Keepers of the Record: The History of the Hudson's Bay Company Archives

by Deidre Simmons

Overview

The Hudson's Bay Company Archives, a national treasure, is one of the world's most complete archival collections. Protected in the vaults of the Archives of Manitoba, its documents trace not only the history of the fur trade and the growth of a retail empire but exploration in North America and the evolution of Canada as a country. Keepers of the Record offers the first comprehensive look at three centuries of development of the Hudson's Bay Company Archives.

Deidre Simmons situates the archives within the historical context of the Company, England, and Canada, as well as British and Canadian archival traditions. Keepers of the Record is abundantly illustrated with archival photographs that evoke the texture and slightly musty smell of soft leather and crisp vellum and the ghostly presence of those who created pristine script by candlelight in the wilderness of Hudson Bay or the centre of London.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780773560499
Publisher:	McGill-Queens University Press
Publication date:	11/15/2007
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	5 MB

About the Author

Deidre Simmons, a research and archives consultant for twenty-five years, holds a Master's degree in history (archival studies) from the University of Manitoba. She is the author of Servite in Caritate: The First One Hundred Years of St. Margaret's Schoo

Table of Contents

Foreword Maureen Dolyniuk ix

Acknowledgments xiii

Introduction 3

1 if it can bee Soe Soone done: The First Fifty Years of Record-Keeping, 1670-1720 13

2 upon on Account to Communicate any of the Company's Affairs: Record-Keeping and Corporate Memory, 1720-1800 43

3 a regular communication: The Record-Keeping of Amalgamation and Colonization, 1800-1830 83

4 request the favour of your particular attention: Expanding Horizons Require Detailed Record-Keeping, 1830-1860 115

5 to surrender to Her Majesty: Record-Keeping in a New Country, 1860-1920 143

6 custodians of a great inheritance: Developments Evolving from the 250th Anniversary, 1920-1930 182

7 rendered available for inspection by students of history: Establishment of the Hudson's Bay Company Archives, 1930-1960 218

8 to deposit its Archives in Winnipeg: Transfer of the Hudson's Bay Company Archives, 1960-1974 262

Postscript 287

Appendices

1 Secretaries of the Hudson's Bay Company 296

2 Archivists of the Hudson's Bay Company 298

Notes 303

Bibliography 335

Index 347