The Sims family collection encompasses records of the Sims and Cook, Davidson and Garden families retained by members of the two family branches that came together when Harvey James Sims and Florence Katherine Roos married in 1902. Their Sims and Davidson forbears were equally significant in the history of the Waterloo-Wellington area and in the growth and development of agriculture, education, business and government. Harvey James Sims and Florence Katherine Roos were deeply involved in their local community of Berlin, (later Kitchener) Ontario and their own records contain significant additions to our knowledge of local personalities and affairs. Harvey was a childhood and lifelong friend of William Lyon Mackenzie King; they wrote and visited each other regularly. King's sister Bella was also a close friend of Florence from school days on.

Small amount of material relating to the life and activities of Kenneth Sims, son of Harvey J. and Florence Sims. He married Mabel Alguire Cameron on June 28, 1930.
Includes a regrets letter from William Lyon Mackenzie King.

Agenda and guest lists for the North Waterloo Liberal Association meeting of March 15, 1963.

Letter from Ed Knorr, Secretary Treasurer of the Woelfle Shoe Co., dated January 14, 1955, informing Kenneth Sims that the board of directors of the company had passed a resolution at the annual meeting of May 4, 1954 on the death of William Sims, to be recorded in the minutes.

Letters from Elizabeth dated January 10, 1953[sic], Winnipeg; from Sophia and Dick in Guelph , undated, and from Gay Estill Sims, January 10, 1954, Washington D.C , with sympathy on the death of William Harvey Sims who had died on January 7.

Waterloo Trust and Savings Company, Trust of Mabel A. and Mary D. Sims et al : statement of receipts and disbursements from December 31, 1952 to December 31, 1953, accompanied by a news clipping concerning federal estate tax.

The K-W Rotary Club International Service Committee minutes list Kenneth Sims as a member.

Letter from Manette Goldsworthy dated August 25, 1953, Kitchener asking Mabel Sims for a loan.

Letter from E.G. Barrie dated June 18, 1951, Kitchener, to Mabel Sims, thanking her for taking care of table arrangements for an annual celebration, possible of the Chicopee Tennis Club. The letter is written on The Barrie Glove & Knitting Co. Limited, Kitchener, Ontario letterhead with a drawing of the factory.

Blueprint, undated for Kenneth Sims.

Letter from Nigel Kempt, cousin of Kenneth Sims, dated January 6, 1950, thanking Mabel and Kenneth Sims for the "lovely piece of beef" sent at Christmas. "New Year is usually rather a wearisome time with us as our staff always have to get off, leaving us to feed the hens & do the cooking and so on."

Letter from Adam Strohm dated October 21, 1949, Kensington, MD, reporting to Kenneth Sims that Fred Burden had died "two weeks ago" at the age of 86.

Letter from Nellie Sharpe, dated March 28, 1948 Winnipeg, Manitoba, thanking Kenneth for writing with information about Rella. Very difficult handwriting.

Ninety pieces of correspondence, of which 73 are letters to Harvey J. and/or Florence Sims. Another letter is in Series 11, sending regrets for the invitation to the wedding of Kenneth Sims and Mabel Alguire Cameron.
William Lyon Mackenzie King, Prime Minister of Canada, was a boyhood friend of Harvey J. Sims, and consistently addresses him as "Peter" in his letters. The letters in this series range from Christmas greetings to political, literary and spiritual topics.
Letters in this series are both handwritten and typewritten. Letters from Mackenzie King to Florence Sims are usually handwritten.

Typewritten letter from William Lyon Mackenzie King to J. Kenneth Sims dated September 22, 1947, thanking Kenneth for having him to tea at Chicopee. He mentions the library and says of Harvey J. Sims, who had died two years previously, "I am glad to think that he now knows that I have seen it." He also mentions preservation of Woodside. Salutation and signature in Mackenzie King's handwriting.

Agenda and list of officers for the Chicopee Tennis Club annual meeting, September 15, 1946. Kenneth Sims is listed as president.

