Letter from Anne Argo, Eden Mills, [date illegible: 1890?] in response to one from Margaret, calling her an old friend and sympathizing in her widowhood. She gives all the news of illnesses and doctoring of family and friends. This letter was enclosed with one to Florence, June 30 1890.

Letter from E.G. Barrie dated June 18, 1951, Kitchener, to Mabel Sims, thanking her for taking care of table arrangements for an annual celebration, possible of the Chicopee Tennis Club. The letter is written on The Barrie Glove & Knitting Co. Limited, Kitchener, Ontario letterhead with a drawing of the factory.

Typewritten letter from Carl A. Borgstrom, landscape architect, to Harvey J. Sims, expressing gratitude to Harvey for his assistance in arranging for him to be able to visit Kingsmere, and enclosing a copy of the letter he had written to Mackenzie King with thanks for putting his name before the National Employment Commission.

Letter at least partially from Rosie Bricker postmarked Salem, December 1, 1868 to her sister Jemima Cook, about Christmas. Most of the letter seems to be written by another (younger?) sister about social life or lack of it in Elora and Salem with some speculation about the future (includes envelope).

Letter from Hattie A. Bruce dated Waterloo June 16, 1892 on behalf of the Ladies' Aid Society, thanking Margaret for her donation and giving her news of friends and family: "I had the pleasure of spending Tuesday evening at Mr. Davidson's watching Emma and a number of her friends going through their Delsarte exercises" (Includes envelope addressed c/o Dr. Davidson, 207 College St., Toronto.)

Three paper lace valentines, possibly handmade:
Paper lace and coloured floral valentine with lift-up flowers hiding three heart-shapes to write messages on. Inside the card is a hand-written poem to the "Belle" of the ball, signed "Valentine"
Paper lace overlay of bird's nest and flowers over second layer with a two-piece embossed lift up figure of a woman with cherub on her shoulder, purple ribbon and coloured floral decoration applied on her skirt, under this is a third layer with a coloured metallic bird flying into pasted-on coloured floral decorations. A gold and white banner is pasted at the bottom of the page, with "A Token of True Love" printed in blue.The back of this card is signed "from Jemima." Maker's name embossed on back: "Meek"
Pink paper folded valentine with embossed gold floral design surrounding pasted-on die-cut flowers and leaves, below this a white and gold banner reading "A Pledge of Love" in blue. Inside the card is signed" Miss Mary Jemima Cook"

Correspondence relating to Chicopee: recommendation from William Rennie Seed Co., Nov. 1, 1928, that Harvey contact Arthur E.K. Bunnell of Wilson Bunnell & Borgstrom, Landscape Architects for designing his grounds, and Lt. Col. Sandford F. Smith "would be better to consult regarding your house."
Includes two letters from Forsey Page & Steele, December 14 and 29, regarding drawing up plans for the house, and one submission from Bell Telephone for supplying telephone service.

Correspondence to and from Harvey J. Sims (carbons), tenders, agreements, invoices and other material relating to work being planned and carried out at Chicopee, including landscape features, nursery stock, concrete bridge, bubbling tanks, dry stone walls, also to a Workmen's Compensation case. Correspondents include Ball Bros., Dunker Brothers, Herbert Johnston, Civil Engineer, Forsey Page & Steele, architects, Fess Oil Burners of Canada Ltd., Thomas Rennie, Ontario Agricultural College, Carl A. Borgstrom (of Wilson, Bunnell & Borgstrom Ltd., also of Lorne Park Nurseries) landscape architect.

Correspondence to and from Harvey J. Sims (carbons), relating to ongoing work at Chicopee, such as the pergola, log cabin, frog fountains, plantings, trees, and shrubs, and problems with wiring for road lights and flood lights. Includes detailed lists of nursery stock. Correspondents include Carl A. Borgstrom, Ball Brothers, Lorne Park Nurseries, A.H. Tomlinson (Department of Horticulture, University of Guelph), and the Mattell & Bierwagen Electric Company.

Letters (approximately 16) between members of the Arthur Forbes Nicol and Harvey J. Sims families from 1928 to 1941. Harvey J. Sim's wife Florence Katherine Roos and Arthur F. Nicol's wife Florence Helen Kempt were first cousins: their mothers were sisters Elizabeth and Margaret Davidson. Letters concern mutual interests, politics and family.

