Finding Aid
The archive is arranged in four series:
Series 1 Diaries of William A. Stephens
Series 2 Other Documents relating to William A. Stephens
Series 3 Documents relating to William A. Stephens family
Series 4 Published Items Re-located to Divisions Book Collection
Series 1 Diaries of William A. Stephens. -- 1852-1854, 1867-1876, 1878-1881. 16 cm (6 volumes)
Box 1
Vol. 1 1852-1853
First entry: 24 November 1852 (appears on page 2, after the entry for 29 November on page 1).
Last entry: 3 September 1853
Frequent entries about daily events, including business travel in southern Ontario by pony, stage, and ship; frequent references to the ships Sophia and Anne Jane, which Stephens may have owned and/or insured. References to his position as customs officer, and to technical inventions by his brother, Robert; discusses municipal elections in January. Frequent references to the weather, and church services on the Lords Day, when he often gave an address to the congregation.
A few samples from the diary:
- 28 December 1852: was asked by Mr. Boyd if I would come forward as a Councillor for our Ward
- 3 January 1853: This is municipal election day throughout the province
. I was proposed by Blyth
E. Brown proposed J. Frost. When the polling commenced I had the majority for some time
but in the afternoon Frost got ahead and poll closed giving him a majority.
- 8 January 1853: Heard that the northern terminus of the Northern Railroad is to be at Hens and Chickens [Collingwood], a sensible determination on the part of the Directors.
- 12 January 1853: This is the day for electing trustees for common schools throughout the Province.
- 26 January 1853: Read great part of the day in [James] Montgomerys poems, The Wanderer of Switzerland.
- 11 February 1853: Had a letter from McFee (?) who says he is getting along well in re-building the Sophia.
- 14 February 1853: St. Valentines Day.
I remember this day I think 18 years ago I was lying ill with the cold at Mr. James Armstrongs in Toronto when some of the girls came up into my room to show me their Valentines. Since I had lived in the country since I was a child I do not know that I had seen any before.
- 3 March 1853: Went this evening to hear Capt. Stewart lecture on the slavery question.
the time must come when slavery in the United States must come to an end
.
- 7 March 1853: went to an anti slavery meeting.
read from the Guelph Advertiser a notice I had written of the
orators George Thompson and Frederick Douglas whom I heard in Toronto
in March 1851.
- 2 April 1853: There is a good deal of talk in town about a paper that is to be started under the management of Mr. [Thomas] Lunn the Reeve. It is thought that I am to be one of the Editors.
we shall see what we shall see.
- 11 April 1853: provides accounting of his salary as customs officer, insurance agent, and other income, including the Anne Jane.
- 22 April 1853: This evening I wrote the record of my little family in the large Bible.
- 26 April 1853: Wrote a Bill to advertise a meeting to form a Temperance League
.
- 18 May 1853: Was at the ceremony of laying the cornerstone of our jail and courthouse.
- 7 June 1853: I whipped my little daughter this evening for ill temper and my little son Newburn for not coming when I sent for him
. Poor little dears, they seldom require chastisement.
- 11 July 1853: Last night after we retired my wife & I talked over our courtship. There follows an account of that courstship.
- 12 July 1853 [Orangemens Day]: This is the day of drums & fifes & flags & marches and drinking & singing, carousing, & Loyal Protestant uproar & cursing the Pope and papist & protestant quarrels & heartburnings & insults & often of broken heads, black eyes & bloody noses & torn garments & firing guns in bravado beginning with blanks & ending with bullets, & bloodshed & murder & timid or conniving magistrates & skulking constables.
It is a great matter of congratulation & thankfulness that the day passed over in this town without any collision or disturbance
- 26 July 1853: My wife is just telling me that I am writing too much nonsense in this book, perhaps it is so.
Vol. 2 1853-1854
First entry: 4 September 1853
Last entry: 10 September 1854
Entries similar to previous volume. A few samples from the diary:
- 14 November 1853: lines of a poem
- 2 December 1853: This day was published the first number of the Owen Sound Times.
- 8 February 1854: 21 years since father died; 11 of his parents 12 children still living, 9 of whom are married with a total of 26 children.
