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Title of Database: Past and Present of Prince Edward Island
Researched by: a compilation by the editors (see below)
Origins: Past and Present of Prince Edward Island is a collection of histories and biographies written by "the most gifted authors of the province" and collected into one volume by editors Hon. D.A. MacKinnon, L.L.B., K.C. and A.B. Warburton, D.C.L., K.C. The book is a concise review of the Island's early history and was published in 1906. While it is a watershed publication for the pre-1906 period of PEI History it cannot be described as a complete accounting of the various community leaders who inhabited this island at the time. It is self described as a "compendium of life sketches of representative men and families of the island". By today's standards it would fall short of being "representative" and like most examples of the written word subsequent research may have led to different conclusions. Past and Present of Prince Edward Island remains one of the most informative of Prince Edward Island's published histories. We are pleased to bring to life the more than 700 pages in a user friendly and attractive format. Note that you may view the pages as they looked originally or in a more modern paragraph format.
Time Period covered: c1720-1906
How to Search this database: Past and Present can be searched by key word, for example: a name, place or subject.
Title of Database: Down at the Shore
Researched by: Robert Allan Rankin
Origins: Down at the Shore: A History of Summerside Prince Edward Island 1752-1945 is a book commissioned in 1974 by both the Town of Summerside and the Journal Publishing Company. It was published by the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation. It covers the early history of the Summerside area up to the end of World War II. This book has become a standard reference work for Summerside history and its 160 pages include footnotes and over 100 illustrations. Valuable biographical details for a number of individuals are included throughout its chapters.
Time Period covered: 1752 to 1945
How to Search this database: Down at the Shore can be searched by key word, for example: a name, place or subject. The footnote pages and list of illustrations are all included as searchable.
Title of Database: Business Directories
Researched by: MHCA staff and volunteers
Origins: All available published business directories were searched for Summerside-based entries and results entered into this database. On-going additions will include areas outside Summerside in Prince County and Western Queens. The following Business Directories are included: Hutchinson's; Teare's; Frederick's; Lovell's; McAlpine's; Might's; and Prince Edward Island Directory.
Time Period covered: 1864-1935
How to Search this database: The business directories can be searched by entering a business owner's name (use last name, first name format), the street address of the business, or the business name. It can also be searched by individual directories, location or year. Select desired item from the menu boxes and click search.
Title of Database: Telephone Directories
Researched by: MHCA staff and volunteers
Origins: All available PEI telephone directories were searched for Summerside based entries and results entered into this database. On-going additions will include areas outside Summerside in Prince County and Western Queens.
Time Period covered: 1894-1957 Summerside exchange
How to Search this database: The telephone directories can be searched by entering either a name, street address or the phone number into the search boxes. Database can also be searched by selecting a year or place from the menu boxes to see all results for that selection.
Title of Database: Cummins Atlas Rural Directories
Researched by: MHCA staff using a circa 1928 atlas of PEI from the Cummins Atlas Co.
Origins: Rural Directories accompanied each Lot or Township that was published in the Cummins Atlas of PEI c1928. It is believed that the rural addresses and lists of household occupants were originally sourced through Post Office records. Some cautions is advised in regards to accuracy, but again this database is a comprehensive list for the time period for all of Prince County. On-going additions may include Queens and Kings Counties or portions thereof.
Time Period covered: c.1928
How to Search this database: Search the Cummins Atlas Rural database by entering a surname into the search box or choose a lot number to see all results for that selection.
Title of Database: Newspaper Obituaries
Research by: Jean MacKay, Penny Weatherbee, Tammy Arsenault, Amanda MacLaurin
Origins: Transcribing of obituaries is ongoing from both historical newspapers and current newspapers as recent as last week's in some cases.
Time Period covered: 1874 to the present with an emphasis on more prominent Summerside individuals in the earlier cases. Obituaries collected within the last few years are all inclusive.
How to Search this database: The obituaries can be searched by entering a person's name or a keyword into the search boxes; or by selecting a specific newspaper to display all results from that selection. Results are not limited to the name of the deceased alone, rahter, if a name appears anywhere within an obituary it will show as a result.
Title of Database: Newspaper Personals
Research by: Amanda MacLaurin
Origins: Transcribing of content of the "Personals" columns from local newspapers is a new effort which is an attempt at filling in a few details on the comings and goings of residents and visitors in our small town. We have begun on a trial basis, concentrating on the years after 1911 where the census records are not yet accessible and any piece of information may prove valuable no matter how small and seemingly insignificant. And as often as not they add a kind of colour commentary to the constantly evolving picture of life back then. Indeed they still exist in some local publications across our country. The personals were researched for the years listed and those which reference people with close connections to the Prince County area are entered into a database. Transcribing of the "Personals" is ongoing.
