Joe Quilty's love of old time music and a passion to preserve heritage fiddling in particular caused him to get an association started in Renfrew County. He and Tom Sharbot of Calabogie went to Perth to talk to people who had formed a fiddle club there about how to go about forming a club in the Ottawa Valley. On May 28, 1978 Tom Sharbot, Ed Mayhew and Joe Quilty met to discuss the possibility of forming a Renfrew County Fiddlers Association. On June 16, 1978, the first Fiddle Jamboree was held in St. Joseph's High School at Calabogie, Ontario. The Association was formed June 20 1978 with the following elected to be the first executive. President: Joe Quilty, Vice President: Norman Warren, Treasurer: Ed Mayhew, and Recording Secretary: Madge Quilty. The first recorded minutes were of an executive meeting held on August 22, 1978. Joe Quilty, Norman Warren, Tom Sharbot, George Thacker and Madge Quilty were in attendance. Of the original members, only two, Tom Sharbot and Ed Mayhew has passed away.
Throughout the first twenty-five years, there have been eight presidents. Joe Quilty, Sheldon Church, Ken Spence, Milton Symington, Dennis Harrington, Murray Spence, Dalton Hein and Barry Martin. To celebrate its 25th anniversary year in 2003, and Old Tyme Hoe-down was held at the Renfrew Armouries on Saturday June 7 2003. The associations own fiddlers, musicians and guests supplied the entertainment.
The facebook page of 2018 states that the purpose of the Renfrew County Fiddlers Association is to promote and assist the advancement of fiddle in all forms OF' Old Time Music.
Acquisition Source
Donated in 2008 by Murray Spence of Renfrew.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of the records of the Renfrew County Fiddlers Association including Minutes, Correspondence (including some promotional material) and Financial records from 1978-2008.
Box 1 File List:
1. Renfrew County Fiddlers Association Minutes 1978-1986
2. Renfrew County Fiddlers Association Minutes 1987-1991
3. Renfrew County Fiddlers Association Minutes 1992-1995
4. Renfrew County Fiddlers Association Minutes 1996-1997
5. Renfrew County Fiddlers Association Minutes 1998-1999
6. Renfrew County Fiddlers Association Annual General Minutes 1978-1999
7. Renfrew County Fiddlers Association 25th Anniversay 1978-2003 Souvenir Booklet & Poster
8. Valley Magazine Spring 1992, containing article about Joe Quilty and the Renfrew County Fiddlers Association.
Box 2 File List:
1. Renfrew County Fiddlers Association Correspondence 1978-1986
2. Renfrew County Fiddlers Association Correspondence 1987-1990
3. Renfrew County Fiddlers Association Correspondence 1991
4. Renfrew County Fiddlers Association Correspondence 1992-1997
5. Renfrew County Fiddlers Association Correspondence 1998-2000
6. Renfrew County Fiddlers Association Correspondence 2001-2004
7. Renfrew County Fiddlers Association Correspondence 2005
8. Renfrew County Fiddlers Association Correspondence 2006-2008
9. Door Reconciliations 1981-1988
10. Door Reconciliations 1989-1991
11. Door Reconciliations 1992-1999
Box 3 File List:
1. Bank Reconcilliations 1982-1985
2. Bank Reconcilliations 1985-1988
3. Bank Reconcilliations 1988-1990
4. Bank Reconcilliations 1991-1993
5. Bank Reconcilliations 1994-1997
6. Bank Reconcilliations 1997-1980
7. Cash Expenses, receipts 1978-1980
8. Cheque Register 1978-1982
9. Monthly Income Statements 1980-1989
LP "Renfrew County Fiddlers Command Performance" circa 1983 featuring fiddlers Delmer McCallum, Brian Hebert, Bob Ranger, Dean Lapierre. Music credits to Al Brisco, Alain Brisson, Conrad Brown, Jim Mayhew, Blaine McEwen, Earl Stencill, Buster Brown.
Notes
History taken from 25th Anniversary souvenir program and article about fiddler Joe Quity in Valley magazine Spring 1992.
Accruals
Binder containing correspondence and programming material received in 2017 from secretary Karen Desjardin.