The Walter Hawkins collection consists of a scrapbook in two volumes entitled The Casket, along with 3 index volumes. The scrapbooks are bound in leather, by Clarke & Bedford, London. Many of the title pages within the volumes are elaborately decorated in the manner of illuminated manuscripts. Included are original works of art as well as copies of paintings and engravings, and hundreds of drawings of coins, some from Hawkins’ collection, and some accompanied by lengthy explanations of their origins. Also included are works of poetry and texts in foreign and ancient languages. Of the zoological, botanical, and historical artifacts depicted, some were described and drawn for Hawkins’ interest and/or inclusion in the scrapbook by traveling acquaintances. A significant portion of The Casket is occupied by Hawkins’ collection of “autographs of eminent persons.” They appear in various formats: on pages printed for the purpose, on tickets to lectures of the Royal Society tipped into the book, and on elaborately decorated pages displaying the autographs of members of individual institutions. Hawkins requested of some contributors that they provide a brief theme in an area of their interests or expertise, and several take the form of personal tribute to Hawkins. One section is dedicated to autographs of his fellow numismatists. Many of the autographs are dated within the period from 1843-1845, suggesting that the bulk of the collection was the result of an intensive project, rather than a life-long hobby. Some notable items are pencil tracings of two William Blake sketches, a watercolour done by John Hoppner, autographs of royal personages from Henry VIII to Queen Victoria, and the autograph of Peter Jones (Kahkewaquonaby). Some of the drawings are thought to be done by Walter Hawkins himself, especially the coins and medals as these were of particular interest to him. But many of the drawings were done by other people. Each item in The Casket has a number assigned to it. This number directly corresponds to one of the indexes which identifies the creator or provenance of most items.
Collection consists of a photograph of the "First Officers Riverdale Star #539 Organized May 10th 1923 Toronto"; and a pen and ink, line drawing of Ramsay MacDonald.
The fonds consists of family photographs, and images of Kingston and the surrounding district. Includes images of prisoners working in the prison workshops.
The collection consists of pictures taken by an unknown photographer, or photographers, in Kingston and the surrounding area, around the turn of the twentieth century. The photos show local landmarks such as Kingston City Hall, Kingston homes, Kingston Mills, Martello Towers and Jones Falls. Also included are photographs of the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, men, horses and guns. Steam vessels such as the Rideau Queen, the Toronto and even pleasure sail boats, ice boats and quite a number of pictures of canoes and canoeists are included along with pictures taken at or near the Kingston Yacht Club. There are many pictures of as yet unidentified individuals in various poses including family scenes, picnics and fishermen. Another sizable lot of pictures were taken away from Kingston at various sites that have yet to be identified. One series were shot in what looks like a summer resort area and several others are of cities or a city yet to be identified.
Photographs donated by Vernon S. Ready showing images of the Faculty of Education, the visit of Bill Davis to Duncan McArthur Hall, tuition protests by students, John Deutsch and others.
Letter from John Wright to the Upper Canada Tract Society seeking assistance in the research of his book "Early Prayer Books in America." -Letter from John Young of the Upper Canada Tract Society to a Dr. Hodgins (?) asking that he contact Mr. Wright regarding the matter. Also includes a small sheet of hand written notes.
The series consists of letters, petitions, reports, returns and schedules, certificates, accounts, warrants, legal opinions, instructions and regulations, proclamations and other documents received by the Civil Secretary of Upper Canada, 1791-1841, together with copies of some documents of 1766-1809. These were made for reference purposes, form a very miscellaneous series known as the Upper Canada Sundries. This arises from the extensive range of duties performed by the Civil Secretary, and from the custom of plurality, whereby an individual might hold several offices but custom and practice did not give rise to separate record-keeping systems for each office. The post-1841 correspondence received in RG 7, G 20 reflects the narrowing of responsibilities in the Civil Secretary's office in that period. .
The fonds consists of bargain and sale indentures, deeds, grants, leases, and proclamations re. seizure of property of deserters after War of 1812. Includes correspondence regarding Belleville, 1816, and several items relating to land matters in the Ottawa area. In 1763, the British Crown began to issue grants of land in Ontario, largely to attract British settlers to Canada. These grants were made by way of location tickets or occupation permits. Land certificates were made to veterans and United Empire Loyalists. Grants of land ranged from 200-5000 acres, depending on the rank of the soldier.
The collection includes reports of the Department of State from U.S. consular representatives in Montreal. The despatches are replies to consular instructions. It contains reports on a wide range of subjects dealing with economic, political, and social conditions abroad in addition to routine matters. Despatches are sometimes accompanied by enclosures, such as copies of correspondence between consuls and local Government officials, U.S. diplomatic representatives, other consuls, U.S. naval officers commanding naval vessels or squadrons stationed in foreign waters, and U.S. citizens abroad. Despatches also include information on commercial and other regulations, navigation law, exports and imports, duties and tariffs, censuses, cases of U.S. citizens tried abrad and appeals for help, and the reaction of foreign people to U.S. policies.
