma Council of Women was formed in
September of 1894 at the instigation of Mrs F.E.
Gibbs of Port Arthur with the intention of improving
the state of local society. Both Fort William and
Port Arthur women took part right from the beginning
despite the enmity between the two towns. The West
Algoma Council of Women was an affiliated council of
the National Council of Women of Canada. Early
concerns and projects undertaken by the group were:
abolishing of expectorating on the streets, domestic
science in schools, women in elected offices such as
school boards, suffrage, promotion of censorship of
reading material, the care of sick children, homes
for discharged female prisoners, "social purity",
moral standards, immigration, the judicial system,
peace and war, hospitals, playgrounds, etc. Many
local societies and organizations were affiliated
with the West Algoma Council of Women and paid dues.
The council was not a body designed to do specific
work but rather, as the President expressed it in
1920, "a source for the expression of the unified
opinion [of women] on such subjects and needs as
seems most pressing." The West Algoma Council of
Women was disbanded in the 1970s.
Scope and Content
The West Algoma Council of Women fonds is
composed of minute books, correspondence, files, and
year books regarding the West Algoma Council of
Women, the National Council of Women of Canada,
projects undertaken, and social issues such as the
prohibition of liquor. All are listed
chronologically. E 11/5/1 is composed of related
publications.
Series E 11/1/1-7. - General minute
books. - 15 cm. - 1914-1960
General minute books of the West Algoma Council of
Women, that were kept by the secretary. All contain
some newspaper clippings as well.
1) 3 Oct. 1914 to 30 Sept. 1916; 120 p.
2) 28 Oct. 1916 to 23 Nov. 1922; 299 p.
3) 24 Nov. 1922 to 13 Aug. 1928; 206 p.
4) 28 Sept. 1928 to 23 Oct. 1931; 148 p.
5) 8 Jan. 1932 to 23 Feb. 1940; 300 p.
6) 29 Mar. 1940 to 17 Feb. 1950; 300 p.
7) 23 Feb. 1951 to 26 Feb. 1960; 138 p.
Series E 11/2/1-3. - President's
minute books. - 5 cm. - 1939-1945
The Presidents' minute books from the West Algoma
Council of Women, all contain some newspaper
clippings as well.
1) 28 Apr. 1939 to 29 Nov. 1940; 50 pages.
2) 31 Jan. 1941 to 27 Feb. 1942; 50 pages.
3) 27 Mar. 1942 to 23 Mar. 1945; 150 pages.
Series E 11/3/1-8. - Correspondence
books and files. - 13 cm. - 1894-1960s
Letter books and files of the correspondence
secretary of the West Algoma Council of Women:
1) 4 Oct. 1894 to 24 Mar. 1905 (contains clippings,
letters); bound volume, 3 cm.
2) 29 Mar. 1935 to 12 Mar. 1948 (contains lists of
officers, members and affiliated societies from
1935-1948); bound volume, 200 p.
3) File of correspondence, clippings and
miscellaneous records, 1920s.
4) File of correspondence, clippings and
miscellaneous records, 1930s.
5) File of correspondence, clippings and
miscellaneous records, 1940s.
6) File of clippings, 1950s.
7) File of correspondence and transcripts of speeches
given before the council, 1950s.
8) File of correspondence and clippings, 1960s.
Series E 11/4/1-6. - Miscellaneous
records. - 8 cm. - 1894-1950
1) File containing lists of projects undertaken by
the West Algoma Council of Women, 1894-1950;
resolutions sent out of district 1916-1946; material
on the history of the West Algoma Council of Women;
an invitation from 1909; and two books including J.J.
Carrick's "Carrick-atures".
2) Petition to prohibit peddling of liquor to the
foreign population of Fort William (nd. ca. 1910); 5
p.
3) Two copies of "History of West Algoma Local
Council of Women from 1894-1950" by Mrs. W.S. Pickup;
31 p each.
4) Treasurer's book containing receipts and
disbursements, from 1939-1948; 200 p.
5) Roll Call of the Local Council of Women of West
Algoma, 1910-1916; c.60 p.
6) Bound volume of correspondence, clippings and
memorabilia regarding the Fiftieth Annual Meeting of
the West Algoma Council of Women.
Series E 11/5/1. - Year books. - 29
cm. - 1935-1973
Year books of the National Council of Women of Canada
of which the West Algoma Council of women is an
affiliated member. 1935, 1937, 1938, 1940-1942, 1944,
1946-1947, 1949-1956, 1958-1960, 1962-1966, 1968,
1971-1973.
Notes
Formerly catalogued into the museum collection,
979.98.1-9; 979.78.1 G, I-J; 979.98.2,6; 979.98.9
A-U.
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E 32
Westfort Community Centre,
Teen Town fonds
1944-1947
2 cm of textual records
Administrative history
Teen Town was a club for teenagers up to the age of
18, and was a part of the Westfort Community Centre.
Its aim was to provide sports and cultural recreation
activities (games, dances) for young people, both
male and female, in the Westfort area. The club was
very popular in the period just after the Second
World War.
