WHAT'S NEW AT THE PHA?
We are always up to something here at the Port Hope Archives. Check out our recent acquisitions, donations, events, and other exciting news!
The Sandford and Helen Anne Haskill Collection
The Port Hope Archives is excited to announce the acquisition of The Sandford and Helen Anne Haskill Collection. This historic collection includes ledgers/ diaries, bank book and an early whiskey ledger. Together the collection helps to tell the story of the Haskill family who settled in Smith's Creek (present day Port Hope) about 1795. They are considered to be one of our first founding families. Nathaniel Haskill and Abigail (Sawyer) made their way with 7 children from Lancaster Massachusetts, it is thought that the eldest sons may have driven a herd of cattle through Niagara and around the north shore of Lake Ontario to the newly opened Township.
The Haskills eventually settled on Lot 16, Broken Front and Lot 16, Conc. 1. This property on Lakeshore Road
has been in the Haskill family for over 6 generations, the longest running ownership in Port Hope.
If you would like to view this fascinating collection please visit the archives during our regular hours.
The Haskills eventually settled on Lot 16, Broken Front and Lot 16, Conc. 1. This property on Lakeshore Road
has been in the Haskill family for over 6 generations, the longest running ownership in Port Hope.
If you would like to view this fascinating collection please visit the archives during our regular hours.
Port Hope High School Donation!
In July 2015, the PHA received a wonderful donation to the collection, from Port Hope High School. It consists of: minute books (1856+), account books, text books, report cards, exam lists, blueprints, yearbooks, photographs, a PHHS uniform jacket, and a World War I Roll of Honour. The collection will prove to be invaluable to researchers of the future, and documents an important institution in our community. The Port Hope Archives would like to thank Port Hope High School for their generous support!
PHA Newsletter Archives Now Online!
Starting in July 2015, our newsletter archives, going all the way back to 2007, will now be available to download from our website! Be sure to look through our back-issues to learn all about the history of Port Hope, and see how the Port Hope Archives has changed over the years!
Port Hope Archives' History Video Series!
Join the Port Hope Archives as we present "Port Hope: A Floody History" and "Names Behind the Streets." Be sure to subscribe to our Youtube channel for all of our videos!
William P. Baulch World War I Diary
Recently, a World War One diary which belonged to Wilbur (Bill) P. Baulch was donated to the Port Hope Archives. Mr. Baulch wrote in this diary between 1914 and 1917.
If you are interested in looking through the diary, stop by the Port Hope Archives and take a peek! View our Wilbur P. Baulch exhibit, here. |
Peters Family Photograph Collection

In June of 2014, a collection of 37 photographs of the Peters family were donated to the Port Hope Archives by Patricia Davidson. These photographs depict many generations of individuals from the Peters family. The photographs are all in excellent condition and they are a great addition to our collection here at the Port Hope Archives.
If you are interested in browsing through these new photographs, or others from our collection, contact us for more information.
If you are interested in browsing through these new photographs, or others from our collection, contact us for more information.
Cemetery Records
The Port Hope Archives have purchased Cemetery Records from the Port Hope & District Historical Society.
Records for the following cemeteries can be viewed in the reading room at the archives:
Canton Cemetery East Zion Bible Christian Cemetery
Elizabethville Anglican Cemetery Elizabethville Methodist Cemetery
Knoxville Presbyterian Cemetery Oak Hill Presbyterian Cemetery
Perrytown Anglican Cemetery Perrytown Presbyterian Cemetery
Perrytown Methodist Cemetery Providence Cemetery
St. John's Anglican Church Cemetery St. Mark's Anglican Cemetery
St. Mary's Roman Catholic Cemetery Welcome United Church Cemetery
Wesleyville United Church Cemetery Zion Bible Christian Cemetery
You can view cemetery records anytime ONLINE at www.cemsearch.ca
Records for the following cemeteries can be viewed in the reading room at the archives:
Canton Cemetery East Zion Bible Christian Cemetery
Elizabethville Anglican Cemetery Elizabethville Methodist Cemetery
Knoxville Presbyterian Cemetery Oak Hill Presbyterian Cemetery
Perrytown Anglican Cemetery Perrytown Presbyterian Cemetery
Perrytown Methodist Cemetery Providence Cemetery
St. John's Anglican Church Cemetery St. Mark's Anglican Cemetery
St. Mary's Roman Catholic Cemetery Welcome United Church Cemetery
Wesleyville United Church Cemetery Zion Bible Christian Cemetery
You can view cemetery records anytime ONLINE at www.cemsearch.ca
20 Years Serving Our Community!

