This series pertains to grain elevator operations and their administrations. It contains photographs and technical drawings of terminal elevators purchased and constructed by Norman M. Paterson. One of the most interesting document in this series is a map that shows with colour pines, the elevator lines of N.M. Paterson as well as the train lines in Manitoba, Ontario and Saskatchewan. This map was probably hung in the office of Norman M. Paterson in Winnipeg or Fort William during the decades of 1920 and 1930 (container 774). The oldest grain terminal named "Elevator K" was built in 1912 and had a capacity of 50,000 bushels (see photographs). In May 1914, Norman M. Paterson bought the Royal Elevator Line of 12 terminals located in south central Saskatchewan, which included elevators in Lumsden, Findlater, Tugaske and Herbert. This new line was called the Interior Elevator Company, but was entirely owned by Mr. Paterson. In 1915, he built "Elevator O" in Fort William. An additional 16 elevators were added to Interior Elevator Line in 1916, purchased from McLaughlin-Ellis. These were mostly along the Main Line East of Regina and included Indian Head, Wolseley, Summerberry, Grenfell and Whitewood, and Alexander (Manitoba), which was the first elevator he owned in Manitoba. A year later, in 1917, he purchased 11 elevators from Saskatchewan & Western companies. These were primarily on the Assiniboia Line, but included the first entry into Western Saskatchewan at Estuary. In 1918, 23 elevators were purchased from the Northern Elevator - 15 in Manitoba and 8 in Saskatchewan. These included elevators in Morris, St. Jean and Dufrost, with some on the Glenboro Line and a few on the Assiniboia Line. Other elevators were built and in August 1920, there were 70 elevators on the Line. In 1921, several more were built, including ones on the North leg of the Fox Valley Branch (Mendham, Gascoigne, and Burstall). In 1922, nine were purchased from the Young Grain Company, mostly in South-West Manitoba and included the Wakops Branch. In 1927, several more were constructed including Richmond and Fox Valley. In 1928, 14 more were built, which brought the total number of Paterson elevators to 107. The company continued its expansion, but only after the Great Depression of 1929. Between the period of Second World War and 1965, some elevators were sold and others were rebuilt at Pierson (Manitoba) and Broadview (Saskatchewan). In 1967, new elevators were built at Arborg (Manitoba). In 1976, the first high throughput elevator was built in Orkney (Saskatchewan) followed by a similar elevator in 1977 at Carievale. The largest one was built in 1979 at Killarney (Manitoba).
All records in this series document this expansion. In particular, documents in container 795, files 11 to 14, consist of Grain Buyers Records Sheets maintained by Paterson employees. All of these sheets present the name of each buyer (farmers), their date of birth, place of birth, description of previous experience, employment record, remarks and salary, etc. Files 1-5 in Container 796 are also important. They contain Station Book Sheets that details information of each elevator station: history description (year built), rated capacities, description of the plant and a description of its value (capital cost, estimated present value, insurance, names of agents, salary, etc.), and a description of construction and repairs made on elevators from 1946 to 1979.
The graphic material provides essential and complementary information to the textual records of all series of the fonds. They provide visual evidence of the company's construction and engineering accomplishments. Together with the textual records and the technical drawings, they are perhaps the most complete record of elevator development existing for the grain industry in Canada. The most significant elevator projects by N.M Paterson & Sons Limited are recorded in these images. They showcase the phases of early construction work and continue on to periods of restoration, development and implementation of new and more modern elevators. Special events and occasions that celebrate the opening of new buildings are also well documented in these images. Additionally, there are images of the workers involved with grain activities and operations. Also included are several panoramic and aerial photographs taken by professional photographers, which show detailed views of various ports and regions. Many photographs were used by the company's magazine, The Paterson News, and for different public events.
