St. Catharines Public Schools Honor Pupils certificate to Bessie Bell, December 1910.

A St. Catharines Public Schools Honor Pupils certificate presented to Bessie Bell, dated December 8, 1910 and signed by G. E. Lounsbury, Teacher. This certificate was in the possession of the Richard Bell Family of St. Catharines, Ontario.The certificate reads: "Bessie Bell is this day entitled to receive this public expression of approbation for Industry, Good Conduct and Regular Attendance, for the week ending December 8th 1910. Parents are particularly requested to enquire for a card of this kind at the close of each week."

Photograph of Unidentified Woman by C. Arthur, Photographer, St. Catharines [n.d.]

An unidentified young woman is featured in this undated black and white studio photograph by C. Arthur, Photographer, of St. Catharines, Ontario. This small cabinet card photograph was in the possession of the Iris Sloman Bell family of St. Catharines. Relatives of the Sloman - Bell families include former African American slaves who settled in Canada.Two photographers by the name of Arthur are listed as working in St. Catharines, Ontario in the second half of the 19th century. Charles A. Arthur was a photographer from 1880 - 1883, while Charles P. Arthur (possibly a son?) is listed as a photographer in 1898. Source: Phillips, Glen C. The Ontario photographers list (1851-1900). Sarnia: Iron Gate Publishing Co., 1990.

Photograph of Girl by Edwin Poole, Photographer, St. Catharines [n.d.]

This unidentified girl is featured in a photograph taken by St. Catharines photographer Edwin Poole. This cabinet card was among the memorabilia in the possession of the Rick Bell family of St. Catharines, Ontario. The Bell family is descended from Black slaves from the United States who settled in southern Ontario.Edwin Poole was a photographer in St. Catharines from 1877 - 1900. Source: Phillips, Glen C. The Ontario photographers list (1851-1900). Sarnia: Iron Gate Publishing Co., 1990.

Photograph of Young Woman by R. F. Uren, Photographer, St. Catharines [n.d.]

Undated black and white cabinet card portrait of an unidentified young woman. This photograph was taken by R. F. Uren whose studio was located at 79 St. Paul St., St. Catharines, Ontario. This item was among the memorabilia in the possession of the Rick Bell family of St. Catharines. Relatives of the Bell family are descended from former Black slaves from the United States.Richard Frank (R.F.) Uren was a photographer in St. Catharines from 1886-1895. Source: Phillips, Glen C. The Ontario photographers list (1851-1900). Sarnia: Iron Gate Publishing Co., 1990.

Photograph of Two Girls by R. F. Uren, Photographer, St. Catharines [n.d.]

Two unidentified girls are featured in this black and white cabinet card style photograph by R. F. Uren, of St. Catharines. The photograph is not dated, however, the address of the photographer is printed at the bottom of the cabinet card. This photograph was in the possession of Iris Sloman Bell, of St. Catharines, Ontario. The Sloman - Bell family descendants include former African American slaves who settled in Canada.Richard Frank (R.F.) Uren was a photographer in St. Catharines from 1886-1895. Source: Phillips, Glen C. The Ontario photographers list (1851-1900). Sarnia: Iron Gate Publishing Co., 1990. "Cabinet card photographs were first introduced in 1866. They were initially employed for landscapes rather than portraitures. Cabinet cards replaced Carte de visite photographs as the popular mode of photography. Cabinet cards became the standard for photographic portraits in 1870. Cabinet cards experienced their peak in popularity in the 1880's. Cabinet cards were still being produced in the United States until the early 1900's and continued to be produced in Europe even longer. The best way to describe a cabinet card is that it is a thin photograph that is mounted on a card that measures 4 1/4″ by 6 1/2″. Cabinet cards frequently have artistic logos and information on the bottom or the reverse of the card which advertised the photographer or the photography studio's services." Source: http://cabinetcardgallery.wordpress.com/category/cabinet-card-history/

Photograph of Bell Family Relative [n.d.]

