List of Fonds,
T-Z
A 30
Taylor Family
fonds
1850-[196?]
1 cm of textual records
Biographical Sketch
Adelaide Taylor (died 1986) was born and raised in
York Factory. Her father, Ashton Alston, was Hudson's
Bay Co. factor at the post there and her uncle,
Archdeacon Richard Faries, was missionary. She
married Charles Taylor and moved to Port Arthur where
she was a columnist for the local newspapers. She
also wrote articles in various publications and
children's stories as well as poems.
J.H. George Taylor (born Cardiff, S. Wales, 1886,
died Fort William 1964) moved to Fort William in 1905
and joined the Fort William police force the
following year. He took over from Angus McLellan as
Chief Constable of Port Arthur in 1920 and retired in
1951.
Thomas Richards was steward of the Hudson's Bay Co.
post at Fort William in the 1870s. Mary Richards was
his wife.
Scope and Content
The miscellaneous papers of members of the Taylor
family as well as material that originated with Mary
F. Richards and Thomas Richards, steward of the
Hudson's Bay Co. post Fort William at the end of the
nineteenth century. Deals with subjects of police
work, Mayor C.W. Cox and social activities.
Series A 30/1/1-3 - Files - 1cm.
1) Misc. papers of Adelaide Taylor including
manuscripts of stories, poems and articles, and
correspondence, mostly from the 1960s. Includes a
copy of the Selkirk High School student newspaper,
1962
2) Misc. papers (1905-1952) of J.H. George Taylor
including letters of recommendation, clippings,
correspondence and police reports pertaining to the
case of Mayor C.W. Cox and Eileen Flanagan in 1937.
Also contains books "Church of St. John the
Evangelist" (1959) and "Plan of Offices in the Whalen
Building" (ca.1913)
3) Account, correspondence and land deeds mostly of
Mary F. Richards of Fort William, 1850-1914
Additional Information
Related Material - See TBHMS biographical
file for Thomas Richards
A 2
V.B. Wadsworth
fonds
1922-1924
62 fol. of photocopied textural records
Biographical Sketch
William C. Noxon was Agent General for Ontario in
London England. V.B. Wadsworth seems to have been an
intermediary between Noxon and real estate and
insurance agent Alf Cooper in Fort William.
Scope and Content
These papers consist of personal letters recounting
family matters and official letters regarding
immigration from the British Isles to Ontario,
specifically among William C. Noxon, Alf Cooper and
V.B. Wadsworth regarding a proposal to settle
Hebridean farmers in Northwestern Ontario in
1924.
Series A 2/1/1-25 -
Correspondence
Arranged chronologically, 25 letters in all.
Additional Information
Copy Repository - Originals are in Archives
of Ontario, MV 3085 B- III-5 Wadsworth Papers.
A 89
Charles A. Wass Fonds
Original, 1917-1919
1 file
Biographical Sketch
Private Charles A.Wass (identification # 865750) was born in
England on August 21, 1888. An orphan, he emigrated to Canada
in 1905. There is no information about Wass until he was hired
by Mr. Norman E. Cloes as a labourer on the Cloes' farm in 1913.
Wass enlisted as a Private in the Canadian Expeditionary Force,
and was a member of the 52nd Battalion, Manitoba Regiment. On
November 13th, 1917, he was wounded at Passchendaele and was sent
to a hospital in Hastings, England, to recover. He was killed in
action on the 1st of October, 1918, at the Battle of Cambrai, and
was buried nearby in Canada Cemetery Tilloy Les Cambrai, Nord, France.
He earned both a British Service Medal and a British Victory Medal
for his service in the First World War.
Scope and Content:
The Charles A. Wass Fonds is composed of two series. First is his
personal correspondence written in both England and France during
the First World War, between 1917 and 1918. Also contains papers
relating to the settlement of his estate in 1919 following his death,
including a copy of his will.
Series A 89/1:
Correspondence, 1 file. c.1917-1918 (original)
Seven handwritten letters written by Charles Wass to Mr. Norman E. Cloes
of St. Thomas, Ontario. Most letters include at least a partial date,
and all were written in either 1917 or 1918. The content of the letters
is varied, though Wass does write about meeting his extended family,
and again while recovering from a wound in hospital in England. Other
letters originate from the front lines in France.
Series A 89/2.
Estate papers, 1 file, c. 1919 (original)
Form of Will and seven letters (typed) sent by the Department of Militia
and Defence to Mr. Norman E. Cloes, beneficiary of Charles Wass. All
pertain to the settlement of the late Charles Wass' estate and inquiries
by Mr. Cloes as to the manner of death and place of burial.
Additional Information:
Custodial History: Originally in the possession of Mr. Norman E.
Cloes, Private Wass' beneficiary. Donated to TBMHS by his grand daughter,
Norma Gelinas.
Related Material: See the Lake Superior Regiment Records Series
L 2/2/14 and L 2/4/5 in archives.