- 27 March 1854: lines of a song in honour of his son, Harry, [Henry] who just had his first birthday
- 4 April 1854: Quarter Sessions met for first time in this county
- 18 April 1854: learns that England declared war on Russia [Crimean War]
- 8 May 1854: a meeting was held this evening to take measures to keep the Queens birthday
- 30 May 1854: court of assizes held; a black man and his white mother convicted
- 9 June 1854: todays newspaper contained a letter
in which is a tirade of most diabolical abuse against me in particular and the Family in general
- 6 August 1854: Got to Manitowaning [on Manitoulin Island] about 11 am
- 8 August 1854: I was at this place two years ago when I first saw the Sofia. We are expecting her now any day with the Indian presents. The Indians are collecting in numbers to receive the presents when they arrive. There are 50 wigwams along the shore of the Bay.
- 16 August 1854: On reading the proofs of the Lever today I saw that the Leading Editorial that I had written was left out. I asked Campbell the reason and he said there was something above religion
. I upheld Ill not be treated that way and this closes my connection with the Lever.
Vol. 3 1867-1876
First entry: 22 March 1867
Last entry: 9 April 1876
The initial pages are numbered 25-81; pages 1 to 24 are missing, and after page 81, the numbering stops.
The content of this volume is quite different from the two volumes from the 1850s. While some of entries follow the same diary format, many are simply narratives on a variety of subjects, while many others are poems written by Stephens. Several entries speak of his children and other family members. Also included are numerous newspaper clippings of articles and poems, most authored by Stephens.
A few samples from the diary:
- 11 February 1868 (pp. 33-34): My Father was buried 35 years ago today (1833). My mother died in 1844. My sister Ann 1837. My sister in law Ann died 1845. They are all buried on the old Farm in Esquesing.
My first little sister Eliza died in New York 11 months old in 1811. My youngest brother died at Owen Sound 1863 aged 32. This is the birthday of my son Newburn, he is 19.
- 25 January 1870 (p. 77): My dear brother Thomas died today [newspaper obituary pasted onto p. 78, containing details on the Stephens family].
- 9 February 1870 (p. 79): Family Statistics: Stephens identifies his wife as Mary and names his children--Newburn, Harry, Liz, Stanley, Nell, James, Neddy [Edward], and Heba. We had another little boy Ernest who died last year aged 7.
- 9 April 1870: my 61st Birthday
- 13 October 1870: This is our 25th Wedding day. My wife and I were married in Toronto Township [present day Mississauga] on the 13th October 1845.
- 19 February 1871: I wrote a letter to the Times last week commenting on a lecture on Infallibility by a Priest Ferguson who spoke in our Town Hall. The letter is attracting a good deal of attention
.
- 22 August 1874: Our dear little son Eddie died today about noon.
- 13 October 1875: This is the thirtieth anniversary of my Wedding day.
We lived two years in Norval and then moved to Ballinafad and in 1850 moved to Owen Sound where we have been living in the same house 25 years.
Vol. 4 1878; a few entries for 1879
A pre-printed diary with one page allotted for each date; first few pages are missing, so entries begin January 3. It was not immediately clear if the entries were for 1878 or 1879. However, in the entry for April 9, Stephens birthday, he writes: I am now 69 years old. Given that Stephens was born in 1809, this entry, and the bulk of the entries in this volume, were written in 1878. In addition, randomly scattered throughout the volume are a few entries for 1879.
In terms of content, the entries are not as descriptive as the first two volumes. While Stephens is still customs officer, it appears that he is no longer engaged in other business and does not often travel. Several of the entries discuss books or articles he has read or lectures he has attended, others are drafts of letters he has written to various officials and publications. There are, as usual, poems scattered throughout, as well as newspaper clippings, several of which deal with his publication The centennial: an international poem (Toronto, 1878). Near the end of the volume, in sections designated for October entries, several pages consist of lists of names followed by a monetary notationthese lists might be of individuals who purchased copies of The centennial.
A few samples from the diary
- 7 January 1878: I called at the Parliament House [Toronto] to see Watson, Poet & Librarian. He will take a copy of Hamilton and Other Poems for the Library.
- 4 February 1878: Dr. [Egerton] Ryerson was
in
Church this evening. I felt rather poorly with chills & did not go to hear him. It is said he gave a very fine discourse. He is a remarkable man & has made his mark in Upper Canada.
He reviewed
my first volume in 1840 Hamilton & other poems
.
