This series includes the diaries of Rev. J. H. Shoults over the period 1870-1884. There are nineteen diaries in total and they are kept in copy books, bound diary books, and notebooks. The majority of diary entries relate to Rev. Shoults' work as a Minister with the Christian Church, though reference is also made to his work as a teacher, to family affairs, to farming and gardening activities, to shopping and errands, to prices of food and farm goods, to his personal finances, to social visits (Rev. Shoults had many friends and acquaintances), and to weather conditions.

Ms. diaries contained in two coverless notebooks kept by J. H. Shoults. The first ca. [48] p. ms. diary covers the period Jan. 1, 1879 - June 30, 1879 when Shoults lived in Little Britain. The second ca. [54] p. ms. diary covers the period July 1, 1879 - Dec. 31, 1879. In this latter diary Shoults describes how he moved from Little Britain in Oct. 1879 to take up a new position "as an Evangelist under the direction of the Mission Board" (see diary entry for Oct. 6, 1879). While in this new position Shoults lived in a rented house in Newmarket (see diary entry Oct. 7, 1879). The diaries for 1879 contain daily entries recording personal, social, and professional activities, as well as accounts of weather conditions. The majority of entries relate to Shoults' activities as a minister, and include the names of the places where he preached and of the Bible readings which formed the basis for his services. Reference is also made to the many church meetings he participated in, to individuals he baptized, to funerals, to a Christian conference, and to other church activities in which he was involved. The funeral of Eld. Thomas Henry, who died at the age of 81, is referred to in a diary entry written on Sept. 23, 1879. Descriptions of social, and parish visits are also contained in these diaries, including the names of many friends and acquaintances.

Ms. diaries contained in two coverless notebooks kept by J. H. Shoults. The first ca. [74] p. ms. diary covers the period Jan. 1, 1880 - Aug. 31, 1880. The second ca. [36] p. ms. diary covers the period Sept. 1, 1880 - Dec. 31, 1880. These diaries contain daily entries recording Shoults' personal, social, and professional activities. Accounts of weather conditions are also contained in these diaries. During 1880 Shoults moved from Newmarket to Kettleby (see diary entry Oct. 21, 1880), and subsequently in Dec. 1880 he appears to have moved to "Mt. Pleasant". The majority of entries in these diaries relate to Shoults' activities as a minister, and include the names of the places where he preached and of the Bible readings which formed the basis for his services. Reference is also made to the many church meetings he participated in, to individuals he baptized, to funerals, to a Christian conference, and to other church activities in which he was involved. Reference is also made to family life, as well as to social and parish visits, including the names of many friends and acquaintances.

Ms. diaries contained in two coverless notebooks kept by J. H. Shoults. The first ca. [58] p. ms. diary covers the period Jan. 1, 1881 - July. 31, 1881. The second ca. [44] p. ms. diary covers the period Aug. 1, 1881 - Dec. 31, 1881. These diaries contain daily entries recording Shoults' personal, social, and professional activities. Accounts of weather conditions are also contained in these diaries. During this time Shoults was "living in J. Steven's House on the 3rd line of King [called] 'Mt. Pleasant' ". Diary entries relate to Shoults' activities as a minister, and include the names of the places where he preached and of the Bible readings which formed the basis for his services. Reference is also made to the many church meetings he participated in, to baptisms and funerals, to a Christian conference, and to other church activities in which he was involved. Descriptions of social and parish visits are also contained in this diary, including the names of many friends and acquaintances. Gardening activities are also described in this diary. Reference is also made to Shoults' family, in particular the death of his father on Apr. 2, 1881.

