Hamilton Public Library Local History & Archives

Fonds
1832-1927

The fonds consists of papers, sketches, drawings, and photographs associated with William Bruce and his son William Blair Bruce. Series one is William Bruce and series two is William Blair Bruce.

William Bruce

CA ON00131 01
Series
1832-1927

Part of Bruce Family fonds

William Blair Bruce

CA ON00131 02
Series
1859-1906

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Untitled watercolour sketch

CA ON00131 02-4 - 4-HPL_00507_93
Item
before 1881

Part of Bruce Family fonds

The Grand River near Brantford

CA ON00131 01-1 - 1-HPL_00507_07
Item
August 17, 1882

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Two water colour sketches

CA ON00131 01-1 - 1-HPL_00507_05
Item
1882-1883

Part of Bruce Family fonds

The image on the left is titled by the artist “Original sketch in burnt umber on the Marsh” (presumably the Dundas Marsh) and is dated 1883. The image on the right is titled “Original sketch on the St. Lawrence near Brockville in Indigo” dated 1882.

Two water colour scenes.

CA ON00131 01-1 - 1-HPL_00507_03
Item
1883

Part of Bruce Family fonds

The left image is titled by artist “Original sketch in Indian Red” dated 1883 and the image on the right is titled “Original sketch in Hookers Green.”

North of the Canal

CA ON00131 01-1 - 1-HPL_00507_11
Item
1883

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Presumably, Burlington Beach Canal

Pencil sketch of Island at the Beach

CA ON00131 01-1 - 1-HPL_00507_08
Item
Sept 6, 1883

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Two water colour scenes of boat in water

CA ON00131 01-1 - 1-HPL_00507_04
Item
1883

Part of Bruce Family fonds

The one on the left is titled by the artist “Original sketch in Lamp Black of Burlington Bay” and has an artist note “time 15 minutes” and the image on the right is titled “Original sketch in Bistre, Burlington Bay” and is dated 1883.

Two pencil sketches taken from the beach looking west

CA ON00131 01-1 - 1-HPL_00507_02
Item
August 5, 1884

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Upper half is of trees and water; lower half is a landscape scene. Dated August 5, 1884.

Letter

CA ON00131 02-4 - 2-HPL_00507_43
Item
1886

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Written by William Blair Bruce around 1886 proposing an art union.

Letter

CA ON00131 02-4 - 2-HPL_00507_42
Item
Sept 30, 1886

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Letter written by William Blair Bruce on Sept 30, 1886 about paying visitors to support an art union.

Copy of Mutual Will and Testament

CA ON00131 02-4 - 2-HPL_00507_44
Item
Dec 10, 1888

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Translated copy of Mutual Will and Testament of William Blair Bruce and his wife Carolina Maria Bruce, nee Benedicks. Written December 10, 1888.

Letter

CA ON00131 02-4 - 2-HPL_00507_45
Item
December 12, 1897

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Letter written by William Blair Bruce to his mother and father on December 12, 1897 concerning news of the day. Transcription copy with original.

Laminated Spectator Article

CA ON00131 02-4 - 2-HPL_00507_63
Item
July 4, 1914

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Letter

CA ON00131 02-4 - 2-HPL_00507_46
Item
August 5, 1937

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Letter together with envelope from Carl Benedicks to Bell Bruce Walkden (sister of Blair Bruce) August 5, 1937

Letter

CA ON00131 02-4 - 2-HPL_00507_47
Item
Sept 27, 1951

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Letter together with envelope from Carl Benedicks to Bell Bruce Walkden dated Sept 27, 1951

Letter

CA ON00131 02-4 - 2-HPL_00507_48
Item
Dec 12, 1953

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Letter from the Art Gallery of Hamilton to Bell Bruce Walkden December 12, 1953 inviting her to the opening of the new gallery.

Programme

CA ON00131 02-4 - 2-HPL_00507_52
Item
Aug 10, 1964

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Programme for the unveiling of the Blair Bruce Memorial Plaque, Monday August 10 (probably 1964).

Letter

CA ON00131 02-4 - 2-HPL_00507_51
Item
April 23, 1964

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Photocopied letter from Richard Apted to Miss Farmer regarding the proposed plaque for William Bruce Memorial. Dated April 23, 1964.

Pencil sketch of landscape.

CA ON00131 01-1 - 1-HPL_00507_10
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Pencil and pen sketch of a framed border

CA ON00131 01-1 - 1-HPL_00507_18
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Pencil and pen sketch of a framed border with a dragon at the top left-hand corner, branches and leaves extending all the way around. On the back is written “address.”

