Collection search - John Laing diary [textual record]

Record information – Brief
1
John Laing diary [textual record]

Hierarchical level:

Item

Date:

1885.

Reference:

R7422-0-8-E, MG29-A62, Volume number: 1

Type of material:

Textual material

Found in:

Archives / Collections and Fonds

Item ID number:

98302

Context of this record:

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John Laing diary
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Record information – Details
Date(s):

1885.

Place of creation:

Scotland

Extent:

0.8 cm of textual records (32 p.) transcripts.

Language of material:

English

Scope and content:

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Item is the diary of John Laing transcribed by Miss Marion Laing. It describes John's ocean voyage to Quebec City, his impressions of the city and the countryside on the way to Sussex N.B. The farms and crops are described in detail. In general, it states that he found New Brunswick more favourable for trees than agriculture except in a few areas. The diary recounts his travel by ship from St. John to Portland Maine, and by train to Montreal and Toronto where he met Robert Noble. He comments graphically on the industries, appearance of towns and cities and crops. He states that Toronto impressed him with its electric street lights, but he found the mosquitos very bad. The diary also recounts his visit with relatives at Strathroy, Ancaster and Petrolia. He describes the oil wells there and at Wyoming where a relative owned and operated five wells. In addition, his travels to Chicago are recorded, as is his return trip by way of Buffalo where he took a ship home at New York City.

Provenance:

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Laing, John, 1833-1909

Biography/Administrative history:

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Laing, John, 1833-1909 : John Laing was born in Scotland to John Laing and Agnes Campbell. He married Jean Forsyth, but had no children. John farmed the 200 acre Mollin's Farm near Airdrie, Scotland. He came to Canada in 1885 to visit his sister Mrs. Robert Macdonald in Sussex, New Brunswick and his cousins Mrs. Robert Noble and her brothers John, Alexander, Peter and Robert Laing in southern and south-western Ontario.

Finding aid:

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(No finding aid)

Additional information:

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General note:

Acquired in 1988 from Marion I. Laing of Guelph, Ontario.

Location of originals note:

Orignal diary located with Gordon Calder's family, Scotland.
Subject heading:

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Farmers - Diaries, 1885 Sussex (N.B.), 1885

Canada - Description and travel, 1885 Quebec (Quebec), 1885

United States - Description and travel, 1885 St.John (N.B.), 1885

Toronto (Ont.) - Description, 1885 Montreal (Quebec), 1885

Strathroy (Ont.), 1885

Ancaster (Ont.), 1885

Petrolium (Ont.), 1885

Toronto (Ont.)
Source:

Private

Related control no.:

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1988/0031 MSS

Former archival reference no.:

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MG29-A62
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Textual records

[Consultation90 Open]

Volume [MG29 A 62] 1

[Consultation 90 Open]

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Date modified:: 2024-04-09