Copyright in the Stacks: The Chilling Effects of Unclear Copyright Interpretations in the Canadian Academic Library

Presented at the Annual Conference of the Canadian Political Science Association, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario, May 27, 2014

Contract between John Cronyn and Nelson Forsyth, December 16, 1854.

John Cronyn (1827-1898) emigrated to Canada from Ireland in 1837. He studied medicine at the University of Toronto, but was not granted his degree upon completion of the requirements. He refused to take the test oaths meant to exclude Catholics from the profession and was not granted his degree until several years later, when the discriminatory laws were rescinded. In 1850, he married Elizabeth Willoughby of Toronto. They settled in Fort Erie and he established a successful medical practice there. He was active in the community, serving as Superintendent of schools and one term as Reeve. In 1859 he relocated to Buffalo and continued to practice medicine there. Cronyn was instrumental in the establishment of a medical department at Niagara University, where he was a professor and president of faculty. Nelson Forsyth was the son of William Forsyth (1771-1841), a prominent businessman in Niagara who owned and operated the Pavilion Hotel (later known as Forsyth’s Inn). Nelson was also a businessman and lived in Fort Erie with his wife Archange Warren.

Arthur A. Schmon fonds

Arthur Albert Schmon was born in 1895 in Newark, New Jersey. During his studies at Barringer High School in Newark, he met Eleanore Celeste Reynolds who was to become his wife in August of 1919. Mr. Schmon studied English literature at Princeton and graduated with honours in 1917. That same year, Mr. Schmon joined the United States Army where he served under Colonel McCormick as an adjutant in field artillery in World War I. In 1919, he was discharged as a captain. Colonel McCormick (editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune) offered Schmon a job in his Shelter Bay pulpwood operations. Mr. Schmon accepted the challenge of working at this lonely outpost on the lower St. Lawrence River. Schmon was promoted to Woodlands Manager in 1923. In 1930, he became the General Manager. This was expected to be a seasonal operation but the construction of the mill led to the building of a town (Baie Comeau) and its power development. All of this was accomplished under Schmon’s leadership. In 1933, he was elected the President and General Manager of the Ontario Paper Company. He later became the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Arthur Schmon made his home in St. Catharines where he played an active role in the community. Schmon was a member of the Founders’ Committee at Brock University and he was a primary force behind the establishment of a University in the Niagara Region. The Brock University Tower is named after him. He also served as Chairman of the St. Catharines Hospital Board of Governors for over 15 years, and was responsible for guiding the hospital through a 3 million dollar expansion program. He was a Governor of Ridley College and an Honorary Governor of McMaster University in Hamilton. Mr. Schmon died of lung cancer on March 18, 1964. He had been named as the St. Catharines’ citizen of the year just one week earlier. Mr. Schmon had 2 sons Robert McCormick Schmon, who was chairman of the Ontario Paper Co. Ltd., St. Catharines, Canada, and the Q.N.S. Paper Co., Baie-Comeau, Canada. He was also director of a Chicago Tribune Co. He died at the age of 61. Another son, Richard R. Schmon, was a second lieutenant in the 313th Field Artillery Battalion, 80th Infantry Division in World War II. He was listed as missing in action on November 5, 1944.

Thomas Millard Senior land grant, 1797

Thomas Millard Senior was born in Middlesex, Connecticut, in 1728. He served as a Private with Butler’s Rangers. In July 1784, Thomas and his wife Mary, along with their 4 children, were on a list “to settle and cultivate the lands opposite Niagara”. He took the oath of allegiance at Niagara around 1784-85.

Thorold Patentees Map, no date

A map of Thorold showing the lots and names of the individuals who were granted the lots. In some cases, the year that the original grants were made are included. A note on the back of the map indicates that the information was taken from the Centennial History of Thorold or from the Patentees map.

Receipt, The Robert Simpson Company 1935

A receipt from The Robert Simpson Company limited for four comforters. The receipt is Mrs. A. Schmon's of 30 Yates Street in St. Catharines.

Article - "Pelham's New Councillor A Woman of Many 'Firsts'", 1963

An article in the St. Catharines Standard announcing Dorothy Rungeling as a new member of council for Pelham Township. The article states, "She is the first woman to be nominated and elected to Pelham township council since it was formed in 1850,"

Article - "Stamp of Approval", 2010

An article discussing the accomplishments of Dorothy Rungeling and the announcement of a Canada Post stamp in her honour. Dorothy Rungeling is 99 at the time of the interview.

Article - "Fonthill Woman Among 21 Pilots in Welland - Florida Air race", 1953

An article in The St. Catharines Standard that discusses the upcoming sixth all-women's international air race from Welland, Ontario to New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Mrs. Rungeling will be accompanied by Beverly Belfry of St. Catharines and wife of a Thompson Products executive. Thompson Products is also sponsoring Mrs. Rungeling's flight and a representative, Mr. Stauffer, of Thompson Products, states "It is encouraging to see the international air race grow as it has done...This year's list of 21 probable entries compares with eight in last year's race".

Photograph - Samuel DeVeaux Woodruff at DeVeaux Hall

21 ½ cm x 13 ½ cm photograph of Samuel DeVeaux Woodruff taken in October of 1891 at DeVeaux Hall in St. Catharines. Mr. Woodruff is carrying a rifle and has caught 6 woodcock and 2 quail. The photograph was described by R. Band of Toronto in 1977 and is included.

Photograph - Woodruff Children, Wisteria Arbour at DeVeaux Hall

Black and white, 9 ½ cm x 12 cm photograph, mounted on board, of Margaret Julia Woodruff, William Alfred Woodruff, Gladys Caroline Woodruff and Samuel DeVeaux Woodruff II in front of the Wisteria arbour at DeVeaux Hall in St. Catharines in front of the grapery house.

Photograph - Thomas Woodruff and Julia Cleveland Woodruff at DeVeaux Hall

Black and white, 12 cm x 17 cm photograph, mounted on board, of DeVeaux Hall in St. Catharines, Ontario. It was built by Samuel DeVeaux Woodruff. Shown in this photo are Thomas Woodruff and Julia Cleveland Woodruff. This photo was described by R.W. Band in 1973 and is included.

Photograph - DeVeaux Hall

Black and white, 12 cm x 17 cm photograph, mounted on board, of DeVeaux Hall in St. Catharines. Thomas Woodruff is shown in this photo. The photo was described by R.W. Band in 1973 and is included.

Photographs - Three photographs of females

3 black and white photographs, 10 cm x 6 cm, of females’ faces. One of the women is older and the other 2 are young. The 2 photos of the younger females were taken by Poole, Photo, St. Catharines.

Photograph - Bearded Male

Black and white photograph, 24 cm x 18 cm of a bearded man taken by Poole Photographers, St. Catharines.