The Volunteers in the Human Rights Institute of Canada subseries contains 48 files discussing volunteers at the Human Rights Institute of Canada, the projects volunteers contributed to, and their experiences at the Institute. Files are arranged by volunteer. This subseries contains a variety of document types including correspondence, memorandum, summaries, background documents, contracts, surveys, reports, newspaper clippings, newsletters, programs, briefs, press releases, meeting minutes, fundraising, directories, financial statements, articles, telephone questionnaires, CVs and resumes, volunteer forms, letters of recommendation from Marguerite Ritchie for volunteers, school assignments, legislation, and membership records. The specific topics this subseries covers are Trudeau’s promises to Quebec, the Meech Lake Accord, French language rights, language rights in Quebec, Persons Case II, aboriginal rights, the roles of the Prime Minister and Senators, royal commissions, resettlement of Newfoundlanders in 1954-1973, discrimination against women in the armed forces, and political corruption.

The Media and Public Relations subseries contains 28 files on the media representation of the Human Rights Institute of Canada including publicity and responses to current events, media bias, letters to the editor, articles supporting the same causes as the Human Rights Institute of Canada, and the misrepresentation of the Persons Case in popular media. Files are mainly arranged by media outlet while general correspondence is arranged chronologically. This subseries contains a variety of document types including newspaper clippings, correspondence, memorandum, press releases, newsletters, transcripts of telephone conversations, and speeches. The specific topics this subseries covers are Persons Case II, bilingualism in Canada and in the city of Ottawa, Quebec as a distinct society, Canadian history, relocation of Inuit people to the high arctic in the 1950s and the resulting Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, the Meech Lake Accord, the Oka Crisis, the Official Languages Act, the expropriation of Nanoose Bay, the New Brunswick constitutional amendment, the constitution, Israeli-Palestinian conflicts, treatment of women in legislation, stalking, misappropriation of government funds, audit reports, and the life of Muriel McQueen Fergusson as the first female speaker of the senate.

The Human Rights Institute of Canada - Credentials subseries contains 73 files discussing the administrative history and regulations of the Human Rights Institute of Canada and political opinions supported by the Institute on current events. Files are arranged by source or topic. This subseries contains a variety of document types including correspondence, memorandum, applications, by-laws of the Human Rights Institute of Canada, information packets, fact sheets, budgets, newsletters, test logo designs, pay scales and salary information, programmes, calendars, FAQs, newspaper clippings, photographs, minutes and proceedings from the House of Commons and joint committees of the House and Senate, submissions to government committees by the Human Rights Institute of Canada, questionnaires, speeches, programme schedules, press releases and promotional materials, general correspondence to all Human Rights Institute of Canada members, articles written by Marguerite Ritchie for Dialogue magazine, annual Board of Governors meeting documents and supporting documents for annual meetings, including audit reports, financial documents, and staff changes. The specific topics this subseries covers are Quebec separatism, the Charlottetown Accord, the Knowledge Project, activities of the Human Rights Institute of Canada, the Human Rights Institute of the University of Ottawa and ensuing problems caused by the similar names, equal appointment of women to the Senate, women in the armed forces, Senate reform, the Meech Lake Accord, stalking legislation, abortion law, and the Nanoose Bay expropriation hearings. This subseries also contains materials relation to the Human Rights Institute of Canada administration, including incorporation, procedures and regulations, board members, researchers for the Human Rights Institute of Canada, logo design, fund raising, conference planning, volunteer coordinating, annual meetings, resource center, requests from individuals for help, examples of Human Rights Institute of Canada successes on specific cases, and positive changes the Institute influenced. Finally, this subseries also contains speeches given by Marguerite Ritchie at various public forums on bilingualism, the Meech Lake Accord, women’s rights, Persons Case II, the expropriation of Nanoose Bay, and immigration.

