In 1997, the Seagram Company and the Seagram Museum donated the rare book collection and the early archives held by the Seagram Museum Library to the University of Waterloo Library.

The collection of more than 1200 titles covers every aspect of the beverage alcohol industry. Topics include distillation, wine and wine making, brewing, viticulture, bottling and cooperage, taxation and government regulations, temperance and prohibition, the culinary arts, and advertising.

The collection complements the University of Waterloo Library's existing research collections in the fields of chemistry, chemical engineering, and the history of technology as well as the decorative arts, temperance, and social history.

The earliest imprint is the 1545 Italian translation of Charles Estienne's Vinetum..., an early work on viticulture. Other notable early works include De Secretis Remediis aut Potius Thesaurus by Konrad Gesner (1554), and Livre du Vigneron et du Fabricant du Cidre ... et Autres Vins de Fruits by Joseph de Mauny de Mornay (1838).

The collection includes many examples of fine bindings and illustrations.

Also present is a small group of books that belonged to the Seagram family.

A 2 page supplement, "account of the duties paid" listing imports and exports of liquors and wines by "the species and names" of vessels, commanders, and ports of origin.

Series consists of documents illustrative of some aspects of the history of beverage alcohol, particularly in North America. Contains correspondence, ephemera, manuscripts and newspapers relating to the shipment of wine and alcohol to Canada in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, to eighteenth-century distilling processes, to a single piece of ephemera relating to prohibition in Canada in the 1920's.

1 issue of The Caledonian Mercury.

The materials in this collection were assembled by Seagram Museum staff from a number of sources and reflect the museum's focus on the beverage alcohol industry in the North American context. It contains articles, clippings, correspondence, ephemera, etc. and includes correspondence with wine merchants re shipments by sea, information illustrative of bootlegging, prohibition, temperance, etc.

This fonds also contains accession registers, correspondence, invoice copies, purchase order copies, and other materials relating to the acquisition of book and archival material by the Seagram Museum Library and Archives.

Ms. letter, fragile.

1 item of correspondence from Gordon Newton of Johnston & Co. Wine Merchants. Newton Gordon was one of the major suppliers to Canada at that time and this group of letters offers insights into the problems of quality, shipping, supply and demand, as well as into the drinking habits of the time.

1 item of correspondence from Gordon Newton of Johnston & Co. Wine Merchants.

1 item of correspondence from Gordon Newton of Johnston & Co. Wine Merchants.

1 item of correspondence from Gordon Newton of Johnston & Co. Wine Merchants.

Contains several versions of this label, the earliest labelled "Waterloo Distillery" and one printed by the British American Bank Note Company.

Originals and photocopies of envelopes with pictorial engravings of the plant.

Ms. directions for distilling, 4 p. on one leaf, parts lacking.

1 item of correspondence from Gordon Newton of Johnston & Co. Wine Merchants.

Contains several versions of this label, the earliest labelled "Waterloo Distillery" and one printed by the British American Bank Note Company. Also includes negatives.

1 item of correspondence from Gordon Newton of Johnston & Co. Wine Merchants.

1 ms. declaration, 3 p. on one leaf.

1 item of correspondence from Gordon Newton of Johnston & Co. Wine Merchants.

1 item of correspondence from Gordon Newton of Johnston & Co. Wine Merchants.

1 item of correspondence from Gordon Newton of Johnston & Co. Wine Merchants.

1 item of correspondence from Gordon Newton of Johnston & Co. Wine Merchants.

1 item of correspondence from Gordon Newton of Johnston & Co. Wine Merchants.

1 item of correspondence from Gordon Newton of Johnston & Co. Wine Merchants.

1 item of correspondence from Gordon Newton of Johnston & Co. Wine Merchants.

1 item of correspondence from Gordon Newton of Johnston & Co. Wine Merchants.

1 item of correspondence from Gordon Newton of Johnston & Co. Wine Merchants.

1 item of correspondence from Gordon Newton of Johnston & Co. Wine Merchants.

1 item of correspondence from Gordon Newton of Johnston & Co. Wine Merchants.

1 item of correspondence from Gordon Newton of Johnston & Co. Wine Merchants.

1 item of correspondence from Gordon Newton of Johnston & Co. Wine Merchants.

1 item of correspondence from Gordon Newton of Johnston & Co. Wine Merchants.

1 item of correspondence from Gordon Newton of Johnston & Co. Wine Merchants.

1 item of correspondence from Gordon Newton of Johnston & Co. Wine Merchants.

This series consists of correspondence, ephemera, estate records, photographs, scrapbooks, wills, etc. which shed light on the lives of some members of the Seagram family and their activities from 1848 to the 1980's, including Joseph Emm Seagram and his wife Stephanie, their daughter Adine, son Edward Frowde and grandson Joseph Edward Frowde.

