Presented by Dr. Ian Ellingham, Chair of the Niagara Society of Architects
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by Mary Ellen Perkins and Janice Gibbins, 1994, 19 pages, ISBN 0919352219
An illustrated booklet for children featuring recipes including veggies cooked and raw, sandwiches, beverages, and handy food … plus puzzles!
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1909, 15 pages
1. Women’s Canadian Historical Society of Toronto, William Price, of Wolfesfield, Quebec.
2. Extracts from the diary of Robert Woolf, of London, Eng., later Accountant-General of the East India Co.
3. Lady Colborne’s Bazaar. By M. Agnes FitzGibbon, Hon. Sec.
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1914, 17 pages
1. Sketch of Lady Edgar’s Life, Late President.
The Explosion of the Magazine at York, now Toronto, 27th April, 1813.
2. The Colored Citizens of Toronto. By Mrs. Agnes Dunbar Chamberlin.
3. Account for Lighthouse on Gibraltar Point, 1817.
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1907, 35 pages
1. Epitome of the Life and Letters of the Right Honourable Charles, Lord Sydenham, G.C.B., Baron Sydenham of Sydenham, Kent, and Toronto, Canada. In Peerage of United Kingdom, 1840. . . . Compiled by Mrs. Gordon Mackenzie (his niece).
2. Extracts from an original MS. Memoir of Capt. Freer, A.D.C. to H.R.H. the Duke of Kent, and Military Secretary during the War of 1812. . . . In the possession of Mrs. Gordon Mackenzie.
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1906, 33 pages
Extracts from the Diary of the Rev. Henry Scadding, 1837-1838.
This diary gives interesting descriptions of events and people connected with the Rebellion. It is dated from Montreal and Quebec.
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1905, 32 pages
I. Extracts from Jarvis Papers.
1. Details of the Capture of York.
2. Account of Magistrates following Capture.
3. General Order.
4. Account of Council held at Kingston.
5. Letters, Wm. Jarvis, etc.
II. Plattsburg. (1814.) From the Dairy of J.H. Wood.
1. Reflections on Plattsburg.
III. Extracts from Papers of Captain H. Pringle
IV. Order Concerning Presentation of the King’s Colors. (1822.)
V. Papers Concerning Rupert George, Captain of H.M.S. “Hussar.” (1794.)
VI. Some U.E. Loyalist Epitaphs. By Sara Mickle.
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1903, 16 pages
1. Some Elections and the Battle of Hastings. A Paper by (Mrs.) Agnes Chamberlin, read on January 4th, 1900.
2. Letter Concerning the Election for the County of Essex to the First Parliament of Upper Canada.
3. Speech of Indian Chief, “Me-tawth.” (1813.)
4. Speech of Indian Chief, “Ope-kai-e-gan.” (1836.)
5. Leaves from an Officer’s Diary. (1836-1840.)
6. Penetanguishene. A Poem written by a Subaltern. (1840.)
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1901, 5 pages
Recollections of Mary Warren Breckenridge, by Catherine F. Lefroy
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1970, 48 pages
Seventy Years of History 1895-1965
by Stella M. Cook
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1919-1920, 43 pages
The Hudson Bay Company’s Expedition in Search of Sir John Franklin, commanded by James Anderson, Chief Factor
The Temple of Peace, David Willson of Sharon, 1778-1866, By Professor John Squair
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1899, 11 pages
The Battle of Queenston Heights, October 13th, 1812, by Mrs. S.A. Curzon, First President.
With a Sketch of her Life and Works by Lady Edgar.
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1920, 48 pages
1. District General Orders of Maj.-Gen. Sir Isaac Brock from June 27th, 1812 – Oct. 16th, 1812.
2. Instructions sent to Officers commanding Forts, by Major-General Brock shortly before the attack on Queenston.
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1913, 21 pages
1. Recollections of Mary Warren Breckenridge, written by her daughter, Maria Murney, from her mother’s own words, in 1859.
2. Reminiscences of Hanna Ingraham, related by her to Mrs. Tippet, wife of Rev. H. W. Tippet, with preface by Miss M. V. Tippet, and portraits by W. H. Tippet.
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1912, 37 pages
1. “Gleanings.” From the Journal of Miss Anne Powell, written for her cousin, Miss Eliza S. Quincy, in 1785. Read by Mrs. Forsyth Grant.
2. Further Extracts from the Rev. Dr. Scadding’s Diary, 1838 to 1844, with letter from Dr. Locke, Chief Librarian, Public Library, Toronto, in response to Mrs. Sullivan’s request. Read by Mrs. Sullivan.
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1896, 27 pages
A Historic Banner: A Paper Read on February 8th, 1896 by Mary Agnes Fitzgibbon
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by Alison Norman, 2000, 29 pages, ISBN 0919352359
Most of the heritage organizations and institutions in Ontario are already involved in some aspect of fund raising, or realize that they soon will be, and the OHS has prepared this book containing tips, suggestions, and ideas as an introduction to the task.
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by E.A. Cruikshank, 1931, 302 pages
The documents presented here, in addition to the official letters written by or addressed to Lieutenant Governor Simcoe, include many other papers throwing light on the administration of civil and military affairs, the exploration and settlement of the province of Upper Canada, its foreign relations, and its economic and social life.
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by E.A. Cruikshank, 1926, 458 pages
The documents presented here, in addition to the official letters written by or addressed to Lieutenant Governor Simcoe, include many other papers throwing light on the administration of civil and military affairs, the exploration and settlement of the province of Upper Canada, its foreign relations, and its economic and social life.
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by E.A. Cruikshank, 1925, 418 pages
The documents presented here, in addition to the official letters written by or addressed to Lieutenant Governor Simcoe, include many other papers throwing light on the administration of civil and military affairs, the exploration and settlement of the province of Upper Canada, its foreign relations, and its economic and social life.
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by E.A. Cruikshank, 1924, 491 pages
The documents presented here, in addition to the official letters written by or addressed to Lieutenant Governor Simcoe, include many other papers throwing light on the administration of civil and military affairs, the exploration and settlement of the province of Upper Canada, its foreign relations, and its economic and social life.
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by E.A. Cruikshank, 1923, 458 pages
The documents presented here, in addition to the official letters written by or addressed to Lieutenant Governor Simcoe, include many other papers throwing light on the administration of civil and military affairs, the exploration and settlement of the province of Upper Canada, its foreign relations, and its economic and social life.
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by E.A. Cruikshank, 1934, 199 pages
The letters and other documents brought together for the first time in this publication were transcribed from many different volumes of the Haldimand Papers in the Dominion Archives (now Library and Archives Canada).