Letters (approximately 16) between members of the Arthur Forbes Nicol and Harvey J. Sims families from 1928 to 1941. Harvey J. Sim's wife Florence Katherine Roos and Arthur F. Nicol's wife Florence Helen Kempt were first cousins: their mothers were sisters Elizabeth and Margaret Davidson. Letters concern mutual interests, politics and family.

Correspondence to and from Harvey J. Sims and friends, acquaintances, and family connections written between 1927 and 1945.

Letter from Adam Strohm dated August 4, 1945, Manistee, Michigan to Kenneth Sims. He encloses a letter written to him on July 30, 1945 by Harry Bullock, an old friend of both Adam and Harvey, who says of another friend Fred Burden's troubles from feeling his age: "Harvey Sims passing was part of his trouble and yours and mine too. I think he was the finest Canadian I ever knew."

Letter from Francis Alexander Anglin, Justice of the Supreme Court of Ontario, dated July 2, 1945 to Kenneth Sims, with sympathy on the death of his father Harvey J. Sims.

Letter from Harvey J. Sims dated January 25, 1945, Delray Beach, Florida to his son Kenneth, urging him to come to Florida for the month of April, which he has already booked and paid for. He needs Kenneth to let him know definitely.

Records documenting the family life of Harvey J. Sims and his wife Florence Katherine Roos, who married October 29, 1902. Correspondence to Florence is sparse but includes three letters from her old friend Isabel Grace Christina "Bella" King, sister of William Lyon Mackenzie King. Florence had a literary bent and some of her writing is present in the collection, including her biography of Sheriff George Davidson.

A quantity of letters from Peter H. Sims to his son Harvey are present from 1888 (when Harvey was 17) to 1912. Peter gives opinions, advice, and instruction on every aspect of Harvey's life. He attempts to guide Harvey through the narrow path to success in the legal profession, counselling frugality, moral rectitude, and duty to family above all. He even gives Harvey step-by-step instructions on cleaning and painting his basement to make it healthy.

Correspondence from Harvey's mother Jemima is not as sympathetic. In 1898, on hearing a report that Harvey had been struck by a ball, she advises him strongly to give up football as "beneath the dignity of a practising barrister." Harvey never took this advice as he had a strong interest in many sports and made his mark in all of them: football, curling, and lawn bowling.
Also present in this series is correspondence from his sister Rella and her family, legal agreements, ephemera, football ephemera, lawn bowling scrapbook and trip ephemera.

Memorandum of agreement made June 22, 1944 respecting the will and assets of Harvey J. Sims in light of his impending marriage with Gay Estill Robb. This agreement is signed and sealed by all parties and witnessed; the attached will of the same date is signed and witnessed, two other notarized documents also signed and witnessed.

Airmail letter from Jimmy Boyd dated September 3, 1943 in England to Kenneth Sims, describing his billets and activities in England over the past year, writing while waiting for a mobile clinic to be set up in Wales. Return Address is Maj. J.W. Boyd.

Correspondence relates to Harvey J. Sims' activities as Colonel of the Scots Fusiliers.

Correspondents include Donald J. MacDonald from London, Ontario, Minnie O'Hara Maines on behalf of the Local Council of Women of Kitchener, and M.P. Johnson, secretary, on behalf Albert Edward Matthews, Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, all addressing Harvey as Col. Sims and thanking him for his hospitality. Arthur R. Mortimer, Dept. of National Defence, responds to Harvey's letter of congratulations on his promotion. Violet Martin from Kennebunk Beach, Maine, regrets not being able to meet at Regina as her husband has cancer, and Harvey asks Bruce Matson in 1933 about obtaining prints of the photographs the latter took of Chicopee, some of which were published.

Files created and maintained by Harvey J. Sims in the course of daily household business relating to household expenses, personal expenses, and expenses incurred in planning and maintaining his property at Chicopee. These files were also used by Harvey for his personal interests and activities, such as clubs, memberships, investments, and circular letters. They contain correspondence, invoices, receipts, ephemera, and hand-written notes. Many invoices from nurseries or seed suppliers present here relate to those in series 6.