The Human Rights Institute of Canada – Credentials - Contracts subseries contains 12 files discussing the Hamilton’s estate lawsuit and research the Human Rights Institute of Canada was hired to conduct. Files are arranged by topic and source. This subseries contains a variety of document types including correspondence, memorandum, notes, contracts, court documents, newspaper clippings, press releases, timesheets, legal research, briefs, reports, brochures, and draft conventions. The specific topics this subseries covers are the legal case surrounding the estate of Mary Hamilton and Thomas David Clark Hamilton, the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child, and research the Human Rights Institute of Canada was hired to conduct by the Law Reform Commission of Canada, the Advisory Council on the Status of Women in the Citizenship Act, and other consultations on women’s issues.

The Failure of Justice – Destruction of Family Businesses in Canada subseries contains six files discussing a law suit Marguerite Ritchie’s brother, Robert H. Ritchie, and father, Allan I. Ritchie, faced over trade mark registration. Files are arranged chronologically. This subseries includes a variety of document types including correspondence, memorandum, legal research, transcripts, and court documents. The Ritchie’s were sued over the trade mark registration for a product they sold called Perm-O-Seal. The years-long law suit forced them to stop using the product for the duration of legal proceedings. The case was settled in favour of the Ritchie’s, however the drawn out legal case damaged their business.

The Meeting the First Peoples of Canada – Native Associations subseries contains 9 files discussing aboriginal self-government and status rights of aboriginal women. Files are arranged by source organization. This subseries contains a variety of document types including correspondence, reports, newsletters, memorandum, speeches, court documents, press releases, and presentations. The specific topics this subseries covers are aboriginal rights, research conducted by Marguerite Ritchie on behalf of aboriginal associations and councils, amendments to the Indian Act to end discrimination against aboriginal women, amendments to the Indian Act requiring bands to readmit women with reaffirmed status, aboriginal self-government across Canada and with respect to Quebec sovereignty, and solidarity between different aboriginal nations and bands.

The Indians – Indian Women’s Inequality subseries contains 6 files discussing status rights of aboriginal women. Files are arranged by topic and source. This subseries contains a variety of document types including videos, revisions of the Indian Act, newsletters, press releases, conference reports, articles, transcripts, and publications. The specific topics this subseries covers are rights for aboriginal women, status rights, band status, and the economic status of aboriginal women. This subseries also includes publications from the Metis National Council of Women, the Native Woman’s Association of Canada, Indian Rights for Indian Women, and publications by the Canadian Bar review and government departments on status rights of aboriginal women

The Constitution of Canada – Government of Canada – Parliament – Falsification of History and Constitution subseries contains 16 files discussing Canadian history and modernising traditions. Files are arranged by topic. This subseries contains a variety of document types including newspaper clippings, correspondence, research, notes, memorandum, reports, press releases, and magazine articles. The specific topics this subseries covers are Canadian history including the On to Ottawa Trek and the Winnipeg General Strike, whitewashing history, censorship to avoid offending minorities and francophones, the importance of the Magna Carta, hanging portraits of French monarchs from the age of “New France” in Canadian Parliament, changing the lyrics of “O Canada” to be gender neutral, renaming federal departments, honouring French historical figures with statues on Parliament Hill, changing immigration tests to reflect modern political ideology, bilingual health care services, changing the flag of Canada from a Union Jack to a maple leaf, Canada distancing itself from Britain, and proposals to remove the Queen of England as the Head of State.

The Government of Canada – Provinces – Political Warfare subseries contains 11 files discussing major issues faced by each province. Files are arranged by province. This subseries contains a variety of document types including newspaper clippings, press releases, House of Commons and Senate debates, correspondence, memorandum, and legislation. The specific topics this subseries covers are oil sands in Alberta, fishing in Newfoundland, polygamy in British Columbia, provincial politics, relationships between the provinces and the federal government, the Meech Lake Accord, and bilingualism in Ontario and New Brunswick. Note that Quebec is not included in this subseries.

The Heroes for Inspirations subseries contains 4 files discussing human rights activists. Files are arranged by person or chronologically. This subseries contains a variety of document types including newspaper clippings and correspondence. The specific topics this subseries covers are stories of people fighting for human rights and Marguerite Ritchie nominating whistleblower Corporal Robert Read for the Civil Courage Prize.