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by E.A. Cruikshank and A.F. Hunter, 1935, 375 pages
The Honourable Peter Russell (1733-1808) became the administrator of the civil government of Upper Canada in 1796. Many important documents were printed for the first time in these two volumes, including correspondence with John Graves Simcoe, Joseph Brant, John McGill, Robert Prescott, and Alexander McKee.
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by E.A. Cruikshank and A.F. Hunter, 1932, 363 pages
The Honourable Peter Russell (1733-1808) became the administrator of the civil government of Upper Canada in 1796. Many important documents were printed for the first time in these two volumes, including correspondence with John Graves Simcoe, Joseph Brant, John McGill, Robert Prescott, and Alexander McKee.
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by Judith Cummings, 1999, 14 pages
An introduction to the Celebration of St. Patrick (March 17), and recipes including fish pie, Guinness beef stew, brown soda bread, apple pratie, pudding with Irish mist sauce, oatcakes, and barm brack.
Prepared for the OHS by Judith Cummings from Omagh, Northern Ireland, who participated in a work placement with the OHS, sponsored by the Irish Canadian Development Institute, in 1999.
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by Dorothy Duncan, 2000, 29 pages, ISBN 0919352324
This booklet contains authentic recipes for many desserts, sweetmeats and beverages prepared in nineteenth-century Canadian homes for the enjoyment of family and guests during the Christmas season.
Recipes include beverages, confections, desserts, steamed puddings, mince pies, fruit cakes, and more.
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by E.H. Scammell, 1914, 12 pages
A discussion by E.H. Scammell, organizing secretary of the Canadian Peace Centenary Association, of a treaty between the United States and the United Kingdom limiting naval armaments on the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain, following the War of 1812.
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by Elizabeth Quance, 1984, 21 pages
There are many reasons for studying local crafts and industries. Probably the most important is to understand your own community better: how it began, how it grew, and why it is what it is today.
This publication provides practical advice on how to approach the history of local craftsmen and industries.
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by Janice Gibbins, 1989, 20 pages, ISBN 0919352057
An illustrated publication for children featuring breakfast recipes, including scrambled eggs, surprise muffins, pancakes, and quick and easy jam.
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by Janice Gibbins, 1988, 21 pages
An illustrated publication for children to learn about family history and genealogy.
“To discover from whom and from where you have come, questions have to be asked. You become a detective of sorts, solving the mystery of your family’s past.”
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by Dorothy Duncan and Mary Ellen Perkins, 1984, 14 pages
An illustrated story for children exploring the history of a beloved teddy bear. Includes advice and activities for becoming a Rainy Day Detective, such as how to find a mystery and what to do with your discoveries.
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by Janice Gibbins, Robert Harris, and Susan Hughes, 1990, 61 pages, ISBN 091935226X
This booklet offers some ideas on how to plan historical programs for your community. It gives instructions, warns of pitfalls, and offers examples, many coming from historical organizations and institutions in Ontario.
Sections include laying the groundwork, planning checklist, publicity, using the media, some successful programs, programing for young people, celebrating special days, and planning a heritage showcase.
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by The OHS, 1993, 20 pages
For our Canadian ancestors, whether they were First Nations or newcomers, puddings were an important part of the daily diet. Puddings could be savoury or sweet, baked, steamed or boiled, hot or cold, part of the meal, or the whole meal.
This booklet presents recipes to try including Mrs. Lord’s rice pudding, tipsy parson pudding, hard times pudding, various accompanying sauces, and more.
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1898, 18 pages
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by Roger Hall, William Westfall, and Laurel Sefton MacDowell, Editors, 1988, 405 pages
Patterns of the Past has been published to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the founding of the Ontario Historical Society. Organized on 4 Sept 1888 as “the Pioneer Association of Ontario”, the Society adopted its current name in 1898. Its objectives, for a century, have been to promote and develop the study of Ontario’s past. The purpose of this book is both to commemorate and to carry on that worthy tradition.
Introduced by Ian Wilson, Archivist of Ontario, and edited by Roger Hall, William Westfall and Laurel Sefton MacDowell, this distinctive volume is a landmark not only in the Society’s history but in the province’s historiography.
Eighteen scholars have pooled their talents to fashion a volume of fresh interpretive essays that chronicle and analyse the whole scope of Ontario’s rich and varied past. New light is thrown on our understanding of early native peoples, rural life in Upper Canada, the opening of the North, the impact of railways, and the growth of businesses and institutions.
And there is much social study here too, especially of the new roles for women in industrial society, of working class experience, of ethnic groups, and of children in our society’s past. As well, there are innovative treatments of the conservation movement, of science’s role in provincial society, and of the relationship between society and culture in small towns.
Anyone with an interest in the history of Canada’s most populous province will find much in this comprehensive collection.
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by The OHS, 1994, 82 pages, ISBN 0919352154
A timeless collection of essays providing practical advice and assistance to museums everywhere as they face the challenges of the future. A publication of the OHS Museums Committee.
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by The OHS, 1996, 19 pages
A booklet of recipes brought by newcomers to Ontario in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, including grog, sauerkraut, jerky, and “nice cookies that will keep good three months.”
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by The OHS, 1995, 84 pages, ISBN 0919352197
A handbook exploring and promoting the rich cultural diversity of the many celebrations of the people of Ontario.
The inspiration for “My Cultural Handbook” came from an OHS seminar, “Canadian Holidays and Holy Days,” presented at Black Creek Pioneer Village in August 1993. Many of the papers presented at that two-day seminar are reproduced here.
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by John Carter, 1990, 17 pages, ISBN 091935209X
A booklet written by Dr. John Carter, Museums Development Officer, Ontario Ministry of Culture and Communications, and published by the OHS Museums Committee.
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by The OHS, 1985, 43 pages
A package of information containing the basics of museum administration, from a workshop delivered by the OHS Museums Committee in Brantford, Ontario, in June 1985.
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by The OHS, 1992, 24 pages
This booklet is an introduction to the many variations of bread that have evolved from the first crude cake of flour and water that was baked in the sun centuries ago. Recipes include bannock, Welsh cakes, soda bread, hot cross buns, babka, and more.
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by The OHS, 1994, 42 pages
This booklet presents recipes shared by participants at the workshop “Kaashnaa Ki – Our Earth, Our Survival, Our Daily Life,” co-sponsored by the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation, the Kagawong Historical Society, and the OHS, which was held in West Bay and Kagawong on Manitoulin Island in June 1993.
Recipes include hawberry and sumac punch, venison stew, kasha, dal, elderberry pie, and more.
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by The OHS, 1992, 130 pages
A guidebook for local historical societies across the province of Ontario and all organizations and institutions that are interested in preserving and promoting the heritage of their communities.
