Fonds consists largely of records created and collected by members of the Magrath family, including the Reverend James Magrath and his children, in the course of administering and occupying their farming estate (called Erindale) on the Credit River. Fonds includes correspondence, legal and financial records and ledgers, and plans of the estate and environs. There is also a small amount of material added to the fonds by later descendants of the family, including family histories and annotated transcriptions of the earliest Magrath correspondence.

The bulk of the correspondence consists of personal letters between family members, including James Magrath and his children, and most is written to Charles Magrath while on a trip to Ireland. Letters are largely concerned with family and personal affairs.

Note that the Magrath family correspondence includes occasional references to the activities of the First Nations (Mississauga Anishinaabe) people of the Credit area at that time referred to as the Credit Indians. The nature of these references is influenced by the perspective and prejudices of the Magraths.

The fonds comprises the following six series:

Series 1: Correspondence
Series 2: Legal records
Series 3: Financial records
Series 4: Family history records
Series 5: Erindale Estate maps and plans
Series 6: Transcriptions

Item is a composite image created from two separate photographs detailing the boundaries of the Toronto Purchase between the Crown and the Mississaugas of the Credit. The original sale is dated to 1787, however there were questions raised about the legitimacy of the documents and about the delineation of the land. In 1805 a formal purchase was documented and is referenced in the text of the item. William Claus, the Deputy Superintendent of Indian Affairs, signed on behalf of the Crown.

Fonds consists of records created and collected by Agnes Effie Sands Mern and other members of the Wawanosh family. Included are records relating to the life and work of various family members. In particular, the fonds contains records relating to the work of Joshua, David and William as chiefs of the Chippewas of Sarnia. Also included are the personal records of the family including correspondence, financial records, memorandum and account books and personal records relating to births, marriages and deaths. The records of most of the family members are intermingled, possibly a reflection of how Agnes Sands Mern kept them. Also included are the records of Agnes Effie Sands Mern (which make up the majority of the fonds) including her correspondence, financial records (including the records of the Wawanosh Post convenience store), records relating to her musical and artistic interest and records relating to her work in the Church and her activities organizing cultural events and concerts. Also included are the records of Agnes' husband John Phillips Mern such as his correspondence, financial records, notebooks and personal records relating to his son John P. Mern Jr.
Fonds also contains several sketches of members of the Wawanosh family as well as a large assortment of photographs. Photographs include portraits of family members, ministers and missionaries, friends and others as well as images depicting the daily life and travels of Agnes and John P. Mern. Photographs of John P. Mern consist of several albums documenting his time in the US navy and the childhood of his son. Several photographic processes are represented including tintypes, cartes de visite, cabinet cards, postcards and prints.

Fonds consists of a letter book kept by John Brant during his time serving as resident superintendent of the Six Nations of the Grand River. In it, he recorded outgoing correspondence as well as proceedings of general councils of the Six Nations. James Winnett recorded council proceedings in the letter book following Brant's death for the years 1833 and 1834. The letter book contains an index.
Also included are four loose letters that were found in the letter book dating to after the death of Brant. Letters touch on subjects such as the survey of drowned lands, navigation of the Grand River, Six Nations Chiefs waiting on the Governor General and the settlement of claims in Brantford.

This fonds reflects Dr. Peter S. Schmalz’s career as an educator, researcher and author from the late 1960s to early 2000s. He used these resources in the creation of a Master's Thesis, a Doctoral Thesis, numerous learned articles, several books, and reports for the Ministry of Natural Resources, First Nations communities, the provincial government and federal government. The focus of his research and writing concerned First Nations as well as Town of Walkerton history.

This fonds includes over 700 published books (not including duplicates) which reflect Dr. Schmalz's primary interest in aboriginal contact with Europeans.

The fonds also consists of documents related to the history of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation Territory (Saugeen First Nation and Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation) which reflect the communications and relationship between the First Nations and the Imperial and Canadian governments. These documents consist of photocopied records, many of which were copied from microfilm held by the National Archives of Canada, including material from NAC's reference number RG 10 (parts of the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development fonds). Records also include microform, brochures, audiotapes and videotapes, newspapers and clippings, magazines and research cards.

Material in the fonds also reflects the history and experience of First Nations across North America.

The material further reflects Dr. Schmalz’s leadership in education, particularly as it relates to both the education of First Nation students and the education of others about the history of First Nations. Records relate to a co-operative education project, field archaeology and native studies summer course, as well as curriculum created by Peter Schmalz and other education resources.

Dr. Schmalz’s work, activities and interests are also reflected through his correspondence, publications, theses, and essays.

Finally, the fonds consists of articles, maps and original records reflecting Dr. Schmalz’s interest and research concerning the history of the Town of Walkerton and other regional history resources.

