The fonds represents over forty years of Julian Armstrong's career as a food writer and journalist. The fonds contains primarily textual records created and accumulated by Armstrong during her research into the culinary history and traditions of Quebec while a food editor with the Montreal Gazette. Series 1 consists of food research files arranged by Armstrong according to geographic location or subject. Generally, the files are arranged by Quebec town or region, but some are devoted to food research topics related particularly to Quebec, such as "tourtières". The second subseries is arranged by specific foodstuffs, such as "Maple Syrup Pie" or "Bread," or food-related topics such as chefs and restaurants, or nutritional or diet topics. Series 2 contains notebooks of Armstrong's notes taken during travels primarily in Quebec's regions with observations, interview notes, tasting notes, and information such as food prices. The notebooks begin in 1986, dating from when she began her travels in Quebec for her food reporting. Series 3 contains records related to Armstrong's publications and speaking engagements. Series 4 consists of documents created through Armstrong's participation in culinary associations such as Cuisine Canada and in various cooking contests. Series 5 contains notebooks kept by Armstrong between 1969 and 1995 tracking food prices at particular regional grocery stores, organized by food product.
Series 1: Food research files Series 2: Notebooks Series 3: Publications and presentations Series 4: Associations and events Series 5: Food price records
The fonds documents Judith Fitzgerald’s personal and professional activities as a journalist, poet, and country music enthusiast, put together by Fitzgerald herself, documenting her work from the years 1965 to 1995. The majority of the records consists of research about individuals and musical acts, as well as other work-related projects that Fitzgerald was involved in. These include notes, drafts, and published work written by Fitzgerald, as well as various publications that she collected about the subjects and projects she worked on. The fonds also notably includes Fitzgerald’s creative work, including notes, drafts, manuscripts, and copies of her published books of poetry. Other materials include correspondence between Fitzgerald and friends, publishers, and individuals and institutions that she covered in her research. In addition, the fonds includes some financial records and personal records relating to Fitzgerald’s day-to-day activities and significant events in her life. These records include her marriage certificate, scrapbooks containing collected publications on herself, and notes on her autobiography.
The collection consists of Prevost’s school certificate from Le Conseil d'État de la République et Canton de Neuchatel en Suisse, dated June 17, 1870, along with a collection of handwritten essays and poems. It contains newspaper clippings featuring published poems, an article titled “The French Congregational Church,” and the original handwritten essay “Our Educational Work” by J. A. Derome, accompanied by a note from Prevost. The collection also features the booklets “Le Canada français à la lumière de l'histoire” (1913) and "Le vrai contre-poison pour faire disparaître la confession auriculaire" by Chiniquy (1878), as well as a booklet “Annuaire de l'Église evangélique française de Torrington, Connecticut, 1902-3” and a 50-leaf handwritten notes of the speeches given at the conferences on Pierre-Jean de Béranger (1780-1857), held in Montreal (1878), Springfield (1887), Torrington (1903) and Norfork (1909). A biography of Joseph Provost is pasted on the front pastedown of the book covers (content missing), alongside a black-and-white photograph of students on the cover, titled “École des garçons et école des filles à Chapelle, 1846-1904.”
Consisting of documents detailing the 1785 travels and observations of Joseph Hadfield through the Northwest fur trade of North America and to Niagara Falls (probably written after 1810). Observations are primarily economic in nature; however, there are also references to the geographical and cultural surroundings.
Frobisher's papers comprise a letterbook of the North-West Co. containing copies of letters written by Frobisher from April 1787 to October 1788, two original letters to Simon McTavish, 1796, and one from him, 1787, business and legal documents, largely concerning the estate of James McGill, 1810-1834, and a diary, 1806-1810, mostly a record of where he dined.
Collection consists of Joseph Crawhall's correspondence, notes, memoranda, and manuscripts related to his research on engraver Thomas Bewick (1753-1828).
Ruskin's literary manuscripts include a lecture on "The Italian Question" delivered at Bradford, 1864, an essay on The Three Colours of Pre-Raphaelitism, the preface to the last edition of The Stones of Venice (1872) and two poems; "To the ocean", 1831 and "Sonnet to a dond". His correspondence comprises 32 letters to Elizabeth White, 1864-1881.
Nash's papers comprise original illustrations for Nouveau Poor by Belinda Blinders, edited by Desmond Cooke (1921), together with drawings for and letters concerning L.de G. Sieveking's Dressing Gowns and Glue (1921).
Fonds consists of an album of autograph letters and signatures, including letters both to and from Nichols. Correspondents include John Temple (26 November 1821) and Charles Burney Jr. (5 January 1809). Also represented in the fonds are Nichols's children John Bowyer Nichols (1779-1863) and John Gough Nichols (1806-1873), including a letter to John Gough Nichols from Sir Henry Ellis (2 December 1842).