Origins
Published in the Hamilton Times, March 5, 1914
The year was 1914. The Hamilton Public Library's main branch had just relocated into a new, larger building. Recent library reports showed that the library was thriving; circulation was at an all-time high, the introduction of a children’s story hour was met with success, and the new open-shelf system had streamlined the borrowing process.
Since its formation in 1889, the library had actively procured books about Canada, written by Canadians, published by Canadians, or having something to do with the history of Canada. In March 1914, Amy B. McNair, the reference librarian who had been working for the Hamilton Public Library since it opened, formally compiled these items into the Canadiana Collection. This special collection of Canadian and local historical materials was placed in a large room on the first floor of the Main Library, called the Canadiana Room. There, the materials were available for all members of the public to access, but did not circulate. At the time of its formation, the Canadiana Collection comprised of books, pamphlets, and periodicals withdrawn from the regular collection, as well as materials donated by Hamilton native Emerson Bristol Biggar, the Wentworth Historical Society, and the Canadian Club.
Emerson Bristol Biggar Collection
In 1905, historian, author, and Hamilton native Emerson Bristol Biggar donated several priceless rare books from his personal collection to the Hamilton Public Library. The donation included various volumes of poetry and historical accounts of life in British America and Upper Canada, all of which were written or published by Canadians. Due to their considerable value, the books were given shelves of their own in the reference room and labelled with the name of the donor. Their relevance to Canadian history would result in their inclusion in the Canadiana Collection just a few years later. According to Hamilton historian Katharine Greenfield, Biggar’s donation could be considered the real beginning of the Canadiana Collection.
Eight volumes currently remain catalogued in Local History and Archives under the Biggar Collection. Each are marked on the inside cover with a bookplate that reads: "Presented by E. B. Biggar Esq. Toronto Ont."
The Carnegie Library
In May 1913, the Hamilton Public Library’s main branch relocated to the southwest corner of Main and MacNab street. The original building, which had been constructed in 1890 in a "modern Romanesque" style, had proven impractical as the library grew, due to the scarcity of useful floor space juxtaposed against the high ceilings, broad halls, and wide staircase. Meanwhile, "Carnegie fever" had hit the library world; between the years of 1901–1919, American industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie funded around 3,000 public libraries across the globe, and the Hamilton Public Library wanted a piece of the pie. After the library board's written request to Carnegie for funding was abruptly turned down, a representative travelled to New York to personally appeal to the Carnegie Corporation, and was met with success. With $75,000 of Carnegie funds, plus $25,000 from the sale of the old library building, the new Main Library was designed by local architect A. W. Peene to be much more spacious. The reference department took advantage of this expanded real estate to designate a large room on the second floor that would house a new special collection: the Canadiana Collection.
Wentworth Historical Society Donations
Formed in 1889, the Wentworth Historical Society was a community organization dedicated to the study and publication of history, archaeology, and genealogy of the area around the city of Hamilton. Members of the group met regularly to listen to guest speakers discuss various local topics, such as “Champlain, the Father and Founder of Canada” or “The Maple Leaf Forever.” These talks were recorded and published in the Society’s annual periodical. The Wentworth Historical Society donated several materials to help establish the Canadiana Collection in 1914.
Local History and Archives holds copies of each of the Wentworth Historical Society’s annual publications. The first volume contains a bookplate that reads: “This Volume Presented by Rev. T. M. Bailey to Hamilton Public Library 1968.” It is unclear when the rest of the volumes were donated. According to the library’s catalogue, Military Encampment is the first book that Local History and Archives acquired from the Wentworth Historical Society.