Googh Family Fonds F330

A G4

Date of the items: c. 1910s to c. 1990s

Physical description: 5 cm

Title: Googh Family Fonds

Creator: Isabella Googh

Repository: Trent Valley Archives

Reference number: TVA Fonds 330

Scope and contents: Fonds consists of photographs collected by Isabella Googh (fondly known as “Nanny”) of various members of her family from the 1910s to the 1990s. Also includes small paper mementos such as wedding invitations and newspaper clippings with family significance. The family’s involvement in the military is also heavily documented in this fonds.

Access Conditions: No Restrictions

Finding aid: None, see file listing below

Accruals: No further accruals are expected

Custodial history: The materials were donated to the Trent Valley Archives by Heather English on August 10, 2011. They were then organized by TVA staff and volunteers and put into files based on their relation to each specific Googh family member.

Biographical sketch: The Googh family lived primarily in the Toronto area, specifically the York region. Isabella Narmonth Godfrey (originally from Scotland), married William James Googh (Nicknamed Jimmie) on 23 December 1922. They had at least two children, Tom and William J. Jr. (who was married to Irene) and had several grandchildren and great grandchildren. Many family members were involved in the Canadian armed forces, with some of them fighting in the First and Second World Wars, including William himself in the First World War, and one of his sons in the Second. Isabella is related to the Godfrey family that was tied to Oella, Massachusetts, photographs of which can be found in the early files of this collection. Richard Godfrey appears to be her brother, who was also in the armed forces.

Related fonds at TVA: There are no fonds at TVA with a close link to this one.

Access Points:
Toronto, Ontario
York Region
Godfrey Family
Oella, Massachusetts
Canadian Armed Forces

List of Files:

  1. Photographs and newspaper clippings related to Richard B Godfrey. Includes a photograph of the Godfrey family “on arrival in Oella” dated 28 August 1924 (“Given to me by Mr. Godfrey, 1978”); a photograph of Alf Jones with another man, 28th Battalion, taken in Etaples, France, dated November 1917 and addressed to Richard; a photograph of Richard’s headstone at an unidentified cemetery c. 1954; and Richard’s obituary and words of thanks from his wife clipped from an unidentified paper.
  2. Two copies of a French postcard of two soldiers, one of them Charlie (Something) 4th (Something) taken in Bailleul, France and dated October 1916. One of them is addressed to Richard Godfrey, Oella Ma. Also includes a page from a diary dated 8 January 1969 with a poem written by Jimmie Googh to “Mother and Dad.”
  3. Photograph of two soldiers with an older woman and a young girl. Also includes a Railway Warrant dated 23 December 1918 “for journeys in the United Kingdom” which was to be used as a ticket by Officers and other men in uniform. Departure is listed as Rhyl and destination is listed as Aberdeen. It appears that this Railway warrant was used by J.A. Gelineau, a gunner (who was on sick leave at the time the warrant was used) and the above picture might be of him, or of Jimmie Googh.
  4. Assorted family photographs and postcards, including a postcard of two men standing side by side (one of them Jimmie Googh); a photograph of “Eddie”, his wife, and two children which was taken at “25 River”; two photographs, one of Kenneth and Auntie Bella of Toronto, Canada, and the other of Auntie Bella on her own; and four other unidentified photographs of Googh family members, including Jimmie’s parents.
  5. Modelling card used by Linda Googh, advertising herself as a dancer (tap, jazz and ballet) and a model and listing her measurements. This card also contains several full body shots of Linda and is inscribed to “Nanny with love” by her. Also includes a newspaper clipping from an unidentified newspaper regarding one of Linda Googh’s ballet solos at the Janeway Studio of Dancing recital; photos of Linda at age 15 (1967) at various dance recitals (including two where she poses with Lorne Green and Art Linklether); photos of and related to Isabella Googh, Linda’s “Nanny” from the 70s and 80s; and a piece of a dance costume likely worn by Linda.
  6. Photographs of various Googh family members, including one of “Gol” in traditional dress, primarily from the 1940’s and 1950s.
  7. Photographs of various Googh family members, including four photographs from the late 1930’s taken in the summertime, one of them of “Jimmy’s Son Ronnie” taken in 1939; three photographs dated October 1979 of a woman in military uniform, possibly a granddaughter of Isabella; and one photograph of Isabella with her great-grandchildren dated “Xmas” 1984.
  8. Photographs of various Googh family members in the late 1930’s and early 1940’s, including one of “Betty” in 1944; and two of kids on the lawn, “Margaret and her best friend and Jeanie” and “Ronnie, Jimmie, Sonny and Harry and Jeanie.” Lots of photographs have Isabella and William in them.
  9. Photographs of the Googh family from the 1940’s and 1970’s, including one of a deer named “Fred” taken on July 6th 1977; Floral clock at Edinburg taken on July 11th 1977; Braemor Hills taken on July 4th 1977; and three photographs captioned “gander in Crowley” taken on July 19th 1977, likely from a trip to Scotland. Also includes a photograph of Joe Haeword? taken on 49 McKay Street? dressed in military uniform.
  10. Photographs of the Googh family from the 1930’s to the 1970’s, including one of a little boy and a girl taken in 1959, Linda Googh in dance attire taken in the early 1960’s, a portrait of Daren taken in April 1979, a portrait of a man in military uniform taken in the 1940’s, and a professional photograph of a family dog.
  11. Pictures sent to “Nanny” or Isabella Googh, primarily school photographs of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren from the 1970’s and 1980’s. School photographs include Dana at age 7 and 13, Dawn at age 7, 10 and 13, Leslie at age 10, Thomas at age 7, Angela Googh (including a grade 8 picture taken in 1980), Jenny Morisette (including a grade 2 picture taken in 1979), Peter Morisette in kindergarten taken in April 1978, Kathy Findlay (age 5) and Rosermarie (Age 7) taken on October 29th 1980, and Jennifer Smith (age 6) taken on April 5th 1977. Also includes a photograph of a young girl at her first communion and a relative’s army encampment, again, probably grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and other assorted photographs.
  12. “6 View Letter Card of the Road to the Isles” addressed to Mrs. W.J. Googh (Isabella) from her husband, includes 6 postcards of the British Isles (Prince Charles’ Monument, Loch Shiel, Glenfinnan; Loch Eilt and the road to the Isles; Loch Alort and the peak of Ben Stac, Inverness-Shire; the Cullins of Skye from Arisaig Bay, Inverness Shire; the approaching storm, Loch-Nan-Uamh, Arisaig; and the islands of Rhum and Eigg from Arisaig Bay.” A portrait of a woman has been sketched on the back of the last postcard, and another scratched out sketch can be found on the back of another postcard. Dated December 12 1942.
  13. Memorabilia from Angela Googh’s wedding to Barry Ferguson held on November 17th 1990, collected by Isabella Googh. Includes the invitation, program (with Isabella’s name on it) and maps giving directions to the church and the reception hall, one with a memo addressed to “Nanny” about a gathering being held the day before, after the rehearsal. Also includes a photograph of the bride.
  14. Unsorted envelope addressed to Mrs. I. Googh, 10 Doverwood Court, Willowdale, Ontario, from Angela P. Googh, 331B Mayview Cr, Waterloo Ontario containing various photographs and mementos that were sent to and collected by Isabella, from the 1930’s to the 1970’s.