The Peterborough Museum & Archives in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada has amassed a large and varied collection of canoe and boat building artifacts and archival holdings. What follows is an inventory listing of this material.
Canoes
959.64.10 / birch-bark canoe; originally from Victoria Museum collection (Peterborough's first local museum established in 1897); "transitional" - First Nations construction techniques showing European influences with use of copper nails; 1790 circa.
976.4.1 / hand-hewn, "dug-out" canoe; basswood; painted red; built by William Alfred Payne, Warsaw, Ontario; 1876; brass labels.
976.13.1 / canoe; Stephenson Canoe; 1876; painted gray; 3 planks to the side, flush battens; acquired from Rye Boatworks.
976.13.2 / sailing canoe; built by Tom Gordon; 1860s; painted green; basswood board canoe with elm or oak ribs and batten; picked up from Rye Boatworks, Peterborough.
978.74.2 / dory; wood plank construction; "Camp-Pal" model; painted brown; 4 seats; 3 floor boards; 4 metal oar locks; wide body; wooden rudder.
984.49 / Stephenson canoe; cedar rib construction; built on steel mould; painted green; with sail and oak paddles; second last version of Stephenson's "Peterborough" board canoe.
993.15 / sailing canoe; Peterborough Canoe Company; 'Sponson unsinkable' model; canvas covered basswood canoe; with lee boards and sail intact; painted red; 2 cane seats; hand-painted name: "Paio-Tiki" on bow; 1920 circa.
993.29 / sailing canoe; Canadian Canoe Company (metal logo); painted red; longitudinal strip construction; with lee boards and sail intact; 16 feet long.
994.18 / sailing canoe; Strickland and Company, Lakefield; 1886; varnish finish; 16 feet long; basswood; board construction.
[permanent loan - on exhibit]
cedar strip canoe; Peterborough Canoe Company (decal); 12 feet long; similar to canoe given as a wedding gift to Queen
Elizabeth and Prince Philip (1948).
[no accession number] / 'freight canoe'; Peterborough Canoe Company (decal); board construction; 16 feet long; 2cane seats; painted red; serial number: 26PC-1073.
[no accession number] / sailing canoe; Lakefield Canoe Company (decal and metal logo); longitudinal strip construction; varnish finish; 2 lee boards; 18 feet long.
Canoe & Boatmodels:
980.50.9 / Model Hull; wood; 4 horizontal layers of wood held together by 3 wooden pegs; metal screw-in eye at center of length; for a 12 foot long boat; 22.8 x 3.9 x 3.7 cm; Peterborough Canoe Company.
980.50.10 / Model Hull; wood; for 20 foot long streamliner; 38 x 4.9 x 7.6 cm; donated by a boat builder with the Peterborough Canoe Company, 1925-1939 and from 1945-1947.
997.3 / 2 wooden models of "Speedstar" and "Lakeside" motor boats; made by Percy Bullied, cabinetmaker with Peterborough Canoe Company; 1930s.
Sailing canoe and cedar strip canoe models; wood; Peterborough Canoe Company.
Boatbuilding Tools:
Boat building tools; owned by A.E. Barrie a boat builder with the Canadian Canoe Company until 1929 and then with his own canoe and boat works in Peterborough; collection includes: awl, tenon saw, cross-cut rip saw, spoke shave, carpenters square, hand drills, pincers, clamps, clinching weight, planes.
Canoe & Boat Accessories:
The museum also holds several examples of paddles (including red cedar paddles, circa 1885and paddles from the Peterborough Canoe Company), oars, outboard motors (including a 1939 Evinrude, "Handi-Twin") and other material.
Additional “Recreation” Artifacts:
998.2 / Toboggan; with original finish, hardware and straps; Peterborough Canoe Company (metal label); 1930 circa.
[no accession number] / Millionth Motor; Outboard Marine Corporation (OMC); gold plated 50 horsepower outboard motor on a display stand; 1971.
