Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society
Index of Personal Papers


List of Fonds, A-B





A 11
John Allison fonds

1826
9 cm of textual records

Biographical Sketch
John Allison was likely born in Bristol, England, in 1813 and was the great, great uncle of the donor. He was the son of Thomas (b.1781) and Barbara (b.1789) Allison.

Scope and Content
Series A 11/1/1-2 - Notebooks

Two school notebooks penned by John Allison as a boy of thirteen showing a superb example of penmanship. Both were bound at a later date.
1) Entitled "Algebra by J.A. Allison, BOTHEL". 1826, bound in 1860. Written on parchment. Fragile.
2) Entitled "Linear Geography" [1826] bound in 1839 by J. Allison.

Additional Information
Custodial History - Formerly catalogued into the museum collection, 972.89.8-9.


A 90
John Andrews Fonds

Original, 1925-1996
212.5 cm of records

Biographical Sketch
John Andrews was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on February 17th, 1902. His family moved to Fort William in 1907, where he entered the local public school system. A graduate of Fort William Collegiate Institute, he first worked for 18 years with the Western Grain Commission. In 1938, he established his own company, Northland Machinery Supply Company, and it became one of the leading companies in Northwestern Ontario under his direction. The company eventually opened premises in Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, and Sault Ste. Marie. Mr. Andrews sold the company to Westeel-Rosco Ltd. in 1968, and officially retired in 1969. In 1962, John Andrews was appointed to the Lakehead Harbour Commission. He would eventually serve this organization twice as chairman, 1967-1969, and 1975-1977. Mr. Andrews represented the Province of Ontario overseas as a delegate on a Provincial Trade Mission to Italy and Germany in 1967. Many other organizations also benefitted from his expertise. John Andrews was involved in the capital fundraising campaign to establish Lakehead University, and eventually served on the Board of Governors of that institution. He was a long standing member of the Freemasons, a serving brother of the Order of St. John, and a parishioner of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church. Mr. Andrews died in Thunder Bay on May 16th, 1986, survived by his wife of 59 years, Rheta.