Hometown History begins with the basics, outlining the strategy for starting a new local historical society and becoming incorporated as a non-profit corporation, and continues with ideas for publicity, programs, and projects concerned with the research and interpretation of Ontario’s history.
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by The OHS, 1989, 12 pages
This short booklet contains the recipes that were used during the four workshops presented by the OHS at the Heritage Festival held in Haileybury, June 1989. Workshops highlighted the food traditions of the First Nations, and the French Canadian, English and Scottish settlers.
Recipes include candied sweet potatoes with maple syrup, sugar pie, bannock, and more.
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by Janice Gibbins, 1989, 42 pages
This booklet has been developed by Janice Gibbins for the OHS as a handbook of ideas and suggestions to assist individuals, organizations and institutions in planning a wide variety of activities that will arouse and sustain public interest in the rich history of the Province of Ontario.
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by The OHS, 1990, 6 pages
A short cookbook produced in association with the OHS “Hands on History Holiday” workshop held in July and August 1990 at Black Creek Pioneer Village, Toronto.
Recipes include lettuce salad, potato soup, potatoe pie, force meat balls, farci or stuffed cabbage, short-cake (blackberry), and pie plant pie.
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by The OHS, 1998, 13 pages
A cookbook containing special recipes to help celebrate Halloween, an over 2000-year-old tradition going back to the ancient Romans.
Recipes include grand salad of fruit and nuts, boxty bread, colcannon, deviled eggs, honey and figs glaze, cranberry chutney, barm brack, soul cakes, and apple charlotte.
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by Gerald Killan, 1981, 9 pages
A “State of the Society” message from the President of the Ontario Historical Society.
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by Jean Harding, 1992, 16 pages
Includes language of the plants, some superstitions surrounding various plants, folklore of herbs, harvesting and preserving herbs, and herb recipes.
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by Ontario Black History Society and OHS, 1993, 9 pages
This short cookbook, produced to celebrate Black History Month in 1993, contains recipes for quick and easy corn bread, spinach/green stew, banana jam (East Africa), sweet potato pudding (East Africa), and yemarina yewotet dabo / honey bread (Ethiopia).
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by Colin Graham, 1985, 18 pages
A talk on harnessing volunteers’ talents, delivered by Colin Graham on April 20, 1985, for the OHS at Black Creek Visitors’ Centre.
Includes a profile of effective voluntary operations, responsibilities of the volunteer coordinator, and guidelines and resources for boards of directors.
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by The OHS, 1992, 141 pages, ISBN 0919352367
Discovering Your Community was developed originally by the Young Ontario Committee of the OHS in 1984 in honour of the Bicentennial of the Province of Ontario, with funding from the Ontario Heritage Foundation. This resource book for teachers, youth leaders, parents, and all those working with young people has proven to be so popular that it has been revised, updated, and reprinted in English and French.
The purpose of the projects and activities suggested here is two-fold: to interest young people in exploring the history of their community and to illustrate how they are contributing to its continuing heritage.
Sections address family history, natural environment, structures, food, clothing, artifacts, transportation and communications, and crafts and industries.
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by The OHS and Le Regroupement des organismes du patrimoine francoontarien (ROPFO), 1992, 164 pages, ISBN 0919352367
Le Regroupement des organismes du patrimoine francoontarien (ROPFO) est heureux d’offrir à la communauté franco-ontarienne “Découvre ta communauté.”
Ce projet est une traduction et une adaptation de Discovering Your Community, préparé par la Société historique de l’Ontario (OHS). C’est grace a une collaboration étroite de la Société historique de l’Ontario que “Découvre ta communauté” est rendu accessible à l’Ontario français.
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by Dorothy Duncan, Dorothy Johnstone, and Joyce Lewis, 2000, 25 pages, ISBN 0919352340
This booklet, developed in conjunction with the workshop “Deck the Halls: Celebrating a Traditional Canadian Christmas,” takes us back to an earlier time when life moved more slowly and Christmas was celebrated quietly, in the good fellowship of family and close friends.
The activities, decorations, gifts and food discussed here have been drawn from Canadian sources — unpublished letters and diaries, as well as catalogues, books, travel journals and newspapers housed in libraries and archives throughout Ontario.
These simple observances and customs are an important aspect of our history, and this booklet will serve as an introduction to an area of research that we can all explore together and share with one another.
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by The OHS, 1989, 11 pages
This booklet contains a selection of recipes for some of the dishes (from pemmican to peppermint pastilles) that were consumed by the delegates to the OHS’s “Consuming Passions: Eating and Drinking Traditions in Ontario” conference, held at the Radisson Hotel, Ottawa, in May 1989.
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1898, 7 pages
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by Margot Beech, 1983, 31 pages
The OHS provided this guide for groups to help in their planning for Ontario’s Bicentennial.
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by The OHS, Voyageur Heritage Network, and City of Greater Sudbury Heritage Museum, 2003, 28 pages
A cooperative project of the Voyageur Heritage Network and the OHS, this cookbook contains 24 recipes for blueberries, from cakes and pies to chicken breast with wild blueberry sauce.
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by The OHS and Anderson Farm Museum, 1992, 19 pages
This booklet, highlighting the importance of the blueberry to First Nations and containing 13 traditional recipes, is a co-production of Anderson Farm Museum in Sudbury and OHS.
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by The OHS, 1989, 12 pages
A collection of recipes (“to please teddy bears everywhere and their owners of all ages”) produced in association with The Festival of Teddy Bears held at White River in August 1989, co-sponsored by The White River District Historical Society, the Municipality of White River, and the OHS.
The Festival celebrated the 75th anniversary of the purchase of the bear cub from White River that became the inspiration for Winnie the Pooh.
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by Jacques Goutor, 2000, 37 pages, ISBN 0919352243
A comprehensive guide and basic introduction to writing a historical essay, or even a book.
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by Jacques Goutor, 1980, 38 pages
This publication has been prepared by Jacques Goutor, following upon the lines he found to be so successful in the series of workshops he conducted for the OHS. Now this material is available to a wider audience.
Anyone embarking on a research project in history for the first time will welcome the advice he offers, and many who have painfully devised some system for themselves will find ideas for improving it, at the same time as they regret that such a manual was not available before.
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by Dorothy Duncan, 1990, 38 pages, ISBN 0919352200
A practical guide for collectors, curators of community museums, and all those who wish to initiate research on artifacts in Ontario.
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by F.H. Armstrong, 1978, 44 pages
A lively and useful compendium of ideas to assist people interested in organizing a successful Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee (LACAC) to preserve buildings of architectural and historical importance in their communities.
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by Roberta M. Styran and Robert R. Taylor, 1983, 43 pages
A practical guide to the production and use of audio-visual materials for a specific purpose, by any individuals or groups, in promoting a project, heritage oriented or otherwise.