The contents of these files were assembled by Seagram Museum Staff from a variety of sources, and consist of original documents, including clippings, correspondence, ephemera, estate records, photographs, scrapbooks, wills, etc. Some documents are photocopies. Wherever possible the original Seagram Museum accession number is included in the descriptions. As the materials were acquired from several sources, coverage is uneven. The largest group of materials centres around Joseph Edward Frowde Seagram, grandson of Joseph Emm Seagram, with lesser focus on his father, Edward Frowde, and grandparents, Joseph Emm Seagram and Stephanie Urbs. A few documents are present relating to the estate of Octavius Seagram, father of Joseph Emm, as well as wills and associated correspondence of Wiltshire Seagrams. Photographs of the McLachlan family of Guelph, Ont., of the Bland Family, and of Warnock family members are present, as is biographical material pertaining to the Hespeler family as well as to the Seagram family.

Contains estate accounts from 1848-1852.

A 2 v. ms. diary Kept by the owner or manager of a distillery in London, England. Entries describe in detail the work and processes carried out each day, and describe as well some of the family and social activities of the writer. The volumes are bound in vellum with brass clasps.

This ledger contains estate accounts from 1852-1858.

13 images, b&w and col., including negatives and col. prints. Includes Russell Theil with horses at firehall; Bowman House, which became the Waterloo Hotel; an early depiction of Waterloo in 1857; bandstand; negatives of a Berlin and Waterloo Electric Railway car; 2 prints and a sheet of contacts of the 1966 UW Homecoming Parade, which featured a float entitled "Coming Thru the Rye," with a birthday cake constructed with Seagram 5 Star bottles. These last were by Colurychrome.

This series consists of originals and photocopies of correspondence, clippings, ephemera, essays, newspapers, photographs, etc. relating to all aspects of the history of the Seagram Company and distilling in general, to other business interests such as CanBar and Hopewell Farms, to the history of the plant site itself and the place of Seagram's in the larger context of Waterloo and the industrial history of the area from the 1850's to the plant's closing in 1990.

Berlin Telegraph and Waterloo County General Intelligencer, Friday, Feb. 18, 1859, original, negatives and photographic print of a folded portion of the first page. Possible Seagram connection: an advertisement for a shop and lot for sale on the North side of King St., no. 8.

1 oversize (61 x 72 cm) ms. will on vellum, of Frederick Frowd Seagram, Warminster, Wilts. This is a probate copy, signed, dated and sealed by the Registrar, Jan. 18, 1861.

Seagram connection unknown.

Series consists of ephemera including advertisements, business cards, calendars, labels, signs, stationery, trade cards, etc. which illustrate some aspect of Seagram history.

1 ms notarized copy of will, codicils, extracted from the principal Registry of the Probate Divorce and Admiralty Division of the High Court of Justice.

A note in this album indicates that it belonged to Stephanie Seagram, wife of Joseph Emm Seagram. It contains studio portraits of family and friends, including Seagram, Warnock and Bland families. Many are unidentified. Photographers include Notman & Fraser, Toronto.

1 item of correspondence from an unknown correspondent to an unknown correspondent.

This fonds contains originals and copies of correspondence, legal instruments, licenses, manuscripts, photographs, ephemera, plans, reports, and topical files relating to the early history of the Seagram Company to 1911, and from its incorporation in 1911 to 1928, when it was purchased by the Bronfman family. The records of Joseph E. Seagram and Sons, Ltd., actually stretch beyond the 1928 date, as many records emanate from the Waterloo plant and document certain of its activities to the 1950's and 1960's. The sousfonds contains information about the incorporation of the company under its various names, on imports and exports of alcohol to and from the plant, on registration of labels, and on subsidiary operations such as feed stuffs. It also includes information about the distillery site itself, in the form of topical files, reports, plans and photographs. Information on local history is also present, as the Seagram family and company figured largely in local business, political and social circles.

Series consists of originals and photocopies of correspondence, invoices, partnership agreements re the business interests of Joseph Emm Seagram, George Randall and William Roos from 1869-1899.

Corrrespondence, correspondence copies, legal documents and copies relating to the possible claim of Mrs. William Seagram against the estate of Frederick Frowd Seagram, both pecuniary and in property. Includes correspondence and notes of J.A. Davies, a Montreal solicitor, including a letter to the Secretary Treasurer of Galt, Ont. re a property "opposite Lovel's Hotel", one to the Mayor of Warminster, Eng. about money bequeathed to individuals, and one letter regarding the results of his queries. Includes: "Last Will of William Seagram," March 2, 1892; "Re Seagram Power of Attorney, Copy," from William Seagram, Montreal to John Seagram, England; "The Executors of theLate Ann Frowd Davies in Account with the Estate," Oct. 3, 1878. Also included are one calling card, and a family record of the children of Thomas Seagram, 1810-1878 and Emily Hore, 1819-1871.

