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Series consists of administrative records such as the constitution and bylaws of the original Wentworth Pioneer Historical Society and the Wentworth Historical Society, membership application cards and membership lists, as well as loose-leaf meeting minutes and meeting minute books recording annual and regular meetings, the election of officers, amendments to the constitution and bylaws, secretary-treasurer’s reports, reports from various committees, and discussions and correspondence pertaining to the preservation of historical material and knowledge, Society collections and publications, acquisitions of various historical materials and documents, as well as the construction of some historical monuments, particularly regarding the War of 1812 and the Battle of Stoney Creek. The series also consists of annual reports, memorandums, including a 1944 memo for the President of the Head-of-the-Lake Historical Society, regarding the status of the books and papers of the Wentworth Historical Society after taking possession of the material, catalogue lists of items in the Society’s collection, as well as stationery letterhead, and a society member ribbon.

Subseries consists of administrative records including documents outlining the creation of the Ladies’ Committee within the framework of the Wentworth Historical Society’s rules, regulations and bylaws, as well as membership application cards, membership lists and subscription fee reminders, some loose-leaf meeting minutes pertaining to the governance of the committee and election of officers, resolutions passed, and reports presented, as well as a secretary’s book recording the minutes of the annual meetings, the reading and adoption of annual reports, the election of officers, and the reading of treasurer’s reports.

Series consists of various types of correspondence including general correspondence, correspondence regarding the construction and maintenance of battlefield monuments, correspondence and notes regarding Indigenous peoples such as the Neutral Indians and the location of an Indigenous village called Tinawatawa, as well as correspondence, notes and a map pertaining to French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de la Salle, who landed in the Burlington Bay area in the 17th century.

Subseries consists of letter correspondence regarding the site of the Stoney Creek Battlefield monument, reports and finances, government grant funding, member resignations, meeting attendance, and bank correspondence regarding the inactive status of the account.

Subseries consists of correspondence, notes and a historical sketch pertaining to the French explorer, René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle and his arrival at Burlington Bay on September 21, 1669, as well as a reprint of a 1669 map outlining his probable route to the Indigenous village Tinawatawa titled, “La Salle’s probable route to Tinawatawa, September 19 to 24, 1669.” The historical sketch was written by Edwin Kirwan Martin, a lawyer and historian with a thorough knowledge of Burlington Bay and the surrounding area. His studies of the Neutral Indians and La Salle’s exploration of the area were prepared for the Wentworth Historical Society, of which he was an active member, in preparation for the unveiling of the monument to La Salle, which was presented by the Wentworth Historical Society on June 9, 1923.

Subseries consists of correspondence to and from members of the Wentworth Historical Society, and various individuals and government officials such as the Minister of Militia and Defense, regarding the construction of monuments in Stoney Creek and at Burlington Heights in honour of the soldiers who fought and died during the War of 1812. The letters mention the importance of preserving the battlefield and other locations of importance during the war, the proposed site locations for the memorials, as well as requests for grant money to help build the memorial monuments. There is also some correspondence regarding the dispute between the Wentworth Historical Society and the Women’s Wentworth Historical Society over the location of one of the proposed monument sites.

Subseries consists of correspondence between Edwin Kirwan Martin of the Wentworth Historical Society, and W.H. Breithaupt, President of the Waterloo Historical Society concerning the location and expanse of the Neutral Indian Nation territory in Ontario in the 17th century, as well as correspondence between Edwin Kirwan Martin and James H. Coyne concerning the spelling, pronunciation and origin of the name Tinawatawa and the location of the Indigenous village. There is correspondence from Albert R. Rohmer to Freda Waldon, Chief Librarian of the Hamilton Public Library, requesting information on Tinawatawa and her response, as well as an undated Hamilton Spectator newspaper article titled, “A Visit to Tinawatawa.” The subseries also contains correspondence and a reprint of a map pertaining to the Brant Tract, outlining the tract of land near Burlington Bay owned by Chief Joseph Brant of Six Nations, Ontario.

Subseries consists of 2 copies of the Military Encampment program of events given by the Ladies’ Committee of the Wentworth Historical Society, in November of 1895. The event which showcased what life was like 100 years earlier during the days of the pioneers, took place over 6 days and featured a children’s costume parade, Highland dances, theatrical performances, musical talent, artillery tents, uniformed military drills, and included daily luncheons and high teas. There is also a program for a Celebration Evening hosted by the Ladies’ Committee, held on November 22, 1901.

Series consists of a published program commemorating the Wentworth Pioneer and Historical Society’s first outing on the Stoney Creek battleground, and the 76th anniversary of the Battle of Stoney Creek, dated June 5, 1889. There are also 2 programs on the consecration of the Stoney Creek battlefield burial plot at Smith’s Knoll, dated May 3, 1908, a document detailing the inscriptions on the monuments at Stoney Creek Battlefield, including on the tower, the bronze tablets, as well as the memorial cairn at Smith’s Knoll, dated 1951, an invitation to the unveiling of a monument in the former military burial grounds on British Ordinance Lands at Burlington Heights near the High Level Bridge (now part of Hamilton Cemetery), dated June 20, 1926, and two copies of a program for the unveiling of a monument to René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle. The series also consists of 2 tickets to a luncheon at Dundurn Park hosted by the Society, dated June 6, 1900.

Subseries consists of a Treasurer’s book that records member fees, receipts, expenditures, bank deposits and account balances, as well as a separate bank account balance book.

