Fonds MC467 - Sterling A. Limerick fonds

Title proper

Sterling A. Limerick fonds

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  • Textual record
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  • Variations in title: The earlier version of this fonds (1982) was known as MC467 Fredericton scrapbooks.

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Fonds

Reference code

CA PANB MC467

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Physical description

22 cm of textual records, 31 photographs : b&w and sepia toned ; 15.5 x 24 cm or smaller, 4 postcards, and 1 artefact (small, wooden curling stone)

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Name of creator

(22 July 1890 - 6 June 1964)

Biographical history

Sterling Alexander Limerick, the son of John R. Limerick (1854-1911), of Fredericton, and Annie Kelley (1857-1940), of Portland (now part of the city of Saint John), was born in Fredericton, York County, New Brunswick, on 22 July 1890. He had no fewer than 6 siblings, namely, Arthur K. (1877-1947), Helen Reid (1878-1886), Ida May (1880-1886), John R. (1894-1894), Gertrude R. (1885-1900), and Harold F. (1892-1957). The family lived at 233 St. John Street, in Fredericton. Sterling Limerick's aunt, Susan Carleton Kelley (1863-1959), who ran a millinery establishment in Fredericton, lived with the Limerick family for many years. His brother, Harold (Hal) Limerick, served as Fredericton's postmaster from 1946-1957.

Sterling A. Limerick first began working for James S. Neill and Sons Ltd., a department store located in Fredericton, in 1907, as an office boy. Beginning on 8 July 1918 and for approximately 46 years, he was more formally employed with the firm. He was named manager of the hardware department, in 1924, and he held that position for 25 years until, in 1950, he was named that department's chief purchaser. Well-known for his window displays, in the 1930s he was awarded several cash prizes in national window display contests.

Sterling A. Limerick had an active social life. He was well-known in his community and well-connected to leading residents. As a young man, he went to the cinema (pictures), plays, musical performances, and dances; attended hockey and baseball games, horse races, carnivals, lodge meetings, and church; went for drives (automobile) with his friends; curled on local rinks; bowled; and spent many hours at "the club" and at a camp located in the Fredericton area. Sterling A. Limerick served as president of the Fredericton Curling Club, and was a member of the Fredericton Shrine Club, the Luxor Temple, the Algonquin Club, the Royal Arch Chapter of the Masonic Order of New Brunswick, Hiram Lodge No. 6 (Free Masons), and St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church. He never married.

Sterling Alexander Limerick died, at the Victoria Public Hospital, in Fredericton, on 6 June 1964, aged 73 years, and was buried in the Rural Cemetery. His estate donated a collection of period toys to Kings Landing Historical Settlement, located at Prince William, soon after his death.

Sources: MC467 (scrapbooks and diaries); Automated Genealogy (Censuses of 1901 and 1911); Daniel F. Johnson's Vital Statistics from New Brunswick Newspapers on-line; RS141 Vital Statistics from Government Records; Sterling A. Limerick's obituary, The Daily Gleaner, 6 June 1964; and RS75A York County Probate Records.

Custodial history

These records came into the hands of Jack MacKenzie Limerick, Sterling A. Limerick's nephew, after his uncle's death. The bulk of these records were transferred to the University of New Brunswick Harriet Irving Library, Archives & Special Collections in 2000 as part of the Jack MacKenzie Limerick fonds. A few photocopies that postdate Sterling A. Limerick's death were probably added to the fonds by his nephew.

Scope and content

This fonds documents the life, work, and social activities of Sterling Alexander Limerick, of Fredericton, N.B., primarily through his personal diaries, 1914-1964. There are also 2 scrapbooks of newspaper clippings (1917-1963), loose newspaper clippings (1906-1963), 35 photographs and postcards, certificates of membership issued to Sterling A. Limerick by Hiram Lodge No. 6 and Neill's Quarter Century Club, printed material, and a single artefact.

Sterling A. Limerick's personal diaries begin in 1914, when he was 23-years-old, and run consecutively to 1964, a few months before his death, aged 73 years. There are 2 diaries each for 1922 and 1935, and a 5-year diary, for 1945-1949, that overlaps with individual diaries for these years. The brief entries document Sterling Limerick's lengthy career in retail with James S. Neill & Sons, his social activities with family and friends, and community events and newsworthy happenings, such as fires, floods, court cases, criminal activity, elections, parades, celebrations, exhibitions, sporting events (particularly men's and women's hockey, baseball, horse racing, and curling), marriages, and deaths.

Entries recorded during World War I note specific events, such as the declaration of war (August 4), the sinking of the Lusitania (May 1915), fundraising efforts, recruitment drives, and the departure of troops for the Front. His diaries for the 1930s offer little comment on the effects of the Great Depression on Fredericton's economy or its residents. He does note, however, that his wages were reduced several times during that decade, and he includes details of the preparations made for the visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth to Fredericton in 1939. During World War II, he records a limited amount of information about the war effort, most notably, the outbreak of the war, the launch or results of a few key offensives, the declaration of the armistice, and the return of soldiers.

The scrapbooks and loose newspaper clippings contain information about Fredericton social events, local fires, floods, court cases (including the Hamilton murder of Burgoyne, 1949), sports, election results, The Royal Visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (1939), the Limerick family and extended family, the masonic lodge, the shriners, marriages, and deaths among other matters.

Included among the photographs are 2 studio portraits of Sterling A. Limerick, photographs of his brothers and other family members, snaps taken of him with his friends while on automobile trips (1914), a single photo of 4 women sitting in an early model automobile (ca. 1914), mock wedding photos in which members of the Algonquin Club probably participated, and several group photos of Sterling Limerick with fellow curlers taken at curling bonspiels. There are also 4 postcards, 3 pertaining to the Algonquin Club and 1 of an automobile decorated for a parade [ca. 1920?].

Printed material includes the city of Fredericton's official programme for the celebration of the coronation of His Majesty King Edward VII, August 9th, 1902; a programme for several activities at the Arctic Rink; 2 dinner menus for banquets held by the Fredericton Curling Club to celebrate its 100th anniversary (1954); A tribute to D. Leo Dolan (booklet), January 1950 (31 pp.); and an advertising flyer for a 4-act, comedy drama entitled, "The Doctor’s Private Secretary,” held at the Opera House, and sponsored by the Fredericton Tennis Club, [19-].

Also included is a single artefact -- a small, wooden curling "stone" commemorating the Fredericton Curling Club's 100th anniversary, 1854-1954.

Physical condition

Immediate source of acquisition

The scrapbooks and printed material were donated to the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick by Jack MacKenzie Limerick, of Oakville, Ontario, Sterling A. Limerick's nephew, in September 1982. The remaining material was transferred to PANB by the University of New Brunswick, Harriet Irving Library, Archives and Special Collections on 9 March 2010. See MC497 administrative file for details.

Arrangement

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

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Restrictions on access

No restrictions

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Finding aids

An inventory is available.

Associated materials

The bulk of these records were transferred to the University of New Brunswick Harriet Irving Library, Archives & Special Collections in 2000 as part of the Jack MacKenzie Limerick fonds.

Researchers interested in the firm, James S. Neill & Sons, may wish to consult MC2036 James S. Neill & Sons fonds and MC3380 Jack Fenety fonds. The latter fonds contains records relating to the firm, as well as to members of the Neill family.

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