Western Libraries Digitized Collections

Items

• Constitution and By-Laws of the London Co-Operative Association (Limited), June 4, 1867
  A handwritten document containing the constitution, by-laws, and a list of the founding members of the London Co-Operative Association. The document outlines plans by the association to operate a general store that sold "dry goods, groceries, flour, bread, provisions, hardware, and general merchandise."
• Account Book of Charles B. Rudd. Veterinary Surgeon. London, 1865-1886
  A small paperbound notebook containing lists of goods and services provided to customers by Charles B. Rudd: a veterinary surgeon operating in Middlesex County from 1865 until his death in 1886.
• Articles of Partnership of the Birr Cheese Factory, London Township, Ontario, 1888
  A nine-page handwritten contract which outlines how the Birr Cheese Factory would operate and how it would be governed. It includes a list of the original partners of the business and the amount of shares owned by each.
• Arithmetic Textbooks of Robert Nixon, London, 1845
  Two paper-bound, handwritten arithmetic textbooks belonging to Robert Nixon of Westminster, Middlesex County, Ontario.
• Invitations to L. Lawrason for the Celebration Lunch and Ball on the Occasion of the Opening of the London and Port Stanley Railway, Oct. 16, 1856
  Invitation addressed to Lawrence Lawrason of London, Ontario, and three tickets for the Lunch and Ball celebrating the opening of the London and Port Stanley Railway in October, 1856.
• Papers of the Victoria Bridge Company of London, Canada West, 1848, 1856
  Contains a list of shares sold for the Victoria Bridge Company as well as nineteen individual handwritten shares. The first wooden bridge across the Thames River (Deshkan Ziibi) at Ridout Street was constructed in 1848 but was washed away in 1851. A second bridge would not be built until 1863.
• Letter to Prospective Customers Describing Bridges Built by Wrought Iron Bridge Co. in London and Peterborough Canada, December 1, 1875
  This letter, from the Canadian agents for the Wrought Iron Bridge Company of Canton, Ohio, advertises the company's services to prospective customers. It mentions two bridges built by the company earlier that year across the Thames River (Deshkan Ziibi) in London, and another in Peterborough, Ontario. The first of the London bridges is Blackfriars Bridge, a single-span bowstring arch truss bridge which, as of 2026, is the oldest wrought iron bridge still used for vehicular traffic in North America. The second of these bridges was the Victoria (Ridout Street) Bridge, a double-span double intersection truss bridge which would be demolished and replaced in 1926.
• Letter to Charles Smith Hyman, Leather Goods Manufacturer and Politician, London, from Sir Wilfred Laurier, 1895
  A letter from Wilfred Laurier, addressed to Charles Smith Hyman, dated to April 12th, 1895. In this letter, Laurier, who in 1895 was the leader of the Liberal Party and the leader of the Official Opposition, invites Hyman to Ottawa to discuss public opinion regarding the Manitoba School Question. C.S. Hyman was a member of the Liberal Party who had won the riding of London in the 1891 federal election, but had this result declared void due to a slim margin of victory. Hyman lost the resulting by-election in 1892 to his Conservative opponent, John Carling. This item also includes a separate page containing a quote by J.G. Blaine. An inscription in pencil indicates that this quote is a sample of Laurier's handwriting dating to 1914.
• Immigration Letter from W. and Sarah Laurence, London, Canada to Abraham Clark, England, April 14, 1849
  A double-sided letter from W. and Sarah Lawrence, addressed to Abraham Clark, of Purton, Wiltshire, England, which provides detailed instructions for immigration from England to London, Canada West.
• Letters from John Howard to his Mother in England Describing his Trip Across the Atlantic to Upper Canada and Building of Farm Near Strathroy, 1858-1859
  Nine bound letters from John Howard to his mother, J. H. Howard in King's Stanley, Gloucestershire, dating from June 30 1858 to January 19 1859. Item also contains two letters from his relative, C.H. Howard, to his niece, Edie, discussing the history of the Howard family, as well as two handwritten notes listing members of the Howard family and the contents and dates of John Howard's letters.
• Manuscript of "London Duellists" Written by Clarence Campbell, London, 1916
  A typewritten manuscript of a presentation given to the London Historical Society by Clarence T. Campbell on April 18th, 1916. The manuscript contains handwritten corrections in pen and pencil, presumably from the author.