Scope and Content:
The John Andrews Fonds is composed of fourteen series of personal correspondence, speeches, financial papers, records, photos, day planners, films, and newspaper clippings spanning 1925 to 1996. Series One through Seven are predominantly composed of personal papers, where as Series Eight through Fourteen relate more directly to Mr. Andrews' company Northland Machinery Supply Ltd., and other organizations
Series A 90/1/1-20: personal correspondence, 20 cm, 1949-1984 (original).
20 folders of correspondence sent and received by John Andrews. Contents include thank-you letters, correspondence between Mr. Andrews and his lawyer J. A. Thompson regarding his will, several Christmas cards, and cards of congratulations received by Mr. Andrews after he announced his retirement in 1969. Most correspondence is typed, but a small amount is handwritten in ink. Arranged chronologically.
1) Personal Correspondence, 1949.
2) Personal Correspondence, 1950.
3) Personal Correspondence, 1951-1953.
4) Private Letters, 1957.
5) Private Letters, 1960.
6) Private Letters, 1961.
7) Letter to Don A. T. Re: Will, 1961.
8) Private Letters, 1963.
9) Private Letters, 1965.
10) John Andrews: Private Letters, 1966.
11) John Andrews: Personal Letters, 1967.
12) John Andrews, Personal, 1968.
13) Thompson, D. A., 1968. (Re: Will)
14) Thank-you Letters, 1969.
15) Personal: John Andrews, 1970.
16) John Andrews, Personal, 1970.
17) J. A.- Personal, 1971.
18) Thompson, D. A., 1972-1984.
19) Misc. Correspondence (re: Arthur Grout and NODC).
20) Correspondence Misc.
Series A 90/2/1-9- speeches, toasts, and addresses, 8 cm, 1960-1983 (original).
9 folders of toasts, speeches, and addresses given by John Andrews between 1960 and 1983. Contents include a speech given at the opening of CHFD Television station in 1972, various speeches regarding the Lakehead Harbour Commission, and an address to the Northwestern Ontario Associated Chambers of Commerce. Also included are copies of speeches given by other individuals which were relevant to Mr. Andrews' interests. Organized in a generally chronological manner.
1) Misc. Speeches and Bulletins.
2) J. Andrews: Toasts, Speeches, 1965.
3) Society of Industrial and Cost Accountants: Panel Discussion - J. Andrews, 1966.
4) Toasts, Speeches, 1966.
5) Toasts, Speeches, etc., 1968.
6) John Andrews- Speeches, Addresses, etc.
7) John Andrews: Toasts, Speeches etc., 1969.
8) Toasts, Speeches etc., 1970-1972.
9) John Andrews, Speeches, 1971.
Series A 90/3/1-29- financial papers, 26 cm, 1945-1984 (original).
29 folders of miscellaneous financial papers such as invoices, receipts, and shareholder reports. All are related to personal expenditures and investments on the part of Mr. Andrews, and have little or no bearing on his business interests and Northland Machinery Supply Company. Contents include tax receipts, bank statements, and hospital invoices from treatment received in the United States following a heart attack in 1978. Arranged, generally, in a chronological order.
1) Misc. Documents, 1945.
2) Tax Receipts and Stocks, 1956-1957.
3) Tax Receipts and Misc. Financial Papers, 1957-1958.
4) Kam Aggregates Ltd., 1961.
5) Kam Aggregates, 1964-1965.
6) Kam Aggregates, 1966.
7) Twin City Gas Company Limited, 1967.
8) Kam Aggregates, 1969.
9) Kam Aggregates, 1970.
10) Westeel-Rosco, 1970.
11) John Andrews - Misc. Receipts, 1971.
12) Kam Aggregates, 1971.
13) Royal Bank of Canada, Monthly Letter, 1971.
14) Summer Camp, 1974. (bills, receipts)
15) Westeel- Rosco, 1974.
16) Clarkson, Gordon & Co.
17) Valley National Bank, Scottsdale, 1977-1978.
18) First National Bank, Minneapolis, 1978.
19) O.H.I.P. Files - Naeve Hospital.
20) Naeve Hospital Etc., April, 1978.
21) Ed Post Realty - Scottsdale.
22) Ebond Epoxies Inc., 1979.
23) Annual Reports.
24) Misc. Financial Papers, 1966-1984.
25) J. Andrews Personal Income Tax, 1973-1975.
26) J. Andrews Personal Income Tax, 1976-1979.
27) J. Andrews Two Island Lake Camp, 1980.
28) J. Andrews Personal Income Tax, 1980-1983.
29) Personal Financial Papers, 1979-1984.
Series A 90/4/1-16- records of organizations & clubs, 23 cm, 1963-1985 (original).
16 folders containing miscellaneous papers relating to John Andrews' involvement with organizations such as the Port Arthur Hunt Club, the Highwater Duck Club, St John's Ambulance, and the Masonic Order. Also, the contents of several folders pertain to Mr. Andrews' involvement with Lakehead University, first in a capital fundraising capacity, and later as a donor and member of the university senate. Organized, generally, in a chronological order.
1) Lakehead College Building Fund, 1963.
2) Nor'Wester (Lakehead University Yearbook) 1966.
3) Nor'Wester (Lakehead University Yearbook) 1967.
4) Lakehead University Development Fund Campaign, 1967.
5) Lakehead University Minutes of Meetings, 1968-1969.
6) Thunder Bay United Appeal, Special Gifts, 1970.
7) Masonic Temple Building Voluntary Fund, 1970-1976.
8) Highwater Duck Club, 1977.
9) Port Arthur Hunt Club, 1978.
10) Professor J. P. Lovekin- L. U., 1980.
11) Lakehead University, 1976-1984.
12) Order of St. John 1981-1984.
13) St. John Ambulance Wintario Capital Grant ‘82 Application.
14) Order of St. John Capital Building Fund 1981-1983.
15) Scholarships, Lakehead University and Confederation College, 1984-1985.
16) 18th Service Battalion (Regimental Senate Constitution).
Series A 90/5/1-8- photos, 13 cm, c.1925-1972 (original).
7 folders and one scrapbook of miscellaneous photographs. Subjects depicted include employees of Northland Machinery Supply Company, John Andrews himself, a 1952 grain elevator explosion, the opening of Keefer Terminal, and a 1972 visit by then Ontario Premier Davis to the Lakehead harbour. The vast majority of the photos are in excellent condition, but not in a strictly chronological order.
1) photographs, 1950-1955.
2) photos & staff at Northland Machinery.
3) photos- re: Lakehead Harbour Commission ship arrival, 1968.
4) John Andrews - Photographs - Lakehead Harbour Commission Opening of Navigation, 10 April, 1968.
5) John Andrews Misc. Photographs, 1960's.
6) Misc. Photographs.
7) scrapbook - Rheta Andrews (McKellar School of Nursing, c. 1925).
8) Valley Camp Coal Official Opening - Photographs.
Series A 90/6/1-12- day planners, 17 cm, 1967-1977 (original).
4 pocket calender books, 1 address book, and 7 day planners used by John Andrews, spanning the years 1967 to 1977. Mr. Andrews noted meetings, events, and other important information on the pages. Many include a list of contact information for acquaintances. Organized chronologically.
1) pocket calender, 1970.
2) pocket calendar, 1971.
3) pocket calendar, 1972.
4) pocket calendar, 1975.
5) day planner, 1970.
6) day planner, 1971.
7) day planner, 1972.