Series / File List:

Series 1 Research library of published books
File 1 Books about books
File 2 North American Native books
File 3 Canadian Indian archaeology books
File 4 Canadiana books
File 5 Non-Canadian books
File 6 Local history books
File 7 Black studies books
File 8 Music books and sheet music

Series 2 Saugeen First Nation and Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation related documents
File 1 Saugeen-Nawash rights and claims
File 2 Newspaper clippings, articles and manuscripts
File 3 Microform
File 4 Experience '81 project
File 5 Fishing rights
File 6 Bruce County censuses
File 7 Potawatomi among the Saugeen and Cape Croker
File 8 Currently not open to the public
File 9 Saugeen First Nation and Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation publications
File 10 Research cards

Series 3 North American First Nations resources
File 1 Visual materials
File 2 Theses and manuscripts
File 3 Published works
File 4 Letters, working papers, reports and other records
File 5 Audio and video materials
File 6 Newspapers, magazines and journals
File 7 Black studies resources

Series 4 Education
File 1 Co-operative education project
File 2 Reports and documents concerning development of education of First Nations people
File 3 Curriculum created by Peter Schmalz
File 4 Field Archaeology and Native Studies summer course
File 5 Education resources
File 6 Reservation : a role-playing simulation game

Series 5 Personal documents and publications
File 1 Correspondence
File 2 Manuscripts, theses and essays
File 3 Published books, articles and related documents
File 4 [There is no file 4]
File 5 Conferences and trips
File 6 Restricted reports
File 7 Miscellaneous personal documents

Series 6 Walkerton and area history resources
File 1 Research notes and newspaper clippings
File 2 Arthur James Kendall murder trial
File 3 Original records
File 4 Articles, manuscripts and reports
File 5 Photographs

Series 7 Regional history resources
File 1 Reports and photocopied documents
File 2 Articles and manuscripts
File 3 Maps

The Diocese of Moosonee Synod Office fonds attests to the work of the administrative body that oversees Anglican missionaries and clergy within the Diocese of Moosonee. The fonds focuses on the James Bay area in northern Ontario and north-western Quebec, although records document the growing importance of communities south of the James Bay over the course of the 20th century. Early records document the work of Anglican missionaries such as John Horden, Thomas Vincent, James Edmond Peck, and G.W. Walton in communities such as Moose Factory, Fort George, and Fort Albany. Missionary accounts of the harsh climate and difficulties navigating the northern terrain are coupled with accounts of religious ceremonies and interactions between clergy and European settlers employed by the HBC in the fur-trade and other industries, as well as interactions with Indigenous populations, most notably the Cree, who were established in the Moose River region prior to the arrival of Europeans. Records contain missionary accounts of daily life in the north and focus on clergy members’ involvement in the community, their family life, administrative matters between the church and the HBC—Diocesan property was leased from the company initially—, trapping and hunting statistics, as well as the basic necessities for surviving the winter months; annual grocery and supply lists sent south are included. As the majority of the content was created by clergy, the records document a Eurocentric-Anglican perspective, although due to the substantial Indigenous population in the James Bay Area, many of the records document changes to Indigenous communities as a result of European contact. The fonds documents some of the earliest interactions between Anglican missionaries and First Nations, Inuit, and Métis populations, although records become more plentiful after the official creation of the Diocese of Moosonee in 1872. The records of various Bishops, Archdeacons, and clergy members illustrate the structure of the Anglican Church and the administrative interactions between the Diocese and the parishes that it oversees. Records also document the financial relationship between the Diocese of Moosonee and the CMS, the MSCC, and the Anglican Forward Movement. These associations provided financial support to Missionary Diocese of the Anglican Church.

Changes in the social, cultural, and economic fabric of the many communities that make up the Diocese of Moosonee are also evident within the records. Records track the movement of communities including: Albany’s relocation to Kashechewan and Fort George’s relocation to Chisasibi. The rise in industrial interest in the north, especially in hard rock mining, followed by a boom in immigration to northern communities starting in the early half of the 20th century are reflected in the growing demand for parishes across northern Ontario and western Quebec. The Diocesan administration also wrote about and considered other matters including: changes to provincial education systems, municipal power initiatives, transportation, agriculture, and many other Municipal, Provincial, and Federal issues. Records also document broad shifts in policy concerning Indigenous populations from the signing of Treaty No. 9 in 1905 through the Indian Residential School era of the mid-20th century, the period of Indigenous emancipation starting in the 1960s, and the period of reconciliation in the early 21st century.

The fonds consists of correspondence sent and received by clergy, including all Diocesean Bishops; meeting minutes from Diocesan Executives, Synods, and various other committees managed by the Diocese, as well as those meetings concerning individual parishes. Photographs depicting clergy, residents, towns, cities, cultural activities, hunting and fishing, religious ceremonies and celebrations, amongst many other activities, are included. Videotapes, as well as legal and financial records, missionary and Bishop’s journals, diaries, and account books document the foundation of the Diocese and describe the relationship between the Diocese, its parishes, and the communities to which those parishes serve. The records inform us of the administrative functions of the Synod Office including: hiring clergy and overseeing matters of finance. These records also illustrate the different networking relationships between the Diocese and the General Synod, the Diocese and churches of other denominations, and the Diocese of Moosonee and other Anglican Dioceses. Moreover, the records give insight as to the daily existence and development of the many communities within Northern Ontario and north-western Quebec that make up the body of the Diocese of Moosonee. Liturgical records of individual parishes are not found in this fonds.

