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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 two visitor registration books dated 1908-1929 and 1929-1958. The books record the names of individuals and organizations that visited (or rented), Battlefield House for luncheons, parties, reunions, church picnics, family picnics, meetings, presentations and lectures, and other events. Examples of visiting groups include the IODE, Hamilton Ladies College, various clubs, societies, associations such as the United Empire Loyalists, guilds, schools and choirs. The visitor registers also record when various members of the Women’s Wentworth Historical Society entertained members of the public and other societies for teas, luncheons causeries, bridge parties, tours and for special occasions, such as the anniversary of the Battle of Stoney Creek. The book records the type of event, the names of visitors and where they were visiting from. Many of the guests were locals, but there were also a number from all over Ontario, Canada and even the United States and overseas. The series also contains a copy of the House Regulations and Fees at Battlefield House, which lists the rules and fees for renting Battlefield House for events such as parties, teas and luncheons. One of the rules mentions that all guests must sign the visitors’ book. There is a house tariff document listing the fee rates for the type of event held at Battlefield House during the summer and winter seasons, a list of members involved in a social tea, notes regarding a Dundurn Castle Tour and Luncheon, a program for the first annual banquet and ball at Stoney Creek Battlefield, dated December 18, 1900, a program for the musical “Queen Zephra” produced under the auspices of the Women’s Wentworth Historical Society, a Town of Stoney Creek official schedule of events taking place at Battlefield House on the anniversary of the battle, dated June 8, 1963, notes and information on the architectural features of the houses promoted on a house tour, dated June 8, 1974, a memo and training program schedule to train participants on the various programs and events to be held at Battlefield House, dated April 12, 1976, and an itinerary for autumn day trips through Heritage Trails heritage outings services for the fall of 1978. The series also has documentation for various historic plaque unveilings including a notice regarding the tablet being erected by the Society in memory of Sara Calder, founder and first President (1899-1914), unveiled at Battlefield House, March 18, 1918, as well as an account of the unveiling of the Honour Roll and tablet to the memory of the men from the County of Wentworth and Hamilton who gave their lives in the Great War. The account was documented and a copy was being sent to the Public Archives of Canada (now Library and Archives Canada), containing a Society invitation to the event, a black and white photograph of Battlefield House and monument, a program of the event, copies of prayers and dedications read, quotations and inscriptions on the tablet, as well as a few newspaper clippings of the unveiling dated October 19, 1920. The series also contains a notice regarding the unveiling of a tablet in memory of the men who fell in battle at Stoney Creek, June 6, 1813, presented by the Society October 11, 1940, and two copies of a program for the unveiling of a historical plaque erected by the Ontario Archaeological and Historic Sites Board, for the Hamilton Mountain, sponsored by the Women’s Wentworth Historical Society, dated October 21, 1964. The series also contains speeches by members of the Society on various topics including guest speaker introductions, the Gage family, the Gage homestead and the battlefield grounds and monument, the Loyalists, Christie Manor, the Niagara Escarpment, the formation of the Ladies’ Committee of the Wentworth Historical Society, the formation of the Women’s Wentworth Historical Society, and their work on preserving Battlefield House, as well as the history of Stoney Creek, Ontario

Series consists of photographs, negatives and some contact sheets of some public events that took place in Hamilton, Ontario and were photographed by Peter Stevens. The events include the 1999 HamiltonTiger Cats Grey Cup Win and Champion Parade, as well as Heritage Day [n.d.] This series also contains a file on Peter Steven's Tobermory vacation and a file on the Transition Board Meetings [association unknown].

Series consists of records pertaining to various programs and events held by the Chamber of Commerce including a beauty contest, breakfasts, luncheons and dinners, Career Day, Corporate Challenge, seminars, speakers, sporting events and tours.