- 24 February 1878: I was at Aunt (?) Millers this evening and she read me a notice in the Montreal Witness of an offer from the Editor of a prize of $50 for the best Canadian ballad, descriptive & patriotic. Stephens enters the contest with a ballad relating to the Battle of Queenston Heights, and discusses it over the next two entries.
- 16 May 1878: The news came last night that Hamlin [Hanlon] the Canadian champion rower beat Plaisted the American champion in Toronto Bay.
- 29 July 1878: News has just come that the Marquis of Lorne is to succeed Earl Dufferin as Governor General of Canada. I am pleased & the Dominion no doubt will be.
Vol. 5 1880; a few entries for January 1881
A pre-printed diary for 1879 which Stephens has used for the year 1880. In terms of content, the entries tend to be fairly brief and do not often discuss material Stephens has been reading, as did the previous volume. There are no newspaper clippings, but there are several lines of verse written across pages dated January through March, and also scattered throughout the volume, especially in May and June.
First entry: 1 January 1880
Last entry: 26 January 1881 [written as 1880]
A few samples from the diary
- 20 January 1880: I had a very friendly letter from Sir Francis Hincks. I wrote him on the 5th congratulating him on his acquittal in the matter of the Consolidated Bank.
- 4 April 1880: How amazed Peter would have been had a prophet told him that a man calling himself his successor should in virtue of that claim receive such a princely revenue.
- 18 April 1880: The new steamer Manitoulin was launched this afternoon.
- 1 July 1880: This is the 13th anniversary of Confederation
.
- 29 September 1880: I have just composed 3 verses which I intend adding to my Ballad on Canada which I think will make it more complete. The verses follow this entry.
- 12 November 1880: Went to hear Bengough the celebrated caricaturist this evening at Town Hall.
Vol. 6 1881
A pre-printed diary for 1881. Similar in content to the previous volume, but not containing as many of Stephens poems.
First entry: 1 January 1881
Last entry: 31 December 1881
A few samples from the diary
- 7 February 1881: A fine day sleighing, as good as it can be.
- 9 February 1881: For several days we have tried a long time
to thaw out our pump which has been frozen up for over two weeks.
- 18 February 1881: Before I left for Meaford I had given my Canada Ballad to J. Rutherford to print. I hope I shall make something of it.
- 21 February 1881: inserted here is a clipping from the Owen Sound Times announcing receipt of Stephens patriotic ballad just published, entitled Canada.
- 15 March 1881: I wrote some verses yesterday on the assassination of the Czar of Russia and sent them today to the Toronto Evening Telegram.
- 9 April 1881: This is my 72nd birthday.
It is now 30 years since I was appointed Collector of Customs and during that time I do not think that I had to stay away from the office one month.
- 26 April 1881: Last night I had a singular dream I was elected President of the United States
.
- 13 June 1881: A heavy blow from the south this afternoon.
A window was blown in of the girls bedroom breaking half the glass.
- 28 June 1881: Just rejoicing tonight on the news that the Grand Trunk has leased our Railroad.
- 11 July 1881: I went to Wiarton this evening.
I came as collector to see about the shipping of lumber and timber & to give clearances to the United States.
- 2 September 1881: Smoke & fog so dense this morning that you could scarcely see more than 200 feet.
We have accounts from all parts of the country of destructive fires. Barns, houses, fences & valuable timber being burned.
- 20 September 1881: I observed the flag on the Market House was hung out at half mast & it struck me that President Garfield was dead.
- 12 October 1881: a newspaper clipping from the Advertiser (likely Guelph) containing Stephens poem The Dead President, in honour of Garfield.
- 26 October 1881: I read yesterday & today a Life of President Garfield of 382 pages written by Rusell Conwell, an admirable work & which will be read with great interest by millions.
- 5 December 1881: It is now certain that the steamer Jane Miller foundered In Colpoys Bay & Capt. Port, two of his family & the rest of the crew and a number of passengers in all about 30 have been drowned. An awful calamity said to have been caused by over loading.
Series 2 Other Documents relating to W.A. Stephens
MC 93
Portrait of W.A. Stephens. -- ca. 1860. Chalk or charcoal. 55 x 45 cm.
Box 2
F.1 Manuscript poem, The Immortality of the Soul. -- Likely by W.A. Stephens. On verso: Composed when very sick in bed sometime about 1830. 1 leaf.