Ms. diaries contained in three coverless notebooks kept by J. H. Shoults. The first [32] p. diary covers the period Jan. 1, 1883 - July 28, 1883, the second [15] p. diary covers the period July 29, 1883 - Nov. 30, 1883, while the third 8 p. diary covers the month of Dec. 1883. During this time there was a sudden change in Shoults' circumstances. The entries for Jan. - May 1883 are sporadic and are written from Toronto. In the diary entry for May 21, 1883 Shoults' explains "In my domestic surroundings and termporal affairs great changes have been. March 21st I rented stone dwelling 340 Yonge St., Toronto intending to open a business in the Stationary and Book line". He moves in on Apr. 9, 1883 but then explains that "under the influences of certain circumstances" he decided to return to the country on Apr. 10, 1883. The remaining diary entries (from May 21, 1883 onwards) are written daily and indicate that Shoults has returned full-time to working with the church. Initially Shoults and his family live with Bro. George in Markham and Shoults appears to be working for Bro. George engaged in farm activities. On Oct. 15, 1883 (see diary entry) Shoults and his family move into their own house in Orono. The diary entries describe Shoults' activities as a minister, and include the names of the places where he preached and of the Bible readings which formed the basis for his services. Reference is also made to the many church meetings he participated in, to funerals he attended, and to other church activities in which he was involved. Social and parish visits are also described, and some references to Shoults' family are additionally included in these diaries. Accounts of the weather conditions are also contained in these diaries.

Ca. [120] p. ms. diary contained in notebook kept by J. H. Shoults. This diary covers the period Jan. 1, 1875 to Dec. 31, 1876 when Shoults lived in Little Britain, and it contains daily entries recording personal, social, and professional activities, as well as accounts of weather conditions. Diary entries relate to Shoults' activities as a minister, and include the names of the places where he preached and of the Bible readings which formed the basis for his services. Reference is also made to the many church meetings he participated in, to funerals he attended, to individuals he baptized, and to other church activities in which he was involved. Descriptions of family, social, and parish visits are also contained in this diary, including the names of many friends and acquaintances. Gardening activities are also described in this diary. Reference is also made to the death of Rev. Jesse Tatton on Sept. 27, 1875. The obituary for Rev. Jesse Tatton is taped in to this diary beside the diary entry for Sept. 27, 1875. This diary also makes reference to the death of Bro. R. F. Whitende of the Church of Little Britain on Mar. 28, 1876. A loose leaf containing the ms. address given by Shoults at the funeral service for Bro. Whitende is also included in this diary.

Ca. [94] p. ms. diary contained in exercise book kept by J. H. Shoults. This diary covers the period Jan. 1, 1874 to Dec. 31, 1874 when Shoults lived in Little Britain, and it contains daily entries recording personal, social, and professional activities, as well as accounts of weather conditions. Diary entries relate to Shoults' activities as a minister, and include the names of the places where he preached and of the Bible readings which formed the basis for his services. Reference is also made to the many church meetings he participated in, to funerals he attended, and to other church activities in which he was involved. Descriptions of family, social, and parish visits are also contained in this diary, including the names of many friends and acquaintances. Gardening activities are also described in this diary. Some budget estimates relating to personal finances are additonally included in this diary.

Ca. [54] p. ms. diary contained in a coverless notebook kept by J. H. Shoults. This diary covers the period Jan. 1, 1882 - June 30, 1882. This diary contains daily entries recording Shoults' personal, social, and professional activities when he was living in "Mt. Pleasant". Accounts of weather conditions are also contained in these diaries. Diary entries relate to Shoults' activities as a minister, and include the names of the places where he preached and of the Bible readings which formed the basis for his services. Reference is also made to the many church meetings he participated in, to baptisms and funerals, and to other church activities in which he was involved. Reference is also made to family life, as well as to social and parish visits, including the names of many friends and acquaintances.

Some loose items are also contained in this diary, including a loose leaf with ms. list of names, as well as paper cut into small pieces with numbers written on each piece.

Note that in a small section of this diary the ink is very faded making the diary entries difficult to decipher.