Scope and Content
Series E 32/1/1 - Minutes
Minutes of the Teen Town Club contained in one volume
of 135 pages. The first 38 pages are missing, 7 July
1944 to 2 Dec. 1947. Also contains two membership
lists, one dated 1946-1947.
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E 41
Yes For Canada! Thunder Bay
Committee
1992
1 cm of textual records
Administrative history
The Thunder Bay branch of the Yes For Canada! campaign
worked for a "yes" vote in the October 26, 1992
constitutional referendum. The vote was overwhelmingly
"no".
Scope and Content
Series E 41/1/1 - Minutes and documents
One file containing the minutes, agenda and financial statements
of the committee. Also one file of documents, clippings and
published material relating to the referendum campaign.
Notes
Formerly catalogued into the museum collection,
993.23.1
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E 10
YMCA, Fort William
fonds
1907-1981
45 cm of textual records
Administrative history
The Fort William YMCA was formed by a small group of
young men from Fort William who were formerly
officers of the Young Men's Association. The YMA was
considered by some to be elitist and unpopular with
the working class. The YMCA in Fort William was
perhaps an attempt to overcome that. The prime mover
seems to have been Mr. C.R. Sayer who, along with his
fellow YMA officers, got representatives from the
Protestant churches of Fort William to form an
official YMCA branch, adopting a constitution in
1908. Subscriptions were sought from the business
community and George H. Williamson was soon hired as
general secretary. The first president was Harold E.
Copp. The aim of the Association was "to improve the
moral, mental, social and physical condition of young
men and boys." It adopted from the outset the
fundamental principles of "evangelical Christianity"
as a basis of its proceedings. Boys 18 or over who
were members of an "evangelic church" were eligible
to serve as active members. Boys 12-18 could become
general members. Only those with the proper religious
qualifications were eligible to vote and hold office
in the Association.
Land was purchased for a building in 1912 on the
corner of Archibald and Miles Streets and a large
building was erected. It offered rooms for
socializing, billiards, games, music, a cafeteria, a
gymnasium, running track, laundry room, two bowling
alleys, and a 60' x 20' swimming pool. Courses were
offered in various educational pursuits such as
drafting, arithmetic, manual training, book keeping,
etc. As well, religious instruction was offered and
considered the "central, fundamental and crowning
feature of the association work." The YMCA building
also contained 66 bedrooms, 50 of which could be
rented for a maximum of ten dollars per month in
1913. The YMCA also acted as an employment bureau and
as an organization to help immigrants assimilate into
Canadian society.
Though talks were underway to form a YWCA in the same
building as early as 1930, it was not until much
later that this occurred.
Scope and Content
The Fort William YMCA records are a collection of
minute books, legal records, scrapbooks, clippings,
pamphlets and newsletters all pertaining to the YMCA
business and activities.
Series E 10/1/1-2. - Minute books. -
14 cm. - 1907-1930, 1933
Minutes of the meeting of the Board of Directors and
committees of the Fort William YMCA contained in two
bound volumes.
1) 1907-1913, including subscription lists, from
September 1907. Entries are both in hand script and
type.
2) 1914-30, 1933, entries are mostly typed.
Series E 10/2/1. -: Legal records. -
1 cm. - 1912-1981
The legal records of Fort William YMCA including the
deed of land (1912) for the property on Archibald
Street, the mortgage was taken in 1927, the purchase
of the land near Lake Shebandowan in 1941, tax
exemption and various legal correspondence. Also
contains letters and documents relating to the
disposition of the property of the Port Arthur YM and
YWCA in 1975 and 1981 (350 Red River Road). It is all
contained in one file.
Series E 10/3/1-10. - Scrapbook and
files of clippings. - 30 cm. - 1949-1976
Newspaper clippings of the YMCA and YWCA
activities:
1) Port Arthur YM-YWCA, 1949-1966.
2) Fort William YMCA, 1953-1956.
3) Fort William/Port Arthur YM-YWCA, 1956-1957.
4) Fort William YMCA, 1958-1962.
5) Fort William/Port Arthur YM-YWCA, late 1960s.
6) Fort William/Port Arthur YM-YWCA, 1969-1970.
7) Fort William/Port Arthur YM-YWCA, 1970-1971.
8) Fort William/Port Arthur YM-YWCA, 1972.
9) Fort William/Port Arthur YM-YWCA, 1973-1974.
10) Fort William/Port Arthur YM-YWCA, 1971-1976.
Series E 10/4/1. - Miscellaneous
records. - one file. - 1912-1975
Pamphlet, 1912-13 (Fort William YMCA). A president's
report from the Port Arthur YM-YWCA, 1966. A
newsletter, Y's Worker, June 1970. Plus
letters, financial statements and a membership tally,
from 1966-1968.
Notes
Custodial History. - Donated in 1985 by H.C.
Holman, of 2702 Churchill Drive. It was catalogued in
1987.
Related Material. - See also photographs
catalogued in the photo collection, 987.30.1-251.
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