Fonds Number: 372

Title: Fairbairn Family

Creator: Maxwell MacKenzie

Dates of Material: 2013

Physical Description:
Photocopies of 76 letters written by Jean Fairbairn to her boyfriend, later fiancé, during the summers of 1926 and 1927. 3 linear inches.

Scope and Contents:
The 76 letters have been arranged in chronological order in the following files:
1.     Research notes
2.     Typed copies 1926 letters
3.     Typed copies 1927 letters
4.     Jean Fairbairn to Max MacKenzie, 1926, letters 1-10
5.     Jean Fairbairn to Max MacKenzie, 1927, letters 11-20
6.     Jean Fairbairn to Max MacKenzie, 1927, letters 21-30
7.     Jean Fairbairn to Max MacKenzie, 1927, letters 31-40
8.     Jean Fairbairn to Max MacKenzie, 1927, letters 41-50
9.     Jean Fairbairn to Max MacKenzie, 1927, letters 51-60
10.   Jean Fairbairn to Max MacKenzie, 1927, letters 61-70
11.   Jean Fairbairn to Max MacKenzie, 1927, letters 71-76

Additions to the collection were donated in 2014:
12.   Selwyn hamlet, manuscript notes, possibly by Alan Golding
13.   Stony Lake, 3 photos; 2 postacards
14.   738 Aylmer Street North, Peterborough, c. 40 negs

Access Conditions:
Open to researchers.

Accruals:
None expected.

Custodial History:
The original letters between Jean Fairbairn and Maxwell Mackenzie were written during the summers of 1926 and 1927, and cover a wide range of subjects related to the people and events at Stoney Lake. The letters were lent for copying by Blair MacKenzie, Lakefield, Ontario, 2013. The typed version of the 1926 letters, 1-9, were published in Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley, August 2013.

Biographical Sketch/ Administrative History
.
Maxwell Hibbard Weir MacKenzie was born on 30 June 1907 in Victoria, BC, and died at age 84 in 1991. He married Jean Roger Fairbairn in 1931 at St. Andrew’s United Church in Westmount, P.Q.

Ask Blair about his father.

The letters were all written by Jean Fairbairn in 1926 and 1927, before she and Maxwell were married. Jean was born in Toronto, Ontario on 13 February 1907 and died 16 November 1987 in Ottawa, ON. She was the second daughter of John M.R. Fairbairn and Hannah Macfarlane. Jean’s father was the Chief Engineer for the Canadian Pacific Railway’s Engineering Dept and designed the John Street Roundhouse, the best surviving example of a roundhouse in Canada.

Access Points:

Stoney Lake, Ontario
Fairbairn , J. M.
Stoney Lake Cottagers Association
Juniper Island, Stoney Lake

File listing:

1.     Research notes
2.     Typed copies 1926 letters
3.     Typed copies 1927 letters
4.     Jean Fairbairn to Max MacKenzie, 1926, letters 1-10
5.     Jean Fairbairn to Max MacKenzie, 1927, letters 11-20
6.     Jean Fairbairn to Max MacKenzie, 1927, letters 21-30
7.     Jean Fairbairn to Max MacKenzie, 1927, letters 31-40
8.     Jean Fairbairn to Max MacKenzie, 1927, letters 41-50
9.     Jean Fairbairn to Max MacKenzie, 1927, letters 51-60
10.   Jean Fairbairn to Max MacKenzie, 1927, letters 61-70
11.   Jean Fairbairn to Max MacKenzie, 1927, lettters 71-76

1.     Research notes
2.     Typed copies 1926 letters
3.     Typed copies 1927 letters
4.     Jean Fairbairn to Max MacKenzie, 1926, letters 1-10
1.     Not seen
2.     29 July 1926; asphalt shingles
3.     31 July 1926; purple martin arrival
4.     6 August 1926; picnic
5.     9 August 1926; masquerade;
6.     19 August 1926; handwriting; games

5.     Jean Fairbairn to Max MacKenzie, 1927, letters 11-20
1. 24 Feb 1927; Queens University dorm life; ladies basketball at Queens
2. 25 May 1927; Charles Lindbergh;

6.     Jean Fairbairn to Max MacKenzie, 1927, letters 21-30
1. 27 May 1927, McGill graduation ceremony
2. 6 June 1927, Bellanca monoplane

7.     Jean Fairbairn to Max MacKenzie, 1927, letters 31-40
1. 23 June 1927, Hair treatment
2. 15 June 1927, lunar eclipse, social behaviour on streetcar
3. 16 June 1927, investments
4. 26 June 1927, opening the cottage
5. 27 June 1927, birds at Stoney Lake

8.     Jean Fairbairn to Max MacKenzie, 1927, letters 41-50
1. 19 June 1927, lifting of prohibition, dances at Stoney Lake
2. 20 June 1927, invigilating exams
3. 23 June 1927, new servants
4. 24 June 1927, Montreal St. Baptiste Day parade

9.     Jean Fairbairn to Max MacKenzie, 1927, letters 51-60
1. 29 June 1927, dogs (Bobby & Peter) at Stoney Lake
2. 30 June 1927, purple maartins fledging
3. 1 July 1927, more dog activity
4. 6 July 1927, cottage geography game
5. 8 July 1927, making “tea”

10.     Jean Fairbairn to Max MacKenzie, 1927, letters 61-70
1. 11 July 1927, High Falls and caves at Eels Creek
2. 16 July 1927, Meal routines at Stoney Lake
3. 17 July 1927, Dances at Stoney Lake

11.     Jean Fairbairn to Max MacKenzie, 1927, letters 71-76
1. 4 August 1927, Masquerade ball costumes