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by Celia Hitch and Jay Norris, 2003, 29 pages, ISBN 0919352413
A guide to conducting oral history interviews.
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by Gerald E. Boyce, 1978, 32 pages
A discussion of the local historical society and the schools.
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by The OHS, 1989, 10 pages
A cookbook produced for an OHS workshop held at Muskoka Pioneer Village in Huntsville in July 1989. Recipes include salads, cookies, main courses, and confections.
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1931, 84 pages
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1929, 59 pages
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1930, 53 pages
Our Provincial Privateers by H.J. Snider
Fort Rouille by Margaret Howard
Halifax by the Sea by Mrs. W.T. Hallam
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1928, 52 pages
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1928, 66 pages
Impressions of the West in the early Seventies from the Diary of the Assistant Surgeon of the B.N.A. Boundary Survey, Dr. T. Millman
Colborne Lodge
Sara Mickle
The Owner of Colborne Lodge
Sara Mickle
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1927, 68 pages
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1926, 59 pages
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1925, 54 pages
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1925, 32 pages
The Colony of French Emigrés in York County, 1798
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1924, 81 pages
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1924, 28 pages
1. Notes on the Founding of Christ Church, Campbellford, by Hilda Bonnycastle.
2. “Canada in 1834”. Recollections of Mrs. Rothwell, copied by her daughter, Mrs. Edward Leigh.
a. Some Incidents in Mrs. Rothwell’s Life, by her granddaughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Cameron.
b. Letters to Mrs. Rothwell from Rev. Philip Harding, giving some account of his mission at Apsley, Ont.
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1923, 81 pages
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1923, 65 pages
1. Sketch of the Life of Mrs. W. Forsyth-Grant
2. Letters from W. Jarvis, Secretary for Upper Canada and Mrs. Jarvis to the Rev. Samuel Peters, D.D., between the years 1792 and 1813 from copies made by the late Mrs. Chamberlin, and with the Prefatory Note by Prof. A.H. Young, Trinity Collect, Toronto
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1922, 63 pages
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1922, 29 pages
1. Toronto in the Parliaments of Upper Canada, 1792-1841
By The Hon. Wm. Renwick Riddell, L.L.D., F.R.C.S.
Read before the Society, December, 1922
2. Some Account of a Military Settler in Canada in 1833
Matthew Sheffield Cassan.
Given by his Granddaughter, Miss Bonnycastle
Read January, 1923, by Miss Alice Lea
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1921, 59 pages
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1921, 39 pages
1. Old Toronto Streets and Landmarks. Mrs. E.V. Neelands, B.A.
2. Notes on the Life of Canon Featherstone Lake Osler, and his wife, Ellen Free Pickton. Mrs. W.T. Hallam, B.A.
3. An Old Account, 1785-1788. Sara Mickle.
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1920, 50 pages
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1919, 48 pages
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1919, 46 pages
Fort Garry in the Seventies
by the late William J. Morris
The Boulton Letters
Letters of the Rev. William Boulton, Master of U.C.C.,
to His Wife, 1833-34
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1918, 47 pages
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1918, 48 pages
Indited Letters concerning Sir John Franklin’s First and Second Expeditions 1819-22; and 1825-27. Read by Miss Alice Lea March 1918. Letters loaned by Mrs. George McVicar
Heligoland. Read before the Society December 1918. By the Rev. H.T.F. Duckworth. Reprinted by permission from the “Canadian Churchman” January 1919
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1917, 60 pages
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1917, 43 pages
The King’s Mill on the Humber. K.M. Lizars
Notes on Georgina Township. Miss E.K. Sibbald.
Extracts from “A Few Days in the United States and Canada with some Hints to Settlers.” Captain Thomas Sibbald.
Illustrations from Pamphlet — First Church 1842. Eildon Hall in 1842.
Three Years among the Ojibways 1857-1860. With illustrations. Mrs. Emma Jeffers Graham.
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1916, 61 pages
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1916, 37 pages
Reminiscences of Lieut. James Richardson, Naval Officer during the War of 1812.
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1915, 100 pages
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1915, 24 pages
1. Sketch of Miss FitzGibbon’s Life.
2. Political Squib. Given by Mrs. Duckworth.
3. Old Family Letter. Read by Mrs. W.H.P. Jarvis.
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1914, 138 pages
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1914, 65 pages
1. Recollections of the War of 1812. From MS. Of the late Hon. James Crooks, by A.D. Crooks.
2. Biography and Extracts from the Diary of the late Capt. Wright, by C.J. Nisbet and E.M. Gardner.
3. Memoirs. Captain Richard Emeric Vidal, R.N., and Vice-Admiral Alexander Thomas Emeric Vidal, R.N., Pioneers of Upper Canada, by C.J. Nisbet and E.M. Gardnew.
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1912, 121 pages
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1913, 39 pages
1. Early Roads in York. By Miss K.M. Lizars, author of The Valley of the Humber.
2. The Tramp of a Botanist through Upper Canada, 1819.
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1913, 82 pages
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1911, 132 pages
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1911, 14 pages
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1910, 136 pages
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1910, 15 pages
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1909, 157 pages
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1908, 91 pages
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1908, 17 pages
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1907, 65 pages
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1907, 16 pages
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1906, 16 pages
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1906, 77 pages
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1905, 17 pages
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1905, 50 pages
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1904, 51 pages
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1902, 14 pages
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1902, 67 pages
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1903, 93 pages
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1901, 18 pages
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1899, 58 pages
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1898, 41 pages
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Donald E. Graves. Robin Brass Studio. 440 pages.
Reviewed in April 2014 OHS Bulletin no. 191
Donald Graves has dedicated his research to uncovering the complexity of causes, events and outcomes that constituted the War of 1812. And All Their Glory Past is the long-awaited final volume of his acclaimed “Forgotten Soldiers” trilogy. Here Graves considers the last major northern battles, effectively taking up the story where Feltoe leaves off and carrying it through the watershed summer and autumn of 1814. His discussion of the bloody 53-day siege of Fort Erie shows how American success in withstanding the British was ultimately undermined by anxiety about the oncoming winter, prompting the strategic decision to remove the troops from the Canadian side of the Niagara River – effectively marking the end of fighting on Canadian territory. The land and naval battle at Plattsburgh, New York, is similarly examined in careful and thorough detail, and with due attention to its effects on the war’s final outcome. Graves is particularly adept at illuminating the military leadership on both sides, astutely allowing for both the expertise and also the weaknesses of British and Americans alike as they fought toward a high-stakes victory that only one could claim.
Richard Feltoe. Dundurn. 159 pages.