Leaves and branches

CA ON00131 01-1 - 1-HPL_00507_13
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Leaves and branches up right side, butterfly on the lower left side, caterpillar on the lower right side, leaves in between.

Straight line border with small curves inward

CA ON00131 01-1 - 1-HPL_00507_26
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Straight line border with small curves inward, two in the middle of the border line and one at the bottom margin. Line curves outward at top with swirls of blue leaves and two red flowers on either side. Two gold semi-circles on the inside at th...

Simple border of straight lines

CA ON00131 01-1 - 1-HPL_00507_27
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Blue flowers with spray of leaves arranged only at the corners. Pencil sketch of leaves appears inside frame work at bottom.

Decorated versal capitals T, B, H, M, R and N

CA ON00131 01-1 - 1-HPL_00507_35
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Untitled, South Shore Hamilton Harbour

CA ON00131 01-1 - 1-HPL_00507_40
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Papers

CA ON00131 02-4 - 2
File

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Proverb “Be clothed with humility”

CA ON00131 01-1 - 1-HPL_00507_31
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Acquired Artwork

CA ON00131 01-1 - 1
File

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Poems

CA ON00131 01-2 - 1
File

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Photocopy of a handwritten letter

CA ON00131 02-4 - 2-HPL_00507_60
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

“To the Reporter of the Mail & Empire…” dated January 29, 1926. May have been written by William Bruce, Blair Bruce’s father.

Untitled pencil sketch of trees and a house

CA ON00131 02-4 - 4-HPL_00507_99
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

The reverse side has incomplete markings

Yacht Race Between the Surprise and the Ida

CA ON00131 02-4 - 4-HPL_00507_94
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Sketch signed W.B. Bruce

Unidentified photo

CA ON00131 02-4 - 3-HPL_00507_68
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Students in art school class. Fred H. Sharp photographer stamped on the back

Untitled sketch of a house with trees in the front

CA ON00131 02-4 - 4-HPL_00507_103
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Photographic copies of Paintings

CA ON00131 02-4 - 3-HPL_00507_72- HPL_00507_91
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Photocopy of Transcription

CA ON00131 02-4 - 2-HPL_00507_55
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Untitled sketch of a person

CA ON00131 02-4 - 4-HPL_00507_95
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Untitled sketch of a face

CA ON00131 02-4 - 4-HPL_00507_130
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Reverse is a pencil sketch

Untitled sketch

CA ON00131 02-4 - 4-HPL_00507_108
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Forested area with a house in the lower right corner.

Untitled pencil outline of female body

CA ON00131 02-4 - 4-HPL_00507_126
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Untitled painting of a hand or hands

CA ON00131 02-4 - 4-HPL_00507_112
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Untitled pencil sketch

CA ON00131 02-4 - 4-HPL_00507_117
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Untitled sketches

CA ON00131 02-4 - 4-HPL_00507_121
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Sketches and Watercolours

CA ON00131 01-1 - 1
File

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Deep rich coloured border of triangle shapes

CA ON00131 01-1 - 1-HPL_00507_19
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Deep rich coloured border of triangle shapes along the sides and rectangular shapes along the top and bottom. Blue triangles inner top margin, pink triangles inner bottom margin. A single flower in each shape along the outside margins.

Arrangement of gold leaves with pink

CA ON00131 01-1 - 1-HPL_00507_23
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Arrangement of gold leaves with pink and a combination of blue and white flowers surrounding an open concept top with a three-sided frame done in two lines of blue. Writing in pencil appears on back: copied from memory from a calendar at Clerey Mu...

An address to the Reverend Horatio Brevis

CA ON00131 01-1 - 1-HPL_00507_36
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

From St. Paul's Church, Hamilton. Formal italic hand.

Gold framed outline border of colourful leaves

CA ON00131 01-1 - 1-HPL_00507_28
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Pencil sketch border of leaves and flowers

CA ON00131 01-1 - 1-HPL_00507_14
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Proverb

CA ON00131 01-1 - 1-HPL_00507_32
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

A poem inscribed to Mrs. W. Bruce

CA ON00131 01-1 - 1-HPL_00507_37
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

The letters of which are made to look like the bark of a tree. Poem written by John Glasgow, 1880. Decorated with flowers and scroll work. Formal italic hand.

List of paintings offered for sale

CA ON00131 02-4 - 2-HPL_00507_50
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

List of paintings offered for sale at Merritt Mallorys Art Gallery, 66 Grenville St.