The Women’s Legal Research Materials subseries contains 100 files of legal research pertaining to women’s rights and issues that affect women. This subseries contains legal research materials including Supreme Court decisions, provincial and federal legislation, legal dictionary entries, House of Commons and Senate debates, legal articles, and constitutional law research materials. The specific topics this subseries covers are divorce, women’s education, the Canadian labour code, jury duty, status of women, pay equality, gender discrimination, offshore mineral rights, female Senators, child custody, maintenance payments, child abuse and seduction laws, welfare, the justice system, professional ethics, human trafficking, the Indian Act, pensions, civil servants, historical divorce cases, segregation and civil rights, representation of women, women’s roles, gendered language in law, rights of married women and widows, veterans, appointment of judges, constitutional law, illegitimate children, immigration, and genocide. Date ranges refer to publication dates of historical legislation, though files contain copies only.

The Women – Challenges to Injustice - Projects subseries contains 10 files discussing cases of legal injustice contributed to by the Human Rights Institute. Files are arranged by project and include some general information about refugees. This subseries contains a variety of document types including correspondence, newspaper clippings, memorandum, CVs and resumes, papers, reports, medical reports, articles, transcripts, applications and work histories for refugee status, affidavit, policies, speeches, statistics, and United Nations treaties. The specific topics this subseries covers are refugee status, refugees admitted into Canada, adaptation of immigrants to life in Canada, Marguerite Ritchie and the Human Rights Institute of Canada’s involvement in the cases of refugee status claimants, Marguerite Ritchie and the Human Rights Institute of Canada’s involvement in getting medical treatment of veterans, and Marguerite Ritchie and the Human Rights Institute of Canada’s involvement with specific cases of discrimination, including religious discrimination against a scientologist.

The Women – Challenges to Injustice - Abortion subseries contains 15 files discussing abortion law and the Henry Morgentaller case. Files are arranged by material type. This subseries contains a variety of document types including correspondence, memorandum, newspaper clippings, interview transcripts, House of Commons debates, court documents, press releases, briefs, Senate debates, newsletters, magazines, studies, booklets, posters, law reviews, historical research, and documents for the Morgentaller case. The specific topics this subseries covers are specific cases charging people with performing abortions, reports on abortion laws worldwide, historical research on abortion laws and practices in the 19th and 20th century, legislation restricting performances of abortion to medical doctors, a presentation from the Human Rights Institute of Canada to a legislative committee studying a bill on abortion, public opinion surveys on Canadians’ opinion on abortion, landmark Supreme Court case that held that the father could not stop a woman from having an abortion, and working papers with arguments against abortion.

The Women – Challenges to Injustice subseries contains 54 files discussing issues of inequality that affect women. Files are arranged by topic. This subseries contains a variety of document types including correspondence, brochures, newspaper clippings, transcripts, memorandum, historical research, reports, legislation, court documents, submissions to parliamentary committees, Senate debates, resolutions, House of Commons debates, speeches, CVs and resumes, press releases, magazines, newsletters, legal research, chronologies of events, directories, glossary of terms, information sheet, surveys, and papers. The specific topics this subseries covers are women’s studies programs at universities, anti-discrimination bills and discrimination against women, child sexual abuse, women and religion, women’s suffrage, women’s education and employment, women’s roles, women in government and politics, the equal rights amendment, equal pay, personhood of women, status of women around the world, United Nations conventions and celebration years for women and human rights, violence against women, the Montreal Massacre, Persons Case II, equality for visible minorities, divorce and financial issues, the merit principle, spousal support, provincial health insurance, human trafficking, Sharia Law, polygamy, rape law, abortion laws, child support, taxes and pensions, legal double standards, citizenship of married persons, gendered language, race relations, property law, female circumcision, women’s health, jury duty for women, and termination based on discrimination.

