Archive Record
Metadata
Accession # |
A1999.59 |
Title |
Ivan J. French fonds, 1892-1999, part 1 of 3. |
Date |
1917-1999 |
Description |
The Ivan French Fonds, A1999.59, consists of accounts, correspondence, photographs and family history relating to the life and career of Ivan J. French (1903-1999) of Elora. Ivan John French was born October 4, 1903, the only child of John French and Regina Cory French (nee Harper), both of Pilkington Township. He attended Primary School in Salem, where the newspaper noted his performance on violin and in the Elora Agricultural Short Courses. He attended High School in Elora , graduating in 1916 followed by studies in bookkeeping and accounting at business college in Guelph. Ivan lived with his family at Lot 12, Concession 1, Pilkington Township on land settled by Josias French Sr. about 1852 and later purchased from the Estate of Robert Pilkington in 1862. In 1922 the farm was sold and Ivan's parents moved to Elora. The same year, at the age of 18, he started his retail apprenticeship with Mr. Augustus Hobbs at his hardware store in Elora; Ivan's grandfather, Ezra French, had been a highly esteemed hardware merchant in Elora for 27 years. Ivan married Hannah Elizabeth Alma Ledingham, July 19, 1928. For brief periods in 1929, Ivan worked for Hobbs Hardware Company in London, Ontario (February-April) and later at Beatty Brothers, Fergus, (May to October), when he returned as a junior partner with Mr. Hobbs in his Elora hardware business. Though Augustus Hobbs died in 1936, Ivan continued to be involved with the firm for another nine years. From 1934 to 1936, he obtained credit for courses, probably by correspondence, in English and Economics (Queen's University, Kingston) and Journalism (University of Chicago). Also, during the same period, in his own words "I did considerable freelance writing, having many merchandising articles published in Hardware and Metal and Hardware in Canada, and general articles published in the old Canadian magazine, which was then published in Toronto. In 1936, I wrote my way to England and France with articles used by the above publications, and covered the unveiling of Vimy Memorial [July 26, 1936] in France for the Canadian. While in England I gathered material on English merchandising." It was in January, 1935 that Ivan wrote a [Toronto?] newspaper column entitled "Economics for Everybody", with articles entitled Stock Taking; Value and Price; Credit Controls; and Wages at a Profit? During 1941, Ivan was owner and editor of a publication , "compiling, editing and publishing a Retail Hardware Price List of 50 different lines of goods. This service was sold by subscription to other retailers for use in their stores. It contained thousands of retail prices which were kept up to date by the mailing of new price change sheets as issued. The introduction of the Price ceiling, as it stopped changes, decided me to suspend the service..." "From August to September, 1942, I was working with Sutton- Horsley Company, Toronto, doing Poise Balancing on aeroplane instruments. The rate of pay was 75 cents per hour. The very exacting type of this work, which must be done under artificial light became too much strain on my eyes. Therefore I returned to Elora to take over the active management of my business here." From February to August 1943, Ivan worked for the Ontario Progressive Conservative party doing public relations. In his words "Field Organizer, travelling throughout the province. Organization of county executives ... checking and compiling reports of districts; campaign direction of some candidates; and general trouble shooting during the campaign." In 1945, Ivan sold the hardware firm to Charles A. Burt, and several years later, in 1949 began a mail order stamp business. In 1953 he was appointed Clerk-Treasurer of Nichol Township, holding the job until his resignation effective October 1, 1965, at which time he observed "It is better to retire when people are sorry to see you go, rather than wait until they are anxious to get rid of you." Ivan continued with