Fonds Number: 172
Fond Name: Johnston family fonds
Creator: A. J. Johnston
Dates of Material: 1873 to 1886 principally.
Physical Description:
Papers, 1860-1887, 52 files, 6 inches, 15 cm
xxx photographs.
Scope and Contents:
The heart of the collection is in the letters, 1875-1876, written by William Johnston to his son who was pursuing a career as a pharmacist. The papers have been supplemented with strong family and genealogical research and contain documents related to Alfred J. Johnston. Most of the original letters have been xeroxed for research purposes, and the letters are also available digitally.
The photographs and original documents include an 1860 photograph of the Johnston home and tailor business on Water Street decorated for the arrival of the Prince of Wales. …..
Access Conditions:
Open to researchers.
Finding Aids:
Available on site.
Accruals:
None expected.
Custodial History:
The Johnston family papers were donated to the Trent Valley Archives by Carol Koeslag, Peterborough ON, 2007 and 2008.
Biographical Sketch/ Administrative History
William Johnston (1819-1876) was a Peterborough tailor who lived from 1846 until his death on Water Street near Hunter. He was very active in the community and served with the Conservative party, with the 57th Regiments, the Mechanics Institute, St Andrew’s Church, the Loyal Orange Lodge. A very capable writer, Johnston served in many capacities, often secretarial, in these organizations. He was, for example, secretary to the Peterborough Central Fair and the Peterborough School Board. His brother, George Johnston (1822-1885) was also a tailor, serving in later years as the Chief of Police. His son, A. J. Johnston (1851-1931), who shared many of his father’s interests, was in Manitoba from 1875 to 1885. When he returned to Peterborough he was the druggist at the Nugent Drug Company on George Street.
Three letters from this collection were published in the Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley, vol 12, no 2 (August 2007) 18-20. The Trent Valley Archives would like to see the letters published and are now designing a project tentatively called “Peterborough in the 1870s.” The letters would be annotated and the book would have a introduction on Peterborough in the 1870s. The book would be illustrated and supported by excerpts from the newspapers in these years.
The 2008 accrual featured many papers and photographs related to the Stephens family, connected to the Johnstons by marriage, and these are filed in files 46 to 52.
Access Points:
Peterborough Mechanics Institute
James and Jane Mitchell
Samuel J. Jackson
Stonewall, Manitoba
Stephens family
File listing:
1 Johnston family
2 Flemings Philadelphia
3 Johnston family genealogical notes
4 Johnston family in town activities
5 Peterborough Review 7 February 1873 1873
6 Peterborough 24 July 1875 1875
7 Peterborough 25 September 1875 1875
8 11 October 1875 2875
9 22 October 1875 1875
10 8 November 1875 1875
11 undated fragment
12 16 March 1876 1876
13 20 March 1876 1876
14 30 March 1876 1876
15 14 April 1876 Good Friday 1876
16 21 June 1876 1876
17 7 July 1876 1876
18 24 July 1876 1876
19 9 August 1876 1876
20 21 August 1876 1876
21 28 August 1876 1876
22 19 September 1876 1876
23 9 December 1876 1876
24 Mrs Ann Evans 1860
25 Jane Mitchell 1894 includes cdv
26 James Mitchell 1864 holograph will
27 William Johnston obituary 1876 newspaper clipping, 2 letters, funeral announcement,
funeral envelope; photo of gravesite
28 Mechanics Institute resolution 1877
29 Louisa Johnston nd includes cdv
30 James Johnston 1891 news clipping
31 George Johnston 1885 xerox; Mulvany sketch
32 George Henry Johnston 1911 2 studio photos; news clipping, 1911
33 Alfred J. Johnston 1927 3 cdvs, news clipping 1927
34 Harry Theobald on history of pharmacy 1954 news clipping
35 Peterborough photos include Johnston house 1860; Union School 1870
36 Alfred J. Johnston and family includes 6 cabinet; 5 cdvs; 1 tintype; photos include
Sproule, and James Little
37 Samuel J. Jackson and Alfred J. Johnston 1880 Articles of agreement for pharmacy business
38 Sons of Temperance 1885 Certificate of recommendation
39 R. J. Forde letter of reference 1885 Stonewall, Manitoba
40 Walter Pulford’s toast to the ladies 1885 Stonewall, Manitoba oyster supper
41 Marriage William Francis Green 1887 A. J. Johnston and Grace Stephens; file includes cdv of
William F Green, attendant, and photo of his parents
42 Presbyterian Church of Canada Guest, General Assembly
43 Johnston family album 12 cdvs; 1 cabinet; 1 tintype
44 William Wallace to A. J. Johnston 1887 San Diego letter writer
45 Louisa and William Wallace 2 cabinet photos