Collection search - David and Janet McCowan fonds [textual record]

Record information – Brief
1
David and Janet McCowan fonds [textual record]

Hierarchical level:

Fonds

Date:

1887-1889.

Reference:

R11159-0-7-E, MG55/29-No158

Type of material:

Textual material

Found in:

Archives / Collections and Fonds

Item ID number:

211595

Context of this record:

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David and Janet McCowan fonds
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Record information – Details

Date(s):

1887-1889.

Place of creation:

Manitoba

Extent:

4 cm of textual records.

Language of material:

English

Scope and content:

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The fonds comprises three annual diaries for the years 1887, 1888, and 1889 of the McCowan family of Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. Though the diaries have the name of David McCowan written on the first page, the daily entries within appear to have been written by his wife Janet McCowan (nee Lawrie). Many sentences begin "David and I..." or "David went...", and passages written in the first person generally refer to domestic household chores like quilting, baking bread, or cleaning the stove. The diaries describe social calls and visits to neighbours, trips into town, and the round of activities on the farm over the four seasons. Each daily entry begins with the day's weather and then describes the day's events, including work like sowing barley and planting apple seeds and vegetables in spring; ploughing, cutting wheat, raking and coiling up hay in summer; and cutting wood and banking the house in winter. Other passages tell of attending church or prayer meetings, selling produce in town, writing letters, and working on neighbours' farms.

Provenance:

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McCowan, David, 1849-1930

Additional name(s):

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McCowan, Janet, 1851-

Biography/Administrative history:

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McCowan, David, 1849-1930 : David McCowan was born 1 November 1849 in Scarborough, Ontario, the son of James McCowan and Martha Weir, emigrants from Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire, Scotland. David McCowan married Janet Lawrie and they moved to Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, to farm in September 1877. His brother William McCowan and sister-in-law Margaret Lawrie had moved to Portage la Prairie earlier that year. David McCowan farmed and was for many years the Secretary-Treasurer of the Rural Municipality of Portage la Prairie. David and Janet McCowan did not have any children. He died 10 February 1930.

McCowan, Janet, 1851- : Janet Lawrie was born 30 March 1851, probably in Scarborough, Ontario. She married David McCowan and they moved to Portage la Prairie, Manitoba in September 1877. Her sister Margaret had married David's brother William and had preceded them to Portage la Prairie. Janet and David McCowan did not have any children.

Finding aid:

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(No finding aid) (Restrictions not set)

Additional information:

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Custodial history:

Donated in 1983 by Mr. N. J. Williamson of Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Source:

Private

Related control no.:

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1983/0179
MG55/29-No158

Former archival reference no.:

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MG55/29-No158
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Textual records

[Consultation90 Open]

Volume [MG55/29 No 158] 1

[Consultation 90 Open]

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Date modified:: 2024-07-24