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Archival description
Only top-level descriptions Rare Books and Special Collections Fur trade -- Northwest, Canadian.
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John Thomson Fonds

  • CA RBD MSG 839
  • Fonds
  • 1800

Fonds consists of journal for the year 1800 kept by Thomson on the Mackenzie River (Rocky Mountain).

Thomson, John, died 1828

Coppenrath Collection of Voyageur Contracts

  • CA RBD MSG 1108
  • Collection
  • approximately 1732-1821

The Coppenrath Collection of Voyageurs Contracts for the North West Company partners contains 52 contracts for the period from approximately 1800 to 1821. These document the terms of engagement for men going into the North West . Voyageur contracts are of particular interest for study of the fur trade, Canada's first major industry, because they document the conditions of employment for many of the journeymen ("engagés") involved in the trade, both those who worked on the Ottawa River and those who "wintered" in the North West. The contracts are dated from 1800 to 1821 with printed forms from before 1800 being used in some cases. A significant number of outfitters are included namely the firm of McTavish, McGillivrays & Co. with various partners including John Ogilvy and Thomas Thain, Pierre de Rocheblave and earlier partnership – McTavish, Frobisher & Co. As well, there are contracts with lesser known outfitters. These contracts provide not only the names of the "engagés" but usually their place of residence and the conditions and terms of their employment.

North West Company Collection

  • CA RBD MSG 1247
  • Collection
  • 1790-1826, 1861

This material comprises a group of official documents, and correspondence among various partners. The official documents include four articles of agreement for partnership between various Montréal companies, largely with McTavish, Frobisher and Co., 1790-1802, and a memorandum on the effect of exchange differences on the partners' shares (approximately 1826). The partners' correspondence, approximately 1792-1808, contains letters from Simon McTavish, Isaac Todd, and Alexander Mackenzie concerning provisions, business agreements and loans. A letter from William McGillivray to Mr Justice Reid discusses family matters. One financial ledger for the North West Company contains business accounts and records transactions. The bulk of entries are dated from January 1810 to November 1825, with some entries dated 1861.

North West Company

Simon McGillivray Fonds

  • CA RBD MSG 1245
  • Fonds
  • 1826-1832

A collection of documents from the life of Simon McTavish including a letter to his creditors and a series of legal opinions on the estate of Simon and William McGillivray. Documents' informational value is largely financial in nature.

McGillivray, Simon, 1783-1840