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Trent Valley Archives

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Trent Valley Archives

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Some of the resources at the Trent Valley Archives include:
◦Large text collection of regional genealogical and historical resources
◦Cemetery transcripts covering cemeteries throughout the Trent Valley region
◦Family histories
◦Genealogical Research Directory
◦Peter Robinson immigration of 1825: ships lists and land records
◦Local newspapers and extracts from local newspapers supported by significant newspaper indexes (to the Peterborough Examiner, Peterborough Review and Dummer News) and by major runs of obituaries in the 19th century and in the 1990s.
◦Chronologies of significant events in the local area (partially available on this website)
◦Major collection of resources on the Peterborough Irish
◦Extensive microfilm collections of census, church, assessment records,
◦Extensive digital collection of pre-1840 Upper Canada (Ontario) documents.
◦Many of our archival finding aids and indexes to local histories are available in-house and sometimes on our website.
◦The Peterborough County land records, 1867-1950.

12/19/2025

Today is day six of our “A Little Something for the Local History Buff” holiday gift guide! Today, we’re featuring books that are "Out of Print, But Not Forgotten."

Just because a book is out of print, doesn't mean we don't have it in stock! Did you know that we carry a large selection of used books for sale, with an emphasis on local and regional history? We do, and our used bookshelf is filled with treasures waiting for a new home. We photographed a few of our favourite offerings (and shared even more of our selection in the reel accompanying this post), but there is so much more in store!

Image 2: Our Peterborough by Ed Arnold and George Elliott [Softcover, $15] | Image 3: Historical Sketches of Peterborough by Martha Ann Kidd and Louis Taylor [Softcover, $10] SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR! | Image 4: By The Sound of Her Whistle by John Craig [Hardcover, $25, Softcover Also Available].

All of these books can be purchased in person at 567 Carnegie Avenue (we're open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am-4pm). If you are not local to Peterborough and would like us to ship one of these books to you, please call us at 705-745-4404 or email us at admin@trentvalleyarchives.com. We will be open tomorrow (December 20) and Tuesday (December 23) and then we will be closing for the holidays.

[NOTE: The Holy Land by Clare F. Galvin pictured in the first photograph has sold.]

12/18/2025

Our fifth festive photograph was taken during the annual Santa Claus Parade down George Street in December of 1964! The Peterborough Examiner photographer took many photographs during the parade, but this one is our favourite since it illustrates how magical the parade would have been for the children who came to watch. Did you attend these parades as a child?

12/18/2025

Today is day five of our "A Little Something for the Local History Buff" holiday gift guide! Today, we're featuring the "Illustrated Historical Atlas of 1825 to 1875."

If you're looking for the ultimate, splurge-worthy gift, this atlas is guaranteed to be the crown jewel in anyone's local history book collection! Published by the Peterborough Historical Atlas Foundation in 1975, this commemorative publication has over 100 pages of historical sketches, maps, building illustrations and resident lists for the City of Peterborough and the surrounding townships that make up Peterborough County.

We've had several copies of this atlas for sale this year, but our latest copy is in near mint condition with almost no signs of wear, which is rare for a 50 year old book! When this one sells, it's unlikely we'll have another one in near mint condition for quite some time.

The atlas can be purchased in person at 567 Carnegie Avenue (we're open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am-4pm) for $150. [NOTE: The atlas advertised in our "A Little Something for the Local History Buff" email for $125 has sold. This atlas is in better condition than the one advertised in that email, which is why we increased the price. The atlas pictured in the first photo was the $125 one, but the atlas pictured in the subsequent photos is the $150 one. Please contact us for more information.]

Looking for another atlas? We have several local atlases for sale. Please call us at 705-745-4404 or send us a message with the atlas you're looking for and we'll see if we have it in stock!

12/16/2025

Our fourth festive photograph captures the childlike wonder of Christmases gone by! It was published in the Peterborough Examiner on December 24, 1971 with the caption: Gifts For Needy (p.8): Captain Douglas Marshall, left of Salvation Army accepts gifts to be delivered to the needy, from Cobourg radio station CHUC president Don Williamson. We're happy to see that this toy drive was such a success!

12/15/2025

Today is day four of our "A Little Something for the Local History Buff" holiday gift guide! Today, we're featuring books that fall under the category of "Classic Local Histories."

If they recently moved to the Peterborough area or are just starting their local history book collection, you can't go wrong with one of these local history books! Although they are all older publications, they're still a great addition to any Peterburian's library.

An Historians Notebook: 100 Stories - Mostly Peterborough [$40] and The Peterborough Journal: Outstanding Moments and People [Softcover $25, Hardcover $40]: Two staple publications written by our Archivist, Elwood Jones, An Historian's Notebook and The Peterborough Journal chronicle the history of Peterborough through interesting stories and significant moments in time.