H69.94 (a,b,c) / 3 sales samples of “Woodtex Sun-Ray Shades” by Peterborough Ventilating Shade Company (subsidiary of Peterborough Canoe Company), circa 1930.
969.45.1 / bronze medal in case; awarded to William English Canoe Company at the International Exhibition, Philadelphia, (Worlds Fair) 1876; for the Hunting Canoe displayed in the “Dominion of Canada” exhibit.
969.45.2 / bronze medal in case; awarded to William English Canoe Company at the Colonial and Indian Exhibition, London, England, 1886.
969.45.3 / bronze medal in case; awarded to William English Canoe Company at the International Exposition (World’s Fair), Paris, France, 1878.
969.45.4 / bronze medal in case; awarded to William English Canoe Company at the International Exhibition, Philadelphia (World’s Fair), 1876.
975.53.1 / Fragment of Peterborough Canoe (with metal tag) found by Jack Hamer on his tour of the 1898 Klondike Gold Rush Trail, at the shore of Crater Lake, on Canadian border at Chilkoot Pass.
980.82.1 / Silver water-skiing trophy awarded in 1935 to Eric Dineson, by the Peterborough Canoe Company. Dineson was a local champion water skier. He was chosen to promote the PCC Aqua Ski product line. He was also an employee of the company.
Original Archival Material, related to Canoe and Boat Building:
68-003 / Beal Family fonds price lists, catalogues, letterhead, other promotional material; Peterborough Canoe Company; 1951-1961.
69-028 / Canadian Ventilating Shades patent certificate, design specifications, plans for "improved" wooden venetian window blinds by Claude H. Rogers, Peterborough Canoe Company executive. This blinds manufacturing operation was a subsidiary of Peterborough Canoe Company.
70-001 / Peterborough Review Printing and Publishing Company - Portfolios catalogues from Lakefield Canoe Company, William English Canoe Company and Peterborough Canoe Company; 1904-1917.
72-013 / Rice Lake Canoe Company 3 catalogues from Rice Lake Canoe Company, Gore's Landing (1910 circa); reproductions.
75-001 / Felix Bownscombe - collector extract from financial ledger of Canadian Canoe Company; 1892-1931; assorted Canadian Canoe Company photographs and other material (reprints).
76-018 / Magie Photograph Collection (Roy Studio) includes several8 x 10 photographs of Peterborough Canoe Company product line used for promotional literature by the company (1910-1920 circa).
80-002 / Leonard Robinson fonds (Peterborough Canoe Company) colour catalogue of Peterborough Watercraft, 1955; 40 glossy 8 x 10 photographs of canoes, boats including: "Handy Boy", "Express Cruiser", "Mercury Moldliner", "SeaFarer Convertible", "Imperial", "Lark", "Zephyr", "Lakeside" and "Arrow"; 1950s.
80-018 / Eric Dineson fonds catalogue (1930circa), catalogues, price lists (1941, 1954) - Peterborough Canoe Company; Johnson Motors Company price lists and catalogue (1927); Chestnut Canoe Company catalogue (1961); 7 photographs showing construction of PT Boat in Montreal factory (1945); photographs of boat launch; large photograph of Peterborough Canoe Company staff (1938 circa).
82-020 / E.H.D. Hall fonds letterbook of Mr. Hall when he represented William English Canoe Company at Paris Exposition (1878); scrapbooks, assorted photographs and ephemera related to Stoney Lake regattas (1910 - 1920 circa).
83-019 / Smith Township Historical Society photograph of exterior of Lakefield Canoe Company (1900 circa).
85-042 / PMA Industrial History Files research files on local canoe and boat building factories.
86-021 / Marjorie Scriver - collector 2 photographs of twenty-seven Peterborough Canoe Company workers in one freight canoe built for Hudsons Bay Company (1910 circa).
87-008 / Birch Bark Canoe Construction - photographic study collection of14 photographs showing construction of birch bark canoe (1980 circa).
89-006 / Peterborough Canoe Company photograph of staff of Peterborough Canoe Company, 1938.