Letter from J.E. Seagram to "Massey" concerning trade in spirits.

Contains fragment of a business document: "Duty Paid Sp . . . . Brought in, Jos. E. Seagram.

Series consists of alcohol-related ephemera for which no direct Seagram connection is apparent, and includes an advertisement, bill of lading, charter, invoice from a Galt merchant, liquor permits, a temperance pledge card, prohibition ribbon, and wine lists.

Invoice to Mr. Alex McGregor dated Feb. 9, 1885. Includes purchase of 1 gallon of rye.

File consists of 1 illustration of Seagram distillery and surrounding area.

6 b&w images of King St. in Waterloo. Two appear to be originals, the rest are prints taken from publications, and include contacts, negatives and duplicate prints in various sizes. Most show the "Commercial Buildings," built in 1857 on the east side of King St. at Erb, where the Seagram General store was located. One original, cut from an album [?] has a photograph of a turn-of-the-century lacrosse team pasted on the verso.

4 b&w images of bar interiors in Kitchener and Waterloo, of which one is original.

7 images, b&w photographs and negatives, some oversize, 5 original. Photographers include Fraser Bryce, Toronto, and Bachrach.

1 images, b&w original, copy print and negative.

Series consists of photographs, negatives, slides, transparencies and other images relating to the distillery, its employees, its history, and also to the local area. File titles are for the most part as assigned by the Seagram Museum.

Toronto Saturday Night, Holiday Number, July 1, 1890, containing an advertisement on. p. 34; also negative and contact print of same. Bookseller's stamp on cover reads: "W. Cooper & Co., Booksellers, Clinton."

10 images, b&w photographs, originals, mostly studio portraits, some oversize. Subjects include two brides and a baby. Photographers include Ashley and Crippen, MacAdam, Montreal, 2 by Notman & Son, Montreal, Freeland, Toronto, and Lyonde, Toronto. Also one photograph by N. Kennedy, location unknown.

Three trade cards which could be exchanged for a whiskey sample: Hiram Walker, [1893] and 1897, Joseph E. Seagram, 1900.

Clippings, ephemera, telegrams. The subject matter includes events of personal and family interest, such as weddings, obituaries, society events, sports, etc. Family names which occur often are Bland, Warnock, Bowlby and Seagram. Also included are items of national and international scope, such as items concerning the death of Queen Victoria, items about other royalty and items pertaining to musicians and composers.

Of particular interest are original telegrams to Mayor Bowlby concerning the visit to Berlin on Oct. 10, 1901 of the Duke and Duchess of York. During their scheduled stop of five minutes they were met by Mayor Bowlby, introduced to Mrs. J.E. Seagram, Mr. and Mrs. L.J. Breithaupt and Mrs. G.H. Bowlby, and were presented with a bouquet tied with Seagram colours.

Local ephemera is also present, some of it loose:

• Church of St. John the Evangelist, Berlin, Ont.: Opening of the New Church Building, Order of Services, Sunday, October 7th, 1894;
• Hymns: Opening Services, New Church of St. John the Evangelist, Berlin, Sunday October 7th, 1894;
• In Memoriam [Queen Victoria] 1819-1901, The Church of St. John the Evangelist, Berlin, Saturday, Feb. 2nd, 1901.

Article "C.W.A. Meet, Waterloo, July 1st and 2nd," Saturday Globe, June 22, 1895: [1]. This article concerns the annual meet of the C.W.A. [Canadian Wheelman's Association?] to be held in Waterloo, Ont. in 1895. Joseph E. Seagram was Honorary President of the Waterloo Bicycle Club and donated a horse as a prize for this meet. The article also includes two images of the Waterloo Bicycle Club Track, as well as portraits of local individuals: D. Hybner, Mayor, Berlin; Simon Snyder, Mayor, Waterloo; Waterloo Bicycle Club officers J.W. Fear, J.M. Scully, Geo. Wegenast, F.G. Hughes, A.H. Snyder, C.W. Wells; also W.G. Roos, C.H. Froelich.

Series consists of clippings, correspondence, ephemera, essays, a genealogical chart, obituaries, etc. relating to the lives, interests and activities of Seagram family members and their place in community, political and social spheres from the nineteenth century to the present day.

Series consists of originals and photocopies, mostly "dept. files," detailing various operations in the Waterloo plant relating primarily to the production of alcohol. Includes applications, correspondence, declarations, ephemera, legal instruments, licenses, newsletters, permits, and photographs which document commercial feed stuffs registration from 1928-1953, distilling licenses, information about exports from the plant between 1887 to 1959, imports for re-distillation 1897-1942, label approval and registration doumentation from 1927-1941, also product evidence files all dating from ca. 1960, possibly used in a legal case, documenting the brands produced and exported in the early years of the twentierth century, accompanied by declarations by former employees.