Series consists of records relating to the programs and events held by the Society including its annual Heritage Day Dinner, presentations made to the Society by various speakers from the community on local history topics, day trips and outings to various historical sites, historic plaque unveilings, as well as participation in local events. This series includes member invitation cards announcing upcoming Society meetings, lecture series, events and day trips. The series also includes audio cassette tapes of speakers’ addresses and lectures at various events and functions on topics related to Hamilton history such as landmarks, buildings, companies, prominent citizens, and places. The series contains photographs of tours and outings such as day trips taken by Society members including a bus tour of Hamilton, a day trip to Crawford Lake Indian Village, and a trip to Seagram Museum and Doon Heritage Village. There are also photographs of the Annual Heritage Dinners, Society representation at events around the city, as well as historic plaque unveilings for various people and places including prominent citizen Thomas Baker McQuesten of Whitehern, which featured dignitaries in attendance such as then mayor Robert Morrow and her Royal Highness Princess Anne.

Series consists of programs and events hosted by the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club and Junior Audubon Club. Programs include bald eagle hacking to stimulate eagle nesting and population recovery, as well as bird study groups and regular nature walks and outings. Former programs included the Wonders of Nature Show as well as the Nature in your Neighbourhood program, which featured Club members and community group speakers, discussing topics such as wildlife preservation and protection, nature photography and bird watching. This series also includes events such as the 85th anniversary of the Club, which unveiled the organization’s historic plaque at Princess Point, a lecture by Dr. Norman Pearson on the Bruce Trail, Hamilton NatureFest, and the Robert Bateman fundraiser dinner. This series contains photographs of the bald eagle hacking program and the Dr. Norman Pearson lecture.

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.

Series consists of materials from various organizations and events across Canada that were collected by Michael Johnstone such as pamphlets, newsletters, correspondence and information sheets.

Series consists of promotional material related to events that the Society hosted such as poetry workshops, speakers, presentations, poetry launches, as well as community events that the Society participated and contributed in organizing. The series also consists of records related to the Society’s 40th, 50th, and 60th anniversary celebrations.

Series consists of photographs documenting the events of the Princess Margaret Rose Chapter

Series consists of 10 photographs of members of the Iroquoia Bruce Trail Association at various events, as well as a board meeting.

Series consists of photographs, negatives and slides of various events, locations, and people involved with the lesbian and gay groups as well as Michael Johnstone’s personal photographs. These records include the Hamilton United Gay Societies (HUGS)/Hamilton Gay and Lesbian Alliance (HGALA) Honour Roll Dinners from 1988 to 1992, Pride in Toronto and Pride 2000 in Hamilton, Festival ’91, HUGS Social Events such as the HUGS Corn Roast, garage sales, and the HUGS 10th anniversary dance and Meetings and Locations such as the opening of the HUGS Community Centre. The negatives and slides are of photographs in this series.

Contains subseries:
11.1 – HUGS/HGALA Honour Roll Dinners
11.2 – Pride
11.3 – Festival ‘91
11.4 – HUGS Social Events
11.5 – Meetings and Locations
11.6 – Events and People
11.7 – Negatives and Slides

Series consists of scrapbooks, which include photographs, newspaper clippings and other material, documenting the activities of the St. Elizabeth Chapter and highlighting important events, such as the 50th and 60th anniversaries of the chapter.

Series consists of scrapbooks containing articles related to the Society or its members, as well as articles on various historical landmarks, people, companies, properties and events. There are also newspaper clippings containing articles on a Hamilton Spectator series called “Out of the Storied Past,” written by Society member Mabel Burkholder. This series also contains 6 video cassette tapes of television coverage of Society events and interviews regarding historical subjects related to the history of Hamilton.

Series consists of correspondence, list of guild members, invitations, and a calendar of events. Guild members included industry professionals and any individuals who sought to represent and support the professional work of opera singers and musicians.

Series consists of administrative records such as by-laws, member cards, membership lists and a minute book listing minutes from executive and annual meetings. The series also consists of member newsletters and other correspondence to members pertaining to upcoming events.

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.

This envelope contains photographs of specific locations in Hamilton which includes gay spaces such as Billie's Place and where HUGS events took place such as YMCA. A list of the places are included in this envelope.