• Account of Hodgins and Moran, Manufacturers of Omnibuses, Carriages, Sleighs and Wagons, Richmond and Market Street, London, July 1, 1873
  This receipt, dating to 1873, contains an itemized list of repairs made to the lumber wagon of J.W. Jones by Hodgins & Moran. Their business is listed as being on the corner of Richmond Street & Market Street (now Central Avenue).
• Admission Tickets for the First Excursion of the London and Port Stanley Railway, Oct 16, 1856
  Two single-sided tickets for the first excursion on the London and Port Stanley Railway.
• Notebook of Examination of Pensioners, 1844 by James Hamilton, Sheriff of London District
  A small volume bound in green leather containing a list of veterans in London and surrounding townships receiving a pension. Entries are dated to April and May 1844.
• Promotional Advertisement for Lithographs by Hugh Johnston as a Memorial of the Wreck of the Steamer Victoria, on the River Thames near London, Canada, on the 24th of May 1881
  A small illustrated pamphlet advertising lithographs depicting the sinking of the steamship Victoria on the Deshkan Ziibi (Thames River) in 1881.
• Agreement of the London Cricket Club to Rent Cricket Ground, June 1, 1842
  This document, showing the leasing of land by W. Thomas Rockey to the London Cricket Club, is perhaps the earliest evidence of cricket being played in London, Ontario. The exact location of the cricket ground mentioned in this document is unknown. The first recorded cricket match in London, between 16 senior officers of the 82nd Regiment of Foot and a civilian team from Woodstock, did not take place until 1846, at the Garrison Ground (now the site of Victoria Park). The Garrison Ground would be the site of all cricket matches in the city until the 1870s.
• Menu for the Complementary Banquet Presented by City of London to the Seventh Fusiliers, 1885
  A pamphlet containing the menu and a list of toasts for a banquet presented by London's City Council to the 7th Battalion Fusiliers in 1885. The 7th Battalion Fusiliers were originally formed in 1866 as the 7th Battalion Infantry (Prince Arthur's Own) as part of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia. From April to July 1885, they were mobilized to repress the North West Rebellion led by Louis Riel. This banquet was held for them when they returned to London.
• Promotional Advertisement for Miss Edna Porte, Elocutionist of London, c. 1900
  A small illustrated pamphlet featuring quotes from southern Ontario newspapers pertaining to performances by Edna Porte.
• Menu and Program for Complementary Banquet to the Most Worship the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Canada at the Tecumseh House, London, November 2, 1876
  A double-sided menu and program for a banquet held at the Tecumseh House hotel in London, Ontario.
• Advertisement for Fraser House, Resort at Port Stanley, 1886
  A small illustrated pamphlet, printed in 1886, advertising Fraser House: a hotel in Port Stanley, Ontario.
• Bill of Fare Sponsored by the Western Hotel for a Banquet to Launch the Great Western Railway, London, October 23, 1847
  The Great Western Railway was founded as the London & Gore Rail Road Company in 1834. Construction on its main line commenced in 1847, when a groundbreaking ceremony was held in London, Ontario, on October 23 of that year. This double-sided bill of fare lists the menu of the banquet held as part of this ceremony at the Western Hotel which welcomed around 120 attendees. In 1853, the L&G R.R.C. was renamed the Great Western Railway, and its main line, which then ran from Hamilton to London, opened for service in December, 1853. This line would be extended to Windsor the following year.
• Tecumseh Baseball Club of London Minute Book, June 22, 1868 - May 1, 1872
  A handwritten volume containing the constitution and by-laws of the Tecumseh Baseball Club, along with meeting minutes from 1868 to 1872. Handwritten recipes for "Tomato Catsup" and "Fruit Sauce" can be found on the back cover.
• Nominal Roll of Capt. Edward Allan Talbot's Company of the 4th Regiment of Middlesex Militia, June 4, 1830 and the Annual Return of Col. James Hamilton's Company, 1829.
  Handwritten documents which include a list of soldiers from Capt. Edward Allan Talbot's Company of the 4th Regiment of Middlesex Militia who were present at "General Training" on June 4th, 1830, and a report of the annual parade of the 4th Regiment at the Forks in 1829.
• Correspondence and Accounts Relative to the London District Court House and Gaol, 1826-1828.
  A file containing correspondence, meeting minutes, and receipts pertaining to the construction of the first jail and courthouse in the District of London.
• Poster Announcing the Political Views of L. Lawrason to the Electors of London, October 21, 1844
  A single-sided poster announcing the political views of Lawrence Lawrason ahead of the 1844 elections to the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada. The poster makes reference to a fire that destroyed many buildings in London, Ontario earlier that month.