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Puppets

This subseries consists of a variety of puppets (string puppets, jumping jacks, rod puppets, glove puppets, etc.) representing many different countries and puppet-making techniques and traditions. Also contains a miniature Punch and Judy show toy and a French Cartelli puppet theater including frame, scenery, curtrain, proscenium, and some costumes.

Framed early Valentines

Sub-series consists of seven eighteenth and nineteenth century Valentine's Day cards and prints. Most date sometime from the early to mid-nineteenth century Valentines cards or prints. One Valentine dates from approximately 1790. Prints and cards have been framed.

Victorian Valentines

The Valentines subseries consists of a variety of greeting card formats and styles from primarily the Victorian era but as late as the interwar period. These include a mix of cards that have been sent and kept by the receiver in addition to several cards that likely belonged to a stationer or printer. While some cards include handwritten messages, most cards are unsigned and seem to be unsold copies or samples belonging to a catalog. Sub-subseries include: comic valentines, foldout or pop-up valentines, ornate handmade valentines, printed manufactured valentines, puzzle or rebus valentines, and sentimental valentines. In addition, the subseries contains several examples of additional ephemera related to Valentine’s Day or the greeting card business, such as valentine writers or printer’s catalogs. There are is also a full scrapbook of card samples and additional scrapbook pages with affixed cards. Additionally, there are a few card making materials or scraps that highlight the various components and processes of card making. The subseries also includes some greetings cards not associated with Valentine's day, but originally found with Valentine's cards.

These materials are primarily useful in capturing the essence of Victorian sentimentality and communication culture. Spanning several decades, they represent the evolving printing culture and technology of the nineteenth century. The subseries equally illustrates the industrial age and the emerging consumerist and capitalist societies as several greeting card companies surfaced around the world to profit from the sudden craze. More subtly, the cards allow for an appreciated of craftsmanship and reflection on women’s role in manufacturing as their smaller hands were often required to do the finishing work on handmade cards.

Personal records and biographical writing

Subseries contains personal records including notebooks, autobiographical writing, scrapbooks, memo books, and sketches. Dawson's juvenile writings are largely essays on philosophical and religious topics, but also include his fictional story "Indian Tale" (c.22-c.23). Some scientific lecture notebooks survive from his student years in Edinburgh (c.29). Dawson composed a short autobiography as well as a memoir of his father (c.22), but the major biographical document is his scrapbook of "Family Records" (c.37), containing genealogical materials, Dawson's Edinburgh lecture tickets, his marriage certificate and letter of appointment to McGill, his C.M.G., certificates from learned societies, letters from scientists and public men, printed articles and reviews, and domestic mementos. There is also an obituary scrapbook compiled by his children Anna and William. Dawson's skill as an amateur artist is revealed by 18 cm of pictorial materials, largely pencil or ink sketches of Nova Scotia or Scottish landscapes. His travels in Europe and North America from 1855 to 1886 and briefly noted in pocket memorandum books (c.30), but his journey to the Near East in 1883-1884 is more thoroughly documented in his "Eastern Travel" scrapbook (c.39)

Shadow puppets and shadow theatres

This subseries consists of shadow puppets, including many Chinese shadow puppets, Javanese rod puppets, Turkish shadow puppets, and a sheet of French "Ombre chinoises." It also contains a set of shadow puppets accompanied by the text of a play and backdrop.

Scientific writing

The subseries contains manuscript essays and addresses on scientific subjects. Ten of Dawson's scientific notebooks are also represented in the subseries as well as some scientific scrapbooks compiled by Dawson.