Series consists of various forms of publicity and promotional materials pertaining to and created by the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, including pamphlets, flyers, programs and information releases announcing upcoming events, seminars, workshops, speakers and business news. The series also consists of two publications; Hamilton, Canada: A Panorama of Beauty and Industry, and Hamilton: The Place for Your Plant.

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.

The series consists of twenty hand-written journals by Robert Livingstone describing his reflections on major events such as royal visits, the Depression, World War Two and the Korean War, as well as entries on the weather, work, home, leisure life and relationships with family and friends.

Series consists of newspaper clippings from various newspapers including the Hamilton Spectator, the Hamilton Herald, the West Hamilton Journal, the Dundas Star Journal, the Ancaster News, the Hamilton Mountain News, the Canadian Economist Free Trade Journal and the Liverpool Standard, pertaining to the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce. The articles cover Chamber events, the state of the Hamilton economy and Hamilton businesses, and business in general, including taxes, imports and exports, transportation, elections, unemployment, labour strikes, as well as government legislation affecting business. The series includes a scrapbook of clippings from the early 1900s, which is wrapped due to the fragile nature of the material. The articles pertain to the Board of Trade and its reorganization, announcements regarding events, and the work of the Board of Trade in the community.

Series consists of original newspaper clippings along with some photocopies, of articles from the Hamilton Spectator, the Stoney Creek News, the Globe and Mail and the Globe Magazine, pertaining to Society meetings, events, member activities related to the preservation of historical sites and information, the royal visit to Battlefield House by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in July of 1959, the Society’s $5,000.00 contribution to the restoration of the Dundurn Castle library, and it’s advocacy to protect Battery Lodge, the protection and restoration of Battlefield House, the transfer of Battlefield House to the Niagara Parks Commission, a fire at Battlefield House, donations to Battlefield House, items loaned to the museum, and special anniversary sections on the War of 1812. There are also articles on fundraising events held to raise money for restoration projects, guest lecturers and topics presented at Society meetings, the donation of Chief Joseph Brant’s Sword to the Joseph Brant Museum, as well as a discussion of the future of historical societies.

The fonds is composed of materials from lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) organizations in Hamilton and its surrounding areas founded from the 1970’s to the 1990’s. Textual materials include agendas, meeting minutes, reports, financial statements, notes, correspondence, newspaper clippings, newsletters, pamphlets, information sheets, flyers, magazines, newspapers, programme books, booklets, directories, bibliographies, and articles. The fonds also consists of other materials such as t-shirts, buttons, a plaque, photographs, posters, artwork, audio cassette tapes, DVDS, floppy disks and VHS tapes.
Contains series and subseries:
Series 1 – Hamilton AIDS Network for Dialogue and Support (HANDS)
Series 2 – Hamilton-McMaster LGBTQ+ Groups
Series 3 – Hamilton United Gay Societies (HUGS)
Subseries 3.1 – Administrative files
Subseries 3.2 – Sub-organizations and associated groups and events
Subseries 3.3 – Lesbian/Gayline
Subseries 3.4 – Gay Phoenix/The Phoenix
Series 4 – Hamilton Gay and Lesbian Alliance (HGALA)
Series 5 – Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Rights in Ontario (CLGRO)
Series 6 – Hamilton Pride
Series 7 – Associated Organizations and Events
Series 8 – Resources and Subject files
Series 9 – Publications
Subseries 9.1 – Hamilton
Subseries 9.2 – South/South Western Ontario
Subseries 9.3 – Ontario
Subseries 9.4 – Outside of Ontario and across Canada
Subseries 9.5 – International
Series 10 – Artifacts
Series 11 – Photographs
Subseries 11.1 – HUGS/HGALA Honour Roll Dinners
Subseries 11.2 – Pride
Subseries 11.3 – Festival ‘91
Subseries 11.4 – HUGS Social Events
Subseries 11.5 – Meetings and Locations
Subseries 11.6 – Events and People
Subseries 11.7 – Negatives and slides
Series 12 – Posters and oversized materials
Series 13 – Audio-visual materials