Reviewed in April 2014 OHS Bulletin no. 191
The latest in Richard Feltoe’s concise but comprehensive series for Dundurn, The Tide of War takes readers to the first half of 1814 and thus toward the war’s culmination. At this point, the costs in personnel, property and machinery were mounting terribly, and both sides were intent to bring about decisive victory by intensifying their commitment of troops and armaments, “upping the ante,” as Feltoe describes it in his second chapter. Deftly, he takes us through that “winter of discontent,” with the battle at Oswego (May 5-6), and the American invasion at Fort Erie, leaving the story at the Chippewa River in July – where, as the author writes, “a nasty surprise” awaited the confident American Major General Brown (to be taken up in the final vol., The Crucible of War).As always, there are vital charts and maps to indicate battalion movements, and a clear narrative of events and circumstances for a very complicated stage of the war.
Terry Copp, Matt Symes, Caitlin McWilliams, Nick Lachance, Geoff Keelan, Jeffrey W. Mott
Laurier Centre for Military Strategic and Disarmament Studies (WLU Press). 264 pages.
Reviewed in Summer 2013 OHS Bulletin no. 188
Acclaimed military historian Terry Copp, founder and director of the Laurier Centre for Military Strategic and Disarmament Studies, has led a team of enthusiastic students and Centre workers to produce 1812: A Guide to the War and Its Legacy. In the manner of the Centre’s very popular battlefield guides to European sites that saw Canadian troop engagement during the world wars, this richly illustrated book packs a great deal of historical and geographical context between its covers. More than simply a guide to historic sites, although the Tour section does that admirably, this project begins with History, a concise but comprehensive overview of the Anglo-American conflict’s roots in the Treaty of 1783, as well as the strategies and operations of both sides, with close attention to First Nations involvement. There is a summary of the events surrounding the Treaty of Ghent that ended the war in the summer of 1814, as well as an interesting foray into its immediate aftermath, the negotiated “peace” that is often neglected in histories of the war. The carefully-detailed “Tour” section emphasizes the war’s legacy, not only in the obvious sense of preserving the colonies for the British, but also in terms of how it has been remembered, commemorated, and memorialized – in short, how it has been “shaped and reshaped” according to “the changing tides of memory.” As well as providing an impressive historical overview, this book is an excellent roadmap for summertime historical excursions.
Richard Feltoe. Dundurn. 168 pages.
Reviewed in Summer 2013 OHS Bulletin no. 188
The third volume in the six-part Dundurn series, Upper Canada Preserved , continues Feltoe’s lively chronicle of key battles in the War of 1812 (see below for reviews of the first two volumes). Flames of War covers the second half of the middle year, a tense and literally pivotal six months during which each side advanced toward apparent victory, only to fall back. The escalation of American and British forces in this “back and forth” campaign also intensified the losses suffered by armies and civilians on both sides. This volume, as the others published in the series, is effectively illustrated with numerous reproductions of historic etchings and paintings alongside contemporary photographs of artifacts and locations, as well as maps detailing battles and tracing troop movements.
Richard Feltoe. Dundurn. 158 pages/160 pages.
Reviewed in May 2013 OHS Bulletin no. 187
These handsome books are the ‘opening’ publications in a six-book series, Upper Canada Preserved—War of 1812, produced by the venerable house of Dundurn to commemorate the war’s centennial. In these two volumes, Feltoe, whose own accomplishments include curatorial and archival work as well as participation in ‘living history re-enactment’ as an 1812 militia soldier, has produced an effective introduction to the battlefields of Upper Canada. With a deft hand, he provides just enough historic detail, including maps and illustrations, to establish a firm basis for understanding how and why the action developed, as well as the major actors involved, and the repercussions for Upper Canadian society. The author is clearly well-versed in the key elements of early nineteenth-century warfare: troops, arms, strategies, positions, and battles are expertly laid out. He also pays due attention to the variables represented by geography and personality. He draws carefully from official and personal documents, historic and contemporary maps and photographs: a number of the latter are reproduced to good effect in showing the same visual perspective “then and now.” The Call to Arms begins by establishing the social and spatial context of the Niagara Region. Feltoe then sketches the path to war and outlines the “opening round,” from June to August 1812, takes readers through the Battle of Queenston Heights in October, and concludes with “The Frenchman’s Creek Fiasco” of 29 November.
The Pendulum of War follows the critical first six months of the 1813 campaigns. The first chapter includes a helpful timeline, while the second and third chapters lay out the principal actions of such “pre-emptive strikes” as the Battle of the River Raisin [22 January 1813] and the Ogdensburg raid [22 February], then follow “the pendulum in motion” to the Battle of York [27 April]. Chapters 4 to 6 cover Fort George, Fort Meigs, Sackets Harbor, and Stoney Creek. The remaining chapters, 7 through 8, consider the dramatic developments during the month of June, closing with the “tightened noose” represented by the siege of Fort George. These books are indexed for quick reference, and the author has also included a bibliography of selected sources for the reader’s continued engagement with this important chapter of the historical formation of Ontario and of Canada.
Patrick Richard Carstens and Timothy L. Sanford. Xlibris. 571 pages.
Reviewed in October 2012 OHS Bulletin no. 185
This year’s (2012) enthusiastic bicentenary commemorations have meant an abundance of studies on the War of 1812, from a number of intriguing perspectives and approaches, for history buffs to explore. OHS member Patrick Richard Carstens and Timothy L. Sanford brought their considerable historical sleuthing skills together to retrace the war’s unfolding, quite literally, by taking to the road to locate obscure markers, plaques, and gravestones as well as the more well-known forts and battlefields. This comprehensive first volume (the second volume will focus on the American side) provides a detailed “pathway” through the war from by means of historical geography and material culture study.
Michael J. Jaques. Archives Lanark. 84 pages.
Reviewed in October 2012 OHS Bulletin no. 185
Michael J. Jaques, research coordinator at Archives Lanark (OHS affiliated society), has written a compelling biographical sketch of Colonel Christopher Myers, allowing readers an entry into the epochal war years through the life and military career of a pivotal actor in the Battle of Cook’s Mills. Taking place in October 1814, Cook’s Mills was a key engagement for the British and American troops; under Myers, the Americans were forced to retreat to Fort Erie in a heavy skirmish.
D. Peter Macleod. Douglas & McIntyre. 96 pages.
Reviewed in October 2012 OHS Bulletin no. 185
Four Wars of 1812 , produced by D. Peter Macleod with a research team from the Canadian War Museum, is the accompanying text to the current exhibit (until January 2013) by the same title at the museum. Richly illustrated with photographs of paintings, portraits, sketches, grave markers, maps and artifacts from the exhibit, the story is here told from the perspective of the four combatant groups, American, Canadian, British and Indigenous peoples.
Alastair Sweeny. Dundurn. 272 pages.
