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Archival description
Ken Verrell Collection
Collection · [ca. 1851-2010]

Collection contains several thousand items, including correspondence, photographs, personnel records, financial records, subscription books, lease agreements, maps, plans and drawings from a number of railway companies that operated in Elgin County. This includes the Michigan Central Railroad, the London & Port Stanley Railway, the Pere Marquette Railway Company, the Grand Trunk Railway, the Wabash Railroad Company, Canada Southern, the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Company, the Canadian National Railways, the Canadian Pacific Railway, and the Consolidated Rail Company (Conrail), as well as many of their subsidiary companies. There is a strong emphasis on the Michigan Central Railroad and the London and Port Stanley Railway.

The collection provides insight into the day-to-day interactions between local businesses, residents and the railway companies that were operating in Elgin County and increases our understanding of the county’s economic development over time. The collection documents changes in the county’s built environment as a result of the development of railway in the area, and illustrates the evolution of railway technology from early steam engines to electrified and high-speed rail.

The collection also includes personal records belonging to Ken Verrell, reflecting his role in various local organizations and his interest in railway history.

The collection is arranged into the following series:
-Photographs series
-Postcards series
-Michigan Central Railroad Records series
-Canada Southern Railway Records series
-Pere Marquette Railway Records series
-Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Records series
-London and Port Stanley Railway Records series
-Grand Trunk Railway Records series
-Wabash Railroad Records series
-Canadian Pacific Railway Records series
-Canadian National Railways Records series
-Conrail Records series
-Miscellaneous Railways Records series
-General Railway History series
-St. Thomas Railway History series
-Labour Unions Records series
-Elgin Photographic Heritage Society Records series
-Elgin County History series
-St. Thomas History series
-Personal Records and Memberships series
-Miscellaneous Records series
-Newspaper Clippings series
-Audio-Visual series

Verrell, Ken
Archibald McLachlin fonds
Fonds · 1853-1926

The fonds reflects the history of Archibald McLachlin and his family from 1859-1926. The textual records consist of his correspondence, financial records, business records, documents related to his duties as returning Officer for West and East Elgin, and minutes and reports for Alma College. Also included are financial and business receipts pertaining to Walter McBrien, a family relative, and various discrete items retained by McLachlin and his family. The fonds is arranged into the following series:
-Personal papers series
-Business records series
-Returning Officer for West Elgin and East Elgin series
-Alma College series
-Walter McBrien series

McLachlin, Archibald
Fonds · 1854-2000

This fonds contains records pertaining to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) St. Thomas Lodge #32 (Elgin Lodge). Records include membership and financial records, historical documents, meeting minutes, bylaws, and facility records.

Records are organized into the following series:

1.Meeting Minutes, 1949-1993

  1. By-Laws, 1922-1952
  2. Membership Records, 1854-2000
  3. Officers’ Roll Book 1926-2000
  4. Financial Records, 1854-1997
  5. Historical Documents, 1854-1878, 1978, 2000
  6. Facility, 1951-1953
  7. Cemetery, 1951-1979
Independent Order of Oddfellows Elgin Lodge No. 32
William Murch fonds
Fonds · [ca. 1860-1890]

Fonds contains letters, notes and other documents collected by William Murch in his personal life and career as a bookseller and is arranged into the following series:
-Personal Records series
-Business Records series
-Publications series

Murch, William
Ned Sparks Family fonds
Fonds · 1860-1998

This fonds consists of the records generated by Ned Sparks and his family ([18--?]-1969), detailing his family history, life, and professional career. The majority of the records pertain to his childhood and family in St. Thomas, Ontario, as well as to his later professional career as a film star, comedian, and performer. Much of the records are believe to have been compiled by his sister, Gladys Sparkman.

The fonds is arranged into four series, including: postcards, publications, correspondence, and newspaper clippings.
-Photographs, ca. 1860-ca. 1975
-Correspondence, 1904-1998
-Postcards, 1905-1928
-Newspaper clippings, 1936-1938

Sparks, Ned
Fonds · [ca. 1860s-1880s]

Fonds consists of a photograph album, possibly kept by Mrs. George Wegg Sr. or Mr. George Wegg Jr., both of St. Thomas. The album contains 95 photos, predominantly featuring members of the Wegg and Marlatt families as well as friends and others.

Wegg (family)
Ruby Copeman fonds
Fonds · ca. 1865-1971

Fonds consists of two photograph albums and three photographs once belonging to Ruby Coleman. She is pictured in a few of the photographs. The remainder of the photographs are unidentified, but are likely members of the Copeman family. Many of the photographs were taken by early St. Thomas and Aylmer photographers. Also included is a 1971 newspaper clipping. Fonds is divided into the following series:
-Photographs, ca. 1865-1910.
-General History, 1971.

Copeman, Ruby
Paul Baldwin fonds
Fonds · 1870-2013

Fonds contains research files compiled by local historian Paul Baldwin relating to architecture and architects in St. Thomas and Elgin County, principally related to the work of John T. Findlay and Neil R. Darrach with an emphasis on Darrach. Also includes information on David Kilpatrick, Elgin County's first architect, as well as research notes that informed Baldwin's "Legacy" column published in "Community News". Finally, fonds contains original architectural plans created in circa 1903 by Neil Darrach for the St. Thomas Public Library building, as well as a photocopy of a plan for the residence of R.A. Cook.