Series consists of cash books recording the names and dues paid by members of the Society, as well as general expenses and receipts. There are also bank account books, and cheque books and receipts from the Bank of Hamilton and the Bank of Montreal, treasurer’s reports and a financial audit. This series also contains a subseries consisting of papers from Fred Hamilton, Secretary of the Wentworth Historical Society from 1923 to 1925.

Subseries consists of correspondence pertaining to Society business and administration, the awarding of prizes to various individuals for historical research, and for essays written by students on historical topics, correspondence with other historical societies regarding membership dues, as well as correspondence pertaining to meeting announcements and funding grants.

Subseries consists of the Fred Hamilton Papers, which were donated by the estate of Fred Hamilton, a noted historian and collector, and former Secretary of the Wentworth Historical Society. This small subseries of records deals mainly with minor details of letters and accounts of the organization during his term in office. Records include account statements, membership fees, receipts pertaining to the building and maintenance of historical monuments, receipts for stationery such as letterhead, postcards and envelopes, a receipt for the monogramed seal for the Society, as well as receipts from various printing companies for advertising, and for the publications of the Papers and Records of the Wentworth Historical Society.

Subseries consists of correspondence regarding membership in the Society, membership fees, the acceptance or decline of nominations for specific positions within the Society, upcoming meetings, funding grants for a building to be the repository for the Society’s collection of historical papers, books and artifacts, requests for use of a room in the Hamilton public library for meetings, preservation of current historical sites and cemeteries, as well as correspondence regarding lectures and addresses on historical topics, the society’s publications, and membership with other historical organizations.

Series consists of essays on historical topics submitted to the Wentworth Historical Society by various grade school students for prizes. The purpose of the essays was to gather information on various historic places and events, as well as people whose industry and enterprise contributed to the prosperity of the Hamilton region, ensuring the preservation and publication of this history. The Society believed this work would benefit the organization, as well as the students who would acquire better citizenship and knowledge of their history. Students from Ancaster, Barton and Saltfleet participated and the student with the best essay from each school section would win a prize. The topics of the essays include the History of Wentworth County, the History of Bartonville, A Short Historical Sketch of Stoney Creek and Vicinity, Burlington Beach, and Pioneers of the Beach. The folder also contains a few pieces of correspondence from teachers submitting the work from their students to the Wentworth Historical Society.

Series consists of records pertaining to the Ladies’ Committee of the Wentworth Historical Society, with subseries including administrative records, financial records, legal papers and receipts, correspondence, events, and newspaper clippings.

Series consists of a few legal documents and correspondence pertaining to the lawsuit filed by the Women’s Wentworth Historical Society against the Wentworth Historical Society for the money held in a bank account by the latter. The money was originally raised by members of the Ladies’ Committee of the Wentworth Historical Society, some of whom separated from the Society and established their own historical organization after a dispute over where to locate historical monuments honouring the dead from the War of 1812, and over where to build the public museum. This series also includes a petition to the Attorney General of Ontario requesting that control of Battlefield Park be vested with the government, and not with a historical society, specifically the Women’s Wentworth Historical Society, dated April 1916.

Subseries consists of records pertaining to the lawsuit over the proceeds of money raised by former members of the Wentworth Historical Society Ladies’ Committee during the Military Encampment event held in 1895, the interest accrued on the amount of money in the bank account, and who owns it. There is also a deed of land situate in the Township of Saltfleet owned by Sara Calder for the future site of the memorial tower monument.

Subseries consists of 2 original newspaper clippings [newspaper and date unknown], pertaining to items discussed at an annual meeting.

Series consists of original newspaper clippings along with some photocopies, pertaining to Society meetings, events, member activities related to the preservation of historical sites and information, as well as the litigation between the Society and the Women’s Wentworth Historical Society over money and the interest accrued on that money, within a bank account.

Series consists of notices sent to members of the Wentworth Historical Society to remind them of upcoming meetings, or to encourage them to attend an address or lecture given by various individuals on different historical topics.

Series consists of glass plate negatives and photograph images of correspondence and military documents pertaining to the War of 1812, including 2 identical glass plate negatives and one identical photograph of a letter written by Angus McAfee and his brother-in-law, George Hughson, to his wife and George’s sister, Thamen, informing her that he is well and giving his prediction that a truce with the Americans in imminent, dated at Niagara, July 2, 1812. There are 2 identical glass plate negative images of a letter written by Samuel McAfee to his brother, Angus, letting him know he is well and updating him on a skirmish he was involved in with the Americans, dated at Queenston, May 26, 1813. There is a glass plate negative image of a militia muster roll from the 2nd Flank Company, 5th Lincoln Militia, a glass plate negative image of a militia muster roll of Captain Hatt’s Company of Volunteers, 5th Lincoln and 2nd York Militias, as well as a glass plate negative image and an identical photograph of a letter [copy of orders], to Angus McAfee from Brigadier General John Vincent, dated June 10, 1813. The series also includes a glass plate negative image of a landscape, which could possibly be the chosen location for the Stoney Creek Battlefield monument, or Smith’s Knoll memorial monument site.

The material consists of records pertaining to the Wentworth Historical Society including administrative records, financial records, legal papers, correspondence, events and commemorations, historical essays, notices, newspaper clippings, glass plate negatives, a few photographs and maps, as well as a membership ribbon. The financial records also include a small amount of papers from Fred Hamilton, a former Secretary of the Wentworth Historical Society. There is also a small amount of material pertaining to the Ladies’ Committee including, administrative records, financial records, legal papers, correspondence, souvenir books and programs, and newspaper clippings.