Reviewed in October 2012 OHS Bulletin no. 185
Finally, in Fire Along the Frontier, seasoned historian Alistair Sweeny, a self-confessed “fan” of the conflict, covers familiar ground in an engaging synthesis of leading figures, strategies and battles. Sweeny also brings forward the lesser-known but contributory behind-the-scenes commercial activities. Particularly interesting are American dealings with Napoleon and their richest entrepreneur and war financier, John Jacob Astor. The author provides a compendium of additional resources about the war on his personal webpage at www.alastairsweeny.com.
Connie Brummel Crook. Pajama Press. 272 pages.
Reviewed in October 2012 OHS Bulletin no. 185
History enthusiasts like nothing better than to pass a few leisurely hours with a work of fiction steeped in historical circumstance or featuring historical characters. Connie Brummel Crook’s Acts of Courage imaginatively retells the familiar Laura Secord legend for a young audience. Geared to 12-year-olds and up, this book takes readers back to Secord’s Massachusetts childhood in the aftermath of the Revolutionary War, the family’s move to Upper Canada to homestead in the Niagara Peninsula, her courtship and marriage to James Secord. The incidents that secured Secord’s place on the historical record, her rescue of her wounded husband from the Queenston Heights battleground and her dangerous journey to warn Colonel Fitzgibbon about the imminent American attack, are related in a way that is sure to intrigue young readers, as well as adults reading to them.
Dorothy Duncan, Dundurn. 248 pages.
Reviewed in Summer 2012 OHS Bulletin no. 184
Duncan sets the scene by looking back to the end of the American Revolution and the Treaty of Versailles in 1783. Among those who considered the treaty a disaster were the tens of thousands who streamed north to the remaining British colonies. Upper Canada was a land in transition, says Duncan, as Loyalists joined those already there: “First Nations, explorers, fishermen, fur traders, entrepreneurs, missionaries, military, government officials, merchants, and settlers.” She draws extensively on contemporary accounts, letters and journals to describe for us this frontier society, as the newcomers settled down to their “everyday life,” building homes and roads, planting crops, erecting mills, opening shops and other businesses, and learning skills from their Native neighbours. As she points out, “Life in the settlements was not for the faint-hearted. To survive and prosper took a combination of experience, skill and knowledge” – and, no doubt, dogged perseverance. All was threatened by the declaration of war in June 1812. Upper Canadians responded with bravery, perseverance, and loyalty. Dorothy Duncan, for many years Executive Director of the OHS, here presents an engaging view of life on the “home front.”
Peggy Dymond Leavey, Dundurn (Quest Biography). 224 pages.
Reviewed in Summer 2012 OHS Bulletin no. 184
Leavey, an award winning author of young adult fiction, has used her considerable skills to interweave two strands of history. One is Laura Secord herself, whose walk of many miles warned a British outpost commanded by Lieutenant James Fitzgibbon of an impending American attack. We are told not only this tale of courage which became the stuff of Canadian legend, but also the story of her whole life. The other is the drama of the War of 1812, especially as played out in southern Ontario – British troops, American invaders, Canadian militia, Native allies. The history did not end with the end of hostilities – Laura Secord was eventually to receive recognition and reward, and to become, even in our time a figure of controversy. Similarly, perhaps, as we mark the bicentennial of the War of 1812, its significance continues to be the subject of both celebration and debate. Plaudits to Dundurn Press for this addition to its fine Quest series of Canadian biography.
Richard Feltoe, Dundurn, 432 pages.
Reviewed in May 2012 OHS Bulletin no. 183
Richard Feltoe, a museum curator and a living history re-enactor, is a stickler for details. His context is the War of 1812, but his specific focus is on one regiment of volunteer militia. He follows the War through their eyes and their experiences. Nineteen maps explain specifics of separate battles. Eight appendices present biographies of selected individuals and provide information on clothing, on weapons, on food, on living conditions, on families, on sicknesses, even on crimes and punishments. There are endnotes, a bibliography and a full index. Written as a narrative history, this almost encyclopedic volume will be treasured by all re-enactors and by all who find fascination in the minutiae of military campaigns.
Glenn Stott and Carol Hall, Global Heritage Press, 223 pages.
Reviewed in February 2012 OHS Bulletin no. 182
When the War of 1812 ended, another kind of conflict began. Hundreds of Canadian settlers had had their lives disrupted, and had suffered serious damages to person and property inflicted by both American and British armies. When the military forces withdrew, the authors point out, “residents often were literally defenceless…they had no real allies, but everyone was their enemy to some degree.” Seeking retribution, or rather reimbursement, for the damages suffered, formal claims were submitted to the government. In time these claims were compiled, evaluated and filed – some successfully settled, others denied or ignored. These many records were filed and, more recently, microfilmed. Thanks to the authors of these volumes, they have been sorted, recorded in tables, and fully indexed – a delight to genealogists and a treasure to anyone researching the impact of the War on the ordinary folk caught in the middle of it all. Hardly an evocative volume to read, but an extensive compilation to research. (The publishers have also published Canadians at War 1914-1919: A Research Guide to World War One Service Records).
Tom Taylor, Hancock and Dean, 346 pages.
Reviewed in February 2012 OHS Bulletin no. 182
The historic period of the first phase of the War of 1812 is the stage for this historical novel. If you like your history dramatized with ingenious twists and animated characters, you will enjoy this clearly written and attractively produced book. No need to think history dull!
Enid Mallory, Dundurn (Natural Heritage Books), 176 pages.
Reviewed in February 2012 OHS Bulletin no. 182
The story of James Fitzgibbon (of Stoney Creek and Laura Secord fame), a well known chapter in the history of the War of 1812, is here imaginatively and dramatically related. It is a chapter in Fitzgibbon’s full life story, with its political as well as military involvements. He rose in rank and importance as a loyal supporter of the British colonial government and servant of the Family Compact.
John Grant and Ray Jones, Turner Publishing, 192 pages.
Reviewed in February 2012 OHS Bulletin no. 182
Published as a companion volume for the War of 1812 television (PBS) special produced by WNED-TV Buffalo/Toronto. If you saw and appreciated the program (it will certainly be repeated) you will value this fine volume with its many archival images and its clear text. The book takes you to the sites of the battles – many, perhaps most, here in Ontario – sketching what happened at each of them and describing what you can see today. Here is one of very few works about that war which draws deeply on both Canadian and American sources.
Winston Johnston
Reviewed in February 2012 OHS Bulletin no. 182
This second edition (with added details and records) focuses on the Glengarry Light Infantry, recounting the experiences of some 1,400 men who served in the regiment from embodiment in 1812 to disbandment in 1816.
Wesley B. Turner, Dundurn, 369 pages.
