Fonds Number: 90
Title: Martha Anne Kidd Fonds
Creator: Martha Kidd
Dates of material: 1817-1997 (historical documents (copies) chiefly after 1817)
Physical description: 11.3 metres
Repository: Trent Valley Archives
Scope and content:
Research collection of Martha Anne Kidd, local Peterborough historian, relating to her work with Peterborough Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee (PACAC), Peterborough Historical Society, Peterborough Planning Committee, as well as numerous research notes and papers on the preservation of historic buildings, the Ontario Heritage Act, and Heritage Canada..
Series A: Historical Preservation in Ontario (Files 1-101), 1932, 1967-1991
Series B: Heritage Planning in Peterborough (Files 102-166), 1962-1991
Series C: Heritage Tourism and Promotion (Files 167-230), 1968-1978
Includes brochures for many committees promoting heritage and tourism, particularly in Central and Eastern Ontario; documents related to the Roy
Studio Collection promotion(1996-1998); original sketches and planning
with Tim Jackson (1984); Heritage Peterborough (1985-1987); Jackson Park
Pagoda Project (1987) including historical research from the 1890s.
Series D: Historic Properties (Files 231-300)
Photographs, historical research and materials relating to streetscapes
and identified houses and buildings in Peterborough and surrounding areas;
includes information from CIHB and HABS, c. 1970; PACAC bylaws (1974-
1986)
Series E: Peterborough Biographies (Files 301-400)
Historical research on Peterborough individuals, (including all architects) and
families as well as records relating to the Peterborough Historical Society.
Series F: Mixed Items (Files 401-461)
Highlights include: Dobbin Index to Industries (1913), Dr. Hutchison Register of
Births (1817), Langton Letters (1834-35), Prime Time Profiles.
Series G: Peterborough Despatch (Files 462-564)
Copies of news articles (1848-1860) on subjects such as: Peterborough Town
Council, bylaws, elections, politics, Peterborough people, agriculture,
amusements, businesses, organizations, fires and fire brigade, military,
religion, sports, transportation; births, marriages, deaths
Series H: Ashburnham Maps and Plans (Files 565-580), 1850-1903
Series I: Peterborough Fire Insurance Plans (Files 581-600), 1882, 1889, 1911, 1929
Also includes Peterborough County and Town maps
Series J: Martha Ann Kidd and the Heritage Movement (Files 601-657)
News features on Martha Ann Kidd, correspondence; papers relating to
her husband, Kenneth Kidd, a professor of Archaeology at Trent University.
Series K: Ashburnham and Peterborough City Collector’s Rolls and Directories (Files 658-702)
Copies of Ashburnham Collector Rolls (1861-62), copies of Ashburnham
Directories (1858, 1864, 1865-66, 1870, 1876, 1883-84, 1894-95, 1897, 1901,
1903, 1904, 1905, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1912, 1913, 1914), copies of
Ashburnham Assessment Rolls (1874, 1882, 1889, 1899, 1900), copies of
Ashburnham Voter’s Lists (1863, 1878), copies of Peterborough City Directories
(1851, 1858, 1870-71, 1876, 1883, 1888, 1895, 1897, 1913).
Series L: Peterborough Street Index (Files 703-772)
Photographs and descriptions to various properties.
Series M: Peter J. Stokes Photographs (Files 773-779), 1969
Photographs and negatives relating to the downtown district of Peterborough.
Series N: Photographs and Postcards (Files 780-834)
A vast photograph and postcard collection depicting residents,
properties, and events in Peterborough townships including Lakefield, Chandos,
Harvey, Otonabee/Keene, Asphodel, Dummer, Douro, Smith/Ennismore as well
as Stoney Lake. Materials relating to surrounding counties such as Victoria and
Northumberland should also be mentioned.
Series O: Negatives (Files 835-924)
Series P: Street Series (Files 925-1407), 1970s
Collection includes historic summaries of various street names in downtown
Peterborough, as well as a detailed street by street pre-1890 building inventory
featuring many photographs of Peterborough properties as well as owner history.
Series Q: Canadian Inventory of Historic Buildings (CIHB) Reports (Files 1408-2863)
Series R: Mixed Items (Files 2864-)
Access Conditions:
Open to researchers.
Finding aids:
Available on site.
Accruals:
None expected.
Custodial history:
Papers also include research notes and publications by Martha’s late husband Kenneth Kidd, a former professor of Anthropology at Trent University.
Collection was donated by Martha Anne Kidd in July 2003.
The originals in files 523 to 536 (all relating to 518 Weller Street) have been replaced by xerox copies and the originals deaccessioned to Karen Lee Aldridge, 15 November 2005.
Biographical sketch / Administrative history
Martha Anne Kidd is a local historian whose research resulted in the works, “Historical Sketches of Peterborough” and “Peterborough’s Architectural Heritage.”