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Tuesday 10am - 4pm Wednesday 10am - 4pm Thursday 10am - 4pm Friday 10am - 4pm Saturday 10am - 4pm

Trent Valley Archives

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Peterborough, ON
Trent Valley Archives

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Some of the resources at the Trent Valley Archives include:
◦Large text collection of regional genealogical and historical resources
◦Cemetery transcripts covering cemeteries throughout the Trent Valley region
◦Family histories
◦Genealogical Research Directory
◦Peter Robinson immigration of 1825: ships lists and land records
◦Local newspapers and extracts from local newspapers supported by significant newspaper indexes (to the Peterborough Examiner, Peterborough Review and Dummer News) and by major runs of obituaries in the 19th century and in the 1990s.
◦Chronologies of significant events in the local area (partially available on this website)
◦Major collection of resources on the Peterborough Irish
◦Extensive microfilm collections of census, church, assessment records,
◦Extensive digital collection of pre-1840 Upper Canada (Ontario) documents.
◦Many of our archival finding aids and indexes to local histories are available in-house and sometimes on our website.
◦The Peterborough County land records, 1867-1950.

02/05/2026

Last fall, our archivist Dr. Elwood Jones travelled to the Circus Historical Society convention in Las Vegas to tell the story of a murder that occurred in Peterborough's Market Square in June of 1888. The murder occurred between two employees of the Howe Circus, one shooting another in Peterborough's market square before some 40 witnesses, and the consequences were felt in several directions.

Now, he has agreed to tell the same story to Trent Valley Archives members as part of our members-only presentation series. Join us on Zoom on Thursday, February 12 at 7pm to hear him share what he has learned from both the story itself and his experience presenting it to the conference. In his words:

"First, I learned quite a bit about Peterborough, a town that opposed hanging.
Second, I learned that the circus world supports its own.
Third, I learned that there was another murder in the same circus that year.
Fourth, I learned that Peterborough loved circuses.
Fifth, I learned about Ashburnham’s Riverside Park.
Sixth, I learned that I really like circuses."

The story was well-received both at the convention and on our Peterborough Perpetrators true crime walking tour last summer. It is also featured in a chapter of Peterborough's Unique, published in 2024. It is a compelling look into the Peterborough community, circus culture, and the justice system in the 1880s, and if you have an interest in any of these topics you won't want to miss this presentation!

This is a free, members-only event and you must be a member to view the presentation. If you are already a Trent Valley Archives member, you will have received an email yesterday (Wednesday, February 4) with a link to register for the presentation (please register by the end of the day on Wednesday, February 11).

If you are not yet a Trent Valley Archives member, there's still time to become one! A single membership costs $60 a year and a family membership costs $75 a year. To learn more about our membership tiers and benefits or to purchase a membership, please visit the membership page on our website, here: https://trentvalleyarchives.com/membership/

02/02/2026

We are saddened to share that on Friday, January 30, Karen Carter-Edwards passed away. Karen was an enthusiastic supporter of the Trent Valley Archives and a long- standing volunteer and member, sharing her love of local history with us in many ways.

An engaging public speaker, Karen ran several local history tours for us, including a women's history tour in Little Lake Cemetery and a tour chronicling the history Jackson's Park, which were always well received by the community. She also enjoyed dressing up in historical attire and portraying women from Peterborough's past at our annual Little Lake Cemetery Pageant, bringing to life the stories of women like Emma Jane Morrow, Clara Mina Calcutt Rogers and Mary Shaw, alongside her husband Dennis.

Karen was also a member of our Board of Directors for several years, taking time out of her busy schedule to help guide our organization with her knowledge and expertise. In 2019, we were proud to celebrate her as the recipient of a Cultural Betterment Award at the City of Peterborough's Civic Awards, for her work with us and with other organizations in the community who benefited greatly from her keen involvement.

One of the many topics Karen was passionate about was women's history, and telling the stories of women who made important contributions to our community that would otherwise have been forgotten. We think the same sentiment should be extended to Karen herself; throughout her life, she has made her own important contributions to our community and we want to ensure that she is not forgotten. All of us whose lives she touched at the Trent Valley Archives will certainly miss her.

If you have any stories you would like to share about Karen (perhaps you went on one of her engaging local history tours, saw her perform at one our cemetery pageants, or attended one of her informative talks) please share them in the comments.

01/25/2026

Calling all local actors and theatre enthusiasts: The Trent Valley Archives Theatre is holding auditions for our 2026 production, "The Kid from Simcoe Street," next month, and we want you to take part!

The play is a heartwarming coming-of-age story about growing up poor, and effectively fatherless, on the wrong side of the tracks in an alcohol-ridden neighbourhood in Peterborough during the Great Depression and Second World War. The main character is James Clarke, who later became an Ontario Superior Court Judge and poet, and the play is based on his memoir of the same name.