Small black and white photograph mounted on black card of an unidentified Bell family relative, possibly a sibling of Irene Bell, whose photo is similarly featured. This undated photograph was in the possession of the Rick Bell family, whose relatives include former Black slaves from the United States.According to the 1911 Census of Canada, Irene Bell had the following siblings: Ernest Bell, born 1889 Archie Bell, born 1895 Allen Bell, born 1901 Kenneth Bell, born 1910

Photograph of Mary Bell by F. Pfaff, Photographer, Erie, Pa. [n.d.]

A cabinet card believed to be of Mary Bell, photographed by F. Pfaff, Artistic Photographer, of Erie, Pennsylvania. A handwritten entry on the reverse of the photo lists the address "231 Duke St.", however, the company's logo identifies its address as 1011 State St., Ground Floor Gallery. This photograph was in the possession of Iris Sloman Bell, of St. Catharines, Ontario. The Sloman - Bell family includes relatives who are former Black slaves from the United States."Cabinet card photographs were first introduced in 1866. They were initially employed for landscapes rather than portraitures. Cabinet cards replaced Carte de visite photographs as the popular mode of photography. Cabinet cards became the standard for photographic portraits in 1870. Cabinet cards experienced their peak in popularity in the 1880's. Cabinet cards were still being produced in the United States until the early 1900's and continued to be produced in Europe even longer. The best way to describe a cabinet card is that it is a thin photograph that is mounted on a card that measures 4 1/4″ by 6 1/2″. Cabinet cards frequently have artistic logos and information on the bottom or the reverse of the card which advertised the photographer or the photography studio's services. " Source: http://cabinetcardgallery.wordpress.com/category/cabinet-card-history/

Mary Tyrell Bell [n.d.]

A cabinet card portrait of a young Mary Tyrell (later Bell). The photograph is undated, however, it is believed to be from the 1880s or 1890s. Mary Tyrell married Charles Bell in 1894 in St. Catharines, Ontario. They initially settled in Erie, Pennsylvania but relocated to St. Catharines less than three years later. This photograph was in the possession of Mary Tyrell Bell's grandson, Rick Bell. The Bell family is descended from Black slaves from the United States.

Portrait of Young Woman by I. H. Lewis, Photographer [n.d.]

An unidentified young Black woman is featured in this cabinet card portrait by photographer I. H. (Isaac) Lewis, of Toronto. The photographer's name and address is stamped in gold lettering on the lower front of the card. The address is given as 106 1/2 Queen St. W., Toronto. This cabinet card was in the possession of Iris Sloman Bell, of St. Catharines, Ontario. The Bell - Sloman family relatives include former Black slaves from the United States who settled in Canada.Isaac H. Lewis was a photographer in Toronto from 1886 - 1900. Source: Phillips, Glen C. The Ontario photographers list (1851-1900). Sarnia: Iron Gate Publishing Co., 1990.

Portrait of "Ruth", by George A. Hemstreet, Photographer, Milton [n.d.]

A woman identified only by the broach at her neck as "Ruth" is pictured here in a black and white cabinet card photograph by G. A. Hemstreet. The photo is undated, but believed to be from the late 1870s or early 1880s. The photographer's name is stamped in black ink along the bottom of the card: "G. A. Hemstreet, Photographer, Milton, Ont." This cabinet card was in the possession of Iris Sloman Bell, of St. Catharines, whose relatives include former Black slaves from the United States.G. A. Hemstreet, also known as George A. Hemstreet, was a photographer in Milton, Ontario from 1877 - 1887. Source: Phillips, Glen C. The Ontario photographers list (1851-1900). Sarnia: Iron Gate Publishing Co., 1990.

Photograph of Unidentified Man by J. W. Cole, Photographer [n.d.]