Typewritten carbon letter from Harvey J. Sims to William Lyon Mackenzie King, recommending Charles Henry, a junior solicitor in his office, "for appointment as a non-commissioned officer in the Royal Canadian navy."

Handwritten letter from William Philip, President of the Grand River Conservation Commission, Galt, to Harvey J. Sims, dated May 16, 1942, in response to the news that Mackenzie King cannot attend the opening of the dam: "It would be unkind to urge him further, when his letter indicates how sincerely he is concentrating on his heavy task. The letter gives a sidelight on his earnestness. The pity is that we do not support more fully, with our sympathy, one who in these dark hours, is carrying our country's load."

Typewritten letter marked "Personal" from William Lyon Mackenzie King to Harvey J. Sims dated May 12, 1942, concerning the opening of "the great Dam on the Grand River, which has recently been completed," and the impossibility of his being able to attend. He explains that although he has had many invitations and honours, he does not "feel at liberty to make any engagement which might take me from Ottawa at a time when I might be most needed." King has also received Harvey's letter of May 11 and replies that he would not approach Mr. Litvinoff about an engagement in Canada, as he had already indicated to King that he would not travel here again for the coming year.
Salutation: "My dear Peter [typewritten]"; Signature: "With all good wishes, Yours affectionately, Billy [handwritten]."
Includes handwritten corrections.

Typewritten letter, green carbon copy, from Harvey J. Sims to William Lyon Mackenzie King dated May 11, 1942, asking on behalf of Louis Lang that King use his influence to "induce" the American Ambassador from Russia to speak at the Canadian Manufacturers Association Annual Meeting in Toronto. Further, Harvey explains that Louis Lang is a close personal friend and that if Mr. Litvinoff cannot speak, King could perhaps suggest someone who would. This letter is accompanied by a carbon copy of Louis Lang's letter to Mackenzie King on the same subject, dated May 9, 1942.
Salutation: "My dear Billy" ; Signature: "Yours most sincerely."

Letter from 2nd Lieut. J.H. Luxton, Scots Fusiliers of Canada, dated March 13, 1942, Kitchener to Major J.K. Sims on behalf of "D" Company in appreciation of his leadership. He attaches a list of signatures of the men in the company who had paraded together for the last time as a group, and of whom half of those eligible had offered their names for immediate enlistment.

Letter from Jimmy Boyd (Dr. James Boyd) dated February 10, 1942 in England to Kenneth Sims, describing life in the hospital he is at and asking that any overdue accounts be collected for him.

Eleven letters to and from Harvey J. Sims and Rella May Stewart and family.

Correspondents include the Canadian Legion, Canadian Kennel Club, A. Chappell concerning Chicopee Heights, Ernest and Alice Chadwick, Hector Charlesworth, Chicopee Tennis Club, Chicopee Ski Club, and E.H. Coleman.

Correspondents include the Hon. Mr. Justice Godfrey, Supreme Court of Ontario, V. Evan Gray, Ainslie W. Greene, and Norman S. Gurd.

Correspondents include Bob Kay and L. Keyzer. Bob Kay, an old friend of Harvey Sims, lived in Hartford, CT and Florida, and was acquainted with Harvey's sister Rella and her husband John Ross Stewart. The correspondence concerns mostly the scrapbooks about curling and football that Kay had assembled and their eventual disposition.
Postcard in this file: "RMS Ausonia, White Star Line" from L. Keyzer, a fellow Rotarian, postmarked Brussels.