Peterborough Interiors: A Photographic History by the Trent Valley Archives [$15] and Trent-Severn Waterway: 1907-2021 Then & Now by Bob Reid [$35]: Two photo-focused books that tell their story through a photographer's lens. Peterborough Interiors features historic shots of Peterborough businesses with lots of visual detail, while Trent-Severn Waterway features side by side comparisons of photographs taken over a century ago by David Eason and photographs taken by the author in 2021.

All four of these books can be purchased on our website, here: https://trentvalleyarchives.com/shop/ or in person at 567 Carnegie Avenue (we're open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am-4pm).

12/14/2025

Our third festive photograph comes to us from December of 1962, and depicts holiday shoppers on George Street. If you look closely, you'll see the Christmas lights the city used to string across the street in the background. Do you remember Christmas shopping downtown in the 1960s?

12/13/2025

Today is day three of our "A Little Something for the Local History Buff" holiday gift guide! Today, we're featuring books that fall under the category of "Community Reflections."

In 2025, during the Bicentennial of the Peter Robinson emigration, one thing became clear: the townships surrounding Peterborough have a strong sense of community pride. This next set of books capture this throughout their pages, and are an excellent choice for anyone feeling sentimental about their community's past!

NEW FOR 2025! Ketchecum Hunt Club: One Hundred Years on Catchacoma Lake by Catherine Dibben and Barbara Laperriere [$30]: Featuring over 400 period photographs, this book documents the extensive history of one of the longest running hunt camps in North America. In operation since the 1860s and originally located on Catchacoma Lake, the club had a dedicated group of members who appreciated the club's rustic charm and scenic location.

REPRINTED IN 2025! Yesteryear at Young's Point by Nathaway Nan [$25]: The classic history on the Young's Point community, Yesteryear at Young's Point was reprinted just in time to celebrate Young's Point's 200th anniversary in 2025. A high-quality reprint, the book features all of the same historical content and photographs it is known for.

Sit Down 'Til I Tell Ya [$35] and I Mind the Time [$20] by Mike Towns: When it comes to telling the story of Douro and the Towns General Store, Mike Towns' books can't be beat! Each one has its own collection of memories about the people and places that make this community special. We currently have books two and three in his three-book series in stock.

Book 1 can be purchased on our website, here: https://trentvalleyarchives.com/shop/ or in person at 567 Carnegie Avenue (we're open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am-4pm). Books 2-4 can be purchased in person.

12/12/2025

Our second festive photograph was published in the Peterborough Examiner in December of 1964! Although we don't have a caption to accompany the photo, we love the classic truck, vintage lettering on the sign, and the traditional Christmas feel to the photo. Do you prefer a real Christmas tree or an artificial one? Let us know in the comments!

12/11/2025

Today is day two of our "A Little Something for the Local History Buff" holiday gift guide! Today, we're featuring books that fall under the category of "Bicentennial Souvenirs."

The Bicentennial of the Peter Robinson Irish Emigration to our region in 1825 was commemorated this year. To document the Bicentennial, a Souvenir Book was produced by Nine Ships 1825 (the committee who organized the Bicentennial Commemoration Week of August 1-10) alongside other publications that explore this historically significant event. If you have a proud descendant of one of the Peter Robinson emigrant families on your list, or know someone who would cherish a keepsake of the Bicentennial year, these books are for you!

1. NEW FOR 2025! Nine Ships Bicentennial Souvenir [$20]: This beautifully designed souvenir book commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Peter Robinson Irish Emigration is full of everything you need to know about the emigration and the events that were held throughout the Bicentennial year, including the most comprehensive passenger list to date.

2. The Peter Robinson Settlement of 1825 by Bill LaBranche [$10]: This souvenir booklet was created for the Homecoming '75 celebrations in 1975 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Peter Robinson emigration.

3. NEW FOR 2025! From Whence They Came by Christy Roche [Hardcover $75, Softcover $45]: Written by historical geographer Christy Roche, From Whence They Came: The Peter Robinson Settlers examines the history of the Peter Robinson emigration from the Irish perspective, focusing on the communities the emigrants came from rather than the communities they settled in.

4. SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR! From Cork to the New World: A Journey for Survival by Michael McCarthy [$20] A historical fiction book that tells the story of the Peter Robinson emigration through the lens of the McCarthy and Sullivan families, who leave their old life in Ireland behind for a new one in Upper Canada, experiencing trials and tribulations along the way.

These books (except #4) can be purchased on our website, here: https://trentvalleyarchives.com/shop/ or in person at 567 Carnegie Avenue (we're open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am-4pm)

12/10/2025

Our first festive photograph is very appropriate for a day like today! Taken on December 31, 1971, it was published in the Peterborough Examiner with the caption: Peterborough Hardest Hit By Thursday’s Snow Storm (p.11): By far the best mode of transport Thursday was the snowmobile.

Address

567 Carnegie Avenue
Peterborough, ON
K9L1N1

Opening Hours

Tuesday	10am - 4pm
Wednesday	10am - 4pm
Thursday	10am - 4pm
Friday	10am - 4pm
Saturday	10am - 4pm

Website

http://www.trentvalleyarchives.com/

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