This is a small cabinet card of an unidentified man, photographed by J. W. Cole, of Brampton, Ont. He is possibly a relative of the Bell - Sloman family, whose descendants include former Black slaves who settled in Canada. While this photograph is undated, it is believed to be taken between 1865 and 1884. The photographer's stamp is printed in gold lettering along the bottom of the card. This photograph was in the possession of Iris Sloman Bell, of St. Catharines.Two photographers by the name of Cole are known to have worked in Brampton, Ontario in the latter half of the 19th century. J.F. (John W.?) is listed as a photographer in 1882, while John W. Cole operated from 1865-1884. John W. Cole is also listed as a daguerrean artist, that is, he produced daguerreotypes. He also dabbled in commerce, selling fancy goods. Source: Phillips, Glen C. The Ontario photographers list (1851-1900). Sarnia: Iron Gate Publishing Co., 1990.

Two Black Gentlemen Photographed by John Cooper, London/St. Thomas, Ont. [n.d.]

An undated cabinet card of two Black men photographed by John Cooper, who operated as a photographer in London, Ont. and St. Thomas, Ont. from 1857 - 1890. The reverse of the photograph features the photographer's stamp in coloured ink. This photograph was in the possession of Iris Sloman Bell, of St. Catharines. The Sloman - Bell family have relatives who include former Black slaves from the United States. John Cooper is listed as a photographer and daguerrean artist in 1857 - 1890 in London, Ont. and in 1874 in St. Thomas, Ont. Source: Phillips, Glen C. The Ontario photographers list (1851-1900). Sarnia: Iron Gate Publishing Co., 1990. "Cabinet card photographs were first introduced in 1866. They were initially employed for landscapes rather than portraitures. Cabinet cards replaced Carte de visite photographs as the popular mode of photography. Cabinet cards became the standard for photographic portraits in 1870. Cabinet cards experienced their peak in popularity in the 1880's. Cabinet cards were still being produced in the United States until the early 1900's and continued to be produced in Europe even longer. The best way to describe a cabinet card is that it is a thin photograph that is mounted on a card that measures 4 1/4″ by 6 1/2″. Cabinet cards frequently have artistic logos and information on the bottom or the reverse of the card which advertised the photographer or the photography studio's services." Source: http://cabinetcardgallery.wordpress.com/category/cabinet-card-history/

Sykes Welland Canal Collection

Alexander J. Grant was born in Banffshire Scotland. He joined the Federal Department of Railways and Canals in 1886 and began the job of chief engineer of the Welland Canal in 1919. At one time he was the president of the Engineering Institute of Canada. - Information taken from The Civil Engineer Location: Brock University Archives Source Information:

St. Catharines Standard fonds, 1970, 1974, 1988-1991, n.d.

The St. Catharines Standard started publication in 1891 under W.B. Burgoyne. It was subsequently purchased by Southam Newspapers, then Canwest Global Communications. Osprey Media took over the publication until June 1, 2007 when Quebecor acquired the company. The St. Catharines Standard celebrated its centennial in 1991 with mobile displays, a centennial logo and slogan, a Christmas card, an advertising campaign, a video and a centennial theme to regular promotions. As part of the activities, the Standard commissioned Brock University to produce a history of St. Catharines. This book entitled St. Catharines Canada’s Canal City is a popular book rather than an academic text. The authors have woven together stories of the past and present to showcase the character and personality of St. Catharines. The book is full of maps and photographs, many of which had not been seen in print before this time.

Copy of poster advertising “Grand Buffalo Hunt at Niagara Falls” with Bill Hickok, August, 1872

James Butler Hickok (1837-1876), also known as “Wild Bill” Hickok, was an American gun-fighter, scout and spy. He was involved in altercations with others while working for the famous express company Russell, Majors and Waddell (in 1861), and later while working as a wagon master, scout, and spy for the Union forces during the Civil War. These altercations resulted in the deaths of 4 people, but Hickok was acquitted in all cases. An embellished article written about him in Harper’s magazine helped contribute to his reputation as a western hero. He served as a deputy U.S. marshal and sheriff in Kansas in the late 1860’s, helping to bring law and order to a previously lawless area. He gambled considerably, and during a card game on August 2, 1876, was shot and killed. The cards he was holding (two aces, two eights, and a jack) became known as the "dead man's hand."