Series consists of correspondence addressed to TPS executive members, and letters written by TPS executive members to publishers, organizations and poets. The letters predominately relate to promoting the Society’s publication “Tower” to publishers and subscribers; in addition, there are letters from the “Tower” contributors and artists who provided the cover art. The series also consists of invitations to speaking engagements, participation in and the organization of community and literary events, as well as the Society’s response to the City of Hamilton Art’s Task Force in the late 1980s.

Series consists of a number of notices to Society members of upcoming meetings, as well as invitations to various events hosted by the Society, including a ball, causeries, luncheons, bridge parties, outings, tours of Battlefield House, and lectures, addresses and presentations on various history-related topics. There is also an invitation requesting members attend the unveiling of the tower monument commemorating the Battle of Stoney Creek during the War of 1812, dated June 6, 1913. The invitation announces that Her Majesty Queen Mary, would do the honours remotely by electricity over a telegraph cable.

Series consists of correspondence pertaining to costume, prop and music rentals for productions, invitations to Hamilton Savoyard events and invitations from other musical groups. Other types of correspondence included in this series includes discussions of venue rentals and notes of thanks. It also contains material used for correspondence, including Hamilton Savoyard envelopes, letterheads and personalized stamps.

Series consists of 4 scrapbooks. The two earlier scrapbooks contain information from when the Club was called the Hamilton Bird Protection Society and include newspaper articles, correspondence, photographs, meeting announcements, and programs for lectures and events. The third scrapbook contains information on the sanctuaries held by the Club, and photographs of the Spooky Hollow and Short Hills Wilderness Sanctuaries. The fourth scrapbook contains mostly newspaper articles of press coverage on the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club.

Series consists of audio-visual materials such as audio cassettes, DVDs, VHS, and floppy disks. Audio cassette tapes are mostly from the Hamilton United Gay Societies (HUGS). DVDs and VHS tapes are mostly recorded segments of Toronto Pride and news coverage of LGBTQ+ issues from CHCH, CHTV and Cable 14. Some VHS tapes were of Hamilton United Gay Societies (HUGS) events.

Series consists of photographs of annual meetings of the Municipal Chapter, the 100th Anniversary Luncheon, annual meetings of the Toronto Municipal Chapter and the Provincial Chapter of Ontario, photographs of various Holbrook Public School outings supported by IODE funding, photographs of Fonthill, including pictures of the interior and exterior of the house, and photographs of Native Sena Memorial Elementary School, Weagamow Lake. Photographs have been removed from albums for preservation purposes. Textual records, such as clippings, letters, newsletters and notes from events accompany some of the photographs. Series also contains photographs, which were not contained in albums, documenting volunteer work and various chapter activities, as well as a reception held for Ellen Fairclough.

Series consists of a collection of original photographs, photograph prints, contact sheets and negatives including glass plate negatives, of various people, places, buildings, companies, parks, monuments, landscapes, beach scenes, historic sites, streetscapes, transportation, and events such as celebrations, ceremonies and parades, all relating to Hamilton and its history. Some of these images were donated to the Society and others were collected by various members. Many of these images were used in Society publications such as “Around and About Hamilton, 1785-1985”, and “Hamilton: Panorama of Our Past.” This series also contains 13 postcards with photograph images. There is no image file list for this material.

Series consists of general correspondence such as thank you cards and notes, as well as several letters written to members of the Hamilton Poetry Centre Executive, and letters written by members to other organizations and individuals. The letters predominantly consist of requests regarding author and poetry readings, the organization of poetry events, as well as correspondence that promotes and raises the profile of the Hamilton Poetry Centre in the community. This file includes a letter from Margaret Atwood (April 27, 1987) declining an invitation to read. The series also consists of tax correspondence between members of the Hamilton Poetry Centre and the Canada Council regarding T4 slips and grant funding.