The Jews, Israel, Anti-Semitism subseries contains 156 files of research discussing Israeli politics and conflicts, anti-Semitism, Jews, and Zionism, as well as some articles and opinion pieces Marguerite Ritchie wrote on the same subjects. Research files are arranged by source of research and correspondence is arranged chronologically. This subseries contains a variety of document types including newsletters, journals, legal research, book chapters, articles, reports, United Nations reports, encyclopedia articles, maps, newspaper clippings, magazine articles, speeches, House of Commons debates, press releases and statements, conventions, Senate debates, legislation, handbooks, state papers, treaties, law reviews, memorandum, correspondence, research notes, policy papers, Parliament debates from the United Kingdom, resumes, fact sheets, lectures, letters to the editor, timelines, United Nations General Assembly summary and meeting minutes, and a United Nations Charter. Specific topics in this subseries cover a broad range of issues affecting Jews and Israel. They include: land claims and conflicts in the middle east, Palestinian-Israeli conflicts, Palestinian refugees, political and cultural history of Palestinians, discrimination and racism, anti-Semitism, terrorism, oil, skyjacking/hijacking of airplanes, history of anti-Semitism in Europe and Russia, emigration of Jews out of Europe and Russia, peace talks, Palestinian political groups, Hamas, Hezbollah, the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO), guerrilla warfare, the 1973 Israeli War, Iraq civil war, conditions of statehood, prisoners of war, Zionism, Canada’s relationship with Israel and the middle eastern Arab states, trials of Nazi war criminals, apartheid and racism, boycotts of Israel, Israel‘s international relations and independence, Muslims in Britain, succession of states, partition of India and Pakistan, child soldiers, the Six-Days War, the RCMP being charged with racism, foreign policy of the United States towards Israel and the middle east, hate propaganda and hate propaganda laws in Canada, Israeli economics, women in Israel, public support for Israel, history of Jerusalem and the Holy Land, treatment of Christians in the middle east, the Holocaust, Holocaust deniers, and the Armenian genocide.

The Women – Women’s Programs within the Federal Government subseries contains 5 files discussing the status of women in society. Files are arranged by material type. This subseries contains a variety of document types including fact sheets and background information, correspondence, reports, presentations, newspaper clippings, press releases, and government publications. The specific topics this subseries covers are the status of women in the labour force, political and social equality of women, childcare for working mothers, and biographical information on Sylva Gelber, Director of the Women's Bureau of the Canada Department of Labour.

The Alberta Environment Hazardous Waste Management Committee subseries consists of twenty-eight files on the management of hazardous waste, often in connection with the Alberta Special Waste Management Corporation (ASWMC). The files are arranged by subject matter with most media separated from their respective subject. Document types include minutes, reports, notes, correspondence, presentations, news articles, slides, a movie projector tape, and a VHS videocassette. Materials are created between 1979 and 1999. Specific topics focus on PCBs & Dioxins, Hazardous Waste Management, and Risk Assessment.

The Ministry of Alberta Environment appointed a Hazardous Waste Management Committee on September 14, 1979. It was composed of three civil servants and three members of the public, one of whom was Harris. The committee’s task was to classify materials of concern, including who produced them and where they were being produced. The results were compiled into a report on Hazardous Waste Management in Alberta. It recommended that an integrated waste treatment system be established in Alberta with the Alberta Government playing a leadership role in the program. Harris’ main contribution was the section entitled “Concepts of Hazards, Toxicity and Risk”, focusing on the assessment of risks. In order to study successful hazardous waste management facilities, the committee visited plants all over Europe. Public talks were held throughout the Province of Alberta, mostly by Harris, to educate the people in hopes of finding a host for the proposed treatment facility. Ryley and Swan Hills were publicly accepted by their communities to host the treatment facility. Swan Hills was chosen as the location and on December 31, 1985 Harris resigned from the committee.

The Professional Correspondence subseries is composed of twenty-eight files relating to correspondence of a professional nature inside and outside the University of Alberta. The files are arranged by subject and ordered chronologically. Document types include correspondence, letters, notes, reports, memos, and programs. It also incorporates University of Alberta records from the time of his appointment on faculty in 1946, until his retirement from the Chemistry Department in 1980. It also includes correspondence related to his activities as Emeritus Professor up to the time of his death in 2011. Files with external professional colleagues run from 1960 to 2011 with a few items generated from 1943. Specific topics covered include travel and attendance at a number of symposiums or conferences related to Chemistry and a consulting job for analytical methods in oil drilling. Topics also relate to IM Kolthoff his colleague, the Chemistry Program at the University of Alberta, and various other professional correspondence.

