McGill Libraries
McLennan Library Building3459 rue McTavish
Montreal, Quebec
H3A 0C9
Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
Lighthall Family Papers
General material designation
Parallel title
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Title statements of responsibility
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title based on content.
Level of description
Subfonds
Repository
Reference code
CA RBD MSG 216-2
Edition area
Edition statement
Edition statement of responsibility
Class of material specific details area
Statement of scale (cartographic)
Statement of projection (cartographic)
Statement of coordinates (cartographic)
Statement of scale (architectural)
Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)
Dates of creation area
Date(s)
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1875-1954 (Creation)
- Creator
- Lighthall (Family : 1820-1984 : Montréal, Québec)
Physical description area
Physical description
approximately 5 m of textual records and graphic material
Publisher's series area
Title proper of publisher's series
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Statement of responsibility relating to publisher's series
Numbering within publisher's series
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Archival description area
Name of creator
(approximately 1820-1984)
Biographical history
The Lighthall family came to Canada from New York about 1830. Douw K. Lighthall was registrar of Beauharnois, Quebec. His son William Francis married Margaret Wright, grand-daughter of Major James Wright (McIntyre). Her father's brother-in-law was Peter Rutherford, builder of Fort Lennox. By marriage, the Lighthalls were related to the Nyes who were among the claimants of the Christie estates including the Seigneury of Lacolle. W.F. Lighthall (1827-1920) practiced as a notary in Montreal except for a brief period in Hamilton, Ontario. He had two sons, William Dow (1857-1954), and George Rutherford (1861-1956) who was also a notary and a daughter, Katherine. W.D. Lighthall married Cybel Wilkes, the grand-daughter of the reverend Dr. Henry Wilkes (1805-1886), a Congregationalist minister in Montreal. They had three children: William S., Alice and Cybel. Cybel Wilkes Lighthall was one of the founders of the Canadian Guild of Handicrafts and her daughter, Alice, was to be equally active in this organization. William S. fought with the British forces in Mesopotamia in World War I and was an early member of the Flying Corps. Alice was a V.A.D. in France. George Lighthall married Anne dean, sister of Mrs. Charles Lyman. Their daughter Anne worked as a nurse in France and Belgium, ca. 1930 – ca. 1970. George was a founder of the Canadian branch of the Aerial League of the British Empire. Most members of the family were active Protestants; Anne Lighthall was a Roman Catholic.
Custodial history
Scope and content
Although more than forty members of the Lighthall and allied families are represented in the collection, only those with significant bodies of papers are mentioned here.
The papers of Cybel Wilkes Lighthall include correspondence from family members, and student work from her training as kindergarten teacher (1888-1890). Of particular note are the cut and folded paper designs. [Also, the occupational therapy materials after World War I are of interest.]
The papers of Alice M.S. Lighthall contain correspondence and papers relating to the Montreal branch of the Canadian Authors' Association and the Canadian Guild of Handicrafts. Her wartime letters are to be found in the papers of her parents (W.D.L. and C.W.L.) of her aunt (Katherine Lighthall) and of her grandfather (W.F.L.).
The papers of Anne Dean Lighthall contain some correspondence and two [unpublished] manuscripts: "Histoire de ma conversion" (ca. 1935) and "Oublier? – Jamais! La guerre telle que je l'ai vue en France" (1946).
The papers of W.F. Lighthall and Katherine Lighthall, although not extensive, contain letters from the Reverend Charles Chiniquy as do the papers of Margaret Wright Lighthall. Katherine's papers also include a series of illustrated letters and stories written to her nieces and nephew.
The papers of the Reverend Dr. Henry Wilkes include manuscripts of some of his sermons. The papers of Peter Rutherford include legal and financial records.
Others represented in the collection are William S. Lighthall, George R. Lighthall, Christine Lighthall Henderson, Edward Ellice, D.K. Lighthall, Timothy Hoyle and Cornelia Schuyler Nye. There is, as well, genealogical information and there are many family photographs.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
Arrangement
Material in containers 21-32, 33-40.
Language of material
Script of material
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Finding aids
Associated materials
Accruals
General note
The papers of Andrew and G. Robertson have been added to the Robertson Papers (MSG 219).