Records relating to the Harvey J. Sims' development of Chicopee, a 45-acre estate near Kitchener, Ont., where he built a home designed by Forsey Page and Steele, Architects, and designed and landscaped the grounds with the help of Carl Borgstrom of Carl Borgstrom and H.M.S. Carver, Landscape Architects. He was instrumental in the reforestation of the contiguous properties in Chicopee Hills, and in only a few years planted on his property more than 700 varieties of trees and shrubs.
Includes correspondence to and from architects, landscape planners, nurseries, and government agencies concerning the development of Harvey's house and grounds, also the reforestation of the surrounding area, dated 1927 to 1941. The correspondence files described in this series are together as found. Harvey's Personal Business Files in Series 8 contain a great deal of supplementary material in the way of correspondence, invoices, lists, time sheets, etc., with seed houses, nurseries, companies, and individuals supplying material and furnishings for the home and grounds, from water heaters and wiring to billiard table lights.
Harvey was particularly interested in collecting as many native species of trees and shrubs as would grow in this climate and his collecting activities are documented by correspondence with arboreta, university horticulture departments, government nurseries, and government officials and employees who were at that time developing botanical garden plans in Hamilton and Niagara.

Records relating to Harvey J. Sims' development of a library of books at his Chicopee home, in which he was aided by Adam Strohm, Librarian at the Detroit Public Library and Charles R. Sanderson, Chief Librarian of the Toronto Public Library. Harvey turned his planned billiard room into a library instead and set about filling it with books. Although this series contains only two files, it represents a significant activity in Harvey's life.

Scrapbook covering activities of the Canadian Lawn Bowling Association in general and H.J. Sims in particular from 1924 to 1941. Harvey J. Sims was on the Dominion Lawn Bowling Association Canadian team chosen to compete in Great Britain in 1924, and afterward continued to actively participate in the sport, winning many trophies. The scrapbook includes clippings, many with team photographs and portraits, drawings, schedules, itineraries relating to Harvey's involvement in lawn bowling events locally, in Ontario, the United States, and Great Britain.

Three letters from Henry Nyberg from his home in Kalkesta, Sweden, where he had retired. His letters to Harvey discuss old times and memories, but also concern the preparations being made in Sweden for a possible war, disbelief that war will actually be declared, and in 1941 he remarks that he made the wrong prediction about people coming to their senses.

Includes one letter from H.M. Snyder (furniture manufacturer) in 1941 about their mutual stays in hospital and state of health; a letter from Harvey to Dan Shantz in 1930 about the need for more snow fencing on the road past Chicopee, and correspondence with Titus Shantz about his dog licences.

Correspondence from Harvey Sims' old friend Fred C. Burden, also a friend of Adam Strohm, from whom there are several letters mixed in this file. Places written from range from Detroit, Michigan, where Fred lived for some time, to California.

Correspondents include Lieut. L.K. Harrison (Director of Music, Royal Canadian Regiment), Sir A. Wilson Hungerford, Belfast (fellow bowler), Elizabeth M. Harper (Fellow of the Royal Empire Society and Men of the Trees), Homer Heard (to and from concerning work done at Chicopee), Allison Heasley, and "Harry."

Includes several letters from Violet Patton, a lawn bowling connection from Belfast, who includes clippings and photographs of her children; a letter from James K. Pickett in 1930 concerning a Metropolitan Life policy; one from C.D. Pequegnat calling for a meeting on Dec. 5, 1933 of the shareholders of the Waterloo County Grand River Parks Co. Ltd., to discuss creating Cressman's Woods as a permanent Waterloo County Park. One letter from William Philip of the Grand River Conservation Commission is present but torn into several pieces.

Correspondence to and from Harvey J. Sims and Carl A. Borgstrom, landscape architect mostly concerning trees and shrubs for Harvey's property.

Correspondence from and to Harvey J. Sims and various book dealers and publishers relating to Harvey's efforts to build his library collection: Albert Britnell Book Shop (Toronto), The Book Society, World Books, Old Authors Shop (Ottawa), The Narrator (January 1942), Toronto Book Fair, Creasser's Book Shop (Toronto), T. Eaton Co. and the John Hardwick Co. (The Book House for Children). Includes invoices, catalogues, book lists, reviews, periodical issues and ephemera.

