Fonds consists of textual records, photographs, sound and moving image materials pertaining to the personnel, facilities, products and activities of Canada Packers, Inc. and its various predecessor companies. Companies represented include the William Davies Company, Ltd., Gordon-Ironside and Fares Company Ltd. (Fort William branch), Canadian Packing Company, Ltd., Gunns, Ltd., Harris Abattoir Company, Ltd., and Canada Packers, Inc.
Fonds includes photographs which depict meat packing and processing plants, slaughterhouses, product advertisements, delivery vehicles, and workers. Also, there are photographs of conventions and meetings, presentations, special events, employee activities, and visiting dignitaries. Included are photographs of senior management personnel such as J.S. McLean, W.F. McLean, William Davies, William Harris, James Harris, and Sir Joseph Flavelle.
Textual records include minute books and financial records, price lists, correspondence, personnel records, annual sales conference programs, annual reports, and a collection of the employee newspaper, "The Maple Leaf." Included are the working files of J.S. McLean relating to the 1927 merger which formed Canada Packers, as well as bulletins relating to the July 1947 strike.
Included in the fonds are 6 reels of motion picture film, produced for Canada Packers or sponsored by the company. The films include commercials for various Canada Packers products, as well as films pertaining to the 50th anniversary of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, Ontario Auctioneering Championship, quilting competitions, and a short dramatic presentation.
The fonds also includes 5 audio reels, 4 of which describe the activities of the Shur-Grain Research Farm near Toronto. The fifth audio reel is part of a multimedia presentation dealing with the 50th anniversary of Canada Packers, which also utilized slides. The slides component of this presentation are missing.
Fonds also includes 1 annotated map, entitled "Twentieth Century map of the City of Ottawa and Vicinity Showing latest Surveys and Improvements," published 1902 by A.S. Woodburn of Ottawa, Ontario. As well, there are 3 items of documentary art(presumably posters) 1913-1927, related to the Harris Abattoir Company, Ltd.
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+C+262?SESSIONSEARCH