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.
Sims familyOne holograph letter, written from the trenches in France during the First World War. Ross Hamilton is sending Miss Henstridge a book he has found in a ruined house, and is asking for news of his old school, Kitchener Collegiate Institute.
Hamilton, RossFonds consists of ten letters written by John Woelfle to his brother Edward in 1895. The letters describe the travels and activities of the writer and express interest and concern about the activities and lifestyle of the recipient and other members of the family.
Woelfle, JohnConsists of typescripts of fifteen letters, fourteen from John Goldie to his son James written between 1846 and 1854, one undated from William to James.
Goldie, JohnConsists of one holograph letter from John Galt addressed to "Croker." The letter requests that Croker publish the enclosed items in his magazine if they are not too late reaching him.
Galt, JohnFonds consists of 28 items of correspondence predominantly written during 1893 to David Shannon Bowlby from his family in Berlin (Kitchener), Ontario while Bowlby was a student at the University of Toronto. Most of the letters are casual in nature providing updates about happenings in Berlin, including church sermons and social engagements.
The majority of the letters are authored by Bowlby's mother Martha Esther, with additional letters from friends, including Albert Liborius Breithaupt, and family, including father David Sovereign. Also in the file is one letter from Bowlby on personalized letterhead.
Bowlby, David ShannonFile consists of one letter from Christian Enslin, bookseller and bookbinder, Waterloo, Ontario to Fredrick Heinitsch, M.D., Lancaster, Pennsylvania requesting the right to "Mother Drops", a medicine created by Dr. Heinitsch on which he held the patent.
The letter also includes information on bookbinding and printing practices in Upper Canada and makes reference to local figures such as Benjamin Eby, Bishop of the Mennonites.