Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
Colin Rankin fonds.
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- Parallel titles and other title information: Title based on the contents of the fonds.
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Fonds
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Physical description
13 cm of textual records
1 photograph
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Archival description area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Colin Rankin, Hudson's Bay Company factor, was born July 29, [1826] in New Brunswick. He was married twice, first in 1856 to Rebecca Scott (1838-1870) and again in 1873 to Rebecca Deacon. Engaged by Sir George Simpson in March 1848, he became a Chief Trader for the Hudson's Bay Company in 1868, a Factor in 1872, and a Chief Factor in 1879. He was in charge of Mattawa Post for several years; left for Lachine in August, 1853; then to St. Maurice district; spent the winter at Kickendatch Post; was called to Montreal in August, 1854, and appointed to succeed Chief Trader Anderson in charge of Bersimis Post. In June, 1856, he was appointed to take charge of St. Maurice district, where the Company was erecting a Post and constructing new buildings. He was ordered to Montreal and appointed to Lake Superior district in 1860. In July, 1866, he was transferred to Saguenay district and there remained until November 1873, when he was ordered to take charge of Simcoe and Ottawa River districts. In 1873 he was appointed to Temiskaming district, until 1882, when headquarters moved to Mattawa, Ont. Mr. Rankin retired from the service in 1898. He was mayor of Mattawa and was a magistrate there as well (n.d.). He was also commissioned to be a Justice of the Peace in and for the North West Territories (1874). Colin Rankin died April 20, 1921.
Custodial history
Scope and content
Fonds consists of correspondence, documents, journals, and a photograph relating to Colin Rankin's activity as a Fur Trader for the Hudson's Bay Company. Included are three journals kept by Donald McKay, Fur Trader, between 1799 and 1806, which were acquired by Rankin probably during his stay in the Temiskaming district.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
Two grandsons of Colin Rankin donated the contents of this fonds. Colin Rankin's papers were donated by John L. Rankin, Lac Marois, Quebec in 1966. Donald McKay's Journals and biographical information copied from the Rankin Family Bible were donated by J.E.R McDougall, Hollywood, California, also in 1966. A copy of correspondence from Sir Patrick Ashley Cooper was supplied by Colin Rankin's daughter, Lily Walters of Forest, Ontario, in 1967.
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Location of originals
Availability of other formats
A microfilm copy of this fonds is available in the Archives of Ontario and is listed in Guide to the Archives of Ontario (1985) as MS 65.
Restrictions on access
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Public Domain
Finding aids
Associated materials
A diary written by Colin Rankin between 1882 to 1883 is held by the Archive of Manitoba [E.28/1].
Further material relating to Colin Rankin can be found at the Archives of Ontario in their Fur Trade Collection in MU 1390 McKay-Rankin Letter, and in MU 1392-MU 1400.
Accruals
General note
The spelling of geographic names referenced in these records represent regional spelling(s) at the time of creation. Several have changed over time, influenced by the language spoken by settler fur traders and colonial entities pre- and post-Canadian Confederation.
General note
Content note: "Indian" is outdated term used historically to refer to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples in Canada which many find offensive. The use of the term appears throughout the records in this fonds and has been maintained in keeping with Special Collections & Archives’ approach to language in archival descriptions, which prioritizes speaking openly about and clearly identifying problematic, harmful, and otherwise offensive records in the department’s holdings. This approach, while potentially upsetting, allows for the critical assessment and questioning of historical material by contemporary researchers.
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- McKay, Donald (Author)
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Redescribed Fall 2023 by DR.