On 20 Jan 2014, the Port Hope Archives held its Annual General Meeting. The event is a regular occurrence, and normally does not mark anything special, other than the passing of another year. However, this year we marked another occasion! The Port Hope Archives kicked off its 20th year serving our local community (we were officially founded in 1994); and we could not be more grateful for the continued support from our volunteers, board of directors, membership, community partners, and the Municipality of Port Hope! Thank you everyone for a great first 20 years!
Morrish Women's Institute Collection

In May 2013 the Port Hope Archives published an article in the Northumberland Today about the history of the Federated Women's Institutes of Ontario (to read the article, click here). The goal of the article was to educate our community on the history of this wonderful women's organization, but also to see if there were any W.I. materials out there.
Shortly after the appearance of the article, we were contacted by a representative from the former Morrish Branch of the Women's Institute. To make a long-story short, we received the amazing donation in August.
The Morrish Women's Institute Fonds contains 100 years of minute books, handbooks, newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, correspondence, and 3 Tweedsmuir Local History Books!
Many thanks to the former Morrish Women's Institute for their wonderful support of the Port Hope Archives!
Shortly after the appearance of the article, we were contacted by a representative from the former Morrish Branch of the Women's Institute. To make a long-story short, we received the amazing donation in August.
The Morrish Women's Institute Fonds contains 100 years of minute books, handbooks, newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, correspondence, and 3 Tweedsmuir Local History Books!
Many thanks to the former Morrish Women's Institute for their wonderful support of the Port Hope Archives!
Port Hope Archives on YouTube!
As of May 25th 2013, the PHA has interviewed 15 individuals for the Oral History Project! With the help of our wonderful video editor, short clips of each interview will be uploaded to YouTube, starting with our very own volunteer/board member, Evelyn Conn. Check out her interview clip below...
Search Archival Collections Online!

William J. Goheen Diaries, 1872-1918
In Spring 2012 our archivist attended a workshop offered by the Archives Association of Ontario on ARCHEION. According to their website: "Archeion is Ontario's Archival Information Network, an online research tool providing access to descriptions of archival records held by members of the Archives Association of Ontario (AAO). The records themselves are preserved and made accessible via the individual archives. Archeion is a member-supported service provided by the AAO." After ensuring our archival descriptions would be compatible for entry into ARCHEION, we finally started the entry process in late-November. Over the next year we'll be adding descriptions to some of the most accessed materials in the PHA collection, so they can be viewed from anywhere via the internet. For more information on the ARCHEION project and to search descriptions from archives across the province visit: archeion.ca
PHA Joins D.R.A.A.G.

Earlier in 2012, the PHA was invited to join a fledgling group of local archives known as the Durham Region Area Archives Group (DRAAG). The purpose of the group is to serve as an advocacy and support group for the history of Durham Region and beyond; it also is a chapter of the Archives Association of Ontario. Becoming a member was particularly fitting as the Municipality of Port Hope used to be a part of Durham County (just a little fun fact!). We've already helped out with the group's Archives Awareness Week event on April 4th in Oshawa; and our archivist is a member of the DRAAG executive. We're looking forward to more events and exciting partnerships in the future! Click on the DRAAG logo to visit their website.
E.A. Osborn Fonds Donation

