1902 Ontario Historical Society Conference

In recent years May has been designated annually as “Museum Month” in Ontario. In 1902, however, it was June because part of the Ontario Historical Society (OHS) annual conference was hosted by the Peterborough Town and County Historical Society (PHS).

In 1888 the Pioneer and Historical Association of Ontario was founded as a federation of community groups to promote of the study of British-Canadian history in Ontario. In 1898 it was re-organized, renamed the OHS, and granted an expanded mandate to co-ordinate the preservation of archival records and historic sites in the province. The OHS is North America’s only non-profit organization authorized to incorporate other non-profit groups (i.e. local historical societies).

In December 1896, a group of Peterborough citizens met to create a museum to celebrate Queen Victoria’s 60th Jubilee. The Town and County Historical Society of Peterborough was formed to fulfill this task, with Colonel H.C. Rogers as President, Catharine Parr Traill as Honorary President, and Thomas A.S. Hay as Secretary. The Victoria Museum, named for the monarch and located in the now-demolished Inverlea House, was officially opened on 22 June 1897.

The 1902 OHS conference (4-5 June) was divided between Peterborough and Lindsay, but in a rather innovative way: the first day was in Peterborough, with overnight billeting for out-of-town delegates; an early morning train ride took everyone to Lakefield where they caught a steamboat to Lindsay, via Stony and Sturgeon lakes.

In Peterborough, the OHS business meeting was held in the Victoria Museum; an evening public meeting was held in the YMCA Hall, with a member of the Peterborough and Victoria County historical societies each presenting a paper. Meetings were held on board the steamer and two papers were given. In Lindsay, an evening public meeting was held in the Academy of Music; again two papers were presented, one from each society.

According to accounts, this was a very successful historical conference. The most amazing thing about it – to today’s event planners, anyway – is that it seems to have been organized in about two months, and only cost the PHS $97.50! How times have changed!

By: Don Willcock, The Peterborough Museum & Archives, 300 Hunter St E, Peterborough,
705-743-5180
www.peterboroughmuseumandarchives.ca