Correspondence from and to Harvey J. Sims, Adam Strohm, Librarian at the Detroit Public Library, and Charles R, Sanderson, Chief Librarian of the Toronto Public Library, between 1927 and 1941, the latter two often enclosing each other's letters. Adam Strohm sometimes encloses letters from Fred Burden, a mutual friend of his and Harvey's. Harvey had initially approached Adam Strohm for advice about books for his library; this correspondence included Sanderson after 1927. As well as corresponding about books these three men developed a friendship demonstrated in their letters, writing about their visits, their travels, and their lives.

Correspondence from and to Harvey Sims and Arthur Herbert Richardson at the Ontario Department of Lands and Forest concerning reforestation efforts at Chicopee. In 1940, Harvey writes that he has more than 700 varieties of trees and shrubs, including all but 5 of the 82 native forest trees listed by J.H. White in Forest Trees of Ontario. In 1930, he writes that the Boy Scouts and Rotarians propose helping him plant 3500 more trees on Chicopee heights to complete the work started in 1929.

Correspondence from and to Harvey J. Sims and various book dealers and publishers relating to Harvey's efforts to build his library collection: Albert Britnell Book Shop (Toronto), The Book Society, World Books, Old Authors Shop (Ottawa), The Narrator (January 1942), Toronto Book Fair, Creasser's Book Shop (Toronto), T. Eaton Co. and the John Hardwick Co. (The Book House for Children). Includes invoices, catalogues, book lists, reviews, periodical issues and ephemera.

Correspondence from and to Harvey J. Sims and J.H. White, University of Toronto, author of Forest Trees of Ontario. Includes pencil notes and lists by Harvey, information about Tree Tanglefoot and an envelope labelled "Address – Forest Trees" containing pencilled notes by Harvey for a speech about the importance of forest trees.

Correspondence from and to Harvey J. Sims and various nurseries and seed and plant suppliers relating to plants, trees, and shrubs for his property. Includes catalogues, lists and invoices. Suppliers include The Brampton Nursery, Cedarvale Tree Experts, Depuys and Ferguson (Montreal), Dominion Seed House, Endean Nurseries (Richmond Hill), Herbst Brothers (New York). More suppliers can be found in Series 8, Harvey J. Sims : Personal Business.

Letters from Harvey J. Sims to horticulturists at the Department of Agriculture Central Experimental Farm in Ottawa, with replies from M.B. Davis, Dominion Horticulturist, T.F. Ritchie, Chief Assistant, and R.W. Oliver, Assistant (ornamental horticulture) as well as to Leonard S. McLaine at the Destructive Pest and Insect Advisory Board. The correspondence relates primarily to Harvey's collection of shrubs and trees, and his pursuit of adding more species to his collection. He mentions that he has collected 76 of the 82 native trees listed in Forest trees of Ontario, also that he has between 500 and 600 different varieties of trees and shrubs. He requests specimens for testing hardiness, also sends an unknown specimen for identification, and requests information on permits necessary to import nursery specimens from the Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plains, New York.

Correspondence from and to Harvey J. Sims and the Ontario Department of Lands and Forests, Forestry Branch concerning applications for forest trees from Government nurseries. Includes letters between Harvey and F.S. Newman, Head Forester at the St. Williams Government Nursery, lists of trees and shrubs, and application forms for government nursery stock. Also includes correspondence between Harvey and A.H. Richardson, also a clipping and letter describing the 1928 tree planting done at Chicopee by the Boy Scouts and Rotarians.

Correspondence from and to C. Ellison Kaumeyer, General Manager of the Niagara Parks Commission, and K.M. Broman, Superintendent of Arboriculture at the Niagara Parks Commission, relating to acquiring more specimens for Harvey J. Sims' collection of trees and shrubs, also requesting labels to be made for attaching to his specimens. Includes many lists annotated in pencil by Harvey, also many pencilled lists in his handwriting, as well as some mention of swans and ducks. Included in this folder are several letters to and from the Minister of Highways, T.B. McQuesten, regarding establishing a botanical garden in Hamilton.

Correspondence concerning soil samples and pest remedies, as well as handwritten notes by Harvey Sims about chemicals and types of pests. Includes two letters from A.H. Tomlinson, Associate Professor in the Department of Horticulture, one of which is accompanied by a list of ornamental flowering shrubs and a list of deciduous trees, and both of which have pencilled checkmarks, presumably made by Harvey.

The History of the children in the wood, published by Lumsden & Sons, Glasgow. This is a single sheet with eight hand-coloured woodcuts with verses beneath; versions of which circulated in Great Britain and the United States, most often in chapbook form. A note on the back says "This was given to Catharine as a prize at school at Berlin."