Clippings about William Lyon Mackenzie King, some dated but most not.

Correspondents include J.M. Laing of the Mutual Life Assurance Co. about an investment plan, A.A. Langford of the Provincial Lawn Bowling Association accepting an invitation, and Law Society of Upper Canada circular correspondence that includes the voting results for benchers (Harvey Sims is third on the list of 61). File also contains a letter from Thomas W. Leak looking for work as a gardener, and a partial letter from Mrs. B. Lord.

Correspondence from and to C. Ellison Kaumeyer, General Manager of the Niagara Parks Commission, and K.M. Broman, Superintendent of Arboriculture at the Niagara Parks Commission, relating to acquiring more specimens for Harvey J. Sims' collection of trees and shrubs, also requesting labels to be made for attaching to his specimens. Includes many lists annotated in pencil by Harvey, also many pencilled lists in his handwriting, as well as some mention of swans and ducks. Included in this folder are several letters to and from the Minister of Highways, T.B. McQuesten, regarding establishing a botanical garden in Hamilton.

Correspondence from and to Harvey J. Sims, Adam Strohm, Librarian at the Detroit Public Library, and Charles R, Sanderson, Chief Librarian of the Toronto Public Library, between 1927 and 1941, the latter two often enclosing each other's letters. Adam Strohm sometimes encloses letters from Fred Burden, a mutual friend of his and Harvey's. Harvey had initially approached Adam Strohm for advice about books for his library; this correspondence included Sanderson after 1927. As well as corresponding about books these three men developed a friendship demonstrated in their letters, writing about their visits, their travels, and their lives.

Typewritten letter from William Lyon Mackenzie King to Harvey J. Sims dated December 23, 1941, concerning changed arrangements for Harvey to visit Ottawa, as King is unsure when he will be called to Washington by the President.
Salutation: "My dear Peter [handwritten]"; Signature: "Please let this letter bring to you anew my warmest and best of wishes for your seventieth birthday anniversary, and for Christmas day. Let it bring my best of wishes also to the boys, and my love to Madge and Minnie. Indeed, I send my love to you all [typewritten]. Yours affectionately, Billy [handwritten]."

Letter from Joan Patteson to Harvey J. Sims dated November 12, 1941. She addresses Harvey as "Peter", and refers to Mackenzie King in her letter as "Rex", describing Mackenzie King's low spirits: "Now poor old Rex is facing a situation not too pleasant. He is tired... He is so alone our hearts ache for him. I need not tell you how I regard the gentleman in Toronto. I think it very bad if he accepts."

Typewritten letter marked "Personal" from William Lyon Mackenzie King to Harvey J. Sims dated September 26, 1941, thanking Mrs. Shannon Bowlby for sending photographs to him through Harvey. He expresses interest in visiting Chicopee but is having difficulty arranging it.
Salutation: "My dear Peter [handwritten]"; Signature: "All good wishes, Yours affectionately, Billy [handwritten]."
Includes handwritten correction.

Typewritten letter marked "Personal" from William Lyon Mackenzie King to Harvey J. Sims dated September 12, 1941, thanking Harvey for his most recent welcome letter and his praise for King's "Mansion House" speech. He re-iterates his desire to visit Chicopee.
Salutation: "My dear Peter [handwritten]"; Signature: "Yours affectionately, Billy [handwritten]."

Hartford, Conn.

Hartford, Conn.: family news.

Typewritten letter from William Lyon Mackenzie King to Harvey J. Sims, dated May 13, 1941, concerning Angus Macdonald who relayed a message from Harvey, also mentioning his own intention to visit Kitchener in the summer.
Salutation: "My dear Peter [handwritten]"; Signature: "With all good wishes, Yours affectionately, Billy [handwritten]."

Hartford, Conn.: family news.

