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Series consists of meeting minutes for the Active Service Canteen from May 2, 1941 to November 8, 1944. The minutes include items such as nominations of officers, establishment of rules and regulations for the canteen, the patrons, and the volunteers, a volunteer application form, rules and procedures for volunteer duties, schedules and attire, the creation of various committees such as the entertainment committee, the purchasing committee, the magazine committee and the visiting committee, the daily operations of the canteen, issues arising from volunteers or patrons, canteen finances, food and beverage pricing and menu items, as well as equipment inventories and repairs. This series also consists of two canteen administration logbooks. The first one is dated January 26, 1943 to March 19, 1945, and records instructions, suggestions, criticisms, complaints, item breakages, as well as any essential equipment repairs and replacement. The members were asked to enter their comments, sign and date the entry. One of the entries includes a comment about stretching butter with cream due to the rationing of certain foods during the war. There is also a newspaper clipping pasted into the book with positive feedback about the canteen from a navy sailor stationed in Hamilton. The second canteen logbook dates from 1941 to 1945 and has sections divided by letter tabs, which record the administrative operations of the canteen mostly by subject alphabetically, rather than by chronological date. Subjects include, but are not limited to, committees, donations, equipment, meetings, purchases, suggestions, supplies, transportation and volunteers. The book has a number of loose-leaf pages throughout, but also a number added at the end of the volume, including a few newspaper clippings about the canteen.

Series consists of a letter dated February 15, 1943, written by R.C.A.F. member, George [Freer?], who was stationed in Mont-Joli, Quebec while taking an air gunner course. He wrote to the canteen personnel to let them know he would soon be coming to Hamilton on leave (furlough). His letter expresses his hope that he will meet and get acquainted with a local Hamilton girl. George describes his physical characteristics and includes a photograph, which he hopes canteen staff will show to some of the girls, who would be willing to write to him before he arrives. The photograph is an image of George and his sister and the writing on the reverse side says, “My sister and I, taken in Hamilton this Christmas. Sorry I didn’t have one of myself alone.” The series also consists of a Canadian Pacific Telegram written to Mrs. W. A. Gilmour, one of the Board of Directors of the Canteen, suggesting prices for sandwiches, cokes and meat pies to sell at the canteen, dated August 18, 1941, a letter of recognition and appreciation to canteen volunteers from Olga Wigle, Chairman of the Women’s Division Canteen Committee, thanking them for a job well done at the end of their first year running the canteen, and for making it a success, dated April 27, 1942, as well as an undated and unsigned letter from the individual who submitted the first annual report on the canteen coffee shop, which mentions the success of the canteen. There are also two invitations, one for an upcoming Annual Meeting held February 21, 1945, and one for a buffet supper held at the canteen on November 16 [year unknown], as well as one appreciation card dated November 16, 1945, from the Directors and Executives of the Active Service Canteen, to Miss Agnes Hay, for her assistance in maintaining the happiness and morale of the men serving in the military.

Series consists of two copies of the third annual report of the canteen coffee shop, dated February 1944, two copies of an annual report dated February 1945, an auditor’s report for the year ending April 30, 1942, as well as the fifth annual report, submitted January 1946 for the previous year, which mentions the closure of the canteen.

The material in the fonds pertains to the Hamilton Active Service Canteen, run by volunteers for service members stationed in Hamilton, or on leave from active duty, during the Second World War. The material consists of meeting minutes, canteen administrative logbooks, financial records, including a few annual reports and an auditor's report, various types of correspondence, as well as a few notices, one of which advertises the closure of the canteen at the end of the war. The fonds also contains one photograph of an R.C.A.F. member who visited the canteen on leave from active duty.

Series consists of a notice advertising a buffet supper to mark the closing of the canteen, dated November 16, 1945, a retail bulletin from the Wartime Prices and Trade Board outlining the maximum price for various retail items, dated August 16, 1943, as well as an undated leaflet from the Red Cross of a poem entitled, “Don’t Forget To Smile,” written by J.I. Schell, Barlochan, Muskoka, reminding volunteers to be happy and cheerful when they knit for the soldiers bravely fighting overseas.