8) day planner, 1973.
9) day planner, 1975.
10) day planner, 1976.
11) day planner, 1977.
12) address book c. 1967-1970.
Series A 90/7/1-11- miscellaneous, 15 cm, 1942-1996 (original).
1) 1 audio tape of an interview with Dr. J. R. Augustine, Annette Augustine, and Dorothy Sutton regarding Rheta Andrews. Dated April 8th, 1996, and conducted by Roy H. Piovesana.
2) 1 large envelope containing certificates earned by John Andrews through his involvement with the Masonic Order. Also contains one certificate earned by Rheta Andrews from the Order of the Eastern Star.
3) a guest book from the funeral services for Rheta Andrews (1995).
4) a guest book from the funeral services for John Andrews (1986).
5) Vacation (Africa), 1970.
6) John Andrews Vacation, 1975.
7) John Andrews Trip to Singapore- Australia, 1975.
8) Misc. (receipts, correspondence, and a hand drawn route map to the Andrews' camp on Two Island Lake. Arranged, as best as can be determined, in a chronological fashion, and compressed from originally 3 folders).
9) Rev. Agnew H. Johnson, Eulogy for John Andrews, 1986.
10) newspaper clippings.
11) Misc., 1971.
Series A 90/8/1-16- Northland records, 14 cm, 1949-1984 (original).
16 folders of records pertaining to Northland Machinery Supply Company kept by John Andrews. Contents include employee reference letters, copies of the sale agreement of Northland Machinery Supply Company to Westeel-Rosco Ltd. in 1968, company donations to the C.D. Howe Memorial Foundation between 1963 and 1967, and papers relating to Mr. Andrews' trip to the 1967 Milan and Hanover Trade Fairs as part of the official Ontario delegation.
1) Supplementary Letters Patent Subdividing Shares, Northland Machinery Supply (1968).
2) Dominion Oxygen (New Plant), 1954.
3) Northland Dun & Bradstreet, 1955-1956.
4) Northland Machinery Staff Meetings, 1960-1965.
5) Estate of C. S. Maxwell re: Northland Machinery Shares, 1962.
6) C.D. Howe Memorial Foundation, 1963-1967.
7) Ont. Department of Economics & Development, Milan & Hanover Fairs, 1967.
8) Westeel- Rosco, 1967-1968.
9) K. A. Powell (Canada) Ltd., 1968.
10) Manitoba Pool # 1 Addition.
11) Northland Machinery Supply Co. Ltd., 1970.
12) Office Furniture & Fixtures, 1970.
13) Northland Machinery Supply Company, 1971.
14) Northland: Employee References, Letters of Recommendation, 1965-1984.
15) Northland Audit Reports and Financial Statements 1957-1962.
16) Northland Audit Reports and Financial Statements 1963-1968.
Series A 90/ 9/1-15- records, 23 cm, 1964-1978 (original).
15 files of records pertaining to the Lakehead Harbour Commission kept by John Andrews. Contents include data on grain elevator operations for 1964-1965, proposed improvements to the Kaministiquia River channel and James Street Bridge in 1966, the opening of the Keefer Terminal in 1967, and Mr. Andrews' trip to the Palliser Wheat Growers Convention in 1976 on behalf of the Lakehead Harbour Commission. Organized, generally, in a chronological manner.
1) Lakehead Harbour Commission Grain Elevator Info, 1964-1965.
2) Lakehead Harbour Commission, 1966.
3) John Andrews Personal 1967, Lakehead Harbour Commission.
4) John Andrews, Personal: Lakehead Harbour Commission, 1969.
5) Palliser Wheat Growers.
6) LHC Photographs 1969-1976.
7) LHC Singapore Trip 1975.
8) LHC 1976 May- Aug.
9) LHC 1976 Sept.- Dec.
10) Lakehead Harbour Commission (1976).
11) LHC Reports (1976).
12) LHC - Mission Bay Dredge Proposal (1977).
13) LHC 1977 Sept.- Dec.
14) LHC 1978 Jan.- April.
15) LHC Miscellaneous.
Series A 90/10/1-6- miscellaneous records, 5 cm, 1960-1977 (original).
6 folders of records pertaining to commerce organizations, committees, and companies which John Andrews served in varying capacities. Included are papers and aerial views given to Mr. Andrews as a member of the Grounds & Building Committee of the Canadian Lakehead Exhibition in 1960, minutes of meetings and various other papers relating to Northern and Central Gas Corporation Thunder Bay Advisory Board, and correspondence in regards to South core development in Thunder Bay.
1) CLE, 1960.
2) Northern Central Gas Corp Ltd.
3) GR Duncan (south core planning studies, 1975).
4) Chambers of Commerce: Northwestern Ontario.
5) Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce.
6) Guaranty Trust Co. of Canada.
Series A 90/11/1-2- clippings, 2 cm, 1954-1981 (original).
2 folders of printed material kept by John Andrews, and organized chronologically:
1) newspaper clippings - 1957-1970. Topics include expansion of Northland to new premises in 1957, John Andrews' retirement in 1969, and news releases of various contracts awarded to Northland Machinery Supply Co.
2) 4 magazines and 2 articles pertaining to John Andrews and Northland Machinery Supply Co., 1954-1981.
Series A 90/12/1-10- films, 28 cm, c.1958-1979 (original).
7 16 mm colour movie films and 3 projector films, relating to Northland Machinery Supply Co. and John Andrews. In good condition.
1) construction footage - unloading of beams; site preparation.
2) construction footage - steel/ metal girders and framework of building.
3) construction footage- roof and exterior work.
4) construction footage- finishing interior; start of shop operations.
5) shop operations- exterior of building and storage yard.
6) company picnic, 1965.
7) company picnic, 1965.
8) company picnic, 1958. (projector film)
9) Northland addition footage, 1965. (projector film)
10) John Andrews on beach vacation at the Buccaneer, c. 1960's. (possibly in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands)
Series A 90/13/1-6- miscellaneous records, 9 cm, 1944-1977 (original).
6 folders of miscellaneous papers relating to John Andrews' involvement with the Northwestern Ontario Development Council. Contents include correspondence, reports, speeches given by Mr Andrews, newspaper clippings, and newsletters. Organized in a generally chronological manner, though several folder overlap the same year span.
1) NODC Misc., 1944-1969.
2) Northwestern Ontario Development Council, 1968.
3) NODC- News clippings 1970-1977.
4) Thunder Bay Electronics 1971 (NODC investment).
5) NODC- Miscellaneous 1971-1977.
6) NODC Resignations, Conflict of Interest 1971-1977.
Series A 90/14/1-4- miscellaneous records, 9.5 cm, 1971-1985 (original).
4 folders of miscellaneous records pertaining to the John Andrews Foundation. Contents include correspondence, tax receipts, bank statements, public information returns, and financial statements for the organization. Organized in a generally chronologically manner, but by record type.
1) John Andrews Foundation 1971-1985 (correspondence).
2) John Andrews Foundation Tax Returns 1977-1982.
3) John Andrews Foundation Financial Statements 1977-1984.
4) John Andrews Foundation Tax Receipts and Bank Statements 1978-1985.

