The future of the Archives is in your hands!!!

To our stakeholders, partners, friends, supporters, and interested parties:

Queen’s University Archives (QUA), in collaboration with Queen’s University Library, is currently engaged in a Library and Archives Master Plan (LAMP) process. Led by the consulting firm, CS&P Architects, Inc., and working in conjunction with the development of a new Campus Master Plan, QUA is engaged in this re-visioning process to address critical space issues facing it within Kathleen Ryan Hall. In order to assist in the guidance of future planning, and to aid the Archives in maintaining sound and responsible stewardship of the records held, your input is sought at this time. You are invited and encouraged to visit http://www.queensu.ca/connect/lamp/about/ in general, and http://www.queensu.ca/connect/lamp/2012/12/13/q2-facilities/ to add input on the strengths and weakness of the current facility and http://www.queensu.ca/connect/lamp/2012/12/13/q1-pla/ to comment of the future of the Archives. Become engaged in this important process. We look forward to receiving your comments, thoughts, ideas, and welcome the opportunity to include them in the final report, scheduled to be released this coming June.

Thank you.

Paul Banfield, University Archivist

Fortune Telling Expedition, Dec. 1860

Fortune, Page 1

Fortune, Page 2

Fortune, Page 3

Fortune, Page 4

In flipping through random files through the Archives, it is entirely possible to stumble across even just one letter that fascinates and astonishes. This week, that latter was found in the John McDonald (of Gananoque) fonds. The account, written by John’s son, Herbert Stone McDonald of Brockville, tells of his journey with ten friends by three sleighs to Farmersville, Ontario (now Athens) to visit a fortune teller on 6 December 1860 (Thanksgiving).

After a dinner at Cole’s Hotel, three of them, Miss Tillie Jones, Mrs. Smith and the author, took their sleigh some three miles outside town to meet with the fortune teller. Each met with the lady in turn, and Miss Jones provided the details of her fortune to Mr. McDonald for his account.

After Miss Jones’ fortune had been told she came to the head of the stairs and called to me to come up and she remained present while my fortune was being told. I poured out the tea just as she had done so and before the fortune teller took the cup from me I told her that my birthday was upon the twenty third day of February. I also made my wish as follows “I wish that I may marry the dear girl now beside me in this room – Miss Tillie Jones.” The fortune teller having examined the cup told me in substance as follows

“You will have your wish. Every fourth year you will not be so fortunate as on other years but you will always be fortunate. You will marry the woman whom you now love. Your wife will die when you are forty one years of age. I don’t think you will marry a second time. If you do you will separate from your second wife. You’ll hold a high government appointment and office to obtain which you will be elected by the votes of the people. You will never be imprisoned. You will never die a violent death. You will be as honest as any man can be and you will never run away to avoid debt.

There is, of course, far more to the fortune, which we invite you to see for yourself in the pages above (and should anyone care to try their hand at transcribing the contents, feel free to place them in the comments section!).

Upon conducting some of our own research, we were able to track the story of Mr. McDonald. At the end of this week, we will post what we’ve found, and whether his life story matched his fortune. Stay tuned!

Fort Temiscamingue account book

This account book was deposited at Queen’s Archives in 1931 by Melville B. Tudhope of Brockville, Ontario. It has remained in our holdings with a minimum desription for many years. The description has read: “Account book relates to fur trade. Contains names of individual aboriginals and their accounts.” The account book came to us without a cover and missing the first two pages as well as perhaps some pages at the end (we are not able to determine this).

Last week the account book was pulled for a researcher and curiosity has had us digging further. Thanks to some cross-referencing and help from Heather Beattie at the Hudson’s Bay Archives in Manitoba, we are almost certain that this account book was from the North West Company post in Fort Temiscamingue. At the HBC archives they have 4 pages of a previous account book for 1809-1810 at the Fort. All names in that book make an appearance in our ledger and the style of accounting is identical. The ledger lists both debits and credits for various Aboriginal individuals and/or their families, listing items purchased and the cost, as well as the credited value of the furs, canoes or services provided (as guide or paddler) in exchange for goods.

Individual family names mentioned in the book are as follows: Chingigan, Quéquétashitch, Sagaqueshcawa, Endianoy, Kishabick, Saganackishkam, Mitassogone (alias Ten Nights), Wabanangay, Awassikigick, Eguiniwina, Monjackipinacy, Eniwishcowa, Misinabigan, Poutchonce, Ogotchitch, Weyouse, Meyawabenwey, Camisquabenokee, Nabikitawa, Oguimanwanaquit, Nawaqueshkam, Nikickoboam, Misigwabe, Seyqueweshitch, Espasawetch, Heniwabenokee, Miscoutiquane, Enénne, Weyassigay, Shwassowiné, Keloweshcawa, Coucatchie, Piquaghkoshtiquanagan, Macatai Ininie, Piquitchinini, Canangiwetch, Wabichinigish, Wabacon, Ochiboy, Omisoe, Wacakigick, Boeref, Oguimankigisk, Misinangay, Capaykigickonce, Neyabinawa, Minawanikigick, Canisawetch, and Sagatap. (transcription errors are likely)