Time Period covered: 1912 to 1914 and 1922 to 1923
How to Search this database: The personals can be searched by entering a keyword into the search box, for example, a person's name, a place or subject. The database can also be searched by selecting a newspaper from the menu box to see all results from that selection.
Title of Database: Newspaper reports of Town Council Meetings
Researched by: Jean MacKay
Origins: Transcribing of early newspaper reports of Town Council Meetings is ongoing. They are the only record of these meetings to be discovered to date. They reflect the journalism of the day as well as the concerns and participatioin of the various civic representatives. Our goal is to add most of the Town Council minutes for the 20th Century to our searchable archive. Minutes from the meetings of City Council in the 21st century are currently available on-line at the City of Summersdie website.
Time Period covered: 1890-1901
How to Search this database: The town council minutes can be searched by entering a keyword into the search box, for example, a person's name, a place or subject. Database can also be searched by selecting a newspaper from the menu box to see all results from that selection.
Title of Database: Jean's References to Businesses
Research by: Jean MacKay
Origins: Over the past several years Summerside resident Jean MacKay, whose day-job is Assistant Archivist at MacNaught History Centre and Archives, has made note of many published references to businesses and people as a side-bar to historical research on themes in which she has personal interest. The result is a mini-reference library of notations and themes waiting to be woven together, in this case on businesses that operated in the Summerside area. This database challenges the user to follow a few of the research trails that are suggested. References of interest may be followed up by you the Member either on-site at MacNaught History Centre and Archives or by forwarding a research request to our staff or a local historical researcher we may recommend.
Time Period covered: 1860s - 1940s
How to Search this database: The references to businesses can be searched by entering a keyword into the search box, for example, a person's name, a place or subject. Database can also be searched by selecting a newspaper from the menu box to see all results from that selection.
Title of Database: Jean's References to People
Research by: Jean MacKay
Origins: Over the past several years Summerside resident Jean MacKay, whose day-job is Assistant Archivist at MacNaught History Centre and Archives, has made note of many published references to businesses and people as a side-bar to historical research on themes in which she has personal interest. The result is a mini-reference library of notations and themes waiting to be woven together, in this case on people of the Summerside area. This database challenges the user to follow a few of the research trails that are suggested. References of interest may be followed up by you the Member either on-site at MacNaught History Centre and Archives or by forwarding a research request to our staff or to a local historical researcher we may recommend.
Time Period covered: 1860s - 1950s
How to Search this database: The references to people can be searched by entering a keyword into the search box, for example, a person's name, a place or subject. Database can also be searched by selecting a newspaper from the menu box to see all results from that selection.
Title of Database: Interview Transcriptions
Research by: Lowell Huestis
Origins: Lowell Huestis is a Summerside resident with a strong interest in history and music (and many other topics) who produced a series of tape-recorded interviews for broadcast on Summerside's second radio station CJRW (no longer operational). Transcribing of these interviews with elders from all over Prince County is ongoing and subject matter varies but is grounded in a time now largely part of history - early to mid 20th century history. Topics included history, folklore, wildlife, music, aircraft and so on.
Time Period covered: Interviews collected between 1979 and the early 1990s. The time period discussed focuses mainly on personal experiences and stories from the 1920s through the1960s.
How to Search this database: The interview database can be searched by entering a person's name or a keyword into the search box. Database can also be searched by selecting a group of interviews from the menu box to view all results from that selection.
Title of Database: A Century of Farewells
Research by: J. Clint Morrison Jr.
When it was put together: Clinton Morrison Jr., historian, publisher and retired school teacher compiled this as a side-bar over 30 years researching topics such as World War One, Lot 11 History etc. He noted arrivals and departures of individuals to and from Prince Edward Island. Sources vary. Please quote our database as the source when you use this information.
Time Period covered: 1800-1900
How to Search this database: The Century of Farewells database can be searched by entering a person's first name or last name into relative search boxes.
Title of Database: Image Database
Whose Research is it: MacNaught History Centre and Archives
Origins: With the publication of an illlustrated history of Summerside in 2002 covering 1900-1970, approximately 20 CDs containing high resolution digital scans were transferred to the MacNaught History Centre and Archives by author Fred Horne. The collection has steadily grown as individuals have made various personal collections of photos available to the MHCA.
At present this database functions solely as an index to our digitized holdings at MHCA. Images are not yet available online
Time Period covered: 1841-2002
How to Search this database: This image database can be searched by entering a key word, for example, a person's name, place or subject. Database can also be searched by selecting a subject heading (category) or a source (collection) from the menu to see all results from that selection. The database is an index of approximately 5000 digitally scanned images, most of which are available through the MacNaught History Centre and Archives. In several cases third party permission may be required to access or order copies. Acquisition of new images is ongoing. It is the hope of the history centre and archives that thumbnails will be available on-line for many of the images in future.