F.2 A copy of John Bunyans, The Pilgrims Progress. Edition not determined; opening pages missing. Signature of W.A. Stephens appears on inside cover, along with inscription: This old book was read to me first in Markham 1817 when I was 8 years old. It belonged to my father
.
F.3 Broadsheet, W.A. Stephens on Darwin, Underwood and Tyndall, with annotations by Stephens. -- Likely 1878. 1 leaf
Newspaper clipping, The Late W.A. Stephens: the Pioneer Poet of Ontario. Owen Sound Sun.
1891. Includes transcription of a recent Saturday Night article by T.J. Rexaledan on Stephens.
F.4 C.F. Klinck, William A. Stephens, Poet of Canada West. Western Ontario Historical Notes. XII, nos. 1 and 2, March-June, 1954: 33-40. [Copy of entire issue].
George Matheson, Provenance of W.A. Stephens Material. Genealogy.
F.5 Transcriptions (recent printouts) of three poems by W.A. Stephens
- Anns Death
- To My Eldest Brother (James Dawson Stephens, born 1807)
-To My Mother
Series 3 Documents relating to W.A. Stephens family
F.6 Brothers of W.A. Stephens
- Photograph, possibly of A.M. (Alexander Maitland) Stephens
- A.M. Stephens, Building the Garafraxa Road, 1889. Transcription (recent printout).
- Copy of Family Group Sheet for: Thomas Corey Stephens and Mary Emily Stephens [Armstrong]
F.7 William Stanley Stephens, son of W.A. Stephens
- Photograph of W.S. Stephens, ca. 1884
- Manuscript poem by W.S. Stephens, A Sure Sign, n.d., 1 leaf
- Manuscript song by W.S. Stephens, A Song of the Rideau, n.d., 6 leaves
- Invitation to the wedding of W.S. Stephens and Edith Mae Butler, 20 August 1901
- Copy of death certificate of W.S. Stephens, 20 March 1933
- Embossing plate with the name W.S. Stephens
F.8 Edith Mae Stephens (born Cordelia May Butler), wife of William Stanley Stephens
- Copy of birth record of Cordelia May Butler, 8 April 1873
- Copy of 1911 Census record for Edith Stephens
- Letter (typescript) addressed to Mrs. W.G. Stephens (the G should likely be an S) from William E. Day (real estate sales), relating to a Smiths Falls property owned by Mrs. Stephens, 29 August 1932
F.9 Documents relating to the estate of Edith Mae Stephens
- Probate of the Last Will and Testament of Cordelia May Stephens, 1962
- Valuation of Furniture at 144 Robinson Street, City of Hamilton
in the estate of the late Mrs. Cordelia May Stephens
-
In the Estate of Cordelia May Stephens
Statement of Accounts from October 29, 1962 to October 4, 1965
- Surrogate Court Order, 1965
F.10 Songsheet owned by Anita M. Stephens (daughter of W. Stanley and Edith Stephens)
- Charles Wakefield Cadman, At Dawning (I Love You). Boston: Oliver Ditson Company, 1906.
F.11 Manuscript, Fitting the Cap on John Jenkins Sermon, 2 leaves, n.d. Author unknown.
Series 4 Published Items Re-located to Divisions Book Collection
W.A. Stephens, Hamilton and other poems and lectures. Second Edition. Toronto: A. Lovell & Co., 1871. [Signature of W. Stanley Stephens appears on inside front cover].
W.A. Stephens, Papal Infallibility
as seen in the light of Revelation. Owen Sound, 1871.
New Christian Hymn and Tune Book. New York and Cincinnati: The Filmore Brothers Co., 1887. [Likely owned by W. Stanley Stephens].
William Allen Knight, The Signs in the Christmas Fire, Toronto: The Musson Book Company Limited; originally published in 1907 by The University Press, Cambridge. [Copy received by Edith M. Stephens as a Christmas gift, 1911].
The Fourth Golden Rule Book. Toronto: the Macmillan Company of Canada Ltd., 1915. [Signature of Anita M. Stephens appears on the endpaper].
Margaret Pengelly, ed. James Dawson Stephens, 1807-1891: Autobiography, Diary
, and Obituary. Blurb, 2015. [James Dawson Stephens was W.A. Stephens eldest brother].
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