Arnprior & McNab/Braeside Archives

Date

1856 - 2002

Format

photographic

textual records

Collection/Fonds

Miriam McCreary fonds

Description Level

Fonds

Physical Description

50 cm textual material; approx 200 photographs

History / Biography

Miriam Edith McCreary (1917-2012) was the daughter of Robert Nelson McCreary (1867-1949) and the late Edna Victoria Elliott (1877-1946) of Pakenham. She worked for many years in the law office of McLean and Moore in Arnprior. Her brother, Robert Hillman McCreary (1904-2002) graduated from Almonte High School in 1923. He attended Queen's University and graduated with a medical degree in 1929. He met his wife while studying at Queen's and on July 18 1942 he married Edith 'Doreen' Montgomery (1904-1980) of Smith's Falls. Dr. McCreary served his internship at the Ottawa General Hospital and was appointed resident house surgeon at the Civic Hospital July 1 1929. He also worked at Strathcona Isolation Hospital in Ottawa, the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, and the Children's Memorial Hospital in Montreal. He went on to specialize in pediatrics earning the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Certificate in Pediatrics in 1947. Besides his very busy practice, Dr. McCreary also held various positions at the Grace St. Andrew's United Church, the Ontario Medical Association and the Arnprior and District Memorial Hospital. He served on the Board of Education for Arnprior throughout much of the 1940's. He was Chairman of the Arnprior Public School Board in 1948 and President of the Ontario Medical Association 1961-1962. Mrs. Doreen McCreary was active with the University Women's Club in Arnprior and served on the Board of Education. She was the only woman who served on Arnprior Town Council in 1955.

Acquisition Source

In February 2006 and February 2007, Ms. Miriam McCreary donated this material via her friend Arthur McLean. Ms. Nancy Anderson donated the files of family history research and material belonging to both Miriam McCreary and Dr. Robert McCreary in July 2013. Ms. Anderson's mother was Edna McCreary.

Scope and Content

This fonds consists of two parts; a small donation of material by Miss Miriam McCreary followed by a large donation of McCreary (MacCreary, McCreery) family history and personal documents belonging to her brother Dr. Robert McCreary. Both Miriam and Robert were avid geneologists, so that much of the collection consists of family history charts, correspondence and information they either produced or received about the McCreary, Kerr, Elliott, Jamieson, Daykin and Paterson families. Of particular significance is the bound photograph album belonging to Dr. Robert McCreary with his hand written index which shows scenes taken in Arnprior and surrounding area. One file contains photographs and articles related to Mrs. Doreen McCreary.

Original donation from Miriam McCreary consists of the following items in one file: Box L2.3

1. 1952 edition of the Re-echo

2. 1946 brochure about the Arnprior High School including interior and external photographs.

3. Program for the official opening of the new wing of the Arnprior Public School, October 7th, 1952.

4. 1952 - 1953 Edition of Arnprior Public School Yearbook dedicated to Princess Elizabeth in her coronation year.

5. Newspaper clipping showing photograph of ADHS students for 1933 - 1934 with most people identified.

6. Correspondence to Miriam McCreary 2002

Subsequent accrual of family history and personal records: Box L2.3

File List:

