This fonds documents the business, professional, and personal activities of members of the William Park family and extended families (Winslow, Hansard, and Scott), of Newcastle (now Miramichi), Northumberland County, New Brunswick, including William Park, Sr.; William Adam Park; his wife, Edith Winslow Park; their son, Francis William (Frank) Park; Margaret McLaggan Park; William L. Scott; Margaret Bell Hansard; Constance Mary Hansard; France E. Winslow; Constance M. Park Peters; and Christianna Park Bishop.
William Park, Sr.'s records include 3 certificates of appointment (1859 and 1865); receipts (1866-1867) and a single return (1857) relating to his work as commission of roads / highways; 3 deeds, a mortgage, and a bond; 2 draft articles of co-partnership, 1 each between him and John Alexander, Jr. and Alexander McLaggan (January 1855) and Alexander McLaggan (September 1855); 2 agreements, 1 each between him and Jane Davidson (1863) and David Ritchie, John Ritchie, Robert Ritchie, and Allan Ritchie (1872); William Park, Sr.'s estate records, including a copy of his will (1896-1906); share certificates (1864, 1887, and 1901); purchase agreements for pew number no. 2 in St. James Presbyterian Church and for burial lots in the church cemetery (1850, 1863, 1889); and 3 pieces of correspondence (1858 and 1869).
William Adam Park's records include 6 commissions of appointment (1875, 1887, 1888); 9 pieces of correspondence, 7 pertaining to the provincial election of 1887; his personal account book of expenses (1910-1923); 2 letter books relating to his position as collector of customs (1869-1896, 1894-1998); 1 deed; 1 share in the Miramichi Agricultural Exhibition Association; an assignment of interest in pew no. 22, St. James Presbyterian Church; and an agreement between Peter McLaggan and William A. Park (1912).
Edith Winslow Park's records include a letter from H. V. Parker, offering condolences on the death of her husband, William A. Park (1924); 2 cook books (printed); and graphic material, notably, 20 watercolours of plants and flowers, 12 place cards in pen and ink with touches of watercolour, an illuminated Lord's Prayer in calligraphy, and a watercolour of a stone church on birchbark.
Francis William (Frank) Park's records include 3 transcripts of interviews conducted with him by Barry and Janet Toole, in 1994, (49 pp.) that focus on his family, working life, and activities as a communist activist. He discusses his life in New Brunswick and Ontario (Ottawa) during World War II, his marriage, and his travels to Mexico, Russia, Cuba ("Canadian Tribune"), and elsewhere. There are also 2 post cards (1939, 1946), and notes on the Park family genealogy.
The fonds also includes a few records of extended family members. Margaret McLaggan Park's records include a partial letter from Catherine Scott, Andrew Scott's wife, that outlines the Scotts' move to Minneapolis and their new life in the western United States (1862); William L. Scott's records include a bill of sale between him and David Mott for a chestnut wall-eyed mare, sled, and harness (1830). There are also Margaret Bell Hansard's recipe book (manuscript) [19th c.]; Constance Mary Hansard's recipe book (manuscript) [19th c.]; a deed between Francis E. Winslow and James Fish (1877); a hand-bound, manuscript copy of an illustrated, children's Christmas storybook by Constance M. Park Peters (1927); and letters of administration for the estate of William P. Bishop, Christianna Park Bishop's husband (1907).
The fonds also contains more than 50 photographs of members of the Park, Winslow, and Hansard families, including 2 studio portraits of William A. Park by Notman, of Montreal. The photographs have been moved to PANB's photograph section. See P226 for a listing of items.