the Township in various contract positions until 1967. During the next 30 years, according to his Executor, Ivan was involved principally with his postage stamp business. Alma French died in 1997 , followed by Ivan on February 20, 1999. The fonds consists of materials selected by his Executor. ------------------------------ ------------------- SERIES 1: MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION Subseries 1: HOBBS HARDWARE, 1893-1945 [MU 357, MU 358] Accounts, 1893-1945 File 1 Accounts ledger. Details of accounts with clients and suppliers in/near Elora 1893- 1929. Found within, index of entries, with alphabet tabs, c.1927-1929. File 2 Cash Book, December 1920 - October, 1936; Summary 1929-1936, p.384. File 3 Order book [Inventory] October 31, 1929; tabbed categories: Gen'l Hardware; Paint; Glass; Granite ware; Brushes, p.1-[97]. Inventory, November 1, 1930, p.1-72. MU 357 -------------------------------------------------- MU 358 File 4 Records of Business. includes summary figures for Sales, Expenditures, Inventory, 1929-1936; Hardware Acct. 1937-1945; Cash Paid Out 1937-1941 [shows expenditures for radio, accordion, vacation trip, refrigerator etc]; Summary by month 1930-1945, summary 1893-1941, accounts receivable 1937-1944; Sales chart 1893- 1937. File 5 Notebook, containing Dominion of Canada, Registration Certificate, 1940; Summary notes on Building acct; life, fire and automobile insurance policies; profit and loss 1925-1936, etc. In all 28 items 1893-1942. File 6 Bank [Note]book, Bank of Montreal. Accounts Receivable, A. Hobbs, Aug. 31, 1928 - May 1932; Ivan J. French, Oct. 31, 1935 - April 30, 1937. File 7 Two notebooks, containing Automobile accounts, mileage driven etc., 1929-1932. File 8 Bank book, Royal Bank of Canada, Hobbs Hardware Co., Nov. 12, 1929 - Jan. 22, 1937. File 9 Bank [Note]book, Royal Bank of Canada. Accounts Receivable Dec. 27, 1938 - Dec. 30, 1939. File 10 Notebook, containing dates and payments to Ivan J. French, Gordon Bricker, Norman Thomas, July 1940 - August 1942. Insurance, 1925-1943 File 11 Policy, National Ben Franklin Fire Insurance Co., 1925-1926 with endorsements to 1937 when "Notice is hereby received that Mr. Hobbs the senior partner in the firm of Hobbs Hardware Co. is deceased and the junior partner Mr. Ivan J. French has taken over his interest in the business and is continuing it in the name of Ivan J. French"; Endorsement of policy with Northwestern National Insurance Co. 1936-1937; Policy, Wellington Fire Insurance Company with Ivan J. French, on Hardware merchandise, furniture and fixtures, 1943; Policy [10-year Term], Mutual Life Assurance Co. with Ivan J. French, 1935; Policy with Federal Fire Insurance Co. of Canada, 1937-1940; Receipts from James C. Fasken, General Insurance, Geddes St., Elora; Policy sleeve and receipt from Prudential Insurance Company of America, regarding Hannah E.A. French, 1929/1942. Agreements, 1929-1945 File 12 Partnership Agreement - Release / Agreement to Purchase -Lease. Agreement of partnership, November 9, 1929, Augustus A. Hobbs, hardware merchant, with Ivan J. French, employee; Agreement of sale/partnership, January 1, 1937 between Ivan John French, Merchant and Elsie Christina Hobbs, widow, surviving executrix of the estate of Augustus Hobbs, deceased; Agreement of sale, October 29, 1945, Ivan John French, Merchant to Charles A. Burt, Merchant. Correspondence, 1938-1942 File 13 Statement made to Dun & Bradstreet re financial condition, Jan. 19, 1938; "Census of Merchandising and Service Establishments", completed for Jan-Dec, 1941; Customer's Statement, Bank of Montreal, June 25, 1941; Statement of account, Oct 24, 1938, with Reginald C. Bruce [lawyer] regarding T. Densmore and Mechanics Lien Act; copy of Employee Registration Card, Unemployment Insurance Commission, for Norman Edward Thomas, student clerk and part-time delivery person, ca.1942; (Business) Assessment notice for 1940, Ivan French, Hardware Merchant, pt. Lot 86, Geddes St. Subseries 2: PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE ASSN., 1939-1959 [MU 358 - MU 359] File 1 Notebook, "Riding Record / Meetings - Members / Conventions - Candidates", includes data 1939-1943; newspaper clippings 1945-1955. File 2 Notebook containing lists, correspondence, schedules, newspaper clippings ca.1943- ca.1945; 1955; 1959. Tab headings: Maps; Totals [returns, previous elections]; Executive; [Ward and Township] Chairman; Meetings; Memo; Accts. Includes several articles written by Ivan J. French - "Proposals and Suggestions", "Security - Made in Canada", "What Happened at Winnipeg?", "Winnipeg and the Conservative Convention", "Memorandum: Re:- Party Organization and Public Relations" [Jan.1, 1943]. Includes list and code letters, "checked as per index as of February 15, 1945", of voters and their apparent political affiliation. PERSONAL INFORMATION BANK. ASK ARCHIVIST FOR ASSISTANCE. MU 358 -------------------------------------------------- MU 359 File 3 Notebook containing lists, correspondence, clippings schedules for the 1948 election. Tab headings: Guelph: Rural; Riding and Misc; 1945; Returns. Includes Map, 1939, Sheet 40P [part] showing "Acton - partly organized, Elora, Elmira, Guelph. Alma - weak, Rockwood ?, Ariss - good but limited capabilities." File 4 Correspondence, 1943-1944, between Ivan J. French and members of the Progressive Conservative party, including Premier George Drew, regarding future employment. Includes one-page sheet, Employment Record, detailing jobs held by Ivan J. French, July/22 - Sept 21/84; dated March 13-85. Application form detailing employment history of Ivan J. French. PERSONAL INFORMATION BANK. ASK ARCHIVIST FOR ASSISTANCE. Subseries 3: TOWNSHIP OF NICHOL, 1965-1972 [MU 359] File 1 Letter of Resignation, Aug. 16 1965, Ivan J. French, from his employment as Township of Nichol Clerk, Deputy-Treasurer, Tax Collector and Welfare Officer, includes recommendations regarding hiring a replacement and appreciation to Council "during the past twelve years working with them"; newspaper clippings regarding his retirement; Correspondence from Ivan J. French, May, 1967 regarding his appointment to Court of Revision; Report of Ivan J. French, Deputy Returning Officer, Advance Poll, Oct. 12-13, 1967, including list of those who voted; Letter to Ivan French, 19 April 1972, from members of the Centre Wellington Planning Board, expressing their appreciation for his efforts. |
Creator \ Maker |
French, Ivan J. [compiler] |
Item Name |
Record Group Genealogy |
Person \ Organization |
Armstrong Arthur, Bill Bell Telephone Company of Canada Limited Bell, Mabel R. Boyd Boyle Bricker, Gordon Bryant Burkholder Burns Burt, Charles Burt, Charles Cook Craig Creery, Sophia J. Cromar Cullum Cullum, Lavinia Cunningham Davidson Davidson, E. M. Elora Motors Fasken, James Fasken, Robert Federal Fire Insurance Company of Canada Feil, Fred Fischer Coal Company Fischer, Frederick Ford French, Ezra French, Ivan J. French, John French, Josias Fuller, Arnold Gambrill, Bob George Henderson Gordon, Jack Gray Griffin (Mrs.) Grimes, Wilford E. Grimshaw Hall Halls Harper Hobbs Hardware Company Hobbs, Augustus Howard Husson Johnson Jones, F. G. Keith, William Knox Presbyterian Church Kraft Ledingham, Hannah Elizabeth Alma Lillies Little Long MacDonald, G. A. Marriott's Hotel Marshall May McDonald McQueen McWilliams Moore, Pauline Mundell, John C. Mutual Life Assurance Company of Canada Naftel, L. J. R. Oakman Ontario Securities Commission Progresive Conservative Association Prudential Insurance Company of America Pulkinghorn Richardson Robertson Rumble Rutherford Scroggie Sheldon Short Shuttleworth Smith St. John's Church Stamp Market Stockdale Thomas, Norman Thompson Township of Nichol Trask, Edmund Trask, Herb Vickery W. J. Sheppard Wellington Fire Insurance Company Wilson |
Place |
Elora Meaford Nichol Twp. Pilkington Twp. Salem Vimy Ridge |
Subject |
Commercial Education Family Life Fire Genealogy Medical Military |
Photo, Map # |
MAP ph 14425 ph 14425 - ph 14478 |
Year Range from |
1917 |
Year Range to |
1999 |
Accession # |
A1999.59 |
Containers |
MU 357 MU 358 MU 359 MU 360 |