Fonds F 1228 - Benjamin Rothwell fonds

Title and statement of responsibility area

Title proper

Benjamin Rothwell fonds

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Level of description

Fonds

Repository

Archives of Ontario

Reference code

CA ON00009 F 1228

Edition area

Edition statement

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Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)

Dates of creation area

Date(s)

1870-1883 (Creation)

Physical description area

Physical description

4 centimetres of textual records

Publisher's series area

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Archival description area

Name of creator

Rothwell, Benjamin, 1835-1913

(1835-1913)

Biographical history

Benjamin Rothwell (1835-1913) was Listowel, Ontario's first teacher, starting the public school there in 1857. After a few years teaching elsewhere, he returned to teach at Listowel's public school from 1865 to 1899.

Benjamin Rothwell was born in Gloucester Township, near Ottawa, in 1835. His family moved to a homestead in the area then known as the Queen's Bush (in present-day Perth County) in 1852. Benjamin was expected to farm, and there were no schools in the vicinity of his home. Nevertheless, he educated himself, and at age 21 he passed the County Teachers Exam in Stratford, Ont.

The next year in 1857, he started teaching at the first school in Listowel, Ont. After that first year, he moved to Trowbridge, Ont. and taught there. He returned to Listowel Public School in 1865 and continued to teach there until his retirement in 1899. In addition to his teaching, Rothwell also served for several years as his municipality's clerk and treasurer. He died in 1913 in Listowel.

Custodial history

Scope and content

Fonds consists of a diary kept by teacher Benjamin Rothwell from 1870 to 1881, while he was teaching at the Listowel Public School. In addition, fonds contains a volume of speeches delivered by Rothwell between 1871 and 1877. Much of the diary is concerned with Rothwell's perceptions of local and world events, and little mention is made of teaching. The speeches on the other hand give a clear idea of Rothwell's ideas and recommendations relating to education in Ontario.

Fonds also consists of a photocopy of a holographic transcript made of the diary.

For a more detailed description, use this link to the Archives of Ontario's descriptive database: http://ao.minisisinc.com/scripts/mwimain.dll/144/PROV/PROV/REFD+F+1228?SESSIONSEARCH

Notes area

Physical condition

Immediate source of acquisition

The original diary and speeches were acquired by the Archives from Mrs. Florence Rothwell Bingle (daughter of Benjamin Rothwell) in 1986. The photocopy of a holographic transcript of the diary was acquired by the Archives from Queen's University Archives in 1976. The diary had been loaned to Queen's for transcription by Mrs. M.L. Quinn (another daughter of Benjamin Rothwell).

Arrangement

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Script of material

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Availability of other formats

Restrictions on access

Access to the original diary and to the speeches is closed for conservation reasons. The photocopy of the diary may be consulted instead.

Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication

Copyright is held by the creator. There are no restrictions on reproduction. Permission of the Archives of Ontario is required for publication; submit a Request for Permission to Publish Form.

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