The material in the collection consists of administrative records, including a meeting minute book containing the proceedings of the Managing Committee of the Hamilton and Gore Mechanics' Institute, a register recording the names of members and the books loaned by the Institute, rules and regulations of the Institute, memberships and subscriptions, lending cards, and an annual election card. There is also some publicity and newspaper clippings pertaining to the Institute and its events and holdings, as well as records created by Dr. Freda Farrell Waldon, former Chief Librarian of the Hamilton Public Library, who researched the history of the early libraries and mechanics' institutes. The records include correspondence, research notes and resources, as well some publications.

Series consists of 5 scrapbooks of clippings and material including newspaper and magazine articles from the Hamilton Spectator, the Globe and Mail, the Stoney Creek News and the Canadian Homes and Gardens Magazine, as well as invitations, telegrams, correspondence, a postcard, event programs and souvenirs, announcements, and photographs, pertaining to various aspects of the Women’s Wentworth Historical Society and historical events that took place in Hamilton, as well as Toronto, Niagara and Halton. Subjects of the scrapbooks include articles on Society members and the Society’s historical preservation activities, the War of 1812, Battle of Stoney Creek, and soldiers’ monument, the opening of Stoney Creek Battlefield as a public park, the unveiling of various monuments, historical sites and anniversary commemorations, announcements of events and annual meetings, historic buildings, architecture, and landmarks preservation, various historical people such as the pioneers, Loyalists, and Scout Billy Green, as well as the royal visit of Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II. One of the scrapbooks contains an Honour Roll of the men who died at the Battle of Stoney Creek during the War of 1812, and another scrapbook contains articles on the death of Sara Calder. Some scrapbooks also contain photographs of members and events including, a photograph featuring Mrs. George Lynch-Staunton, retiring President of the WWHS [1939], a photograph featuring Mrs. Lynch-Staunton, President, Mrs. W.H. Magill, Treasurer, Mrs. Bertie Smith, Secretary, Mrs. W.M. Logan and Mrs. G.W. Brown, 1st Vice-President [1939], a photograph of an unveiling of a historical plaque commemorating the Niagara Escarpment, featuring then mayor Victor K. Copps, Mrs. W.E. Griffin, President of the Women’s Wentworth Historical Society, Mrs. E.B. Thompson, Honourary President of the Society, Mr. L.J. Chapman, Ontario Research Foundation, and Dr. J.M.S. Careless of the Ontario Historic Sites Board, dated October 21, 1964, as well as a photograph of a sword with the following description on the back: “Sword carried by Billy Green the Scout, when he led the troops to Stoney Creek, June 5, 1813. Seen at the house of Philip R. Green, Stoney Creek, Mountain, July 1951.” There are also a few photographs of Battlefield House and grounds, as well as 11 photographs of the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Stoney Creek commemoration event that took place at Battlefield House on June 6, 1913. Some of the scrapbooks are in fragile condition with loose pages, crumbling paper, damaged spines and red rot staining.

The Hamilton AIDS Network for Dialogue and Support (HANDS) was founded in 1986 by Suzie Robinson, Michael Johnstone, David Des Jardins, John Vogel, and Dr. Jay Browne who were dedicated volunteers. HANDS was a registered charitable community-based organization that provided HIV and AIDS related education and support services to the Hamilton-Wentworth and Burlington area. HANDS distributed educational materials, published regular newsletters, had an information and support line and organized events such as the Speakers’ Bureau. They were also a member of the Canadian AIDS Society and the Ontario AIDS Network. HANDS changed its name to Hamilton AIDS Network in 1992 and is now known as The AIDS Network.

Series consists of agendas, meeting minutes, correspondence, reports, manuals, the HANDS, HANDS Volunteer, and Hamilton AIDS Network newsletters, and pamphlets. This series also contains records on the development of Hamilton’s first palliative care hospice facility, AIDS Prevention Task Force and Anonymous Testing working groups.