A photocopied, unsigned anecdote about Blair Bruce

CA ON00131 02-4 - 2-HPL_00507_61
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Untitled, Hamilton Harbour

CA ON00131 01-1 - 1-HPL_00507_41
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Photocopy of Transcription

CA ON00131 02-4 - 2-HPL_00507_56
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

A photocopied article

CA ON00131 02-4 - 2-HPL_00507_64
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Miscellaneous

CA ON00131 01-2 - 2
File

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Untitled sketch of a person possibly kneeling

CA ON00131 02-4 - 4-HPL_00507_104
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Written on the top right of the sketch is “Sketch by Blair Bruce”. The reverse has another sketch of a woman.

Unidentified photo

CA ON00131 02-4 - 3-HPL_00507_69
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Students in art school class. Fred H. Sharp photographer stamped on the back

Untitled painting sketch of a house surrounded by trees

CA ON00131 02-4 - 4-HPL_00507_96
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Untitled sketch of a woman leaning against an object

CA ON00131 02-4 - 4-HPL_00507_109
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Untitled watercolour sketch of a marshy area

CA ON00131 02-4 - 4-HPL_00507_105
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Photographs and Negatives

CA ON00131 02-4 - 3
File

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Untitled sketch of a horse’s face

CA ON00131 02-4 - 4-HPL_00507_113
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Untitled sketch of a house by water

CA ON00131 02-4 - 4-HPL_00507_92
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Untitled sketch of a house

CA ON00131 02-4 - 4-HPL_00507_100
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Untitled pencil sketch with a note in the middle

CA ON00131 02-4 - 4-HPL_00507_127
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

The top of the sketch reads “Sketches by Blair Bruce”.

Untitled sketch of horses

CA ON00131 02-4 - 4-HPL_00507_131
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Untitled pencil sketch

CA ON00131 02-4 - 4-HPL_00507_122
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Untitled pencil sketch

CA ON00131 02-4 - 4-HPL_00507_118
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Arrangement of gold leaves with blue and red flowers

CA ON00131 01-1 - 1-HPL_00507_24
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Arrangement of gold leaves with blue and red flowers worked sparingly through-out surrounding an inner framework of two blue lines along the sides, blue line along bottom and gold along the top.

Pencil sketch border of leaves and flowers

CA ON00131 01-1 - 1-HPL_00507_15
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Pencil sketch border of leaves and flowers across top of page going down the left side and across the bottom.

Mr. Bruce's advertisement sign

CA ON00131 01-1 - 1-HPL_00507_38
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Has a border of leaves, and a tree-bark design with birds in the background. Roman style.

A gold border

CA ON00131 01-1 - 1-HPL_00507_20
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

A single gold line along outside of framework on top and bottom, with white imprints of flower, branches, leaves and butterflies worked throughout a gold frame.

Flowered border

CA ON00131 01-1 - 1-HPL_00507_29
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Along top: pink flowers, along left side: gold flowers, right side: gold flowers, bottom: blue flowers.

Poetic Painter poem

CA ON00131 01-1 - 1-HPL_00507_33
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Written to his son William Blair Bruce in Gothic lettering.

Illuminations

CA ON00131 01-1 - 1
File

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Scrapbook of Newspaper Clippings

CA ON00131 01-3 - 1
File

Part of Bruce Family fonds

A photocopy of a typed article

CA ON00131 02-4 - 2-HPL_00507_57
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

“A Hamiltonian’s Visit to the New Art Gallery of Toronto.”

A photocopied, handwritten extract from le journal des Arts

CA ON00131 02-4 - 2-HPL_00507_62
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

King and James street

CA ON00131 02-4 - 3-HPL_00507_70
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Photographer bottom right may read “Thompson Photo.”

Biographical papers about William Blair Bruce

CA ON00131 02-4 - 2-HPL_00507_65
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

A photocopy of a handwritten article

CA ON00131 02-4 - 2-HPL_00507_58
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Text of Blair Bruce Memorial Plate

CA ON00131 02-4 - 2-HPL_00507_53
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Two images of the Battle of Stoney Creek

CA ON00131 02-4 - 4-HPL_00507_110
Item

Part of Bruce Family fonds

Written in the lower right corner “Preliminary sketches by W. Blair Bruce for the Battle of Stoney Creek before he went to study in Paris and on that account he never finished the picture after designing it. W Bruce”

Untitled sketch of a person’s face and a clenched hand