89-001 / Howard Pammett fonds assorted correspondence, photographs, postcards and other material relating from local canoe companies.
89-011 / SS "Mollie "Registry certificate of British registry for "SS Mollie" boat owned by Strickland Canoe Company, Lakefield (1898).
89-020 / Martha Kidd fonds - additions several glass plate negatives: canoeing in Stoney Lake (1890's); canoes in bay behind Peterborough Canoe Company.
90-019 / Dick McKend fonds photograph of employees of Rice Lake Canoe Company (Cobourg works), 1922.
90-023 / Halls Glen Women’s Institute Tweedsmuir History Album includes an original photograph on board, of Massey-Harris convention in Lakefield; in background is clear view of Lakefield Canoe Works factory, 1909.
90-106 / Albert Edmund Barrie fonds biographical notes, photographs relating to boat builder, A.E. Barrie and his career with Canadian Canoe Company and Barrie Canoe Company, Peterborough.
90-110 / Donald Boulter fonds photographs of Peterborough Canoe Company Livery and Storage Building at Juniper Island, Stoney Lake (1940 circa).
92-007 / Roy Studio cyanotypes of parade floats celebrating amalgamation of Peterborough and Ashburnham; includes float from Canadian Canoe Company (1904).
92-022 / "The Old Man and the Canoe" VHS videotape documenting the work of Walter Walker, master canoe builder from Lakefield (1992).
92-032 / H.K. Fallis fonds Includes an original photograph on board, showing the east side of Charlotte Street near George. Clearly visible is the William English Canoe factory. A large advertising sign for the company can be seen on the west side of the building (1890 circa).
92-044 / "Peterborough: The Canoe Capital of Canada" a large box of research notes, photographs and published material relating to the local canoe and boat building industry; included are company timelines, photocopied catalogues and price lists, publications; this material was used to develop a major exhibition.
95-069 / ACA Store watercolour painting of ACA Store with canoe and sailboat on shore of a small lake; by E.S. Shrapnel; 1885 circa.
96-028 / Demonstrating Canoe Safety photograph of Peterborough Canoe Company staff demonstrating how a Peterborough canoe with several passengers will not tip (1925 circa).
96-029 / Peterborough Canoe Company photograph of Peterborough Canoe Company office staff at annual banquet, Peterborough Golf and Country Club, (1945 circa).
97-003 / "Making Small Boats and Canoes" booklet circulated by Outboard Marine Company, Peterborough; 1943.
97-025 / Canadian Johnson Motors Company, Peterborough 16 operating manuals and instruction guides for Johnson and Evinrude outboard motors; including: "Sea Horse" line, "Fast Wind", "Sports Win" and other motors; 1935 - 1968.
97-004 / Peterborough Canoe Company photograph of Peterborough Canoe Company workers with canoe given to Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip, 1948 as wedding gift.
98-010 / Archives Rare Book Collection - additions includes a second edition copy of "Canoe Handling" by C. Bowyer Vaux (1888).
98-017 / Stoney Lake Calendar, 1904 calendar with mounted photograph of Stoney Lake Boat House, sailing canoe and row boating foreground.
98-029 / Rye Boatworks photograph onboard of first Rye Boatworks in old Tollgate School, sw corner of Sherbrooke and Clonsilla streets, Peterborough (1890 circa).
98-035 / Peterborough Postcard Collection - additions picture postcard showing aerial view of Rice Lake Boatworks, 1930 circa.
98-043 / Pilon Marine, Sales and Service advertising brochure and Kawartha Lakes map; produced by Pilon Marine, 176 Simcoe Street, Peterborough; agents for Johnson, Evinrude and Elto outboard motors; includes interior photographs of business showing motors, canoes, outboard boats and other product line, also portrait of Charles Pilon, owner; 1950 circa.
99-013 / Shooting the White Horse Rapids, Alaska, in a Peterboro Canoe (1910 circa) A colour postcard produced in San Francisco of three men in a Peterborough Canoe, shooting river rapids in Alaska.