Despite his difficult upbringing, several community members and friends rallied behind James, and as a result, "The Kid from Simcoe Street" features a large cast of different ages. There are 20 roles in total, both major and minor, and we are looking for the following volunteer actors: 9 Males, 5 Teen Males, 4 Females and 2 Teen Females. (Some actors may be asked to take on double or triple roles.)

The auditions will take place on Monday February 23 & Tuesday February 24 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm in Room 5 at the Activity Haven Seniors Centre, 180 Barnardo Ave in Peterborough. No preparation is required for the audition. Just come ready to read!

If you would like to audition, please sign up for a time slot using our audition sign-up form, here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSetcIfe6u9OwWUKghV-PBq5_ftUVzBOUy0yLSSmT0HTn5ilLg/viewform

[Image Caption: A young James Clarke in his backyard. Image Credit: The Clarke Family.]

01/23/2026

If you're looking to make a difference in your community in 2026, why not consider volunteering with us? We're currently looking for Bookstore Assistant Volunteers and Archival Project Volunteers!

We publish and sell several local history books at the Trent Valley Archives, and it is essential that each sale is properly processed and documented. To help keep our bookstore running smoothly, we are installing a Square point of sale system that will be used to process book sales and other payments, and we're looking for a dedicated group of volunteers who have experience with (or are willing to learn) how to process payments using this point of sale system. In addition to using the point of sale system, our bookstore assistant volunteers will help keep our bookstore shelves stocked and tidy and may be asked to perform other duties as required.

Preserving the documents, photographs, films, and other materials in our care is at the core of what we do at the Trent Valley Archives, and we are always looking for volunteers who have an interest in working directly with our over 1,200 (and counting!) archival fonds. Our archival project volunteers work closely with our Archivist to process new donations, create finding aids to improve access to existing collections and digitize materials for online access, among other tasks. While volunteering in the archives, you'll experience local history firsthand and learn more about the community you live in, while helping others to do the same.

If you have any questions or would like to apply for one of these positions, please send an email to admin@trentvalleyarchives.com. You can also find more information about these positions on our Volunteer Peterborough profile, here: https://volunteerpeterborough.ca/opportunities/

01/21/2026

If you're looking to make a difference in your community in 2026, why not consider volunteering with us? We currently have openings on our Board of Directors, Grants Committee and Membership and Volunteer Committee!

Board of Directors: Our board is essential to keeping our non-profit organization running smoothly. It oversees our daily operations and all of our other activities. Our board is comprised of community members of different backgrounds, and we are always looking for board members with transferable skills that can be applied to their time spent on our board. We have a couple openings for new members on our board this year; new board members will stand for election at our Annual General Meeting this April, and attend their first board meeting in May. We hold our board meetings virtually on the third Thursday of every month. Note: Our by-laws state that all Trent Valley Archives board members must be members of the Trent Valley Archives.

Grants Committee: Our organization receives no consistent funding from any level of government, so our Grants Committee performs an essential role in seeking out the funding we need for large archival projects, equipment upgrades, repairs to our heritage building, and more. They seek out and apply for grant opportunities from municipal, provincial and federal levels of government, as well as from other sources, based on project recommendations from the Board and the Archivist.

Membership and Volunteer Committee: One of our largest revenue streams comes from membership, and our Membership and Volunteer Committee oversees membership recruitment and retention, ensuring that our current members renew their memberships when they're due and exploring ways to improve our membership program and attract new members. They also oversee volunteer recruitment and retention, helping to identify volunteer needs and fill volunteer positions, in addition to ensuring that existing volunteers are properly recognized and appreciated.

If you have any questions or would like to apply for one of these positions, please send an email to admin@trentvalleyarchives.com. You can also find more information about these positions on our Volunteer Peterborough profile, here: https://volunteerpeterborough.ca/organizations/trent-valley-archives-2/

01/19/2026

If you're looking to make a difference in your community in 2026, why not consider volunteering with the Trent Valley Archives? Volunteering with us is a win-win scenario, since, in addition to supporting the preservation of our community's history, you'll also be keeping your mind and body active as you work alongside other volunteers to achieve a common goal. We've fostered a fantastic group of volunteers over the years, and we would love to have you join our team.

What makes a great Trent Valley Archives volunteer? We're looking for volunteers who are passionate about local history, and who want to help preserve it and share it with the community. However, you don't need to have experience working/volunteering in a heritage setting to volunteer with us! We appreciate volunteers who come to us with transferable skills from their careers and other interests. Our non-profit organization is strengthened when people with experience in governance, finance, administration, marketing, fundraising and other fields share their knowledge and expertise with us.

Yesterday, we sent out an email to our email subscriber list highlighting our available volunteer positions, which you can read here: https://mailchi.mp/ad99e8e9ba08/news-from-the-trent-valley-archives-february-18240234 We'll also feature each one on our social media later this week. If you're enthusiastic, reliable and able to dedicate a few hours a week (or more) to volunteering with us, then stay tuned to see what positions are available!