Ca. [65] p. ms. diary contained in two coverless notebooks (taped together) kept by J. H. Shoults. This diary covers the period Jan. 1, 1877 to Dec. 31, 1877 when Shoults lived in Little Britain, and it contains primarily daily entries (in some sections of this diary the entries are not daily) recording personal, social, and professional activities, as well as accounts of weather conditions. Diary entries relate to Shoults' activities as a minister, and include the names of the places where he preached and of the Bible readings which formed the basis for his services. Reference is also made to the many church meetings he participated in, to funerals and baptisms, to a Christian conference, and to other church activities in which he was involved. Descriptions of family, social, and parish visits are also contained in this diary, including the names of many friends and acquaintances. Gardening activities are also described in this diary.

[24] p. ms. diary in school excercise book kept by J. H. Shoults. This diary was written from Shoults' home in Whitevale and contains daily entries recording personal, social, and professional activities as well as accounts of weather conditions. Diary entries describe Shoults' work as a teacher, as well as some of the farming activities which he carried out on his farm in Whitevale. Shopping and other errands which he ran are also described and many references are made to the prices of farm goods, food, etc. Frequent reference is made to church services and meetings (both Christian Church and Baptist) attended by Shoults as well as to the church choir of which he was a member. Social and family visits and other activities are also described in this diary and the names of many friends and acquaintances are included here also.

Ca. [40] p. ms. diary in copy book kept by J. H. Shoults. This diary was written from Shoults' home in Whitevale and contains daily entries recording personal, social and professional activities as well as accounts of weather conditions. Although it is clear from this diary that Shoults is still employed as a school teacher and involved in farming activities, the majority of the diary entries make reference to church services or meetings attended by him. It is evident that he is becoming increasingly involved in church activities. He describes church services and meetings he attends (most of which take place at the Christian Church, but some of which take place at the Baptist Church). He also refers to his attempt to establish a Union Sabbath School, as well as his role as teacher of a Bible class, and the small part he has begun to play in preaching during Christian Church services and meetings. Diary entries do, however, continue to make reference to other matters such as social and family visits (including the names of many friends and acquaintances), and to shopping and errands run by Shoults. Once again much reference is made to the price of farm products, food, etc.

Ca. [60] p. ms. diary in notebook kept by J. H. Shoults. The first section of this diary was written from Shoults' home in Whitevale, but from Oct. 26, 1870 he writes from his new home in the 9th Concession of Pickering Township. The last entry contained in this diary is dated Oct. 15, 1871.

This diary includes entries recording personal, social, and professional activities as well as accounts of weather conditions. Initially the entries are written daily, but the latter entries are sporadic. A synopsis of 1870 written by Shoults is also contained in this diary.The diary entries indicate that Shoults has given up teaching at this point and is engaged in working for the Christian Church full-time. Reference is made to the sermons which he prepared and delivered, to church services and meetings he attended, to a Christian conference, and to baptisms and funerals. Some lists of names of converts to the church are included in this diary along with the the name of the place where these individuals first embraced this new religion, the date of their baptism, and the date when they were first united with the church. Reference is also made in this diary to family, social, and parish visits (including the names of many friends and acquaintances), to farming activities, and shopping and errands run by him. Details of farm product and food prices are also included in this diary.

Ca. [132] p. ms. pocket diary kept by J. H. Shoults. This diary covers the period Jan. 1, 1871 to Dec. 31, 1871 and contains daily entries recording personal, social, and professional activities, as well as accounts of weather conditions. Diary entries relate to Shoults' activities as a minister and include the names of the places where he preached and of the Bible readings which formed the basis for his services. Reference is also made to the many church meetings he participated in, to funerals he attended, and to other church activities in which he was involved. Descriptions of family, social, and parish visits are also contained in this diary and the diary is full of the names of many friends and acquaintances. Shoults also describes the gardening work in which he is engaged. Budget estimates relating to personal finances are additonally included in this diary.