Letter from Alexander Davidson, Port Elphinstone, dated July 22, 1856, to his niece Margaret Davidson, thanking her for presents sent. He reports on the growth and changes in Aberdeen and area since she had last been there, and lists all his children and what they are doing.

Album of custom bound piano music belonging to Elizabeth Davidson, some with lyrics in both German and English, some with illustrated title pages. The volume is ¾ bound with cloth covers and gold-tooled leather lozenges pasted on both front and back covers: the front cover lozenge is red leather with "Miss E. Davidson" in gold; the back cover lozenge is dark brown leather with decorative gold tooling. The spine and corners have some gold tooling; spine has raised bands.

Letter from George Davidson in Aberdeen, Scotland to his wife Margaret in New Aberdeen, C.W., responding to the news of the death of their infant son: "The intelligence was painful, more so than had I been present with you, for altho' my friends here feel deeply with me, still you were awaiting." He speaks of the comfort that their belief offers, and continues: "I thank God that you are living & that I have so near a prospect of meeting you again – how happy I shall be to see you & this feeling is strengthened from the fact that you will be the same regarding me." He will be on the steamer Europa from Liverpool to New York and lists in detail the amount of time it will take to be back in New Aberdeen. (includes envelope sealed with family crest)

Letter from George Davidson in New York, dated May 16, 1880 to his wife Margaret, commenting on the number of "pleasure seekers" passing his window on a Sabbath. He mentions that "other people from Berlin are here." He complains that he will be confined to his room as the elevator is out of order, recounts an accident with a chamber pot and complains that his appetite is not good (Includes envelope addressed to Margaret at "Forest Hill, Berlin, Ontario").

Letter from George Davidson in Berlin, Ont. Dated 9 ½ o'clock, May 5, 1863 to his wife Margaret who is in Toronto: "The children have gone to bed, and so I sit down – all alone – to write you the promised letter – you will be enjoying yourself with Mrs. Manning over Schedam Sch[illegible] while I poor unfortunate am enjoying myself in thinking how comfortable it will be to go up to a cold bed, and nobody in it. I have just been up stairs Bob & Sandy are in bed the former at the front the latter at the back with space and an extra pillow between for Lizzie who has been managing the children and the affairs of the household at a great rate." He gives Margaret a list of cash payments to make – boys' board, clothes, but also ask her to bring home seed catalogues and stock. A postscript the next morning describes the state of affairs: "Wednesday morning 7 ½ O.C. we have slept and waked – thank God – Lizzie was up about ½ hour ago went down and put [kettle on], is however still in her nightgown sitting on the floor with Sandy playing Jackstones or something of that sort – Bob is up and takes this to the P.O. Very cold rainy morning GD."

Letter from George Davidson at 100-West 53 St., New York dated May 7, 1880 to his wife Margaret, thanking her for letters received: "I am glad you are well and more than glad that Lizzie has got those ugly teeth out & hope she will now be free from that horrid disease neuralgia." He is having treatments of various sorts for his legs in the hope that he can walk without crutches, treatments that he describes in great detail and mentions that he is rooming with his son Sandy, who adds a page at the end of the letter.

Letter from George Davidson in Toronto, dated June 26, 1879, to his wife Margaret, reporting on treatment he has received in Toronto on his leg, people he has seen and visited, and arrangements for getting home. He underlines "slang" words such as "chimbly" and "cracks" (jokes).

Letter from John Davidson, Fraserburgh, Scotland on October 16, 1848 to his nephew George Davidson, commiserating on the death of George's infant child: "I know that you are of tender heart and will be much affected." John is Assessor and Collector of Road Money in Fraserburgh and as such was out on business when George left for home.

Letter from Margaret Davidson dated Toronto, June 30, 1890 to her granddaughter Florence Roos, sending the news of family doings in Toronto. She says she received and encloses a letter from Mrs. Argo for Florence's mother to read, and that if she is well she will be there on Tuesday (includes envelope).

Letter from Margaret Forbes dated Inverury, October 4, 1835 addressed to Miss Garden, 204 Gallowgate, Aberdeen, hoping that Margaret will visit after the communion: "It always gives me pleasure to know that you have been favoured with such a Minister, who is likely to be zealous, in the cause of Christ … while God gives much grace to your young minister, he also will be the means of comforting you." She goes on to say, "We at present are well supplied with Gospel ministers, I pray for us, that the Spirit may accompany their labours," and ends by sending love to Jane and Jessy and hopes all can visit or write.

