Ross Hamilton was born August 4, 1879 in Frontenac, Ontario to David Hamilton and Margaret Clyde. On February 23, 1916 he enlisted in the First World War, lying about his age and stating his birthdate as being in 1893. In 1938, he married Elizabeth "Bess" Heist (1910-1975) in Waterloo, Ontario. Hamilton worked for Waterloo Trust & Savings Co. where he met Homer Watson. Watson had been forced to sell his mortgage to the trust and saving company due to financial issues, and Hamilton became Watson's estate agent. After Watson's death in 1936, Hamilton and his wife Bess started the Doon School for the Arts in June 1948. Hamilton died June 10, 1952 and his wife took over the operations of the school until her death in 1975.
Published
Title based on content of the fonds.
Fonds documents various memorial exhibits on display after the passing of Homer Ransford Watson, and the administration of Watson's estate by Ross Hamilton. Fonds predominately consists of correspondence addressed to Ross Hamilton regarding the management or purchase of Watson's paintings. Other textual records include pamphlets, leaflets, and two scrapbooks of clippings about memorial exhibitions about his works and life. Typescripts in the fonds cover speeches and tributes to Watson during memorial exhibitions, as well as a biography of him written by Ross Hamilton.
The fonds is divided into three series focusing on correspondence, typescripts and pamphlets, and news clippings.
Purchased from Guy Andrus in 1971.
Both scrapbooks are also available as black and white photocopies.
Ross Hamilton was born August 4, 1879 in Frontenac, Ontario to David Hamilton and Margaret Clyde. On February 23, 1916 he enlisted in the First World War, lying about his age and stating his birthdate as being in 1893. In 1938, he married Elizabeth "Bess" Heist (1910-1975) in Waterloo, Ontario. Hamilton worked for Waterloo Trust & Savings Co. where he met Homer Watson. Watson had been forced to sell his mortgage to the trust and saving company due to financial issues, and Hamilton became Watson's estate agent. After Watson's death in 1936, Hamilton and his wife Bess started the Doon School for the Arts in June 1948. Hamilton died June 10, 1952 and his wife took over the operations of the school until her death in 1975.
Published
Series documents the management of Homer Watson’s paintings by Ross Hamilton and the Waterloo Trust and Savings Company. Consisting of correspondence between 1942 and 1949, many of the letters are addressed to Hamilton, from various galleries and museums, regarding the possible purchase or exhibition of Watson’s paintings. Other correspondence to note is a letter from the Waterloo Trust and Savings Company to Prime Minister Leslie M. Frost on displaying Watson’s work in Canada’s parliamentary buildings. There is also a letter dating to July 14, 1917 that was written by Watson’s adopted daughter, Mary Margaret.
Correspondence
1\. to Alma from Mary Margaret Watson, Doon July 14, 1917
Correspondence re: Homer Watson
2\. to Ross Hamilton from Estates Manager Oct. 13, 1942
3\. to Ross Hamilton, Waterloo Trust from O.W. Scott Feb. 28, 1944
4\. to Ross Hamilton from Lillian MacIntyre, St. Catharines Dec. 30, 1947
5\. to Ross Hamilton from D. I. McLeod, Toronto Jan. 23, 1948
6\. to Ross Hamilton from Max Stern, Dominion Gallery, Montreal Feb. 23, 1948
7\. to Ross Hamilton from Paul Rainville, Provincial Museum, Quebec April 1, 1948
8\. to Ross Hamilton from Robert Tyler Davis, Art Association Montreal April 30, 1948
9\. to Ross Hamilton from Blake- More Godwin, Toledo Museum of Art Oct. 2, 1948
10\. to P.V. Wilson, Waterloo Trust from D. A. Wanklyn, Montreal Feb. 3, 1948
11\. to Hon. Leslie M. Frost from P.V. Wilson Nov. 24, 1949
12\. to P.V. Wilson from E. J. Young, Waterloo Trust, Toronto Nov. 30, 1949
13\. note re Homer Watson's paintings
Published
Series contains leaflets relating to Homer Watson’s life and memorial exhibits. Leaflets contain information about memorial exhibits such as one held by the Waterloo Trust and Savings Company building in Kitchener. One of the leaflets also contains a photocopied sketch of a graveyard scene. The series also contains a typescript biography of Watson written by his friend, Ross Hamilton. Another typescript covers a speech by Watson to shareholders of the Waterloo County Grand River Park. The speech calls for the conservation of a woodland area called Cressman Bush.
Typescripts
14\. Address by H. Watson “Conservation of Cressman Bush for Waterloo County”
15\. Homer Watson Paintings
16\. Expense Account of Ross Hamilton in Connection with H. Watson Estate Feb. 4-10
Pamphlets
17\. Homer Watson, Artist - A Tribute
18\. Biography of Homer Watson by Ross Hamilton
19\. Catalogue Memorial Exhibition of Original Paintings by Homer Watson, R.C.A., L.L.D. 1947
Published
Series contains clippings documenting memorial exhibits for Homer Watson and articles reviewing his life. There are two scrapbooks containing newspaper clippings between 1936 and 1947. One scrapbook contains mostly newspaper memorabilia and exhibition advertisements, while the other contains clippings focused mainly on announcing exhibits throughout Ontario along with press and editorial comments. There are also files of clippings that discuss the closure of Watson’s art gallery and studio in 1947. One of the clippings is a print, from a magazine, depicting Homer Watson.
Scrapbooks are also available as black and white photocopies.