Additional Information:
Custodial History: The majority of the collection was originally contained in seven boxes, and was compiled by local historian Roy H. Piovesana; it was donated to the museum by way of Mr. J. Paterson, N. M. Paterson & Sons. However, in addition to the above collection, Mr. J. Paterson also donated 3 other boxes of material relating to John Andrews. This material has been combined with the other Andrews collection to form the John Andrews Fonds. The contents and labels of each folder in the fonds, for the most part, have not been changed.
Related Material: See biography file, "Andrews, John".
Associated Material see 2004.54.1 (a printing plate for business cards), and 2004.54.2 to 2004.54.8 (several maps originally from box #6). Also see 2004.72.1 to 2004.72.7 (photographs and artifacts).


A 36
Rosalee Auger fonds

1959
4 cm. of textual records

Biographical Sketch
Rosalee Auger, of Port Arthur, Petty Officer Wrens (Royal Canadian Navy), was appointed as secretary to Esmund Butler, the Queen's press secretary, and accompanied Queen Elizabeth on her royal tour of Canada in 1959.

Scope and Content
Series A 36/1/1 - Papers
Correspondence, arrangement book and schedules for the 1959 royal tour, newspaper clippings regarding Auger's role, and two magazines (The Legionary, Jan., 1960 and Weekend Magazine, Royal Tour Special)

Additional Information
Custodial History - Formerly catalogued into museum collection, 984.118.1, 4-6.
Associated Material - See photo collection 984.118.2-3


A 35
Anne J. Barrie fonds

1913-1914
4 cm. of textual records

Biographical Sketch
Anne J. Harvey came to Prince Arthur's Landing (later Port Arthur, now Thunder Bay) on 26 Sept. 1880. She later married photographer William J. Barrie but was soon widowed. Later she lived in the residence of Thomas Penfold, the local gaoler. In 1913-1914 she was President of the Canadian Women's Press Club, Port Arthur branch. She also taught music. Her brother was editor of the Thunder Bay Sentinel newspaper. Her primary interests seemed to have been women's rights, prohibition and Ireland.

Scope and Content
Series A 35/1/1-2 - Scrapbooks
Two scrapbooks containing clippings, poetry, and notes.
1) Mostly contains clippings relating to the dispute over Home Rule for Ireland from the point of view of Sir Edward Carson and the Northern Ireland Protestants, 1914. Back half of book covers topics such as prohibition and women's suffrage. Indexed.
2) Handwritten notes and references to the activities of the Port Arthur branch of the Canadian Women's Press Club. Mostly clippings on Women's suffrage, poetry, temperance movement, and women's rights. Most entries deal with areas other than Northwestern Ontario, 1914. Indexed.

Additional Information
Custodial History - formerly catalogued into the museum's collection 972.84.5-6


A 58
Wendell Beckwith fonds

1963-1980
174 cm of textual records

Biographical Sketch
Wendell King Beckwith (born 9 Sept. 1915 at Whitewater Wisc., died August 1980 at Whitewater Lake, Ont.) was the son of Raymond Beckwith and Laura Imogene King. His father was a design engineer and inventor. Wendell had a high-school education and attended the University of Alabama (Botany) for one year only. His knowledge of engineering and science was to a large extent self-taught. He worked for a time as a draughtsman and, in the late 1930s to the 1950s, as a research engineer for the Milwaukee Electric Tool Co. as chief development engineer and/or vice president where he designed and patented for the company several pieces of equipment. In ca.1945 he left to set up his own development lab in Whitewater, Wisc., and also worked until 1955 as a freelance consultant with Parker Pen, one of his major clients. He did not invent the ball-point pen as is sometimes suggested, but received four patents covering writing apparatus and machinery.
In ca.1955-56 Beckwith left his job, wife (Betty Mobert) and family (five children: Wendell Jr., David J., Laura, Imogene and Kathleen, who later married Harry Worth) probably due to his desire to do "pure research" into gravitation and radiation. In 1957-1958 he was known to be working for the Gravity Institute in New Boston analyzing submissions for funding. By the late 1950s, however, he was searching for a place of solitude in which to conduct his research. After spending three years at various locations in Northern Wisconsin he moved, in 1961, to Best Island on Whitewater Lake in Ontario. There, with funding from Mr. Harry Wirth, an unrelated American businessman, a cottage was built and Beckwith began his research. Until 1969 he wintered in Wisconsin and spent the rest of each year at the cottage. From 1969 onwards he stayed at Whitewater Lake year round and received frequent visits from friends, members of the group "Outward Bound", and the local Native people. From Feb. 1971 to 1980 his friend Rose Chaltry of Minneapolis lived with him during the summer months.
In the mid 1970s, Beckwith's funding agreement with Wirth broke down after which he relied on friends, family and Rose Chaltry for supplies. Beckwith's status in Canada was that of an illegal alien until 1974. He refused to apply for landed immigrant status, declaring himself a "citizen of the world". Because of his "great assistance to the Indian population of the area" he was granted ministerial permission to stay. His refusal to apply for a land use permit, until 1977, led to protracted negotiations with the Ministry of Natural Resources.
His research was done mainly in the winter. He would sit down before a blank sheet of paper each day and work on whatever topic interested him. The sheets he'd put into binders or folders. He took constant astronomical and meteorological observations. He formalized an agreement with the Ontario government in September 1979 whereby he bequeathed his research notes, papers and experimental apparatus to the people of Ontario on his death.
His research interests were broad, ranging from the magnetic and astronomical forces of the galaxy and historic human migrations to the pyramids and Stonehenge. He showed a great interest in "pi", the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter and he was intrigued by such numbers and how often they recurred in nature. He was also concerned with the connections between astronomical events and the migration of large groups of people. His work suffers from several drawbacks: notably his preference for "popular" as opposed to academic works of science and history for his information and his 1930s high school math.