Letter to Margaret, Jane, and Jessie dated London, September 11, 1835 from their brother John Garden, in which he reports on the sad state of his health and wardrobe, asks for shirts and collars, but particularly for "flannel drawers and a surcoat." He reports that on reading Jessie's letter "an overpowering sort of sensation thrilled through me, such as I have not felt since I came here … never did I wish so much to be home" (includes envelope).

Partial letter from [Robert?] Garden dated London, 31 October, 1833, to "Dear Sisters," followed by a long disquisition on the proper response of women to changes in their circumstances: "It is the smile of contentment which ought to be on your lips even in the midst of the greatest difficulty." It is not made clear whether actual changes in circumstance in the financial or social standing Garden family are behind this well-meaning attempt to stave off discontent in the sisters. This is possibly from Garden sisters' brother Robert Garden.

Records documenting the family of George Davidson and his wife Margaret Garden, their daughters Margaret Kempt and Elizabeth Roos, and Elizabeth Roos' daughter Florence (the future wife of Harvey Sims.) Although there are very few letters from George extant, they are enough to show his genial and good-natured love of family, his keen and self-deprecating sense of humour, and his stoic acceptance of circumstances beyond his control. He had an unspecified affliction that require him to walk with canes; and two letters from New York City in 1880 describe in vivid detail the treatments he is receiving, most likely some form of electro-magnetic therapy.
Records making up the series include correspondence from George to his wife Margaret, letters written to Margaret by her daughter Maggie Kempt in Glasgow, letters from family in Scotland and friends in Canada, correspondence from Margaret to her granddaughter Florence, ephemera, and printed music. Some of the correspondence concerns Davidson and Sims genealogy.

Correspondents include Lieut. L.K. Harrison (Director of Music, Royal Canadian Regiment), Sir A. Wilson Hungerford, Belfast (fellow bowler), Elizabeth M. Harper (Fellow of the Royal Empire Society and Men of the Trees), Homer Heard (to and from concerning work done at Chicopee), Allison Heasley, and "Harry."

Records relating to the Harvey J. Sims' development of Chicopee, a 45-acre estate near Kitchener, Ont., where he built a home designed by Forsey Page and Steele, Architects, and designed and landscaped the grounds with the help of Carl Borgstrom of Carl Borgstrom and H.M.S. Carver, Landscape Architects. He was instrumental in the reforestation of the contiguous properties in Chicopee Hills, and in only a few years planted on his property more than 700 varieties of trees and shrubs.
Includes correspondence to and from architects, landscape planners, nurseries, and government agencies concerning the development of Harvey's house and grounds, also the reforestation of the surrounding area, dated 1927 to 1941. The correspondence files described in this series are together as found. Harvey's Personal Business Files in Series 8 contain a great deal of supplementary material in the way of correspondence, invoices, lists, time sheets, etc., with seed houses, nurseries, companies, and individuals supplying material and furnishings for the home and grounds, from water heaters and wiring to billiard table lights.
Harvey was particularly interested in collecting as many native species of trees and shrubs as would grow in this climate and his collecting activities are documented by correspondence with arboreta, university horticulture departments, government nurseries, and government officials and employees who were at that time developing botanical garden plans in Hamilton and Niagara.

Records relating to Harvey J. Sims' development of a library of books at his Chicopee home, in which he was aided by Adam Strohm, Librarian at the Detroit Public Library and Charles R. Sanderson, Chief Librarian of the Toronto Public Library. Harvey turned his planned billiard room into a library instead and set about filling it with books. Although this series contains only two files, it represents a significant activity in Harvey's life.

Files created and maintained by Harvey J. Sims in the course of daily household business relating to household expenses, personal expenses, and expenses incurred in planning and maintaining his property at Chicopee. These files were also used by Harvey for his personal interests and activities, such as clubs, memberships, investments, and circular letters. They contain correspondence, invoices, receipts, ephemera, and hand-written notes. Many invoices from nurseries or seed suppliers present here relate to those in series 6.

Ninety pieces of correspondence, of which 73 are letters to Harvey J. and/or Florence Sims. Another letter is in Series 11, sending regrets for the invitation to the wedding of Kenneth Sims and Mabel Alguire Cameron.
William Lyon Mackenzie King, Prime Minister of Canada, was a boyhood friend of Harvey J. Sims, and consistently addresses him as "Peter" in his letters. The letters in this series range from Christmas greetings to political, literary and spiritual topics.
Letters in this series are both handwritten and typewritten. Letters from Mackenzie King to Florence Sims are usually handwritten.