Series consists of declarations for charitable organization status for the purposes of taxation, cash books recording revenues such as membership fees, cash donations to the Society, Battlefield House rental fees, and proceeds from the sale of items, as well as expenditures such as salaries, bills, repairs, stationery and stamps, Battlefield House grounds maintenance work, advertising, printing services, sundries, events catering and affiliation fees for memberships in other historical societies. There are also financial statements and statements of receipts and disbursements, treasurer’s reports, government grant funding documentation from the Ministry of Culture and Recreation and the Ministry of Colleges and Universities, and various receipt books recording membership fees, general receipts, receipts for the Battlefield House Restoration Fund, receipts for donations of cash and furniture to Battlefield House, as well as loose-leaf receipts for executive officer expenses, and various purchases of goods and services related to the operations and administration of the Society.

The Hamilton United Gay Societies (HUGS) was an umbrella organization for 12 sub-organizations established in 1980 and incorporated in 1982. HUGS provided a range of services and information, education and peer counselling, hosted social events, created spaces for support groups and connected people to other services that were related to LGBTQ+ issues. Gayline was Hamilton’s first telephone counselling service for gays and lesbians that was first operated by the Hamilton-McMaster Homophile Association on March 20, 1975 and was continued by HUGS. HUGS also had a community centre at 41 King William Street in downtown Hamilton.

The sub-organizations of Hamilton United Gay Societies:

1. HUGS RAP Group
2. Gay Youth of Hamilton
3. HUGS Dance Committee
4. HUGS Speakers Bureau
5. Gay Fathers of Hamilton
6. Gayline
7. Metropolitan Community Church of Hamilton
8. Gay Women’s Collective
9. Gay Phoenix Newsletter
10. Hamilton-Wentworth Gay Archives/History Project
11. Gay Monitors
12. Gay Alcoholics Anonymous

Series consists of constitutions, meeting minutes, reports, calendars, press releases, correspondence, flyers, pamphlets, handouts, reading lists, articles, Summer Employment/Experience Development (SEED) project documents, newspaper clippings, Lesbian/Gayline call sheets and reports, Gay Phoenix and The Phoenix newsletter copies and masters and other related materials.

Contains subseries:
3.1 – Administrative files
3.2 – Sub-organizations and associated groups and events
3.3 – Lesbian/Gayline
3.4 – Gay Phoenix/The Phoenix

Series consists of administrative records such as the Declaration of Incorporation of the Society dated June 5, 1899, the Constitution and Bylaws, lists of executive officers, membership lists, membership cards, and meeting minutes recording the election of officers, as well as discussions pertaining to historic sites and monument preservation, Society finances, donations to the Society, upcoming events, the preservation and maintenance of Battlefield House, the transfer of the property to the Niagara Parks Commission, and the refurnishing project at Dundurn Castle. There are also annual reports, committee reports, a draft proposal pertaining to Stoney Creek Battlefield, appointment calendars, stationery, including letterhead and envelopes, documents listing the contents of a safety deposit box, records pertaining to the dissolution of the organization, as well as 3 Society ink stamps. The series also contains some documentation pertaining to the Women’s Wentworth Historical Society’s membership in or association with, other historical organizations including, the Hamilton and District Local Council of Women, the Canadian Historical Association, the Ontario Historical Society, the Women’s Canadian Historical Society, the Ontario Museum Association, and Heritage Canada.