Baldwin, Paul
Fonds · 1872-1962

Fonds consists of various records created and maintained by the Michigan Central Railway. Fonds includes:
•Record of locomotives through St. Thomas shops for classified and unclassified repairs, with history of individual rail motor cars, 1936-1959 (R6 S1 Sh3 B7)
•Locomotives repair/ maintenance logbook, with index, 1902-1936 (also contains a colour depiction of a standard type Grant locomotive, 1873 and a certificate dated November 13, 1962 attesting that R.G. Ray is a life member of Charity Lodge No. 5, B. of L.F. and E. (Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen) (R6 S1 Sh3 B7)
•Index of railway engines acquired and disposed of, 1880-1907 (R6 S1 Sh3 B7)
•In volume with running head "Record of Traveling Auditor's Reports and Bond of Agent", records of the certification/ qualification, discipline and dismissal etc. for Michigan Central Railway engineers and firemen, 1872-1909. Not indexed. (R6 S1 Sh1 B3)
•Records of the certification/ qualification, discipline and dismissal etc. for Michigan Central Railway engineers and firemen, 1872-1931. Indexed. (R6 S1 Sh1 B3)
•Record of enginemen, 1903-1930. Not indexed. (R6 S1 Sh3 B3)

Michigan Central Railroad Company
Archibald Love fonds
CA ON00354 F 0010 · Fonds · 1872 - 1876

This fonds consists of five legal documents. Four are "release to executor" documents drawn up and signed upon payment of legacies from the will of the late Archibald Love of Dunwich Township, Elgin County, Ontario, 1872-1876. There is also a document indicating the payment of money to various recipients by Catherine Love and Mary Love in 1876 and relinquishing any further claims by the recipients. Each indicates the amount of money received, familial relationships, and locations of the recipients. Some occupations are also noted.

For full archival description please see: https://uwinarchives.accesstomemory.org/archibald-love-fonds

Love, Archibald
George Gray Collection
Collection · 1878-2005

Records relating to George Gray's life and career in St. Thomas. Fonds includes the following series:
-St. Thomas Collegiate Institute
-Parkside Collegiate Institute

Gray, George
Rev. Robert Warner fonds
Fonds · 1879-1926

The Rev. Robert Warner fonds contains records created, collected and maintained by Rev. Dr. Robert Ironsides Warner during his tenure at Alma College in St. Thomas, Ontario, from 1881-1924. The fonds is arranged into the following series:

Sermons, Essays and Speeches series
Publications series
Notebooks series
Scrapbooks series
Miscellaneous Records series

Warner, Rev. Robert
McRae Family fonds
Fonds · 1885-2004

The McRae Family fonds contains records and photographs of the McRae, Cook, Matheson, Hodges, Gray and McKenzie families, which was maintained by Mary Belle Cook (nee McRae). These families were originally from Scotland and settled in the West Lorne, Aylmer and St. Thomas areas. The fonds is arranged into the following series:

Family Insurance Documnents series
Land Records series
Memorials and Obituaries series
Personal Records series
Photographs series

McRae family
CA ON00340 F1351 · Fonds · 1887-1991

Fonds consists of records, including marriages, of Central Methodist Church, St. Thomas, 1887-1925; records, including baptisms, 1922-1959, marriages, 1914-1986, burials, 1937-1974, of Central United Church, St. Thomas (includes Central Methodist Church), 1918-1991

Central United Church (St. Thomas, Ont.)
Fonds · 1890-1912

This fonds consists of financial records maintained by the W.L. Coulter, Insurance and Real Estate business, which was located in St. Thomas.

The records are primarily invoices and receipts from St. Thomas businesses. The fonds is organized alphabetically by the first letter of the name of the business.

Included in the first file is a biographical sketch and photograph of W.R. Coulter, photocopied from the publication "St. Thomas and Its Men of Affairs," 1914.

Coulter, William R.
Fonds · 1895-1906

Fonds consists of the records of the College of the Disciples of St. Thomas, divided into the following series:
-Financial records, October 1895-October 1906.
-Minutes and membership series, 1896-1906

College of the Disciples, St. Thomas
Fonds · January 14, 1897-August 22, 1914

This fonds consists of records created or maintained by the Crothers and Price, Barristers, law firm of St. Thomas. Fonds has been divided into the following series:
-Cash Books series, January 14, 1897-July 30, 1914.
-Miscellaneous financial records series, 1899-1913.
-Day Book series, October 19, 1908- August 22, 1914.
-Receipts and Disbursements ledger series, 1909-1914.

Crothers & Price, Barristers
Catherine Neff Collection
Collection · 1897-2010

Fonds consists of records created, collected or maintained by Catherine Neff. Fonds is arranged into the following series:
-Central United Church, St. Thomas series, 1897-2010
-Alma College Valleyview Satellite Home series, 1980-1990
-Elgin Historical Society series, 1983-1991

Neff, Catherine
Fonds · [191-?]-1988

Fonds consists of records created, collected and maintained by Elgin Co-Operative Services, [191-?]-2007. Fonds is organized into the following series:
Photographs, [191-?]-1988
Miscellaneous Records, 1940-1984
Minutes, 1943-1998
Financial Statements, 1944-1995
Elgin Fruit Growers' Co-Operative Records, 1945-1961
Annual Reports, 1945-2007
Bond Issues, 1965-1975

Elgin Co-Operative Services
CA ON00340 F1999 · Fonds · 1913-1986

Fonds consists of Trustee/Official Board minutes of West Union Mission, St. Thomas; records, including marriages, 1942-1973, of St. Andrew's United Church, St. Thomas, 1926-1986

St. Andrew's United Church (St. Thomas, Ont.)