Correspondence from and to Harvey J. Sims and various nurseries and seed and plant suppliers relating to plants, trees, and shrubs for his property. Includes catalogues, lists and invoices. Suppliers include The Brampton Nursery, Cedarvale Tree Experts, Depuys and Ferguson (Montreal), Dominion Seed House, Endean Nurseries (Richmond Hill), Herbst Brothers (New York). More suppliers can be found in Series 8, Harvey J. Sims : Personal Business.

Correspondence from and to Harvey Sims and Arthur Herbert Richardson at the Ontario Department of Lands and Forest concerning reforestation efforts at Chicopee. In 1940, Harvey writes that he has more than 700 varieties of trees and shrubs, including all but 5 of the 82 native forest trees listed by J.H. White in Forest Trees of Ontario. In 1930, he writes that the Boy Scouts and Rotarians propose helping him plant 3500 more trees on Chicopee heights to complete the work started in 1929.

Carbon typescript transcription of a diary by J. Ross Stewart of a trip on the Mauritania to the Carribbean.

Letter from "Maude" dated Toronto, January 18, 1940 to Harvey J. Sims with information taken from The Wissler Family Record concerning the Robertson-Sims genealogy, and confusion caused by Harvey's grandmother having been married twice.

Includes one list of trees planted at the North Western entrance to Hamilton, otherwise contains lists of Harvey J. Sims' collection of trees and shrubs dated 1931, 1936, and 1939, with many marks and annotations by Harvey. The 1936 list is labelled "Lorne Park" and has attached many invoices for stock supplied by Lorne Park Nurseries (started by Carl Borgstrom). Two envelopes contain leaf specimens, labelled "Rock Elm" and "White Elm."

Correspondence from and to Harvey J. Sims and Alfred Rehder, Curator of the Herbarium at The Arnold Arboretum, Jamaica Plains, New York, attempting to identify specimens Harvey is sending.

Calling card from William Lyon Mackenzie King to Harvey J. Sims, accompanied by a newspaper clipping showing King George VI, Mackenzie King, and [unnamed] Hertzog. King's handwritten note on the card: "Dear Peter, My love and best wishes go to you with this little reminder of an historic event. My best of wishes for your birthday and Christmas and the New Year, Billy. Xmas 1939."

Correspondence concerning soil samples and pest remedies, as well as handwritten notes by Harvey Sims about chemicals and types of pests. Includes two letters from A.H. Tomlinson, Associate Professor in the Department of Horticulture, one of which is accompanied by a list of ornamental flowering shrubs and a list of deciduous trees, and both of which have pencilled checkmarks, presumably made by Harvey.

Correspondence from and to Harvey J. Sims and Arthur Gilbey, Nursery Sales Manager, Nursery Stock, at E.D. Smith and Sons, Winona, Ontario.

Christmas card from the Scots Fusiliers of Canada with photograph (printed on coated paper) tipped in: "Their Majesties at Kitchener, June 6th, 1939." Left to right: William Lyon Mackenzie King, Queen Elizabeth, King George VI, standing on the reception platform at the Kitchener railway station.

Correspondents include P.H. Roos about Harvey's investments; Newton W. Rowell in 1931 congratulating Harvey on his re-election as a bencher; also George Royle and "Lady Royle" May 23, 1928 and April 25, 1928 about arriving for a visit.

Letters from Harvey J. Sims to horticulturists at the Department of Agriculture Central Experimental Farm in Ottawa, with replies from M.B. Davis, Dominion Horticulturist, T.F. Ritchie, Chief Assistant, and R.W. Oliver, Assistant (ornamental horticulture) as well as to Leonard S. McLaine at the Destructive Pest and Insect Advisory Board. The correspondence relates primarily to Harvey's collection of shrubs and trees, and his pursuit of adding more species to his collection. He mentions that he has collected 76 of the 82 native trees listed in Forest trees of Ontario, also that he has between 500 and 600 different varieties of trees and shrubs. He requests specimens for testing hardiness, also sends an unknown specimen for identification, and requests information on permits necessary to import nursery specimens from the Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plains, New York.

Two images of a woman seated in a chair, possibly at Chicopee; two images of the grounds at Chicopee.