Letter book

Subject tags: blacksmith; building maintenance; building additions; carpentry; curriculum; donations; forms of income at the school; farming; female students; funding; fundraising; government contacts; health; Indigenous languages; languages; male students; maps; professional relationships; professional travel; religion; sponsorships; special projects; staffing; student behaviour; student clothing; student diet; student health; student travel; student work;  

Notes: The letterbook kept by Edward F. Wilson contains a wide assortment of letters addressed primarily to professional contacts. The contents of the letters mainly discuss varying details of the Shingwauk Home and few details of the Wawanosh Home. They are mostly concerned with financial details of the school. This includes asking for additional funds from the Indian Department of Affairs, sponsorship letters to varying individuals, potential prospects, fundraising efforts and potential funding options. Accompanied with these letters that concern financial specifics are student details that support the need for more funding. These include, student attendance and enrollment numbers, curriculum, student behaviour, health of the students, diets of the students, the travel of students from their homes to the school and the industries where students spend their time. In addition, the letters also suggested the use of additional funds for maintenance, building additions, and new projects at the school.

Geographic areas mentioned: Calgary, AB; British Columbia; Chicago, Illinois; Winnipeg, Manitoba; London, Ontario; Sarnia, Ontario; Toronto, Ontario;  Carlisle, Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Quebec; Hampton, Virginia;

Sketches/Drawn Images: Boys’ Clothing Drawing (PG 138, PG 678), Drawing of Wawanosh Home (PG 336),  Drawing of unknown building (PG 337), Drawing/plan of Shingwauk Hospital (PG 377), Drawing of Chapel plan (PG 396), Portage Map of Rat Portage in Northwestern Ontario (PG 441)

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