Scope and Content
The Wendell Beckwith Papers contain the correspondence and scientific notes of Wendell King Beckwith, scientist. Principal series include: incoming and outgoing correspondence with relatives, visitors to his cabin at Whitewater Lake, Ontario, and those interested in his research and lifestyle; sketches, plans and drawings of some of his inventions and buildings; audio tapes; and bound and unbound scientific notes.
Beckwith established his own dating system, abandoning the normal calendar and it seems he began numbering days from the point he moved permanently to Whitewater Lake. This allows for some order to be made of the records though, unfortunately, most of his scientific material is undated. Dates indicated below are approximate except where confirmed by Beckwith. To some extent the dates of documents can be determined by the handwriting as he seemed to have developed a shake in his later years not present at the beginning. This, however, is unreliable. The records were gathered up in haste, years after Beckwith's sudden death in 1980, and placed in boxes apparently in no particular order. This order has been retained with a few exceptions.
His papers appear to contain both rough and finished notes. The former may be nothing more than a few calculations scrawled on a page while the latter are often neatly handwritten with full colour diagrams. He often refers in his rough notes to a diagram or set of figures as having been "plated". This probably means that the rough notes have been rewritten, with colour plates, in a more finished form, possibly indicating a manuscript in preparation (though there is no indication of intended publication).
Series A 58/1/1 - Correspondence - outgoing - 5cm. - [1963]-1980
Wendell Beckwith's outgoing correspondence. Many undated. Many of the letters are very long (one over 100 pages) and some are indicated as not having been sent. All are handwritten in his distinctive style. Beckwith only identified his correspondent by first name so reference to incoming letters is necessary to determine full names. While he starts with local news, all of his letters quickly devolve into treatises on his latest scientific work and thus may be useful as guides to the theories contained in his notes. Letters are in four files and one notebook. A few are photocopies of letters sent to "Alice" and obtained by the Ontario Ministry of Culture and Communications after Beckwith's death.
Series A 58/2/1-19 - Correspondence, incoming - 40cm - 1963-1980
Correspondence addressed to Wendell Beckwith from his family, friends, relatives and business associates. In particular are letters from his father's second wife, Gertrude, his sister Eleanor Lawton (her children are Stephen, James K., Thomas, and Charles D.), Wendell's children (see biographical sketch below) and Mr. Harry Wirth. Filed according to year. All files in this series are at present restricted.
1) 1963 (3 files)
2) 1964 (3 files)
3) 1965 (3 files)
4) 1966 (3 files)
5) 1967 (2 files)
6) 1968 (2 files)
7) 1969 (1 file)
8) 1970 (1 file)
9) 1971 (1 file)
10-11) 1972-1973 (1 file)
12) 1974 (1 file)
13) 1975 (1 file)
14) 1976 (2 files)
15) 1977 (2 files)
16) 1978 (2 files)
17) 1979 (2 files)
18) 1980 (1 file)
19) undated (1 file)
Series A 58/3/1 - Correspondence, incoming (Rose Chaltry) - 3cm. - 1966-1978
The incoming correspondence of Rose Chaltry of Minneapolis and Whitewater Lake, Ont., who from 1971-1980 stayed with Wendell Beckwith during the summer months. One file. Presently restricted.
Series A 58/4/1 - Personal papers - 2cm. - 1963-1980
Personal papers of Wendell Beckwith including a chart outlining his father's life; a deed of gift of his possessions to the Province of Ontario; prices of indian artifacts bought and sold; birth certificate; prescriptions; accounts and letters of accounts with Hudson's Bay Co. Store and various people in the vicinity of Whitewater Lake (mostly 1964-67); identification; photos from wallet; clippings. One file.
Series A 58/5/1 - Sketches and drawings - 4cm. - 1963-1970s
Sketches and drawings by Wendell Beckwith of buildings, furniture, beadwork designs, animals, inventions, instruments and advertisements done for friends. Two files.
Series A 58/6/1 - Audio tapes - 8 tapes - [1963]-1980
Audio cassette tapes of Wendell Beckwith talking about his work (four tapes), from relatives (three tapes), and of music performed by Indian musicians possibly from the Whitewater Lake area ("Relocation XIT" is written on the cassette). Sound quality of the tapes of Beckwith himself are not good.
Series A 58/7/1-12 - Scientific notes (bound) - 40cm. - 1963-[1979]
Wendell Beckwith's research notes on a variety of scientific problems which he tackled while at Whitewater Lake. It was his habit to start with a blank sheet of paper at the beginning of each day and devote himself to "pure research". These notes, bound in binders, scribblers and with string are the result. Some appear to have been re-written in more finalized form possibly as a manuscript. Notes are mostly undated and many were received in random order, stuffed into boxes. Attempts have been made to resurrect the original order within binders. Subjects indicated below are often unsure.
1) Red binder, undated, on the sphere and the cube. Notes are divided into numbered sections.
2) Black binder, undated, on the motion of the planets.
3) Black binder, undated (Beckwith's own dates are: days 903- 926), on geophysics and planetary motion. Includes colour plates and diagrams.
4) Red binder, 1974, on oscillation and planetary curves, Kepler's equation, time and distance, water density, sphere-cube infusion, capilliary curve and population explosion and water drop universal size studies.
5) Blue binder, late summer 1974, on the development of the spiral (various studies) and gravitation.
6) Blue binder, ca.1973, on Sun-Moon-Earth data and geophysical maps.
7) Brown binder, winter 1973-1974, on pi, sphere-cube, gravitation, planetary motion, geophysics and various other subjects.
8) Spiral Notebook, undated, on pi, sphere-cube, planetary movements, etc. (appears to be in relatively finished form)
9) Spiral Notebook, ca.1974, on pi, harmonics, the interaction of objects, etc. (headed "Book 3")
10) Spiral Notebook, undated, of rough calculations on stonehenge and geophysics.
11) Spiral notebook on diagrams and notes, undated
12) Spiral notebook, undated, subjects unknown
13) Rough notes, possibly spring/summer 1972, subjects unknown
14) Notes on various topics, possibly spring 1972
Series A 58/8/1 - Scientific notes (files) - 32cm. - 1971-1979
The scientific notes of Wendell Beckwith contained in 24 files. Most are rough notes though some contain colour plates of diagrams, mostly of the Earth and drawing of inventions such as an outboard motor and a ball point pen. Files are arranged chronologically as best can be determined. Notes were received largely in random order except for those contained in old folders.
Series A 58/9/1 - Scientific notes, current - 32cm. - 1979-1980
Files of notes in use at the time of Beckwith's death in 1980. Each is labeled with subject including gravitation, math and trig. procedures, time, numbers, pi, carbon dating, circles, planetary motion, the chromatic spectrum, tree-ring studies, polar axis movement, and Stonehenge. Also contains daily logs of observations (astronomical and weather mostly) and various publications relating to Stonehenge. Most files have been labeled and created by Beckwith.