Sub-series consists of records documenting the production, promotion, research, and administrative activties for the feature length film Cowboys Don't Cry. Sub-series consists of records documenting the production, promotion and administration work for the feature length film, Cowboys Don’t Cry. The film was written by Anne Wheeler, produced by Arvi Liimatainen and Anne Wheeler. Louis Natale wrote the music. The production companies were Atlantis Films Limited, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and Telefilm Canada. The film won several awards including a 1989 Genie Award for best original song and several nominations including, Best Achievement in Direction (Anne Wheeler), Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Zachary Ansley), Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Ron White), Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role (Janet-Laine Green). The film also won A.M.P.I.A. Awards for Best Film of the Festival, Best Dramatic Direction, Best Dramatic Script and the Golden Award from the Houston Film Festival.

Material includes, news clippings and promotion files including information on premiers. The records are predominantly AV and arranged in numbered order and dated.

Sub-series consists of records documenting the production, promotion, research, and administrative activties for the feature length film Better Than Chocolate. Anne Wheeler directed the film. The producers were Sharon McGowan, and Peggy Thompson. The screenplay was written by Peggy Thompson. The director of photography was Gregory Middleton and the music was composed by Graeme Coleman. The film was nominated for a GLAAD Media award (2000) for Outstanding Film. The film also won the Audience Award Best Feature at the Toronto Inside Out Lesbian and Gay Film and Video Festival.

Materials includes a press kit, casting, supplies and script documentation, contracts, Berlin Film Festival file, Seattle Film Festival file, documentation for Outfest '99, and documentation for the London Film Festival. Files are maintained in original order.

Sub-series consists of records documenting the production, promotion, and administrative activties for the feature length film Suddenly Naked. Anne Wheeler was the Director, Executive Producer, and Script Consultant. The film garnered six Genie nominations including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Score, and won a Genie award for Best Editing. It also won four Leo Awards (2002) Best Feature Length Drama, Best Direction in a Feature Length Drama, Best Editing and Best Musical Score.

Materials include general correspondence, review clippings, film festival brochures, promotional material, documention for the development of the film's music, post-production file, promotional schedules, publicity material, script development.

Sub-series consists of textual material in the writing and promotion of the movie. Originally a short story by Margaret Lawrence, Wheeler adopted the story as a two-hour television movie. Although representing her first work after her move to the coast, the film was shot in Manitoba. Wheeler directed the work for Atlantis Films and the CBC. The work won a Genie for Best Movie of the Week.

Sub-series consists of records documenting the production, promotion, research, and administrative activties for the television series Da Vinci's Inquest. Anne Wheeler directed the early episodes of the tv series. This includes the three hour pilot for the C.B.C. and a two-hour season premier. The series has won four Gemini Awards, and 35 television industry awards including the Banff Rockie Award for Best Continuing Series.

Prodminantly moving images, the material is arranged by order of creation.

Photographs of an older 'Punch' Dickins, his family and friends.

Miscellaneous private items including tags, envelopes, etc.

Reverend C.E. Thomson replaced Reverend John Smithurst at St. John’s Church in Elora, Canada West [later Ontario] after Smithurst’s dismissal by John Strachan, Bishop of Toronto. Thomson ministered in Elora from 1857-1877.

Subseries consists of 98 issues from Old Sleuth Weekly.

Publisher: Arthur Westbrook

Date of First Issue (No. 1): Apr. 17, 1908 Date of Last Issue (No. 203): May 17, 1912

First in Collection (No. 1): Apr. 17, 1908 Last in Collection (No. 172): 1911

Old Sleuth Weekly follows a varied publication schedule: bi-monthly and weekly. The format is 8 x 11 inches with 32 pages. Issues cost 5 cents. Pictorial covers are coloured. All novels are signed by Old Sleuth; they consist primarily of detective stories reprinted from the OS Library, with some new stories.