Reviewed in December 2011 OHS Bulletin no. 181
As we are about to immerse ourselves in War of 1812 celebrations, re-enactments, commentaries, and, no doubt, arguments, General Isaac Brock will most surely be a central figure. This biography of Brock was written by a Canadian for Canadians. Surely no one knows the general – his trials and triumphs and ultimate tragedy – better than retired Brock University professor, Wesley B. Turner. This distillation of his life-long researches and reflections is comprehensive and concise, reliable and readable. With clarity and insight he describes Brock in the context of his time and of our history. If you have never read a Brock biography, or if you have read a dozen of them, read this book.
David B. Clark, Douglas A. Green and M. Lubell, Stoney Creek H. S., 30 pages.
Reviewed in December 2011 OHS Bulletin no. 181
Familiar stories, family stories, about earlier times and people may or may not be factually correct. One such tale recounts the heroism of Billy Green at the Battle of Stoney Creek in 1813. Two years ago, historian James E. Elliott, in Strange Fatality, a volume detailing many aspects of that battle’s history (noted here in October 2009), discounted and dismissed the Green story. Frankly and firmly, Elliott’s arguments are here rebutted, while at Stoney Creek the monument to Billy still stands.
David F. Hemmings, Bygones Publishing. 213 pages.
Reviewed in December 2011 OHS Bulletin, no. 181
If you have travelled the Niagara Parkway, you may well have visited McFarland House, an elegant Georgian mansion, one of the very few surviving structures that predate the War of 1812. This book is the story of its builder, John McFarland, who rose from Scottish carpenter to British North American shipbuilder to Niagara entrepreneur and prominent landowner. Fortunately his extensive business and family archives were donated some years ago to the Niagara Historical Society. In addition, many McFarland petitions, deeds and other papers are at the Ontario Archives. Along with McFarland’s story, the book includes transcriptions of many of these archival documents. Niagara-on-the-Lake social historian David Hemmings has once again produced an informative volume on a prominent personality in Niagara’s past.
Jonathon Riley, Robin Brass Studio, 336 pages.
Reviewed in October 2011 OHS Bulletin no. 180
There is no shortage of books about General Isaac Brock – and there are, no doubt, more coming as we approach next year’s 200th anniversary of his untimely death. This new biography will appeal especially to military history buffs, for Brock is portrayed by a distinguished modern British Lieutenant-General. Thus Brock is envisioned through the eyes of a soldier – indeed one, as Canadian historian Donald Graves notes in his introduction, who “may have more military experience than his subject.” Like all Robin Brass Studio books, the volume is attractive in its design and enhanced by excellent illustrations. Readers must themselves determine whether General Riley answers the question of why General Brock died “doing the job of a captain.”
Aldona Sendzikas, Dundurn (Natural Heritage), 216 pages.
Listed in Summer 2011 OHS Bulletin no. 179
The story of the now nearly-forgotten garrison that served Toronto for over a century–a period when the city was a very military town.
David F. Hemmings, Bygones Publishing, 167 pages.
Reviewed in March 2011 OHS Bulletin no. 178
We all know the story of plucky Laura Secord who in June of 1813 brought the news from Queenston to Beaver Dams that the Americans were planning a surprise attack. Much of what we know is, of course, doubtful. She surely didn’t wear her nightie or drive a cow (and there were no chocolates). Fortunately, Hemmings’ account is well researched and his suppositions are based on historical fact. American officers were indeed billeted in the Secords’ farmhouse and were overheard discussing plans to attack the British outpost at Beaver Dams. Laura’s husband, James Secord, had been wounded in an earlier battle and certainly could not walk the distance (about 20 miles), so it fell to her to make the trip. Two days later the Americans, ambushed at Beaver Dams, surrendered to Lieutenant James Fitzgibbon (Laura’s part was later confirmed by him). Hemming’s account of Laura’s heroic journey is followed by details of the Secords’ post-war years, including their financial difficulties – James received a small pension for his wartime services, but Laura’s petitions for financial recognition of her heroism were ignored. (Not until 1861 and a gift of £100 from the Prince of Wales did she receive any monetary reward.) Hemmings includes much additional material: “Petitions, Publicity and Plaques”, “Some Belongings of Laura Secord”, and a splendidly comprehensive list of “Direct Descendants and Ancestors”.
Ron Burgess, Borealis Press, 313 pages.
Reviewed in October 2010 OHS Bulletin no. 176
The schooner Nancy played a vital role in the Upper Great Lakes during the War of 1812. This is a highly fictionalized account of the ship and her captain, Alex Macintosh. The Americans are all aggressive, the Indians are all admirable, the British officers are mostly arrogant, but the captain and his crew are crafty, colourful and courageous. Author Ron Burgess’s excitement with history, experience as a teacher, and expertise in sailing Lake Huron combine to weave a lively yarn. Esteemed historian Barry Gough expertly presented the Nancy ’s full factual history in Through Water, Ice & Fire: Schooner Nancy of the War of 1812 (see below). Readers looking for a rollicking re-telling of the tale will also enjoy Burgess’s version.
James E. Elliot, Robin Brass Studio, 312 pages.
Reviewed in October 2009 OHS Bulletin no. 171
For the last several years the Robin Brass Studio has been publishing a laudable series of books, each focused on a particular battle or aspect of the War of 1812. This latest volume deals with a minor battle (in terms of its size and devastation) that had major consequences, for Stoney Creek stopped the momentum of the American invasions of 1813 – successful at York and at Fort George – and, as events evolved afterwards, prevented an American takeover of much of Upper Canada that year. Here the specifics of the battle – the participants, the maneuvers, the mistakes, the fortunes – are well described. One can smell the gun smoke and feel the fear. Here also are myths demolished (such as the tale of Billy Green) and results measured. An added appendix tells a story which may amuse (or appall) historical societies throughout the province: A second battle of Stoney Creek was fought nearly a century later over the location and erection of a memorial monument. The Wentworth Historical Society clashed with the Women’s Wentworth Historical Society for twenty years! Needless the say, the women won.
Don Bamford and Raul Carroll, Dundurn (Natural Heritage), 280 pages.
Reviewed in October 2009 OHS Bulletin no. 171
David Wingfield was no great hero. He fought in no decisive battles – indeed, the War of 1812 itself was indecisive. But for four years he kept a descriptive diary which he entitled: Four Years on the Lakes of Canada 1813, 1814, 1815 and 1816 by a Naval Officer Under the Command of the Late Sir James Lucas Yeo, Kt. Commodore and Commander-in-Chief of H.M. Ships and Vessels of War Employed on the Lakes – Also Nine Months as Prisoner of War in the United States of America. Preserved by the family for several generations, the manuscript was presented to the National Archives in 1932. Carefully transcribed and thoroughly annotated, it is now available to all who cherish the details, delights and disappointments of personal accounts of military life. The volume is peppered with archival images, maps, documents – including a section of marvelous colour pictures. Don Bamford was 89 when this labour of much of his lifetime was finally published, thanks to the assistance of Paul Carroll, the encouragement of historian Barry Gough, and the publishing efforts of Natural Heritage.