Records documenting the family life of Harvey J. Sims and his wife Florence Katherine Roos, who married October 29, 1902. Correspondence to Florence is sparse but includes three letters from her old friend Isabel Grace Christina "Bella" King, sister of William Lyon Mackenzie King. Florence had a literary bent and some of her writing is present in the collection, including her biography of Sheriff George Davidson.

A quantity of letters from Peter H. Sims to his son Harvey are present from 1888 (when Harvey was 17) to 1912. Peter gives opinions, advice, and instruction on every aspect of Harvey's life. He attempts to guide Harvey through the narrow path to success in the legal profession, counselling frugality, moral rectitude, and duty to family above all. He even gives Harvey step-by-step instructions on cleaning and painting his basement to make it healthy.

Correspondence from Harvey's mother Jemima is not as sympathetic. In 1898, on hearing a report that Harvey had been struck by a ball, she advises him strongly to give up football as "beneath the dignity of a practising barrister." Harvey never took this advice as he had a strong interest in many sports and made his mark in all of them: football, curling, and lawn bowling.
Also present in this series is correspondence from his sister Rella and her family, legal agreements, ephemera, football ephemera, lawn bowling scrapbook and trip ephemera.

Correspondents include Bob Kay and L. Keyzer. Bob Kay, an old friend of Harvey Sims, lived in Hartford, CT and Florida, and was acquainted with Harvey's sister Rella and her husband John Ross Stewart. The correspondence concerns mostly the scrapbooks about curling and football that Kay had assembled and their eventual disposition.
Postcard in this file: "RMS Ausonia, White Star Line" from L. Keyzer, a fellow Rotarian, postmarked Brussels.

Handwritten letter from C. Ellison Kaumeyer, Chairman of the Niagara Parks Commission, to Harvey J. Sims dated June 6, 1938, inviting Harvey to stay overnight in Niagara Falls as his guest after the ceremony opening the Memorial Arch. He has made reservations at the Brock Hotel for Mackenzie King and his party as well.
Salutation: "My Dear Mr. Sims [handwritten]"; Signature: "Faithfully yours, C. Ellison Kaumeyer [handwritten.]"

Letter from Maggie Kempt dated Glasgow, April 28, 1881 to her mother Margaret Davidson written after she had received her mother's telegram reporting George Davidson's death the day before: "Your telegram telling us of dear Papa's death, came this morning about eight-o'clock when Irvine and I were dressing, and has made us all very downcast." She expresses her sorrow and sympathy, and also the effects of the technology of the telegram on her feelings: "This is the first telegram I have received across the Atlantic and somehow it seems to bring me nearer home than I have ever felt before. To think that I know today what happened with you yesterday and though the message brought sad news we are pleased you thought of telegraphing."

Letter from Maggie Kempt dated Wiston Manre [Manor?], Wiston, by Biggar, July 1, 1886 to her mother Margaret Davidson describing her daughter Florence's asthma, and thanking her mother for looking after her son George on his trip to Canada. She sends all the news of visitors from Canada and says of George: "I hope George will be able to go and see our old home when he is in Berlin. Do you know the people that have Forest-Hill? He has heard so much about it that he will be disappointed if he cannot get into the house. You will find George a great politician and a fearful Tory, but I hope he won't display his views too much among a lot of radicals. He says the Canadians are nearly all Radicals." In closing she says "this courting through the telephone must be a novel arrangement."

Letter from Nigel Kempt, cousin of Kenneth Sims, dated January 6, 1950, thanking Mabel and Kenneth Sims for the "lovely piece of beef" sent at Christmas. "New Year is usually rather a wearisome time with us as our staff always have to get off, leaving us to feed the hens & do the cooking and so on."

Letter from Bella King (sister of W.L. Mackenzie King) dated July 17, [1904] to her friend Florence Sims, who has just given birth to her first child. After asking about the baby and Florence's health, Bella announces that "the house question" has finally been settled and that they are to move to 4 Grange Road in the middle of September, talks about holidays, and reports on going to "the Dundonald reception" with her Father John King. Signed Bella.

Letter from Bella King dated 4 Grange Road, Toronto, June 28, 1908 to Florence Sims after the birth of William, her second child. She asks about the baby, mentions family, friends, and plans: "Willie is going to take [mother Isabel King] on a trip when he comes back from Quebec." Signed Isabel King.