What is the SCA’s Oldest Record?

Have you ever wondered about the oldest record at the Simcoe County Archives? We have one page of the Nuremberg Chronicle by Hartmann Schedel printed in Nuremberg, Germany by Anton Koberger in 1493. The page features woodcut illustrations and Latin script.

Donated as part of the Norman D. Clarke collection, the record has been encapsulated in polyester sheets. Polyester encapsulation is one method of protecting paper items during storage, handling and exhibition. This relatively simple and reversible procedure protects fragile paper from physical damage, dust, acid migration from nearby materials, and to some extent from pollutants and temperature and humidity changes. Read our preservation guide for more details.

Textual Records

Books

A History of Simcoe County, Andrew F. Hunter

Originally published in 1909 by County Council, A History of Simcoe County by Andrew F. Hunter illustrates the history of the County in two volumes. Hunter was born in Innisfil Township in 1863 and was a prolific contributor to the study of archaeology, geology, and history in Canada.

While Archives typically collect unpublished, original records, we also have a robust Reference Library. Secondary sources are a great starting point for researchers to begin examining a topic of interest.

Read our donations page to learn more about the types of records we collect at the Archives.

Autograph Book

This autograph book from Ella Beryl Rowley (née Irwin) features a note from her friend Susie in Beeton, written on April 23, 1933.

She writes “Dear Ella, it seems so funny, it makes me laugh, to think you want my autograph.”

What would you write if you were asked to leave a message in a friend’s book today?

Diaries

Diaries are fantastic resources for researchers and Captain Ed Burke’s diary is no exception. He gives a snapshot into his daily life by writing about his encounters with family and friends. The Archives has five diaries from Ed Burke from 1941 to 1956, and other diaries from various local families.

Visit our Non-Government records database to search for descriptions of the private collections at the Archives using the link below.

Non-Government Records Database

Documents

Wills

This is the Last Will and Testament of William Davenport, dated March 3, 1842. The Davenport family were a prominent local Black family of farmers, carpenters, and property owners around Hillsdale, which is now in Springwater Township. William Davenport was born in the United States in about 1782. In 1819, William settled in Flos Township on Concession 1, Lot 51 with his wife Sarah. William died in 1853 and is buried at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Cemetery in Hillsdale.

Visit our Guide to Black History Research at the SCA to discover more records and resources about local Black individuals and families in Simcoe County.

Programmes

Archives Awareness Week is celebrated annually in April. Let’s celebrate by looking back at the opening of the Archives addition at the Simcoe County Museum in 1966, the Archives’ first home. Check out a drawing and picture of the original space above!

Programmes are a type of ephemera, meaning they are typically meant to be used for a short time. They are a valuable resource for Archives because they document an event or activity, often including the date, location, and names of speakers.

Visit our blog to check out our posts about Archives Awareness Week over time!

Sheet Music

Government Records

By-Laws

The SCA has permanent and archival records transferred from the County of Simcoe, its current and former member municipalities, and the City of Barrie. 

This book contains the By-Laws for Simcoe District and Simcoe County from 1843 to 1864.

Simcoe District, comprised of eighteen townships, was established in 1843 by the Legislature of Upper Canada. Seven years later, the District was abolished by the provincial government and Simcoe County formed in its place.

Use the link below to visit the SCA’s searchable online database containing descriptions of its Government Records.

Government Records Database

Architectural and Technical Drawings

Architectural drawings are used to illustrate details about a building or portion of a building. They can include mechanical, plumbing, heating, and electrical systems, or interior design and decorative elements. Technical drawings can contain plans for the construction of structures and objects other than buildings, such as bridges, ships, and tools.

The Gayety Theatre

This plan of the proposed front entrance alterations for The Gayety Theatre in Collingwood was drafted on May 19, 1953.

The drawing features surfacing details and measurements of the north and west elevation.

Traditional blueprints are cyanotypes, a photographic process in which translucent paper is coated with chemicals that, when exposed to light, turn uncovered areas into a deep blue, while any covered areas remain white.

Read our blog post to learn more about historical photo processes and formats at the SCA.

Plan of Barrie Gaol

Moving Images

Opening of Simcoe County Administration Building

Here is a clip of the opening of the County’s administration building featuring a speech by Warden James A. Wales of Tosorontio Township, 1973.

Digitizing more unique and obsolete record formats, such as this EIAJ-1 ½-inch open reel video tape, ensures long term access for researchers.

J.E. Coupe collection

The J.E. Coupe collection contains various 8mm and 16mm films created by J.E. Coupe, a man who lived in Hawkstone, Oro Township. The films contain colourful scenes of nature, wildlife, and other events in Coupe’s daily life that he sought to capture.

In 2021, the original film reels were digitized off-site by to create higher resolution copies. As an amateur photographer, Coupe could have processed his home movies himself, and certain imperfections may have been the result of errors during the laboratory process. This damage can be seen notably around the edges of the film reels, but thankfully, it does not heavily obscure the entire image.

Visit our blog post to see additional clips and learn more about the J.E. Coupe collection.

Photographs

Wilfred Jackson collection

These glass plate negatives were created by Wilfred Jackson, a photographer in Barrie active in the early 20th century. Glass plate negatives could be produced using a wet-plate or a dry-plate process. In the wet-plate process, photographers would have to stabilize the image onto the plate before the emulsion dried. This technique was popular from the early 1850s until the 1880s. The invention of the dry-plate process in the 1870s allowed photographers to carry around pre-prepared plates which would be used to capture and fix an image. This technique was popular until the 1920s. Wilfred Jackson’s collection of photographs showcase various subjects in a studio setting and highlight the fashion of the early 20th century.