01/09/2026

The print edition of our October 2025 issue of the Heritage Gazette has finally arrived! Now, you can read this issue's standout articles, like Dana Lynch's article "From Ireland to Hollywood," in hard-copy format.

If you are already subscribed to the print edition of the Heritage Gazette, your issue is ready for pickup (or mailing, depending on your subscription). If you are not a subscriber but would like to be, please contact us at 705-745-4404 or admin@trentvalleyarchives.com. An annual subscription includes 3 issues and is $30 (for pickup at TVA) or $40 (including shipping). Individual issues can also be purchased at our archives building for $15 each.

We are hard at work on our next issue of the Heritage Gazette and can't wait to share it with you in the coming weeks! Thank you for your patience as our volunteer Heritage Gazette team works to catch up on our publishing schedule.

12/25/2025

We hope everyone who is celebrating is having a very Merry Christmas with their loved ones! We wanted to share one final festive photograph with you today, which we think perfectly personifies the phrase "Christmas miracle!" It was published in the Peterborough Examiner on December 26, 1970 with the caption: Christmas at Civic Hospital (p.15):. Nurse Margaret Tolmie and baby, Brenda May Fallis.

12/24/2025

Our final festive photograph perfectly captures the excitement many of us felt on Christmas eve growing up! Published in the Peterborough Examiner in December of 1962, it captures two young boys eagerly awaiting the arrival of Saint Nick, with one looking up the chimney in anticipation while the other feverishly writes his Christmas list in the hope Santa will get it in time!

Thank you to everyone who has been following along with our "A Little Something for the Local History Buff" holiday gift guide posts and our festive photograph posts. We really appreciate your engagement with our content, and those of you who made the effort to shop local with us this holiday season. We hope you and yours have a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

12/23/2025

If you still haven't found the perfect gift for that local history buff, don't worry, we've got you! We may be closed for our holiday break, but we still have a few last-minute gift ideas that can be purchased online from anywhere!

1. A Trent Valley Archives Membership | If you know someone who is looking to delve deeper into their family tree, wants to learn more about the history of their property, or is working on a research project, they'll really appreciate a Trent Valley Archives membership! Our members get unlimited access to our archival holdings, including our large genealogy wall, our extensive research library, ancestry institution on our in-house computers, and over 1,200 archival fonds (including our popular Peterborough County Land Records). They'll also enjoy other membership benefits and perks throughout the year. Annual single memberships are $60 and annual family memberships are $75, and can be purchased on our website, here: https://trentvalleyarchives.com/membership/

2. Tickets to The Kid From Simcoe Street | Tickets to Trent Valley Archives Theatre's 2026 production, The Kid From Simcoe Street, are the perfect gift for local theatre lovers and anyone who spent their childhood in Peterborough! The play, based on the memoir of the same name, dramatizes James Clarke's boyhood experiences living on Simcoe Street in the 1930s and 1940s and illustrates how the many obstacles he was forced to overcome in his childhood helped him become a respected Ontario Superior Court Justice. Auditorium tickets are $30 each and cabaret tickets are $40 each, and can be purchased here: https://tickets.markethall.org/eventperformances.asp?evt=526

3. A Donation in Their Name | If they're already an active Trent Valley Archives member, they would love a donation made to us in their name! Your donation will help the organization they cherish thrive in 2026 and beyond, and support us as we continue to preserve the documents, photographs, maps, films, and other archival materials in our care for years to come. Donations in any amount can be made on our website, here: https://trentvalleyarchives.com/about-2/donations/

12/22/2025

Our seventh festive photograph was taken by the Peterborough Examiner photographer in December of 1963, when they were travelling around town capturing the best Christmas lights the city had to offer! Many contenders were photographed, but this snapshot of an outdoor nativity scene is our favourite. The way the observant woman and child are positioned in the photograph, it makes them look like they're a part of the scene itself. Do you enjoy looking at the Christmas light displays in town?

12/21/2025

We have enjoyed welcoming so many of you to our archives building this year! To give our volunteers a much-needed holiday break, we'll be closed from Wednesday, December 24 to Thursday, January 1, reopening on Friday, January 2.

If you need to do some last-minute holiday shopping or want to pay us one final visit before 2025 comes to a close, we'll be open this Tuesday, December 23 from 10am-4pm (our last day open before our holiday break).

NOTE: If you purchased a book or map on our web shop for local pickup, Tuesday will be your last opportunity to pick up your order before the new year. If you can't come in and pick up your order on Tuesday and need it before Christmas, please call us at 705-745-4404 or email us at admin@trentvalleyarchives.com to make alternate arrangements.

Address

567 Carnegie Avenue
Peterborough, ON
K9L1N1

Opening Hours

Tuesday	10am - 4pm
Wednesday	10am - 4pm
Thursday	10am - 4pm
Friday	10am - 4pm
Saturday	10am - 4pm

Website

http://www.trentvalleyarchives.com/

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