Fonds 2009.04.112 - Harold C. Adkins collection

Title and statement of responsibility area

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Harold C. Adkins collection

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    Fonds

    Reference code

    CA ON00034 2009.04.112

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    Statement of scale (cartographic)

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    Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)

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    Date(s)

    • 1952-1986 (Creation)

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    Physical description

    4.5 cm of textual records 25 photographs

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    Archival description area

    Name of creator

    Biographical history

    Harold C. Adkins was the last reeve of the Township of Nelson, Ontario. He was first elected in 1952 and served until Nelson Township was annexed by the new City of Burlington in 1957. The township was perhaps most notable for its attempt to annex Burlington rather than allow itself to be annexed by that city. Harold Adkins, affectionately known as “Bud” or “Charlie”, was born on May 11, 1911 at Dresden, Ontario, to Elton James Adkin(s) and Martha Melissa Babcock Adkins. In 1944, he married Ida Constance Friars and the couple had five children: Marie Gale, Suzanne, Judy Anne and Thomas. As an adult he moved to Windsor where he worked as a sales manager for Ford of Canada. During the war he was in charge of shipping tanks overseas. After the war, he again relocated, this time to Cornwall, Ontario where he took on a Ford-Monarch dealership. Ida’s severe reaction to the polluted air there led the family to again relocate, this time to West Hamilton, and then to Burlington, Ontario. At this time, Harold obtained a real estate and insurance brokerage license and opened an office (Harold Adkins Real Estate and Insurance Broker) at the corner of Caroline and Brant Streets. Both Harold and his brother, Lawrence, were Free Masons with Brant Lodge. He entered politics in 1952 and served on city council for several years. He was reeve of Nelson Township in 1957 when it was annexed by Burlington. Adkins died at Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital, Burlington, Ontario on September 30, 1995, following a stroke

    Custodial history

    After Adkins' death his photographs, scrapbooks and memorabilia passed to his wife, and with her demise, to their daughter, Nancy. Parts of the collection devoted to his time as employee and franchisee with Ford have been sent to the Ford Motor Company archives in Michigan.

    Scope and content

    The collection consists of Adkins’ collection of newspaper clippings relevant to his time as reeve, two inaugural speeches, various memorabilia, twenty-five photographs, and a letter from the Burlington Historical Society. The letter contains a news release about the unveiling of the Nelson Township monument which was donated to the City of Burlington by the Historical Society. The ceremony was led by Harold C. Adkins. Photographs in the collection record mostly significant events in Adkins’ career. In most cases he wrote the names of the people pictured, the location, event and date on the front of the photograph. The collection consists of four series. The items in each series are in chronological order. Fonds is comprised of the following series: Series 1: Clippings 1952-1967 Series 2: Memorabilia 1955-1967 Series 3: Photographs 1952-1986 Series 4: Speeches 1956-1957

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    Physical condition

    Immediate source of acquisition

    Collection was donated by Mrs. Nancy Barlett (née Adkins) who supplied most of the biographical information.

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        Open

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        A finding aid is available.

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        General note

        The photographs have been placed into Mylar sleeves.

        General note

        Photographs have been digitized and are available by searching "Adkins" on the Local History page of the Burlington Public Library.http://images.burlington.halinet.on.ca/

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