Read our blog post to learn more about historical photo processes and formats at the SCA.

Eileen Murdoch collection

The Eileen Murdoch collection contains various photographs of churches and settlements throughout Simcoe County. The collection features several photographs of the Oro African Methodist Episcopal Church, a historically significant log church built in ca. 1849 by Black Settlers. The Church was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 2000.

Read our blog post to learn more about the Oro African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Sir Frederick Banting papers

Here is a photograph of Sir Frederick Banting amongst his family in front of his family home in Alliston, taken in 1910. Banting is seated the first on the left in the front row. Banting’s family home was originally built in 1858 and later rebuilt in 1925, still standing today at 5116 Sir Frederick Banting Road in Alliston. 

The text reads “Mid pleasures and palaces, Though we may roam, Be it ever so humble, There’s no place like home,” which are song lyrics from John Howard Payne’s 1823 song “Home, Sweet Home.” 

Born in Alliston on November 14, 1891, Banting is most known for co-discovering insulin in 1922. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with John Macleod in 1923.

Simcoe County Arts and Crafts Association fonds

The Simcoe County Arts and Crafts Association (SCACA) was created in 1945 by Noreen Rive, Rose (Doucette) Robinson, Mary Cuppage and Nora Marshall to support the development of arts and crafts within the County. The fonds contains records related to the Association including minutes, photographs, educational material, and more.

In July 1949, the first Quilt Fair was opened. In 1975, the Simcoe County Museum became the permanent home of the annual Quilt, Rug and Craft Fair.

Simcoe County Clerk’s Office fonds

This photograph of Simcoe County Council from 1915 was the first ever accession at the Archives!

Accessioning refers to the process of physically and legally adding records to an archival collection. The accession number for this record is 1966-001, which means it was the first record to be accessioned in 1966 (the year the archives opened to the public)!

Warden A.P. Potter, Esq. of Tottenham is seated in the middle wearing a tricorn.

Fred Walker Grant collection

As we continue to celebrate the Archives’ 60th anniversary, check out this photograph of Fred W. Grant on a farm veranda in Wales, Ontario, taken in 1942.  

The Fred Walker Grant collection is a large collection at the Archives that primarily contains scrapbooks and negatives relating to Barrie’s history, collected by Grant. Grant was a printer who grew up in Barrie and later worked in Victoria, B.C. at a daily newspaper before retiring and returning to Barrie in 1945.

Nina Godfreyda (Bird) Crossley fonds

Check out these photographs taken in 1939 showcasing the construction of the “No Canaries” cottage in Nottawasaga Bay owned by the Bird and Crossley families. 

The Nina Godfreyda (Bird) Crossley fonds is comprised of several scrapbooks, travelogues, and photo albums created by sisters Isabel Edith Bird (1893-1976), Nina Godfreyda (Bird) Crossley (1897-1989), and Gertrude Rhoda (Bird) Jarvis (1900-1975). Isabel, Nina, and Gertrude were born to Ellen Kate Hayne (1856-1936), and Captain Eustace E. Godfrey Bird (1848-1938). The sisters grew up in Barrie, Ontario.

Jack Saunders collection

Check out these photographs of the Peacock-[Hockley] wedding from ca. 1950s, digitized and remastered by Jason Booth Photography.

The Jack Saunders collection contains photographs by Jack Saunders, a photographer who was active in Collingwood, Ontario from the 1940s to 1960s. Later in his life, Saunders became involved in local politics and served as a Councillor, Reeve, and Deputy-Reeve for the Town of Collingwood. He received the Order of Collingwood in 1987 in recognition of his exemplary volunteerism within the community.

Philatelic Records

Philatelic records include: postage stamps, postal stationery, or other material used to signify prepayment or payment due for postal services.

First Day Cover – Sir William Osler

Here is a first day cover (FDC) featuring Sir William Osler (1849-1919), a prominent physician born in Bond Head, Bradford West Gwillimbury, on July 12, 1849. Osler created the first residency program for specialty training of physicians and is often considered the “Father of Modern Medicine.”

A FDC is an envelope with a stamp postmarked on their day of issue, often becoming a popular collector’s item. This record also features an “event cover” which are envelopes typically used to commemorate events, in this case, the 50th anniversary of Osler’s death.

Postcards

Mrs. E.E. McFarland to Miss Huff

Postcards are another common example of philatelic records! Mrs. E.E. McFarland writes to Miss Huff from Severn Township on November 3, 1911: « Dear ‘Huffie’ How is every thing going on in St. Kitts? about four inches of snow here this morning. I expect Huffie is pretty lonesome these day[s]. »

Postcards still are a great way to share quick updates with family and friends.

Mrs. Kirby

Here is a postcard featuring a photograph of students and staff in front of the Egbert Schoolhouse in Essa Township from 1910. The postcard was sent to Mrs. Kirby in Angus, inviting her for an outing.

Maps

Maps represent selected characteristics of a place in an organized, visual way. They contain information about how an area has changed throughout time or can be used to outline how an area could have looked.

Women’s Institute Story Map

Sound Recordings

Objects

Seeing Double

This ribbon from the Canadian Order of Chosen Friends (COCF) , Allandale Council, No. 140, from the early 1900s is reversible, to also be worn at funerals. The COCF was a fraternal benefit order in Canada that existed until the early 20th century.

While Museums typically collect objects, Archives can also acquire objects such as this ribbon if it fits meaningfully within the collection.

The Archives has searchable databases of records in its collections, available here.

The Barrie Trivia Game

Check out “The Barrie Trivia Game” featuring questions and businesses about the City of Barrie by « Our Town Trivia” from 1985.