Bob Blakeley and Cheryl MacDonald, Heronwood Enterprises, 100 pages.
Reviewed in February 2009 OHS Bulletin no. 168
Imagine you are a settler in the Norfolk Haldimand area two centuries ago as a war was unfolding near and around you; and imagine you are regularly reading a locally published newspaper. Here, in chronological, almost daily order are the news stories you might read. Here is “popular” history at its best, a narration of events and personalities that makes the War of 1812 alive and immediate. The authors are journalists and re-enactors, but their citing of scholarly sources testifies to their thorough familiarity with historical fact. A bright idea, delightfully executed.
Robert Malcomson, Robin Brass Studio, 489 pages.
Reviewed in Summer 2008 OHS Bulletin no. 165
This brilliant, beautifully designed book challenges you, the reader, to re-consider everything you thought you knew about the American invasion of Upper Canada’s capital in April, 1813. The story, the whole story, is related in exhaustive detail, yet War of 1812 historian Malcomson never loses sight of his central narrative. He follows the flow of events from both American and a British/Canadian perspectives, intermingling characters, incidents and military facts. The result is a work that clarifies confusions, challenges prejudices and shatters myths as it tells the tale clearly, cleverly and comprehensively. Undoubtedly a book destined to become the definitive study of the battle of York, an event well dubbed “the most traumatic day in the history of Toronto.”
Dianne Graves, Robin Brass Studio, 496 pages.
Reviewed in April 2008 OHS Bulletin no. 164
This splendidly thorough and thoroughly splendid book looks at the life – or more accurately, the many and varied lives – of women during the War of 1812. Canadians tend to glorify their role in what was in reality a war that nobody won, but Dianne Graves presents a more truthful picture. Wives, mothers, daughters, lovers, the women on both sides of the border found themselves caught up in a war not of their choosing, coping with its “privations, depredations and unpredictability.” Nevertheless, as in other conflicts, they did all they could to support the war effort, sometimes in the midst of the fighting itself. Based upon her study of letters, diaries, memoirs and records, Graves presents a detailed review of life in early 19th century North America, often very different from what had been enjoyed in the “old country.” There are many illustrations with detailed captions, providing a further picture of the times.
Donald E. Graves, Robin Brass Studio, 488 pages.
Reviewed in September 2007 OHS Bulletin no. 161
“Men of War” The career of British officer Thomas Pearson spanned the Napoleonic Wars–with major battles fought in Portugal, Spain and North Africa–as well as service in Canada in the War of 1812 (including Chippewa and Lundy’s Lane). Once again historian Donald Graves and publisher Robin Brass have combined their considerable talents to produce a volume that is exhaustively researched, eminently readable, copiously illustrated and handsomely designed. A must for military buffs.
Barry Gough, Dundurn, 213 pages.
Reviewed in April 2007 OHS Bulletin no. 159
“Heroic History” Naval historian Barry Gough spins a grand tale of the War of 1812. From the outset, the Northwest was a crucial battleground, economically vital to the British, politically indispensable to the Americans, and home to dozens of Native nations. Supply routes important to the fur-trading North West Company ran through the Great Lakes to Montreal. Enter the Nancy , a nimble little NWC schooner, built for speed and maneuverability, but with an ample hold for carrying goods west and furs east. When hostilities broke out, it was soon requisitioned. Her young master, Alexander MacKintosh, has a deep sense of obligation to king and country and daringly commanded his ship through countless battles and storms to keep strategic supplies and troops on the move as needed. Finally cornered, MacKintosh set fire to his ship rather than have it fall into enemy hands.
by George W. J. Duncan, published by The Ontario Historical Society
Reviewed in February 2020
George Duncan is Senior Heritage Planner for the City of Markham, which means he works on the northern frontier of the Greater Toronto Area’s ever-expanding urban and suburban development where it continues to overflow into Southern Ontario’s beleaguered farmland.
In the second edition of A Few Old Barns (italics his) that was first published in 2007, Duncan is unashamed in his “Nostalgia for Barns.” That’s the title of his first chapter, which presents the Musical Barn in the village of Coldwater. Sadly, like too many of the barns he described in 2007, that barn is now gone. All that remains as a relic in a local park is its elegant cupola, “that provided a place for young Eby Sallows to practice his violin.”
That loss was hard for Duncan. It still is. In loving but meticulously descriptive words and exquisite pen and ink drawings he presents “The Barn as Art,” “Barns with a Story to Tell,” “The Barn Roof,” “The Red Barn,” and “The Evolution of Barns.” In those brief chapters we learn about barn hardware (that was once forged by local blacksmiths), and barns with histories (one originally a church, another a blacksmith shop, and another a match factory which somehow managed to survive the most dangerous use for a barn imaginable where its bigger brother did not.)
In “The Barn Roof as a Distinguishing Feature,” we learn how to recognize hip roofs, gambrel roofs, gable roofs, saltbox roofs, and monitor roofs (with their illuminating, heat-venting clerestories).
From classification, Duncan moves on to the technical. In “Posts, Beams, Mortises & Tenons,” he describes how to raise a barn using nails only to attach planks to a massive jointed skeleton. He also tells us how to age a barn, approximately, pre- or post-Confederation, by noting how its timbers were cut: with a muley or with a circular saw. And how to recognize a bank barn built into a slope with a raised foundation at the low end that creates a space beneath the granary floor where farm animals can be sheltered.
In A Few Old Barns, we learn a lot about these remarkably beautiful pieces of architectural technology. We also learn that these mostly unpainted structures are wonderfully durable, provided they are not allowed to die of neglect. However, in too many cases that has happened and it continues to happen. Ontario’s barns that used to dot the rural landscape are disappearing. It’s a sad fate that Duncan wants to reverse by giving ancient barns new uses that might include antique shops, markets, residences, a winery (his favourite example), and any use that might be conjured by a barn-educated imagination.
Duncan closes A Few Old Barns by providing a link to Ontario Barn Preservation, an affiliate of The Ontario Historical Society that’s dedicated to the saving of endangered barns. On its website we learn it can be scary rehabilitating a “structure with the threat of dry rot, roof decay and crumbling foundations lurking around every dark corner.” But by all measures worth it.
If Ontario history intrigues you, A Few Old Barns by George Duncan might be the most fascinating 32 pages you have ever read.
Richard Longley, Former President
Architectural Conservancy Ontario
