A Picture of Pioneer Life
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ISSN 0229-2378 Volume 26 Number 9 82 03 04 Goderich collection for Library A picture of pioneer life Tales of long lost treasures found in dusty Canadiana for study. History professor, attics are nothing new to Collections Librar- Gilbert Stelter, has a special interest in town ian John Moldenhauer. They are often the planning and feels that these papers offer a rule rather than the exception. Such was the rich source of documentation for the western case with a recent find in the Goderich area, area of the Province. While not unique of its where he located a valuable collection of kind, the material fills in significant gaps in materials relating to early Scottish settlers the available information for Windsor and in southwestern Ontario. the surrounding area. A successful bid for the materials John Galts Personal Letters brought to the University a fascinating and One part of the collection, however, is useful collection of documents recounting unique and caps the find particularly well. the life and times of the Lizar-Wilkinson The author John Galt, in his role as repre- family, early Scottish settlers in the Huron sentative of the Canada Company, wrote Tract. The Lizar family were descendants of thousands of official letters most of which a Scottish engraver who immigrated and are on record in the Public Archives. Of his settled in Goderich. The Wilkinsons des- personal letters, those in which he might be cended from a Scottish surveyor who worked expected to reveal a more intimate record of the southwestern parts of the province and his life apart from the Canada Company, had connections in the Windsor area. Of there are precious few. For this reason, the special interest to students of local history discovery of six letters from Galt to various will be the personal letters of John Galt, founder of Guelph, his brother Thomas, and members of his family constitutes a rare set. his son John who married Helen Lizar. An History professors Ted Cowan, seated, left, additional bonus was the acquisition of an Prof. Stelter points out that three of and Gilbert Stelter, standing, examine papers intact family library of the day. the six letters are of particular interest to in the Goderich collection with Collections historians concerned with John Galt, with Librarian John Moldenhauer. Canada, and with the Guelph area. One of The personal book and library material the letters records Galts reactions to the recorded. In Prof. Stelters words, the mate- furnishes information on the literary tastes City of London, England, on the occasion of rials offer "a rounded picture of pioneer of an early pioneer family as well as historical life." It will serve historians, particularly information through the evidence of Scottish his first visit there in 1804; a second assesses those concerned with the Scot in early and Canadian imprints. The library also the personalities of the authors two sons, Canadian settlement, sociologists, urban details the basis for home education of the Thomas and John, offering a thumbnail planners, and students of early Canadian day. As Mr. Moldenhauer explains, records sketch of each of the two men who were to literature and literary figures. It is a signifi- of this sort, in the form of a complete family become important Canadians in their own cant find and a notable addition to the library, have not been available before the right. In the third letter, Galt comments on holdings of the University of Guelph. q Goderich find. History professor, Ted Cowan, what he felt to be the importance of a posi- notes that there is a wealth of material for tion making him the "second person in this the study of Scottish aspects of the Huron grand country," notes the progress of his new Tract settlement, but this family collection is town Guelph, and mentions David Gilkinson, CIDA president who was later to be involved with his father, particularly exciting because of the number The president of the Canadian International of rare items of publishing history that it William Gilkinson, in the settlement of the town of Elora. Development Agency, Marcel Masse, will be contains. visiting the campus Wednesday, March 10. The Centre for International Programs The Wilkinson papers, containing as they The Goderich find is significant for its invites all interested faculty members to do information gathered, recorded and size, the period covered, the variety of mate- meet Mr. Masse in Room 103 of the Univer- assembled from a technicians point of view, rials included, the personalities involved or sity Centre from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. furnish an exciting and unusual facet of discussed and the aspects of settlement life Information: Ext. 3256. q Thousands expected for College Royal, Open House The University of Guelph expects 25,000 will be held at the Athletics Centre. visitors at its 58th annual College Royal Other activities which also promise to and Open House Friday March 13 and be entertaining are the Fashion Show, the Saturday, March 14. Open House Week- Cat Show, and Film Fest 82. end welcomes the public and encourages A regular favorite with the young- everyone to participate in the festivities sters is Old MacDonalds Farm, located planned by students. in the Old Dairy Barn. It will be open on Parking is free, as is the shuttle bus Sunday at 11 a.m. service that will circle the campus begin- The Woodsmen Competition, an ning at 11 a.m. on Saturday and 12 noon interesting combination of eastern varsity on Sunday. The University Centre and sports, will be getting under way at the other locations will provide information same time, just south of the Athletics and campus maps. Centre. Cross-cut sawing and pulp throw- Events and shows of all types will ing are only two of the many scheduled give the visitor an inside look at the competitions for this event. areas of study which the seven Colleges are involved in. This will be a particular- The Curtain Call presentation, a Boyd Matchett ly good opportunity for people who are spoof on campus life, will be held at War considering certain career directions. Memorial Hall on March 10, March 11, Displays will include: computer March 12 and March 13. This years joins Board games, new foods, veterinary surgery, performance is entitled "Gidget Goes to psychological testing, landscape design, Guelph." Advance tickets can be obtained of Governors painting, sculpture, ecology concerns at the central box office in the University J. Boyd Matchett of Toronto has been and scientific demonstrations. Centre courtyard or at the door. Ticket appointed to the Board of Governors for a prices are $1.75 advance and $3 at the The Livestock Show, a tradition three-year term. door. from which the College Royal developed, Mr. Matchett, who is president of Cara will be held in the University arena on Residence tours will be available Operations Limited, a leading Canadian Saturday morning of the Open House. during College Royals Open House foodservice company, is no stranger to the Visitors can enjoy the Seed and Forage Weekend, and aerial tours of the Univer- University. He is actively involved with the Show at the Crop Science building, the sity, the Elora Research Station and the School of Hotel and Food Administration as Juried Art Show at McLaughlin Library surrounding countryside will be given chairman of the policy advisory board for the or the Corsage and Flower Show in the by the University Flying Club for a fee Advanced Management Program for the Horticultural Science building. All begin of $8 (weather permitting). Hospitality Industry (AMPH I) being developed at 9 a.m., March 13. The official opening of College Royal by the School. Other scheduled events for Saturday takes place at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 13 Mr. Matchett is also a director of the include the ever-popular square dancing in Peter Clark Hall, University centre. Sunnybrook Medical Centre Institute and of competitions, synchronized swimming Well-known Canadian broadcaster, Lloyd a number of food industry companies. and performing dance groups. These Robertson, will give the public address. q He served in the R.C.N.V.R. during World War II. Born in Hamilton, Mr. Matchett is a graduate of the University of Toronto. He received a Hudsons Bay Company Fellowship for study at the London School of Economics. Mr. Matchett began his business career with Massey-Ferguson Ltd., serving the company in Canada, the USA, England and France. In 1959 he joined Urwick-Currie Ltd. as a management consultant, and in 1962 became general manager of Cara Operations Limited. He has been president of that company since 1969. A COUPLES COMMUNICATION GROUP is available to students who have made a serious commitment to a relationship and want to learn ways of enhancing their communication skills. Four, two-hour sessions are scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays, March 16, 18, 23, and 25 beginning at 6 p.m. Couples who are interested in attending should The Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario met recently on campus to permit its members telephone Ext. 3244 to arrange for a pre-registration to hear reports from University of Guelph faculty members of research projects under way in interview with group leader, Bruno Mancini, Coun- the various Colleges. R.M. Murray, chairman of the ARIO, centre, and Dr. J.C. Rennie, assistant sellor, Counselling and Student Resource Centre. deputy minister, education and research, of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, chat Enrolment is limited to five couples. There is with President Donald Forster during lunch at the Presidents house. a $10 registration fee to cover the cost of materials.