Fonds consists of documents from Miriam A. Leith’s experience participating as a volunteer with the Indian Eskimo Association at Broughton Island, Northwest Territories. 

The fonds consists of 1 box of textual records and 7 audio tapes. The fonds consists of research notes and 7 tapes of interviews with the Tyendinega Mohawk elders relating to the research, writing and production of Rona Rustidge's book "Tyendinega Tales".

The William G. (Reindeer) Walton fonds consists mostly of his personal correspondence, reports, photographs, and of books he helped translate into Cree and Inuktitut. The documents attest to Walton’s missionary work and his relentless dedication and hard work to get the governments and the population in general interested in the conditions of life of the population of the James Bay and Hudson Bay area.

There is an extensive series of correspondence with Walton’s wife Daisy (née Spencer) and his children. In the letters to his fiancée there are some ‘courtship letters’ but he also reports of his daily activities at the mission or when travelling in the diocese. Later letters describe the life of the people and the missions of Kuujjuarapik and Whapmagoostui* (previously known as Great Whale River) and Fort George as well as his different meetings and activities while in England. The correspondence with his children is more on their activities at the school they are attending in Ontario or in England.

While the correspondence with family and friends is more personal, the correspondence with HBC managers reports on the different posts, hunting, incidents and life at the post. Some of the correspondence with the Bishop of Moosonee and or with different missionaries and the Treasurer of the diocese, concerns the missionary work at different missions.

Reports, briefs, correspondence with the government and with different organizations address the life and conditions of the communities of the James Bay area and the many challenges the Indigenous Peoples were facing. The need for care, food and his project of introducing reindeers into the region is well represented and documented. Correspondence with American groups and researchers on the integration of reindeer in Alaska, or with different government agents attest to all his research and efforts on this matter.

The lantern slides and images depict the culture, way of life, and landscapes of the area, as well as some of the starvation of the early 1900’s in Indigenous communities of the James Bay and Hudson Bay area.

*Kuujjuarapik is the Inuk name for Great Whale River and Whapmagoostui is the Cree name for Great Whale River.

The fonds contains textual and photographic records of Roland Cloutier’s involvement in Northern Ontario’s lumber industry. It provides information on some of the Hearst area lumber companies and on organizations such as the Hearst Lumbermen’s Association and the Ontario Lumber Manufacturers’ Association. The fonds also includes documents pertaining to the Hearst Forest Management company, the Northern Ontario Development Corporation, and to René Fontaine in his role as a member of the Ontario legislature and minister in the Ontario government. This is complemented by government reports, studies analyzing the situation and needs of the lumber industry and of Northern Ontario’s economy, handbooks relating to the working practices of the industry and maps mostly illustrating cutting rights in the forest of the region.

The Canadian Association in Support of the Native Peoples (CASNP) collection consists of the documentation accumulated by the CASNP. There are no administrative files or other records that address the administration or activities of the Association.

The resources consist of photocopies of newspaper clippings, reports, studies, and statistics. The documentation accumulated by CASNP provides an overview of the life conditions and status of Indigenous Peoples (First Nation, Inuit and Metis) in Canada for over 20 years. Most of the files concern Indigenous communities in Canada but some files address situations of Indigenous Peoples in the U.S.A., Mexico, New-Zealand, Australia and Africa. The different documents are filed under topics and cover many issues such as: education, rights, economy, life conditions, culture, racism, health, government policies (federal, provincial and municipal), as well as Indigenous associations at different political levels.

This collection is comprised of research files, published articles, government documents, reports and supporting documents all pertaining to Aboriginal issues in Canada. The materials were deposited by the Indigenous Studies Department, Trent University. Some documents were reallocated to the Government Documents section of Bata Library, some were returned to the Indigenous Studies Department, and those deemed to be of archival value are represented herein.

Fonds relates to Lavack's work as a District Consultant with the Youth and Recreation Branch of the Ontario Department of Education. The fonds mainly consists of reports on seminars, conferences, programs, and studies regarding Indigenous education in Northwestern Ontario.

Fonds includes minutes, records, and other documents pertaining to the formation of Aboriginal Strategy Circle in the Kawarthas.

Fonds consists of terms of reference, minutes, meeting dockets, reports, correspondence, subject files, and graphic materials.
The fonds includes the records of the Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples (1995- ), Sacred Circles, as well as the records of the department of Indigenous Ministries.

Fonds consists of correspondence, meeting agendas and minutes, reports, photographs, tapes of WSA meetings, news releases, newspaper articles, legal documents, and publicity materials pertaining to the WSA. Also included are background documents and discussion papers for the Forestry/Land Use Management Plan developed by the WSA, and research materials (primarily photocopies) pertaining to forests and logging, fish and fisheries, wildlife, biodiversity and environmental matters.