Letter book

Condition: Missing the outside cover, but binding is still in good condition, page 15 ripped in half and very delicate

Subject tags: Algoma Missionary News, Anishinaabemowin, apprenticeship, Bishop Fauquier Memorial Chapel, blacksmithing, bootmaking, building activities, carpentry, church societies, college, curriculum, Department of Indian Affairs, Diocese of Algoma activities, donations, farming, finances, funding, funding problems, fundraising, government contacts, government funding, government policy, Indian Agents, Indigenous communities, Indigenous languages, ministry, missionary work, Mohawk Institute, official visits, Ojibwe language, printing, public opinion, religion, runaway students, school governance, school reports, school rules, school supplies, sewing, staffing, student activities, student clothing, student death, student families, student health, student occupation, student recruitment, student retention, student support, student uniforms, teaching, trades, Wawanosh

The letters in this book are from Edward F. Wilson to a number of different people, including church staff and officials, Indian Agents, Government officials, donors, Shingwauk and Wawanosh staff, his family, and Indigenous community members. The letters cover a variety of topics including school finances (student support and general funding), student recruitment and retention, staffing, and public opinion. In contrast to previous years, the school finances were doing well. Public misunderstanding about what the donated money was being used for led to a slew of rumours and a slight decrease in favourable public opinion, including among native communities, some of whom were hesitant to send their children. Information about students is common throughout the letters such as what trades they were learning, how they were doing with their school work, their health, ex-students occupations (or attendance at college), and students families. Shingwauk had a number of dignitaries visit during these years including the Governor General and the Marquis of Lorne. Diocesan activities are a frequent topic in the second half of the book as Bishop Fauquier died in Dec of 1881 and Wilson took over many of his duties temporarily before the new Bishop was elected. Student health is prominent in the letters since there was a typhoid fever outbreak and multiple students passed away from that and other illnesses, including one of Wilson’s favourites, William Sahguhcheway. This led to a decrease in the amount of students registered in 1882. 

Anishinaabemowin letters: pages 21, 22, 107-108

To view a PDF flipbook version of the book on the Internet Archive, click here, or scroll down for a downloadable version.