Additional Information
Custodial History - The Government of Ontario legally transferred Beckwith's papers to the Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society in 1988 before which they were stored at the Thunder Bay Museum. Legal ownership of the material was challenged unsuccessfully in the courts by Harry Wirth before transfer to the Museum Society.
Associated Material - See 989.103 for artifacts and photographs that came with the papers.
Related Material - See biographical file for Beckwith.
Restrictions - Incoming correspondence is currently unavailable for research.


A 28
Bernard Black fonds

1873-1958
11 cm of textual records

Biographical Sketch
Bernard I Black, Q.C., Fort William barrister, solicitor and notary, was called to the bar in 1950 after combat duty with the Lake Superior Regiment in World War II. He opened his practice at 105 N. May St. in 1950-1951. He joined Morris, Babe, Pugsley and Black in 1954. This company acted as solicitors for the City of Fort William at the time and continued to do so until about 1964. He worked for a time as Assistant Crown Attorney, agent for the Ministry of Justice, and as solicitor for the Municipality of Neebing, and CN Rail. Mr. Black formed Black and Hatherly in about 1967-1968 with offices in the Grain Exchange building and practiced on his own from 1971 to his death in 1990.
He was a former president of the Thunder Bay Historical Society and took an interest in collecting material relating to the legal history of Thunder Bay. He was active in the Conservative Party of Canada and stood federally for election. His other activities involved service with the Rotary Club, the Fort William Public School Board and the Roman Catholic Church.

Scope and Content
Legal papers and publications dealing with various legal matters handled by Mr. Black. Covers industrial and business matters such as the location of factories, inter-switching, road construction, mining lands, lumbering, and a taxation dispute. Also deals with C.W. Cox, former mayor of Port Arthur.
Series A 28/1/1-9 - Legal files - 8cm. (Includes some photocopies)
1) File of correspondence regarding the application of the Empire Elevator Co. under the Navigable Waters Protection Act for an order approving its works, dock and elevator, already constructed, 1918-1919. Application is made to the minister of Public Works of the federal government. This involves works constructed prior to 1 June 1918 (i.e. retroactive government approval). Includes petition with description and blueprint plans, titles and deeds as well as correspondence.
2) Misc. legal records: by-laws of Neebing and Fort William, agreements (between the municipality of Neebing and the CPR, 1887), application re: inter-switching at Fort William and Port Arthur, 1938
3) Maps and plans relating to legal records: road encroachments, footpaths, buildings, rifle range
4) Notice of motion in the Supreme Court of Ontario, James Stanley, Reeve and Neebing Enterprises Ltd., vs. the corporation of the City of Fort William (1954). This case concerns the erection of Fort William's first Drive-In theatre.
5) Agreement between Nepigon Mining Lands Co. and the Lake Coast Trading Co. Ltd. for the sale of land known as the Woods location at Silver Islet, 1910. Contains map catalogued into map collection.
6) Subpoenas showing changes in Royal title, 1938, 1952-1953
7) District Court appeal, Abitibi Power and Paper Co. vs. the City of Fort William regarding an appeal of assessment for taxation made by the city's assessor, 1954
8) File of papers, maps, clipping and legal documents relating to the construction of Silver Mountain Road in 1885 (Photocopies of originals in Archives of Ontario, RG 52, Ser. I-A, Box 119)
9) File of legal papers and correspondence relating to the bankruptcy and estate of Charles W. Cox, former Mayor of Port Arthur, 1955-1958. Restricted: not to be opened until Sept. 8, 2007.
Series A 28/2/1 - Publications - 3cm. - 1911-1931
Various publications relating to legal and business matters:
-"The Fort William and Port Arthur Grain Exchange", constitution, by-laws, and rules and regulations, 1911
-The Grain Exchange final distribution of assets
-"The Nipigon Hydro-Electric Power Development", constructed and operated for the municipalities of the Thunder Bay district, Toronto, 1922
-"Respondent's factum in the supreme court of Canada in the matter of tolls proposed to be charged by the Arrow River and Tributaries Slide and Boom Co. Ltd. for all timber passing certain improvements made by it on the Pigeon River, 1931" (Toronto)
-Return in relation to the Pic River and Sturgeon Falls timber limits (Toronto)
-Supreme Court of Ontario transcript of appeal from the Court of Appeal for Ontario in the case of Charles W. Cox (defendant) and George F. Hourigan (plaintiff), 1940-1941. Regards and action to recover plant and equipment loaned to defendant

Additional Information
Copy/Repository - A 28/1/8 is a copy of an original file in Archives of Ontario RG 52 Ser. I-A Box 119.
Restrictions - A 28/1/9 is not to be opened until 8 Sept. 2007.


A 47
Blake-McNaughten Collection

1890-1964
153 cm of textual records

Biographical Sketch
Alexander McNaughten, city clerk for Fort William from 1900-1945, collected and preserved material in and out of office relating to the history of the city. He was born on 23 Dec. 1866 and died 3 Dec. 1945. He came to Fort William in 1890, taught school for two years and then worked at the Port Office from 1892-1900. He assembled a large collection of primary documents from City Hall, clippings from local newspapers and interviews with individuals. When he died his research collection was given to Sidney H. Blake, treasurer of Fort William, 1945-1955, and civic administrator 1955-1965.
Blake was born in 1913, in Fort William, and died in office in 1965. A prominent and active member of the community he was affiliated with the city's housing authority, Neebing Valley Conservation Authority, the Chamber of Commerce, the Home for the Aged, the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, the Masonic Order, the Canadian Legion, Civil Defense, Lakehead Industrial Commission, the Association of Civic Executives, the International city Managers Association, and the Ontario Municipal Association. He graduated from the Royal Military college in Kingston and the University of Chicago. He was a major in W.W. II.
Blake's intention was to publish a book on the history of Fort William, so much of his and McNaughten's material was compiled in manuscript form here.