Associated Material See
2004.46.1 (Private Wass' British Victory Medal), and 2004.46.2 (a
photograph of seven members of the 198th Battalion).
A 41
John Watsyk
fonds
1949
5 cm of textual records
Biographical Sketch
John Watsyk, mechanic with the Ontario Government,
Department of Transportation and Communications, is a
member of the Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society.
Scope and Content
Series A 41/1/1 - Scrapbook
Scrapbook of clippings from the local newspapers for
the year 1949 dealing with the lumber and sawmill and
the pulp and paper industries, especially the
controversy over cutting rights for sawmill
operations such as Great Lakes Lumber and Shipping
Co. and those of Great Lakes Paper Co.
A 18
Art Widnall
fonds
predominant 1964-1980
24 cm of textual records
Biographical Sketch
Arthur Widnall was born in 1897 in Yorkshire, England
and came to Canada in 1903 where he settled on
homesteads at Silver Mountain and Whitefish Lake. He
moved to Fort William in 1908. His father, Fred,
operated Widnall Dairy until 1930. Art was a noted
athlete and runner competing in the 1922 Caledonian
Games in Calgary. He served in the Royal Flying Corps
during World War I and after the war worked as a
private secretary for the C.P.R.. He later entered
the University of Manitoba, specializing in dairying.
He worked in his father's dairy from 1923-1930, then
became secretary manager of the Fort William Parks
Board and later director of recreation and tourism
director for the City of Fort William. He acted as
voluntary secretary for the Northwestern Ontario
Associated Chambers of Commerce and later became its
president. Widnall was for a long time associated
with the Fort William Chamber of Commerce and, until
1975, Rotary International. He was past president of
the Fort William Rotary Club and district governor of
Rotary International. During World War II he was
chairman of the Victory Loan Sales and Salvage
Committee locally and secretary of the local ration
board. He married Olive Eunice Atkins (school teacher
and artist) in 1931 and had one son, Arthur Lloyd.
Olive died in 1979 and Art in ca. 1982. Widnall was a
Progressive Conservative and served as secretary of
the Fort William P.C. Riding Association in the 1960s
and 1970s. He ran unsuccessfully as P.C. candidate in
a Federal election in the late 1950s or early 1960s.
He served as alderman of Fort William in 1968-1969.
Scope and Content
The Art Widnall papers relate to Widnall's personal
affairs as a member of various clubs and
organizations such as the Rotary Club, the Emergency
Measures Organization and the Thunder Bay District
Municipal League, to his family life and to his and
others' activities on the Fort William Progressive
Conservative Association in the 1970s. Arranged into
two series.
Series A 18/1/1-17 - Files - 13cm. -
[ca.1972-1977]
Files of the Fort William Progressive Conservative
Riding Association:
1) Minutes of meetings, correspondence, notices of
meetings and agenda relating to the Association's
meetings, 1975-1977
2) Minutes, correspondence, notices of meeting and
agenda regarding the Association's Momento committee,
1972-1978
3) Notice of meeting and minutes of Association,
1973-1974
4) Membership file containing lists of members and
workers for the Association, 1976-1977
5) Committee reports, outlines of committee
memberships and duties and includes related
correspondence, ballots, reports, notes and financial
statements, 1976
6) Correspondence--misc. 1975-1977 and that relating
to John Diefenbaker's Dinner, Feb. 1961
7) Constituency Office file containing a budget for
1976
8) Donations file containing lists and letter,
1976
9) Elections file containing 1975 Provincial election
returns for Fort William and minutes from an election
organization meeting in 1974 and a manuscript on
campaign organization.
10) Federal Leadership Convention file, 1976 along
with memos, reports, and minutes, 1975-1976
11) Federal Headquarters correspondence file,
1972-1977
12) Luncheon and dinner file with memos, receipts and
notes, 1974-1975
13) Membership Drive file with letters and memos,
1977
14) President's file of letters, memos, minutes of
meetings, Rocky Albertini's tenure as president,
1972-1973
15) Redistribution file of letters, copy of the
redistribution act of 1975, bulletins, memos all
regarding the federal riding redistribution, 1976
16) Sophia Tuyl file regarding her campaign for
vice-president of the Ontario Progressive
Conservative Party
17) Ontario Progressive Conservative Women's Assoc.
correspondence file, 1973-1974
Series A 18/2/1-29 - Personal Papers
- 11cm. - [c.1964-1980]
26 files containing the personal papers of Art
Widnall arranged chronologically according to
subject:
1-2) two files relating to rental of property at 218
N. Brodie St., 1967-1980
3-4) Three files dealing with Widnall's job as
co-ordinator of the local Emergency Measures
Organization including correspondence with the
commissioner of the branch, 1964-1967
5) Personal letters to and from W.A. Kennedy, 1966
& 1969
6) Personal letters to and from Widnall's niece and
family, 1979-1980
7) Letters to and from George Hees, M.P., 1967
8) Letters and documents pertaining to the leasing of
Loch Lomond watershed by the City of Fort William
from the Fort William Indian band, 1968
9) Articles of agreement between Widnall and Marjorie
Macdonald pertaining to the sale of land at 350 N.