1. Dr. Robert McCreary - Biographical (includes obituary and audio cassette recording of funeral eulogy May 18 2002)

2. Dr. Robert McCreary - Loose Photographs

3. Dr. Robert McCreary - Clippings

4. Dr. Robert McCreary - Personal Correspondence

5. Dr. Robert McCreary - Professional Correspondence

6. Dr. Robert McCreary - Letters of Thanks

7. Dr. Robert McCreary - Queen's University

8. Canadian Doctor Magazine 1961 - Dr. Robert McCreary profiled

9. Arnprior Delegation to Pfhizer in New York 1955 - both Dr. & Mrs. McCreary participated.

10. Mrs. Doreen McCreary - Biographical, Photographs and Clippings

11. Estate of Robert Nelson McCreary 1949 and will of Mrs. Edna Victoria Elliott McCreary 1944

12. Published sources of McCreary Genealogy

13. Dr. Brian Bailey's - McCreary Family Research

14. Dr. Robert and Miriam McCreary - McCreary Family History Research

15. Dr. Robert and Miriam McCreary - McCreary Family History Research Handwritten Notes

16. Dr. Robert McCreary - Correspondence re: Family History Research

17. Miriam McCreary - Correspondence re: Family History Research

18. Dr. Robert McCreary - Kerr, Kennedy, Elliott Family History Research

19. Elliott, McCreary, Jamieson, Kerr Family History

20. Elliott Family Research - Miscellaneous

21. Campbell/Elliott family of Pakenham

22. Jason Roberts Research - Elliott and Kerr Families

23. Larry Pritchard's - McCreary Family History Research

24. Helen L. McBratney's - McCreary Family History Research

25. Jean Nielson's - Jamieson Family Tree

26. Pauline Bruel's - Paterson Family History

27. Dr. Robert McCreary - Correspondence with Anne Holt re: McCreary/Halpenny

28. Dr. Robert McCreary - Correspondence with John Jamieson re: Hamilton, Kerr, Elliott and Jamieson Family History

29. Dr. Robert McCreary - Correspondence with Constance Sissons re: Kerr and Elliott Family History

30. Pedigree Chart - Preston, Hughes

31. 1944 Article about Lanark and map circa 1940's showing McCreary

32. Miscellaneous - includes CD and prints of Boyd's Methodist Cemetery (Lot 2 Concession 12 of Lanark) taken March 2004 by Bill Daykin. Also includes research in Ireland.

Albums containing clippings and photographs: Box L2.4

1. Deaths - One album and one envelope holding collection of many obituaries of family and friends of the McCreary's; many from the Arnprior and Pakenham area from 1904-2002

2. Weddings - One album containing many wedding photos and announcements of family and friends 1942 - 2009

3. McCreary Family History Album - 1899 - 1998

4. Dr. Robert McCreary's Career - Clippings and Photographs 1948 - 1989

5. Small red photograph album 'Q Meds '29 Reunion 1949 and 1954' (photos removed from plastic sleeves).

6. Personal photograph album of Dr. Robert McCreary with accompanying index 1935 - 1941

Album includes scenes of Arnprior, Burnstown, Stewartville, Montreal, Chemong, Lift Locks at Peterborough, Algonquin Park, Pakenham Bridge, Lake of Two Rivers, Golden Lake, Whitney etc.

Oversized Material: Box O2.6

1. 1856 Crown Grant to James MacCreary for Lots 10 & 11, 9th Concession of McNab consisting of 400 acres for 80 pounds.

2. Framed, B&W photograph Children's Memorial Hospital Staff (Montreal) 1935 including Dr. Robert McCreary (second from left, from row).

3. Mounted, B&W photograph of Queen's Med '29 Reunion participants including Doreen and Dr. Robert McCreary.

4. Mounted, B&W photograph of Resident Staff, Hospital for Sick Children 1932-1933

5. Mounted, B&W photograph of staff of Ottawa Civic Hospital including Dr. Robert McCreary fifth from left.

6. Mounted, B&W photograph of Executive of Medicine '29, Queen's University 1928-1929 including R. H. McCreary Middle Row, third from left.

7. Mounted, B&W photograph Medicine '29 Permanent Executive including R. H. McCreary top row, second from left.

8. Folder containing 14 medical certificates

9. Folder containing High School Gradualtion Diploma of Robert H. McCreary

10. Folder of Certificates and correspondence regarding Dr. McCreary's membership the Mason's.

11. Folder of Newspapers with news related to McCreary family members (particularly the coverage of the sudden death of the Honourable W F McCreary, Liberal Member of Parliament for Selkirk, Manitoba). Papers include The Queen's Journal, March 17 1926, January 15 1928, November 9 1928.

The Kingston Whig-Standard, April 30 1927, May 25 1929, The Montreal Herald, May 5 1904 and The Evening Standard, May 5 1904.

Notes

Ms. McCreary also donated copies of Beldon’s re-printed Historical Atlas of Lanark & Renfrew Counties (1880 - 1881) and Historical Atlas of Carleton County (1879). These 2 items are for general reference purposes and are available in the reading room of the archives.

Related Material

See Also: Arnprior District High School fonds

Accession No.

2006-0198

2013-0312

Less detail