Correspondence

Subseries consists of Sir William Dawson's letters from a range of correspondents including family members, scientific and university colleagues, business and tradespeople, and friends and acquaintances. Of the 3.2 m of Dawson's general correspondence (c.1-c.19) covering the years 1837-1899, about 5,000 letters are on scientific subjects. With the passage of time, and particularly from the late 1870s onwards, the character of the correspondence becomes less substantially scientific, and more administrative, institutional and formal; at the same time, there is a marked shift towards North American correspondents. Perennial topics are geological exploration, the exchange of mineral specimens, and research or theoretical problems, but these are eventually outweighed by the business of learned societies, government science policy, demands for Dawson to lecture or write, and reactions to his publications. In the 1880s, the Darwin and Eozoon controversies are especially prominent. In 1891, there is correspondence relating to the meeting in Montréal of the Royal Society of Canada. Dawson's correspondents include academics, officials of learned societies, and a number of prominent researchers. There are substantial numbers of letters from Sir Charles Lyell, J.J. Bigsby, Sir William Logan, Spencer Baird, James D. Dana, David Penhallow and J.S. Newberry. Drafts of some of Dawson's outgoing correspondence are included. Dawson's correspondence also contains some items, largely from the Nova Scotia years, on his involvement with church affairs, missions and tract societies. Some clergy, such as the Rector of Little Metis, where Dawson kept a summer house, are amongst his regular correspondents. In later years there are inquiries from the general public on matters of science and faith, and the occasional letter from a religious eccentric. Some items amongst his general correspondence also relate to his education career as the Superintendent of Education in Nova Scotia, as well as to his applications to the University of Edinburgh; most, however, stem from his years as Principal of McGill. These letters discuss educational legislation and the activities of the Protestant Committee of the Council of Public Instruction, consult on points of information and policy with other universities and inquire about McGill's programmes. Noteworthy are the draft letters to Chancellor James Ferrier on the administration of McGill during Dawson's absence in Europe and the Near East (1883-1884), and an exchange of letters with Daniel Wilson of the University of Toronto on the question of co-education. Dawson's 30 cm of family correspondence include letters from Margaret Mercer Dawson, 1842-1845 and later; his son, George Mercer Dawson, on geological and personal matters; and other family members, ca 1869-1899 (c.48-c.49). Finally, his financial affairs are illustrated by letters amongst his general correspondence concerning his mining interests in Nova Scotia, particularly with his agent Howard Primrose and his partner E.A. Prentice. The numerous invoices and receipts are largely for domestic expenses, but include the subscriptions for his lectures to the Natural History Society of Pictou (1849), and bills for the printing and distribution of Dawson's publications.

Family and courtship letters

Dawson's family correspondence include letters from Margaret Mercer Dawson, before their marriage between 1841-1845 and also later; his son, George Mercer Dawson, on geological and personal matters; and other family members, between approximately 1869-1899. There are 74 letters exchanged between Sir William and Margaret Mercer Dawson whose topics range from geological excursions to family matters and religious ideas. Letters also give interesting accounts of mid-nineteenth century medical procedures during Margaret's illness.

Some recollections of a long life.

This subseries focuses on the unpublished memoir of Casey A. Wood, which consists of manuscripts, typescripts, notes, research project notes and publications, correspondence (1888-1939), photographs, clippings and printed material, and journals (1891, 1930-1931) from approximately 1850-1939. Wood had assistance from family members, professional connections, and friends to compile his biographical information for the memoir. Wood was living in Rome during the mid- to late-1930s, so much of the Canadian research was conducted by family members Samuel Casey Wood III, Alan Wood, and Edith Hayes. There is correspondence between Wood and his family on the progress of the memoir, their family, and personal lives. The subseries consists of approximately 110 letters and 1 telegram with additional correspondence, clippings, and other materials integrated into the memoir’s manuscript and typescripts.
Individuals addressed within the correspondence and other materials include Alan Wood, Samuel Casey Wood III, George Iles, H. Clay Evans, Dr. George H. Mathewson, Francis J. Shepherd, Harvey Cushing, Dr. George H. Simmons, Casey Hayes, Josephine Seymour, Dr. Charles P. Small, Ms. Slaughter, Major J. C. Dawson, Dr. J. C. Simpson, J. R. Slonaker, Irving S. Cutter, Dr. H. D. Birkett, Dr. Franck Brawley, Dr. Maude Abbott, Elizabeth E. Abbott, Dr. W. W. Francis, Harry Harris, G. R. Lomer, Dr. Harry Vanderbilt Wurdemann, Dr. C. F. Wylde, V. C. Wynne Edwards, Dr. Andreas Nell, Sir William Osler, C. F. Wylde, Frank Allport, and Norma Shearer.
Throughout the subseries common topics include providing information for the memoir, travel, careers, education, Italy during the late 1930s, politics, ornithology, zoology, donations of materials by Casey Wood, family, Emperor Frederick II and “the Art of Falconry,” Emma Shearer Wood and Blacker Library collections, aviculture, John III, the Feather book, animal protection, history of medicine, “Coloured Plates of the Birds of Ceylon,” Ali ibn Isa, and Wood’s research, career, and health.
The printed material includes a variety of leaflets, brochures, cards, invitations, tickets, bookplates, booklets, clippings etc. from or about various current events, travel experiences, publications, etc.. Within the subseries' photographs are images of Dr. Thomas Woodruff, Emma Shearer Wood, Casey Wood, Marjorie Fyfe, James Shearer, Eliza Shearer, Dr. Richmond, Dr. Ridgway, other family members and friends, and from research trips. Places related to Wood’s life mentioned in this subseries include the United States, Canada, Germany, Sri Lanka, England, Italy, Ethiopia, Vienna, France, Afghanistan, British Guiana, Australia, Fiji, McGill and Emma Shearer Wood Libraries, Bishops’ College, Western General Hospital, Stanford University, and the Chicago Ophthalmological Society.

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