Biographical information copied from the Rankin Family Bible and a copy of a letter to John I. Rankin in Montreal from Sir Patrick Ashley Cooper at Beaver House in London, England, where the Hudson's Bay Company archives were then maintained, regarding a request for information about Colin Rankin. In the response, Cooper quotes directly from the May 1921 issue of The Beaver about Rankin.
Fonds consists of correspondence, documents, journals, and a photograph relating to Colin Rankin's activity as a Fur Trader for the Hudson's Bay Company. Included are three journals kept by Donald McKay, Fur Trader, between 1799 and 1806, which were acquired by Rankin probably during his stay in the Temiskaming district.
Typescript letter from David A. Smith to Colin Rankin regarding dispatches from Moose Factory and the statement a private cash account. Smith shares that he and his colleagues at the Hudson's Bay Company were sorry to hear of Rankin's illness and expresses satisfaction in learning of his improved health.
Letter from [David] Smith to Colin Rankin regarding Rankin's appointment as Factor of the Hudson's Bay Company. The letter makes reference to Rankin receiving a commission and Copy of Deed Poll and Indenture. File includes the commission in the form of a certificate with seal dated April 9, 1872.
Typescript letter from Gordon R. Brady to J.J. Rankin about land purchased by Aime Jodouin for which title has not yet been received. The letter makes reference to a sketch, included in file, outlining land sold by Rankin to Deacon, [McGood?], [Longhorn?] and Jodouin by Rankin within Lot 15 of [Concession] XIV. The sketch includes a C.P. [Canadian Pacific] Railway, a 300 m creek and a forced road.
Mimeograph letter from J.A. Grahame to Colin Rankin regarding Rankin's promotion to Chief Factor of the Hudson's Bay Company effective June 1, 1879. File includes the commission in the form of a certificate with seal dated June 1, 1879.
Letter from John G. Smith to Colin Rankin regarding Rankin's promotion to Chief Trader of the Hudson's Bay Company. File includes Rankin's commission in the form of a certificate with seal dated June 30, 1868 that was to be issued to Rankin after his singing of a Deed of Covenant accepting the position.
Two letters from Lord Grey to Colin Rankin both dated November 1, 1905. The first letter lets Rankin know that Grey and Major Holford returned from safely from a trip and thanks Rankin "for all the trouble you took to provide our comfort, amusement and instruction." A postscript note mentions the inclusion of a photograph as a moment that is not included in the file. The second letter, marked 'Private & Confidential', asks Rankin to let Grey know as soon as possible about the price a Mr. Brown is asking for 400 acres worth of land and whether Rankin can secure it and everything on the land, including furniture of the house and a yacht, for $6,000 until the end of November.
One letter from Lord Minto to Colin Rankin making a past tense reference to a photo of a tiger (not in file) and a desire for Rankin to find him another moose. The letter concludes with Minto conveying best wishes to Rankin.
Letter from Thomas H. Johnson to Colin Rankin's purchase of the "east half of lot 15 in the 14th [concession] of Papineau, containing 30 1/2 acres" at a rate of 50 cents per acre; a land grant certificate with seal dated June 14, 1881; a typescript reproduction of the text on the certificate; and a typescript description of the land accompanied by a hand drawn sketch.
Correspondence regarding the location and donation of records to the University of Waterloo that would later become the contents of the Colin Rankin fonds. Communication is predominantly between P. G. Cornell and Kenneth A. MacKirdy, members of Waterloo's Department of History, and the descendants of Colin Rankin; grandson's John L. Rankin, Erroll K. McDougall, and John E. R. McDougall, and Rankin's daughter, Lilly Walters. Also in the file is an exchange between Bruce Peel, University Librarian at the University of Alberta, and Doris Lewis, University Librarian at Waterloo, about the acquisition of the papers of Elizabeth Smith Shortt and the possible connection between Donald McKay and a Nan McKay who worked at the University of Saskatchewan between 1913 and 1955.
Colin Rankin's copy of Deed poll by the Governor and Company of Hudson's Bay, for conducting their trade in North America, and for defining the rights and prescribing the duties of their officers, 1871.
Colin Rankin's draft copy of Hudson's Bay Company Rules and regulations subject to the provisions of the deed poll with pencil marginalia, doodles and other markings.
One journal kept by Colin Rankin from September 19, 1853 to September 17, 1854 during his posting to Fort Kikendatch. The journal includes ca. 25 pages of dated and undated notes, poems, transcripts and quotations, not kept in diary format.
One journal kept by Colin Rankin from March 9, 1848, the day he assumed charge of the Mattawa Post, to August 16, 1853, the day before his departure. The journal includes ca. 50 pages of dated and undated notes, poems, transcripts and quotations, not kept in diary format.
Three resolutions passed by Members of the Bar of the County of Renfrew following the death of Colin Scott Rankin, son of Colin Rankin. The first is a resolution to attend Rankin's funeral, the second is a resolution expressing individual and united respect for Colin Rankin Scott Eqs. and their condolences to Colin Rankin Esq., and the third is a resolution to send a copy of the first two resolutions to Colin Rankin Esq. The document is likely the copy agreed to in the third resolution.
Signed statement of appreciation addressed to Colin Rankin from the officers of the Hudson's Bay Company residing in the Temiskamingue District signed by Wm. Whiteway, Hugh Ray, Arthur G. Ryder, C.C. Farr, E. Deacon, G.H. Goldsworthy, A. Patterson, A. Miller.