To end off the year, we received an incredibly exciting donation, brought about by our archivist's talk at the Legion’s Remembrance Day dinner in November.
This fonds was donated to the PHA by E.A. Osborn's niece after the passing of his wife (with no direct heirs) in 2011. It contains military documents, photographs, and small artefacts, including medals from World War II.
The medals are great documentation of a Port Hoper’s contribution to the war effort on Canada’s behalf. All-in-all the collection itself is a near-complete record of the enlistment and serving years of Mr. Osborn, and fits in nicely with out new project, the “Military Contributions of a Small Town” book.
For more information on this, or other recent donations, please contact us.
This fonds was donated to the PHA by E.A. Osborn's niece after the passing of his wife (with no direct heirs) in 2011. It contains military documents, photographs, and small artefacts, including medals from World War II.
The medals are great documentation of a Port Hoper’s contribution to the war effort on Canada’s behalf. All-in-all the collection itself is a near-complete record of the enlistment and serving years of Mr. Osborn, and fits in nicely with out new project, the “Military Contributions of a Small Town” book.
For more information on this, or other recent donations, please contact us.
"Military Contributions of a Small Town"

From the original introduction: "In January 2001, with the help of Vernon White and Mike Lewis, I began to amass data on the careers of Port Hope RCAF veterans. As this study grew, so did the desire to not only include all WWII veterans, but the veterans of all wars that had affected Port Hope...
While this study concentrates on those who served in the fighting forces, we cannot overlook the parents, wives, and siblings who were left behind. Not only did they have the anguish of worry over their departed warriors, but endured shortages, greatly increased workloads, and crippling taxes.
So, this presentation is merely the start of a major project . . ." - George Sweanor
CLICK HERE for more information.
While this study concentrates on those who served in the fighting forces, we cannot overlook the parents, wives, and siblings who were left behind. Not only did they have the anguish of worry over their departed warriors, but endured shortages, greatly increased workloads, and crippling taxes.
So, this presentation is merely the start of a major project . . ." - George Sweanor
CLICK HERE for more information.
Queen Victoria Returns from the "Spa"

Earlier in Summer 2010 our portrait of Queen Victoria was sent to have some conservation work done. Her frame was slightly damaged and had wood backing—not an ideal situation for one of the first items a visitor to the PHA sees. We wanted the best for one of the most auspicious donations we’ve received in recent years.
On 10 Sep 2010, we received her back in gleaming order! She is clean, bright, and complete with new frame in-fills, conservation-grade glass, and acid-free backing! Come check her out!
On 10 Sep 2010, we received her back in gleaming order! She is clean, bright, and complete with new frame in-fills, conservation-grade glass, and acid-free backing! Come check her out!
Photograph Collection Now Searchable!

Fulford Bros. Dry Goods Store (PHA 996-18-1-374)
In December 2009, the PHA and several of our loyal volunteers undertook a daunting project, to enter all of our nearly 4000 photographs into a searchable database for researchers. Prior to that step, when searching for a photograph of “Barrett’s Terrace” for example, a researcher would have to sift through 20 binders of photocopies, now it’s a simple as typing in a subject and clicking a mouse! More detail is still going into the descriptions, but the database is now available for searching. The next phase of the project involves digitizing photographs and posting them online, to view our photos on Flickr, click here. And ENJOY!
Preserving Canadian Treasures Grant—Canadian Museums Association
In December 2009 the PHA applied for a grant which sole purpose was to assist smaller heritage organizations with preservation projects. Immediately our chair noticed the grant and suggested our archivist think of a project to apply for funding. One of our most prestigious collections remained unarranged and unorganized in the condition of donation. The Williams Family Papers were discovered by two members on the bidding website, ebay. After their generous support the PHA was able to purchase the papers belonging to two very influential townsfolk: John Tucker & Arthur T.H. Williams. We were very pleased to get the news that we were receiving a Preserving Canadian Heritage Grant of over $600 from the CMA to assist with the purchase of supplies for the long-term preservation and storage of these important papers! We wish to send them our heart-felt thank you for their financial support. For more information on the CMA, click here.