Ca. [210] p. ms. pocket diary kept by J. H. Shoults. This diary covers the period Jan. 1, 1872 to Dec. 31, 1872 and contains daily entries recording personal, social, and professional activities, as well as accounts of weather conditions. Diary entries relate to Shoults' activities as a minister and include the names of the places where he preached and of the Bible readings which formed the basis for his services. Reference is also made to the many church meetings he participated in, to funerals he attended, and to other church activities in which he was involved. A diary entry for Apr. 9, 1872 indicates that Shoults moved to live in Jae Hoover's house in Altona on this date. Descriptions of family, social, and parish visits are also contained in this diary, as well as the names of countless friends and acquaintances. Shoults also describes the gardening work he carries out during the year. Budget estimates relating to personal finances are additonally included in this diary. This diary also includes an insert in the form of a ts. list of the six underlying principles of the Christian Church.

Ca. [120] p. ms. diary contained in notebook with metal clasp kept by J. H. Shoults. This diary covers the period Jan. 1, 1873 to Dec. 31, 1873 and contains daily entries recording personal, social, and professional activities, as well as accounts of weather conditions. The diary entries indicate that Shoults moved during this year from Altona to Little Britain. Diary entries relate to Shoults' activities as a minister and include the names of the places where he preached and of the Bible readings which formed the basis for his services. Reference is also made to the many church meetings he participated in, to Christian conferences, to funerals he attended, and to other church activities in which he was involved. Descriptions of family, social, and parish visits are also contained in this diary, including the names of countless friends and acquaintances. Gardening activities are also described in this diary. Some budget estimates relating to personal finances are additonally included in this diary.

Ca. [44] p. ms. diary contained in a coverless notebook kept by J. H. Shoults. This diary covers the period July 1, 1878 to Dec. 31, 1878 when Shoults lived in Little Britain, and it contains daily entries recording personal, social, and professional activities, as well as accounts of weather conditions. Diary entries relate to Shoults' activities as a minister, and include the names of the places where he preached and of the Bible readings which formed the basis for his services. Reference is also made to the many church meetings he participated in, to individuals he baptized, to funerals, to a Christian conference, and to other church activities in which he was involved. Descriptions of family, social, and parish visits are also contained in this diary, including the names of many friends and acquaintances.

Ca. [73] p. ms. diary contained in a coverless notebook kept by J. H. Shoults. This diary covers the period Jan. 1, 1884 - Dec. 15, 1884. This diary contains daily entries recording Shoults' personal, social, and professional activities when he was living in Orono. Accounts of weather conditions are also contained in these diaries. The entries in this diary relate to Shoults' activities as a minister, and include the names of the places where he preached and of the Bible readings which formed the basis for his services. Reference is also made to the many church meetings he participated in, to funerals he attended, and to other church activities in which he was involved. Social and parish visits are also described and these diaries include the names of many friends and acquaintances. The gardening activities which Shoults was involved in during the year are also described. Additionally, reference is made to his family life, especially to the death of his daughter Bertha from an illness on Feb. 22, 1884 aged eight.

Two booklets containing information on the Christian Church in Ontario. The first booklet contains general information on this church including: the six principles of this church, the history of the Christian Church in the United States, the history of the Christian Church in Ontario, and the reasons why people choose to belong to this church.

The second booklet, published by The Conference of the Congregational Christian Churches in Ontario, includes a brief history of the Christian Church in Ontario.

270 p. publication focusing on the history of the Christian Church in Canada. An excerpt from the diaries of Elder John H. Shoults dated Sept. 13, 1871 is included in this publication. This diary entry describes the annual conference of the Christian Denomination in Keswick. Also includes the obituary for Rev. Jesse Tatton included in the Shoults' diary No. 10 for 1875. Photocopies of news clippings from 1992 and 1993 reporting on the publication of this book by Udelle V.Wood also form part of this publication.

This series includes printed materials in the form of two informational booklets which contain information on the Christian Church in Ontario. Also includes a publication by Udelle Wood entitled Our Christian Heritage , which focuses on the history of the Christian Church in Canada.

Fonds consists of nineteen diaries kept by the Rev. J. H. Shoults for the period 1870-1884. It also includes printed materials and a publication by Udelle Wood entitled Our Christian Heritage, both of which focus on the history of the Christian Church in Canada.