Series consists of publicity such as flyers, pamphlets, programs, and public service announcements pertaining to events and functions hosted by the Society. There are also publications of the Women’s Wentworth Historical Society such as two copies of “Here Stood the Valiant: The Story of Battlefield House at Stoney Creek,” 2 copies of “Stoney Creek, 1812-1925,” a “Souvenir of Stoney Creek Battlefield Park,” a souvenir program for the “150th anniversary of the Battle of Stoney Creek, 1813-1863,” and 2 copies of “Ye Olden Tyme Entertainment” souvenir program for a fundraiser event held by the Society to help pay off the balance of the mortgage on the house and property. This series also includes publicity from the Niagara Parks Commission including 2 copies of a Battlefield House pamphlet, a 1976 Rates and Data Portfolio brochure highlighting what amenities are available at the various parks and historic sites run by the Commission, which references Stoney Creek Battlefield House, an introduction to the Historic Sites Program of the Niagara Parks Commission, a news release regarding the official re-opening of the restored Battlefield House taking place on May 15, 1976, and one copy of the Niagara Parks Commission’s Ninety-First Annual Report (1977), which mentions Battlefield House and the fire that took place on August 8, 1977, causing approximately $25,000.00 in damage to the roof and the second-floor audio-visual room.

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 series also contains a few pieces of correspondence from teachers submitting the work from their students to the Wentworth Historical Society, a notice sent to parents and teachers from the Wentworth Historical Society promoting essays submitted on “The Founding and History of the City of Quebec,” which advertises a prize of fifty dollars to be awarded to the student who submits the winning essay, as well as a program for the Annual Commencement of Exercises of the Ancaster Public School, which mentions that the awards are made possible by the Wentworth Historical Society for the essays on Quebec.

Series consists of photographs of Jimmy Lomax, his wife Susan and his son, Ryan, as well as various individuals and events pertaining to the fundraising of his Operation Santa Claus project. This series begins with some historical photographs of hospital visits undertaken by previous individuals who played Santa Claus from the 1930s to the 1950s. This series on photographs also includes a few images of Harold Alkerton who was Jimmy Lomax’s Santa when Lomax was sick in the hospital as a child. Alkerton was the person who inspired Jimmy to play the role of Santa himself to other unfortunate children and adults. The photographs in this series also highlight the beginning of Lomax’s role as Santa Claus, Lomax family members, the Lomax family trip to Disney World, which they were awarded by the Hamilton business community, Santa visits to families, organizations and institutions, Operation Santa Claus fundraisers such as garage sales, picnics, toy rides, among others, as well as work parties, Jimmy Lomax on parade, the Santa Van and photographs of his awards and recognition. This series also includes a file of photographs with little archival context and unidentified individuals.

Series consists of administrative records including a meeting minute book containing the proceedings of the Managing Committee of the Hamilton and Gore Mechanics’ Institute. The minutes contain a list of officers including Sir Allan Napier MacNab, M.P.P., as Patron, and Colin Campbell Ferrie, M.P.P., (who would become the first mayor of Hamilton), as President, as well as positions for treasurer, librarian, secretaries and the names of the Managing Committee members. The minutes include the establishment of the name of the Institute, the drawing up of the constitution, the solicitation of subscriptions of money and books, membership recruitment and fees, the rules and regulations, the search for locations for the Institute, expenditures, book selections and recommendations, the cataloguing of books, the circulation of books and materials, the purchasing of furniture for the reading rooms, as well as the types of events held at the Institute such as lectures and classes. The volume entries are dated March 5, 1839 to February 24, 1851. There are also some typewritten notes and transcriptions from the minute book. The series also contains a Register of Members and Books Loaned, dated 1862-1864, which records the names of the members, the number of books borrowed and the date of return. The series also contains loose-leaf documents including three copies of the Rules and Regulations of the Library of the Hamilton and Gore Mechanics’ Institute. The document lists the hours of operation for lending and receiving books, the number of materials loaned to members, the fines levied for late returns and damaged materials, as well as the responsibilities of the superintendent to ensure that the rules are observed, the fines are collected, the books are kept in good order and in the proper place, and that a report is made to the Managing Committee as to the state of the Institute’s collection. The series also contains a few membership cards and subscriptions, the terms of subscription and membership fees, some lending cards, which correspond to specific members and indicate the time period the item can be loaned before a fine is imposed including time periods of 7, 10 and 12 days, as well as an annual election card sent to a member requesting their vote on the individuals running for various offices of the Institute including the position of president, vice-president and managing directors for the year 1860.