99-035 / Parks Studio fonds The Parks Studio fonds comprises over 60,000 photo negatives representing the surviving body of work of one of Peterborough’s best professional studios (late 1930'sto 1970's). Included are extensive series of negatives relating to: Lakefield Boatworks, Peterborough Canoe Company, Outboard Marine, Pilon Marine and Traveler Boats.
2000-004 / William W. Sliger fonds two colour catalogues for Peterborough Canoe Company - Peterborough Watercraft; also cover letters and price lists from PCC Sales Rep., Robert Miller; 1954 and 1956.
CG G-12 / City of Peterborough with Views of Principal Business Buildings large, colour lithograph birds-eye map of Peterborough, with large illustrations of Peterborough Canoe Company, Canadian Canoe Company, along with illustrated views of these companies in the map itself; also of note is view of the Boat House owned by Peterborough Rowing Club at the foot of King Street at the Otonabee River - later used by the Peterborough Canoe Company, 1892 circa.
99-040 / Peterborough Boating Club fonds (1874 - 1891) A minute book documenting the active years of the Peterborough Boating Club. The Club built a large boathouse at the foot of King Street to race skiffs and shells. In August 1879, a team from this Club won 2nd place at the Dominion Regatta in Lachine, Quebec. In 1880 the Club team won 2nd place at the Toronto Regatta. After 1890, the Peterborough Boating Club became dormant.
PG 1-129 H exterior view of Canadian Canoe Company factory on Rink Street, showing canoes displayed on racks outside factory (1920).
PG 5-4 A-D 4 photographs on board; interior views of Canadian Canoe Company factory buildings; includes interior views of: varnish room, building department, rib fabrication room and canoe fabrication room (1913 circa).
PG6A-35 / “Pride of Peterborough” A postcard showing John Smith sitting in his 16 foot Peterborough Canoe, christened, “Pride of Peterborough (1934). Smith attempted to paddle from Peterborough, Ontario to Peterborough, England in the summer of 1934. He perished after his sailing canoe was swamped in rough waters in the Gulf of St Lawrence.
PG 9A - 11 A photograph; Rowing Team of the Peterborough Boating Club with trophy, 1879; shows team members (R.B. Rogers, G.C. Rogers, W.P. Shaw and A. Belcher) in uniform with oars. Team won 2nd place at Dominion Regatta in Lachine, Quebec (1879), 1st place at Barrie Regatta (1879) and 2nd place at Toronto Regatta (1880).
PG 9A-11 C, D 2 photographs; American Canoe Association (ACA) convention at Stoney Lake; 1900 circa.
P.61.2 / painting watercolour; man rowing a small boat near Peterborough; by J.L. Palmer; 1886.
963.28.1 / painting watercolour; small lake with people fishing from canoes; by Vincent Clementi; 1870 circa.
963.28.2 / painting watercolour; boats and canoes; by Vincent Clementi; 1875 circa.
2000-012 / Balsillie Collection of Roy Studio Images (Roy Studio fonds) A vast collection of over 300,000 glass plate and film photo negatives created by the Roy Studio, Peterborough between 1896 and 1992. This collection includes extensive photographs of local canoe and boat building product lines, factories and workers.
2001-001 / J.J. Turner Company catalogue A 1932 illustrated catalogue (#48) of the J.J. Turner Company - makers of canvas tents, camping gear, canoes, skiffs, canoe sails, flags, banners and a variety of other products. The catalogue comprises over ninety pages.
Peterborough Canoe Company Records - unprocessed
Extensive business records of Peterborough Canoe Company acquired from a Peterborough law firm. Records document bankruptcy of PCC.
Other related archival material include: Peterborough and Kawartha Lakes promotional literature featuring local canoe companies; fire insurance maps of Peterborough (1915, 1929 and 1968) showing accurate layouts of buildings for local canoe companies; Peterborough City Council minute books containing references to local canoe companies; local history publications, etc.