Scope and Content
The Blake-McNaughten collection is composed of both original documents, mostly pertaining to the business of the city of Fort William, and a research collection of clippings and information on the history of the Lakehead (primarily Fort William). The fonds also includes some documents relating to the Mount McKay Golf Club and the Old Timer's Club. It is broken down into eight series by producer with one, A 47/7, for miscellaneous small items.
Series A 47/1/1-36 - Files of the treasury department, Town and City of Fort William - 29cm. - 1889-1925
1-7) Correspondence (1903-1906, 1912, 1925) including that re: taxation, garnisheed wages, debentures, expenditures, fees, and school board site.
8) Reports to the Minister of Agriculture of existing municipal debenture debts (1907-1908, 1910-1911).
9) Deeds and debentures (1897-1900)
10) Drafts of debentures to be issued (1909)
11) Registry Officer account book (1906) listing occupants and the value of all buildings and a list of owners of all lots in Fort William by street and lists of debenture debts held by the town of Fort William up to May 1905.
12) Liquor license statements (1905-1913)
13) City employee time cheques (1903-1904)
14) Miscellaneous receipts and certificates of registration of births and deaths (1901-1902)
15) Misc. cheques, memos and certificates (1902-12) including city financial statement for 1903.
16) Treasurer's vouchers for town of Fort William (1902).
17) Treasurer's vouchers for city of Fort William (1910-1911).
18) One envelope of 7 Fort William debentures and stock specimins and 2 oversized Neebing debentures
19-36) Fort William treasurer's reports and financial statements, 1896, 1897, 1901-1910, 1913, 1915, 1917-1918.
Series A 47/2/1-17 - Files of the Public Utilities (hydro-electric power, lights, waterworks and civic railway) department of Fort William - 10 cm. - 1893-1926
1) Bids to furnish electric street lamps (1894).
2) Contract and by-laws concerning Fort William's water supply (1894).
3) Correspondence concerning the sale of debentures for Fort William Waterworks project (1898).
4) Report of water and light commission asking for construction of a steam power plant (1898).
5) Three reports on Fort William's water supply by W. Murdoch (ca.1898), A.E. Farncombe (1901) and H.S. Hancock Jr. (ca.1910). and memo of agreement between Fort William and the Dept. of Indian Affairs re: access to water from Loch Lomond (1910).
6) Contract: Fort William and E.S. Jennison to build a waterworks (1898-1899).
7) Letters, telegrams, and clippings re: the power developments of the Hydro-Electric Commission of Ontario (1922).
8) Miscellaneous acts, programs, letters and brochures regarding public utilities of Fort William and Port Arthur (ca.1911-1912).
9) Specifications for Ark, Incandescent and steam plant, ca.1899
10) Specifications for extensions of electric lighting system, Fort William 1903
11) Bylaw and schedules for water and light rates, 1899
12-14) Fort William water, light and telephone system financial statements, 1902, 1906, 1907
15) Hydro-electric commission of Fort William, souvenir booklet, turning on power at Cameron Falls, 1926
16) Report on water supply system, Fort William, 1912
17) Invitation to turning on of Loch Lomond water system, 1909
Series A 47/3/1 - Files of the Public Works department of Fort William - 2cm. - 1894-1895
1) Bills, schedules, petition and assessment data relating to the construction of sewers on Victoria Ave. and Brodie St. (1894-1895).
Series A 47/4/1 - Records of the tax collectors of the Corporation of the town and city of Fort William, E.S. Rutledge, tax collector - 1cm. - 1898-1900
1) Miscellaneous memos and statements regarding the collection of taxes in Fort William, 1898-1900.
Series A 47/5/1 - Files of the Personnel Department of the City of Fort William - 4cm. - 1962
1) Reports and correspondence relating to the City of Fort William staff relations in 1962, including Fort William Civic Employees Federation and City Hall Staff Assoc. records, personnel management reports, salary reports, job titles and descriptions, union/city correspondence, arbitration records and salary negotiations of fire fighters and transit employees.
Series A 47/6/1-9 - Files of the council and town clerk of the Corporation of the Town of Fort William. Files of correspondence arranged by applicant industry for bonuses - 3cm. - 1885-1930
1) Correspondence of Mayor John McKellar of Fort William and George Parker of George A. Parker Flour and Millstuffs, Minneapolis, concerning the erection of a flour mill in Fort William, 1890-1897.
2) Correspondence of Fort William's town council and John King, merchant regarding the establishment of a pulp and paper mill, 1894.
3) Correspondence to the mayor and council of Fort William regarding the building of a blast furnace and rolling mill in Fort William, 1894. D.F. Burk is the main proponent of the scheme.
4) Letters to Fort William town council regarding the erection of a blast furnace in Fort William, 1892.
5) Correspondence regarding the wording of an agreement to bonus the Fort William Car Co. by the city of Fort William, 1908.
6) City clerk's fact book, 1885-1924 with statistics and informatoin about Fort William
7) By law #1517 respecting streets, 1914
8) Clerk's voters' list, 1903-1930 recording the results of Dominion and Provincial elections in local ridings
9) By laws respecting the fire brigade, ca.1890, 15 p.
Series A 47/7/1-4 - Correspondence and minutes from the Mayor's and city clerk's offices, town of Fort William, the Mount McKay Golf Club and the Old Timer's Club - 1cm. - 1903-1910
1) Correspondence originating in Mayor J. Dyke's officer regarding the insurance claims on the recently burned town hall, 1903, transcribed.
2) Claims for damages relating to the typhoid epidemic of 1905-1906 against the town of Fort William, 1906.
3) Minutes of meetings, membership rolls and clippings relating to the creation and activities of the Old Timer's Club, 1905.
4) Minutes of the Mount McKay Golf Club from its inauguration in 1908 to 1910.
Series A 47/8/1-6 - Manuscript binders - 87cm. - ca.1860-1964
Binders of manuscript material written by S.H. Blake and several others, often transcribed from sources such as newspapers, books, city records, and personal interviews. Arranged by subject into twelve binders each broken down into parts and sections by S.H. Blake.
1) Index to seven binders. Some material referred to in the index is missing from the binders as it was removed prior to cataloguing. The illustrations in this collection referred to in the index have been transferred to the photographic collection. See 977.113.1-473
2) Part 1, section I gives a brief chronology of the history of Fort William, the origins of street names and geography. Section II covers the Ojibway Indians -- primarily an excerpt from the diary of J.J. Vickers on treaty making, 1859. Section III gives biographical data on Alexander McNaughten and Donald N. Martin, both Fort William city clerks.
3) Part 1, Section IV recounts the history of the departments, boards, utilities and services of the town and city of Fort William, including cemeteries, schools, hospitals, fire, police and parks departments, hydro-electric, waterworks, telephone, and transit. Illustrated.
4) Part 1, Section V, covers the early legends of the region, early Fort William history in the era of the fur trade, and the early building of a town including topics such as the Riel Rebellion, Jesuits, shipping, grain trade, the C.P.R., personalities of the local Hudson's Bay Co. fort, biographies of early pioneers of Fort William and the political process of incorporation of Fort William.
5) Part 1, Section VI deals with the role of women in early Fort William history. Section VII gives short biographical sketches of many prominent citizens of the 20th century in Fort William along with some of their comments or speeches. Section VIII examines Great Lakes Paper Co. in 1930 and 1964, Abitibi in 1930, the Canadian Car and Foundry Co. and Searle elevator in 1928. Section IX is a short history of four local newspapers. Section X contains a list of some of Fort William's barristers and solicitors.
6) Part 2, entitled: "Political History and the Man and Women who made it Possible", covers topics such as: lists of MPPs and MPs; lists of Mayors and councillors of Fort William, 1892-1964; statistical information such as Fort William's population, tax rate and assessment, 1892-1963; reminiscences of early Fort William; correspondence regarding the town hall fire of 1903; new town hall, 1903; pamphlet regarding municipal ownership 1904; report of the typhoid epidemic in Fort William 1906; advertisements and programs; the postal service; street by-law 1914; agreement with Department of Indian Affairs 1910; speeches of mayors Peltier and Young; Act regarding Mt. Mckay and Kakabeka Railway 1912; the 52nd Battalion.
7) Continuation of Part 2, "Political History of Fort William" covering the following topics: Royal Canadian Legion, Royal Edward Hotel, Monuments, first airport, J.R. Lumby, reminiscences of E.S. Rutledge 1930, municipal elections (reminiscences by A. McNaughten), the sanatorium, manuscript by Mayor R.B. Pow entitled "Fort William" 1936, Grandview Lodge, Paterson Park, sewage disposal plant, post office, public utilities, and various mayors.
8) Part 3: statutes of the Corporation of the City of Fort William, 1891-1960, indexed.
9) List of names and numbers of all bona fide Fort William residents to enlist in the Canadian armed forces during the period from the beginning of World War II to January 1944.
10) Manuscript of 108 pages on "Fort William -- Her Legends -- Geography -- Early History". Covers the history of Fort William up to her incorporation as a town in 1892. Contains much material from earlier binders.
11) Collection of transcribed documents, clippings and reminiscences relating to the legends, geography and early history of Port Arthur, covering topics such as town government, daily life, manufacturing (blast furnaces and shipyards), churches, personalities, reminiscences, education, etc.
12) Political history of Port Arthur with a list of mayors, mostly incomplete.
Series A 47/9/1-4 - Reports, City of Fort William - 1 cm. - 1906-1914
1) The Sanitary Investigation Report by Thomas A. Starkey, 1906
2-3) Fort William Engineer's Annual Reports, 1909, 1910 including reports of City Treasurer and Assessment Commissioner for 1910
4) Report of the Fort William Playground Commission, 1914
Series A 47/10/1 - Programs and by laws - 3 cm. - 1895-1960
Programs and by laws respecting clubs, organizations and events in Fort William, including Thunder Bay Historical Society (1912), Twin Cities Real Estate Assoc. by laws (1909), Curling club (1895), Free masons (1926, 1937, 1942, 1944, 1947), West Algoma Local Council of Women (1945), Oddfellows (1944, 1948), Board of Trade of Fort William (1912), Nanna Bijou Sovereign Chapter of Rose Croix (1938, 1949), Fort William Aero Club (1929), Diamond Jubilee (1927), plaques unveiling (1960), Paterson Sailors' Memorial (1946), coronation of Queen Elizabeth II (1953), farewell concert, 94th Overseas Battalion (1916).
Series A 47/11/1-34 - Publications re: promotion of Fort William - 12 cm. - 1900-1960
1) Post Office Directory, 1900-1901 for Northwestern Ontario
2-5) Annual Reports of St. Andrew's Presb. Church, 1906, 1931, 1935, 1946
6) Fort William, the Future Manufacturing, Industrial and Commercial Centre, 1906
7) Fort William, The Fastest Growing Spot, 1907
8) The Buck-Eye, ca.1908
9) Lake Shippers' Clearance Assoc., 1909
10) The Portal to the West, Mariday Park, 1910
11) Souvenir, Trades Congress of Canada, 1910
12) Municipal Ownership at Fort William, 1904
13) Monthly Guide, 1912
14) The Inland Waterways of Canada, 1913
15) Fort William, Port Arthur, The Twin Lakes Cities, 1913
16) Electricity in Grain Elevators, by H.E. Stafford, 1915
17-19) Annual Reports of McKellar Hospital, 1911-1913
20-21) The Iridos, 1926, 1927)
22) Grain, 1928 (statistics on Fort William, 1910-1927)
23-24) The Oracle, yearbooks for FWCI (1931, 1936)
25-28) CPR publications, 1921, 1936, 1945, 1957
29) Factual Brevities, Fort William, ca.1930
30) Look to Canada for Expansion, ca.1950
31) Fort William, Ont., "Seaport of the Prairies", ca.1963
32) The Fort William Story, 1960
33) Ontario Traffic Conference newsletter, 1963
34) To the Canadian Manufacturers Assoc., 1906
Series A 47/12/1 - Orders - 1 cm. - 1937, 1950
Orders of the 18th Medium Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery, Officers' list (1947) of the 40th Medium Regiment, RCA
Series A 47/13/1 - Misc.
Documents including Grain Exchange advertisement, stock certificates, insurance letters, cheques, elections handbill, notices, deed of land, passport, telegram (Marks to McKellar, 1893)
Additional Information
Associated Material - See photographic collection 977.113.+ and 973.105.+