Advertisement on p. 18 of the Supplement to the Mail and Empire, Christmas 1897.

Series consists of photographs of members of the Seagram family, MacLachlan Family, residences, horses and horse racing, and photographs of local sports teams which include a Seagram family member.

9 images, b&w photographs, originals, many oversize, 1 panorama. All are team pictures, most of which include at least one Seagram, and almost all individuals are identified:

• Berlin and Waterloo Hockey Club, 1897 (J.H. and E.F. Seagram),
• Beavers Baseball Club, 1903 and 1906 (E.F. Seagram),
• Winners of the Moore Curling Cup, 1910-1911 (E.F. Seagram),
• Waterloo Cricket Club, 1926, E.Denton Photographer (C.A. Seagram, J.E.F. Seagram, T.W. Seagram),
• Kitchener-Waterloo Intermediate Rugby Football Team, 1925 and 1926 (Cam Seagram, J.E.F. Seagram, Walter Bean, Jack Hemphill),
• Winners of the Seagram Bowling Trophy, 1907 and 1909.

The items in this file are from a company letter book and consist of letter copies to and from the Dept. of Inland Revenue concerning importing activities of the company. Most letters are to and from Wm. Dawson, Officer-in-Charge at the Seagram Distillery, Waterloo regarding spirits brought in to the distillery for purposes of re-distillation and accounting for quantities of same.

21 images, b&w photographs and negatives, many oversize. Most are originals. Subjects include a Old Woodbine Racetrack, 1898, of Seagram horses, their jockeys and trainers. Includes one colour print taken from a painting.

Contains invoices and receipts re account of Wm. Kreisel, New Dundee. The letterhead includes an engraving of the building. This is probably the business carried on by William Roos after he and J.E. Seagram dissolved their partnership in 1883.

Verifax copy and ts. transcript of an original untitled document filed in the Registry Office in the County of Waterloo, signed by George Randall, Joseph E. Seagram, and William Roos, July 10, 1878.

Verifax copy and ts. transcript of an original document filed in the Registry Office in the County of Waterloo, signed by Joseph E. Seagram and William Roos, July 10, 1878.

Originals and photocopies of company-produced documents, ephemera, etc.

Clippings (photocopies) dated 1956-1957, 1978.

Contains several versions of this label, most of which include some reproduction of the A.H. Hider (1870-1952) lithograph of Seagram's Queen's and King's Plate Winners.

3 b&w images of Building 25, ca. 1970's.

Ca. 216 images, b&w and col., photographs and negatives of employees and the plant, mounted on tabbed cards for easy reference. Many of these images are copy prints and negatives of early photographs and drawings, from ca. 1800's to the 1970's. Includes are photographs of employees at work, executives, visitors, plant interior and exteriors, Hopewell farms, etc.The original numbers employed by the Seagram's Ltd. Information Centre indicate the date of the original as the first element of the code, and the cards are arranged in chronological order. Some of these cards were removed by Seagram Museum staff for inclusion in their topical photo files. Many are duplicates of photographs found in other files.

Clippings, one original and a photocopy, of biographical news items, 1974-1975.

Original ts. copies of four biographical essays taken from publications, photocopies of correspondence and ephemera relating to early Seagram business interests.

8 images, b&w photographs and negatives, copies and 5 originals. Subjects include Bratton House, 22 Willow St., Waterloo, a house on King St. S. lived in by E.F. Seagram from 1903-1919, and interior views of J.E.F. Seagram's home on Albert St. taken ca. 1982.

One excerpt in a red frame, with inscription "For Herbert's Bedroom" in an unidentified hand on the back.

Bill of lading for whiskey consigned to the Grand Trunk Railway System by J.P. Wiser, destined for Shanghai.

Microfiche of plans of Calvert Distillers Ltd., Amherstberg, Dec. 1955, of B.C. Distillery Co. Ltd., March, 1957, and of United Distillers Ltd., Marpole, March 1957.

Originals and photocopies of company-produced documents, ephemera, etc.

Photographic prints and negatives of ms. bylaw passed in 1863.

Contains photocopies of early Seagram labels.

4 separate images of the Stillhouse, 3 with copy negatives, contacts and additional prints. The oldest is of the stillhouse ca. 1900 with cattle pens in the foreground. One is taken from a printed source, also ca. 1900, one is ca. 1925, and the fourth is a colour imapge from ca. 1980.

File consists of 1 aerial view photograph of Seagram plant and surrounding area illustration.

File consists of 1 Polaroid photograph of Seagram distillery front.