Archibald St., 1929
10) Stock certificate, 1979
11) Newspaper clippings relating to Minaki Lodge,
1974 & 1977
12) Misc. letters to friends and relatives,
1924-1980
13) Letters and clippings relating to Moose Lodge,
1964-1973
14) Letter to and from Thunder Bay Parks and
Recreation, 1973-1978
15) Letters and clippings dealing with the possible
construction of a senior citizen's home on Paterson
Park, 1973-1974
16) Letters and clipping regarding Widnall's
retirement and testimonial dinner, 1976 and his
retirement, 1978
17) File for local Rotary Club, 1968-1979
18) File for Rotary Club International convention in
Minneapolis, 1974
19) Items relating to Thunder Bay District Municipal
League, 1968-1969
20) File relating to U.I.C. claim, 1968
21) Letters and log dealing with vacation to Western
Canada, 1966
22) Letters to and biography of Widnall's son,
Arthur, 1964-1965, 1975
23) Income tax files, 1943-1948
24) Items relating to financial estate of Lance
Widnall, Art's brother who died in 1972
25) Last will and testament of Olive Widnall with
funeral bills and invitations to an exhibition of her
paintings
26) File on Walter Widnall, brother
27) Passport, 1941
28) Score card for track meet, 1923
29) Programme for track meet, 1922
A 5
William Wilson
fonds
1839, 1868, 1872, 1892-1929, 1934
28 cm of textual records
Biographical Sketch
William Wilson was born in Scotland on 20 Dec. 1833
and died in Port Arthur in 1930. He emigrated to the
Lakehead in May 1889 from Ayrshire, Scotland with his
wife Agnes and six children. Their first home was
called Rockford Farm near the present St. Patrick's
Square and three years later they moved to Privick
Hall, six miles from Port Arthur. In Scotland Wilson
was a master miller. In Canada he took up mixed
farming though he seems to have specialized in
growing vegetables.
Scope and Content
The William Wilson papers, arranged into seven
series, are concerned primarily with Wilson's
agricultural pursuits and include diaries, ledgers,
invoices and receipts along with personal legal
papers. His comments published in various newspapers,
contained in series 6, form an excellent description
of rural Thunder Bay in this period. The diaries are
a good source for the study of local climatic
change.
Series A 5/1/1-8 - Diaries - 11cm. -
1893, 1895-1929
Handwritten diaries concerned mostly with weather,
daily chores, seed orders and special occasions:
1) 1895-97 (88 fol.) also includes purchase journal
for 1893
2) 1897-98 (28 fol.) also has copies of two letters
written by Wilson's children
3) 1898-1901 (ca.100 fol.) has seed list for 1900 and
1901
4) 1901-05 (ca.150 fol.) has seed list for 1902 at
back
5) 1905-10 (ca.150 fol.) has seed list for 1907,
implement inventory for 1909 and list of livestock
for 1906.
6) 1911-13 (40 fol.)
7) 1913-21 (63 fol.)
8) 1921-29 (88 fol.)
Series A 5/2/1-2 - Ledgers - 6cm. -
1892-1915
Two ledgers recording the purchase of farm goods and
implements. Recorded chronologically are sales of
goods such as wood, potatoes, turnips and eggs.
Series A 5/3/1-6 - Certificates - 7
fol. - 1839, 1868, 1872, 1903, 1934.
Birth, death and marriage certificates for members of
the Wilson family 1839-1934.
Series A 5/4/1-4 - Deeds - 6 fol. -
1892, 1925
Property deed and related legal papers transferring
one hundred acres in Township of McIntyre to William
Wilson from T.A. Gorham, 1892.
Series A 5/5/1-8 - Receipts and
invoices - 9 fol. - 1901-1902, 1910-1911
Invoices and receipts issued and received by William
Wilson relating to his farming and personal
activities.
Series A 5/6/1-3 - Scrapbooks -
10cm. - [1879-1923]
1) scrapbook containing Christmas and new year's
cards, poetry primarily from before 1900 (14
fol.)
2) newspaper clippings, probably from a Scottish
newspapers pasted over journal transactions from
1879-1881.
3) clippings including Wilson's published letters to
Scottish newspapers in 1890s with some dated as late
as 1923.
Series A 5/7/1-9 - Misc. papers - 22
fol. - 1890-1927
Will, membership tickets, booklets and bulletins.
Additional Information
Related material: see Ken R. Johnson, ed., "The
Wilson Letters", TBHMS Papers and Records, II
(1974), 22-28; Rick Watt, "The William Wilson
Diaries", TBHMS Papers and Records, XV (1987),
40-50.
Custodial History - formerly catalogued into
museum collection 972.23