A 9
Helmer Borg fonds/United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners

1951-1968
11 cm of textual records

Biographical Sketch
Helmer Borg (b. Greefe, Sweden, 25 Dec. 1900, d. Thunder Bay, 3 Oct. 1973), special field representative of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America for the Lumber and Sawmill Workers' Union, primarily local 2693, Port Arthur. He was a field representative in 1953 and was appointed special representative on 26 May 1954. His employment was terminated on 5 July 1958, due primarily to his inability to change with the time (to communicate effectively with modern-day workers). After 1958 he did mostly odd jobs. He lived in Port Arthur.

Scope and Content
The Helmer Borg fonds, arranged into four series, concerns union and labour activities in the forest industries of Northwestern Ontario. The bulk of the material is composed of his reports and correspondence relating to his union organizing activities. The material also pertains peripherally to the dispute within the Lumber and Sawmill Workers Union, local 2693, Port Arthur, which had, just prior to these records being created, been purged of "radical" elements.
Series A 9/1/1 - Reports and correspondence - 7cm. - 1953-1958
Reports of Helmer Borg to local 2693 of the Lumber and Sawmill Workers Union, Port Arthur, and to M.A. Hutcheson, General President of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, Indianapolis, regarding union organization activities in the area between Port Arthur and Sudbury (in particular, Chapleau, Ont.). Also contains some correspondence to and from other officials of the above union -- A.M. Welsby, Albert LaLonde, W.J. Baker, and Frank Chapman. Arranged chronologically in ten envelopes, 662 fol.
Series A 9/2/1 - Letters, manuscripts and misc. papers - 1cm. - 1951-1968
Dated letters, manuscripts and miscellaneous papers, filed chronologically, relating mostly to Borg personally (to his employment and income status). Also includes union cards, tax returns, notices, and permits.
Series A 9/3/1 - Papers and manuscripts - 1cm. - [1950-1968]

Undated personal papers and manuscripts. Includes credentials, invitations, telegrams, expense accounts and manuscripts on a variety of topics including trips taken, the situation in the Lumber and Sawmill Workers Union in 1950-1954 (4 fol.), his job as Santa Claus, first landing in Canada in 1924, the Unemployment Insurance Commission (5 fol.), union organizing in the 1950s and conditions in local industries.

Series A 9/4/1-6 - Miscellaneous records - 2cm. - 1953-1960
Six envelopes of records relating to the Lumber and Sawmill Workers Union, primarily local 2963, Port Arthur. Includes employment slips, letters of workers to camp foremen, contract negotiation proposals, minutes of labour negotiations (1953), union financial reports (1955), vote results (1955), board of labour conciliation reports, applications for certification (1955), letters and bulletins to members (1955-1957), employer notices, agreements with companies (1956-1957), "Ont. Provincial Council of United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners Review" (1956-1957, five issues), list of wages (1950-1957), "Ontario Bushworker" (Dec. 1956 and Feb. 1957), report of conditions at the North Western Pulp and Paper Co. (1956-1958), union financial statement (1957), report of educational conference (1957), filed chronologically in six envelopes:
1) 1953-1954
2) 1955
3) 1956
4) 1957-1960
5) undated
6) lists

Additional Information
Custodial History - Formerly catalogued into the museum collection, 984.74.1-14


A 1

Clifford Brown Collection/Port Arthur Duluth & Western Railway

1875-1921, 1931, 1978
94 cm of textual records

Biographical Sketch
Clifford Brown, resident of Thunder Bay had a long-time interest in the Port Arthur, Duluth and Western Railway (P.A.D.& W.). He collected this material with the aim of producing a book on the Port Arthur, Duluth and Western Railway. Mr. Brown died in 1991 without the book having been completed.

Scope and Content
Mostly newspaper photocopies from the late nineteenth century, including an index to the clippings and research files on the subject of the railway. Also includes files on the history of the areas traversed by the railway line. Arranged into three series:
Series A 1/1/1-55 - Newspaper clipping files - 47cm. - 1875-1921 (photocopies).
55 file folders containing entries from the Thunder Bay Sentinel, the Fort William Herald, the Fort William Weekly Journal and Thunder Bay Mining News, the Weekly Herald, the Daily Times- Journal, the Port Arthur Daily News and the News-Chronicle covering the period from 1875 to 1921. Arranged chronologically. Annotated. Many copies badly faded. Box 1 -1875-89 (22 files); Box 2 -1889-96 (19 files); Box 3 -1896-1904 (9 files); Box 4 -1905-21 (5 files).
Series A 1/2/1 - Index, 27cm. - 1883-1899
Card index to newspaper files and other files of the collection. Files have been rearranged since index was made so locations listed on cards are inaccurate.
Series A 1/3/1-16 - Research files - 20cm. - 1879-1899, 1931, 1978
16 research files all dealing with some aspect of the Port Arthur, Duluth and Western Railway and associated businesses, districts and persons.
1) Capital and revenue account, 1893-1900 and statistical returns of revenue by P.A.D. & W. to the Department of Transport, 1894.
2) Manuscripts, clippings and articles, 19 entries.
3) Railway data, 4 entries.
4) Legal data on the Pawlson mine, 1893, 2 entries.
5) Dept. of Mines report and sessional papers, 1879.
6) Stanley Bottling Works clippings
7) Statutes regarding local railways, list of railway charters, boundary commission report, 1931.
8) Newspaper specials, transcripts, articles and clippings on numerous topics, 20 entries.
9) Correspondence of Clifford Brown, 16 entries.
10) Biographical notes, 12 entries.
11) Misc. correspondence, notes, manuscripts and interviews.
12) Articles of incorporation of the P.A.D.& W. in the state of Minnesota, 1892 and the names of directors, 1890-1899 along with a resolution, 1890; submission, 1890; letter, 1886 and a petition for a subsidy, 1887.
13) Indexes to Daily Times-Journal, Fort William Journal Port Arthur Daily News and the Sentinel.
14)Files of notes, correspondence, seniority lists, maps, clippings, transcripts, manuscripts and details on the C.N.R. and the Atikokan Iron Co.
15) Misc. notes and newspaper transcripts.
16) Proposal for dining lounge and museum at the C.N. Station on Water St., 1978.

Additional Information
Associated Material - See TBHMS 988.72.1-44 for maps and 988.72.45-47 for posters in same accession. Also see "Pee Dee" research file.
Copy/Repository
- for A 1/3/12 - see National Archives of Canada RG 46 vol. 1007 and RG 12 vol. 1861.


A 13
Robert Brown fonds

[1985]
7 fol. of textual records

Biographical Sketch
Robert Brown, school teacher, was born in the1920s and was raised in Fort William. He left Fort William in 1944 and lives in North Vancouver, B.C..

Scope and Content
Series A 13/1/1 - Reminiscences
Robert Brown's reminiscences of his days as a student at Isabella Public School and Fort William Collegiate primarily in the 1930s. Entitled "School Days". Typescript.

Additional Information
Restrictions - Not to be published without permission of the author.


A 44
W.S. Brown Research fonds

1930-1976
25 cm of textual records

Biographical Sketch
Wilbert Stewart Brown, collector, was a former Fort William Police Chief. He was born in 1893 in Valcartier, Quebec, and came to Fort William in 1911. He began his career in law enforcement in 1912 in Fort William, one of a 14 man force and served overseas in World War I. He became a patrol sergeant with the Fort William police force in 1932, a staff sergeant a decade later, and Chief Constable in 1950. He was presented to Princess Elizabeth and Price Philip in 1951 and was involved in the Boy Scout Movement locally. Brown retired in 1958 and died in 1986.

Scope and Content
Series A 44/1/1-8 - Scrapbooks
Scrapbooks filled with clippings mostly from local papers relating to police matters, military, political and social issues, obituaries, and local individuals. Also includes some information on royalty and local economic issues. Arranged chronologically into eight books; all except the last are indexed:
1) 1930-35
2) 1934-41
3) 1941-50
4) 1938-55
5) 1955-58
6) 1959-64
7) 1964-72
8) 1971-76

Additional Information
Custodial History - Formerly catalogued into museum collection: 977.123.1-9
Related Material - See W.S. Brown biographical file and 1977 interview.


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