Healey Willan – “O Lord Our Governour” handwritten sheet music for Queen Elizabeth II Coronation 1953

In June 1954, Queen’s University Archives became the pleased recipient of the handwritten sheet music of Healey Willan’s homage anthem “O Lord, Our Governour”, written and performed for Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation on June 2 1953.  It came courtesy of Queen’s University’s Rector at the time, Dr. L.W Brockington, who apparently convinced Healey Willan to donate the sheet music to Queen’s Archives. (location #2055 Box 18)

Dr. L.W Brockington had the sheet music bound and received permission from the Dean of Westminster, The Very Reverend Alan Don, to place the Arms of Westminster Abbey on its cover.

Willan wrote a letter to the University Librarian, Dr. Gundy (to whom the Archives reported to at the time), expressing his pleasure that his sheet music was in “such goodly and honoured company” at Queen’s. His letter goes on to describe how he undertook the writing of the anthem.  Willan letter to Gundy June 1954

The sheet music to “O Lord, Our Governour” is six pages long and is handwritten showing both the choral and instrumental parts. O Lord Our Governour handwritten sheet music by Healey Willan

Healey Willan (1880-1968) was the first non-resident of Britain to be commissioned to write a coronation anthem.

Kingston Penitentiary photographs circa 1890

We are fortunate to have many fantastic photographs in our collection of Kingston Penitentiary. Here are some of our favourites circa 1890.

Irish emigrants to Kingston 1847

On this St. Patrick’s Day, we’re featuring a set of letters describing the situation of the Irish emigrants coming to Canada in 1847.

The letters, dated April 1892, were written by John Wilson who was a steamboat owner on the St. Lawrence at the time of the Irish emigration. In them, he describes his memories of the sufferings of the Irish as they arrived in Quebec after a disease-ridden voyage during the epidemic of 1847. Mr. Wilson wrote these letters to James M. O’Leary, who was in the middle of writing a series of articles for the “Catholic Record” about the Irish emigration.  O’Leary quoted Wilson in his later articles, and O’Leary’s articles were eventually widely used for study by numerous scholars.

This excerpt (seen below), from the April 20 1892 letter, refers to the Irish emigrants coming to Kingston:
“…and as soon as the bulk of the emigrants were disposed of employed some small boats to carry the people direct to Kingston without stopping at Montreal and the result was as I told Mr. Buchanan a heavy loss of life by confining the people for days in passing through the Canals whereas the changing of the people into a clean Boat at short intervals was their very life, …”

The estimated number of Irish people who were admitted into the hospitals at Kingston was 4,326.

Canadian Women Suffragettes

March 8th is International Women’s Day. In honour of this day, we are featuring some Canadian women suffragette material from Flora MacDonald Denison, which is part of the Merrill Denison fonds (her son). Flora MacDonald Denison was President of the Canadian Suffrage Association from 1911-1914, and her home served as its headquarters at the time.The Canadian Suffrage Association often hosted speakers from the U.S to speak on the suffrage movement.

As president of the CSA, Flora MacDonald Denision attended the annual women conventions including the International Women’s Suffrage Alliance in Budapest in 1913.

Denison was also an active supporter of the National American Women Suffrage Association, and helped out in their campaigns.

George Whalley

Was there anything that George Whalley wasn’t good at? A beautiful certificate attesting to his second place achievement in a Meccano Model building contest in the 1920′s.

Canadian Flag prototype on cheesecloth

Happy National Flag of Canada Day! Queen’s Archives is the proud recipient of John Matheson’s papers, including his work as a leading member of the committee to choose a new design for the Canadian flag. One of the many treasures regarding this committee is a Canadian flag prototype on cheesecloth, as seen in this photograph.

This prototype was used by Joan O’Malley to sew the first Canadian maple-leaf flag that was presented to the Canadian Parliament by Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson in 1964.

At the stroke of noon on February 15 1965, Canada’s new flag was raised for the very first time.

Love in the Archives

Last year, we stumbled across this wonderful drawing in the March 4 1924 issue of the Journal.  After doing a bit of research, we realized that this drawing was done by our benefactor, Kathleen Ryan (neé Whitton), back when she was a student at Queen’s.

To our delight, once we saw their yearbook photos we also realized that the drawing was of her and her eventual husband Sylvester Frank Ryan.

We know that Kathleen and Frank knew each other before they came to Queen’s for they went to the same high school in Renfrew Ontario. But we like to think this drawing gives us some insight into their romance: that perhaps their love blossomed while researching primary source material in the Archives.

And maybe, just maybe, that’s one of the reasons why Kathleen Ryan decided to help fund the renovation of the New Medical Building to house Queen’s University Archives in 1981.