Ministry of
Government and Consumer Services
Ministry of
Government and Consumer Services
Fonds F 2
14.6 metres of textual records
8 volumes of textual records
133 photographs : black and white, prints
18 maps
The bulk of the fonds consists of correspondence and other documents relating to Edward Blake's personal and family matters, law practice, educational and business concerns, and to his political career in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and the Canadian and British Parliaments. There are incoming letters, as well as drafts or copies (including letter books) of outgoing correspondence. The collection also includes scrap books of newspaper clippings dealing mainly with politics and speeches.
Major topics within the Edward Blake correspondence include the North West Territories, the Riel Rebellion, railways (particularly the Canadian Pacific Railway), election results, extradition of criminals to the United States, the Jesuit Estates Act, Irish nationalism and politics.
A portion of the collection documents the lives of other Blake family members including Edward's father (William Hume Blake), mother (Catherine Hume), grandmother (Anne Margaret Hume Blake), and his youngest son (Samuel Verschoyle Blake). These records consist primarily of correspondence to and from each individual, but commonly contain other materials such as manuscript histories on various topics and genealogical data.
Published materials and an "Original Catalogue of the Papers as Found in Edward Blake's Home" form the remainder of the holdings.
Several early attempts were made to organize the fonds - notably that of Edward Blake in 1906 and his literary executor and son-in-law, Professor George Wrong. Following receipt, the collection was arranged into the following series: Series A - Edward Blake's Relatives, Series B - Edward Blake's papers, Series C - Miscellaneous Published materials, and Series D - "Original Catalogue of the Papers as Found in Edward Blake's Home".
An additional accrual of papers received in 1979 has been incorporated into the arrangement, athough it remains physically separate.
Click here to see a list of record series that make up this fonds or collection
The Blake family came to Upper Canada in the early nineteenth century, where William Blake (1809-1870) and son Edward (1833-1912) became distinguished in law and the administrative affairs of Canada.
Edward Blake (1833-1912) was a federal and provincial politician, Liberal member of Canada's federal parliament and Ontario Legislative Assembly, leader of the Liberal Party of Ontario (1869- 1872), Premier of Ontario (1871-1872), and leader of the Liberal opposition in Ottawa (1880-1887).
William Hume Blake (1809-1870) was an Irish immigrant to Upper Canada who became Solicitor- General for Canada West and the Chancellor of Upper Canada in the early and mid-nineteenth century.
Anne Margaret Hume Blake (1771-1867) was the mother of William Hume Blake (1809-1870) and grandmother of federal and provincial politician Edward Blake (1833-1912).
Catherine Hume Blake (1804-1886) was an Irish immigrant to Upper Canada, the wife of William Hume Blake (1809-1870) and mother of Edward Blake (1833-1912) the second premier of Ontario.
Rev. Dominick Edward Blake (1806-1859) was a minister in the Anglican Church in Upper Canada during the mid-nineteenth century. He was the elder brother of William Hume Blake.
Anna Blake ([183-]-1882) was the daughter of lawyer and politician William Hume Blake (1809-1870) and the sister of Ontario premier and federal Liberal Party leader Edward Blake (1833-1912).
Rebecca Blake (1836-1901) was the wife of lawyer, judge, social reformer, and pamphleteer Samuel Hume Blake (1835-1914).
Samuel Hume Blake (1835-1914) was a lawyer, judge, social reformer and pamphleteer. He sat on the Ontario Court of Chancery from 1872 to 1881.
Sophia Blake (1837-1909) was the daughter of lawyer and politician William Hume Blake (1809-1870) and the sister of Ontario premier and federal Liberal Party leader Edward Blake (1833-1920).
Edward Hume Blake (1860?-1938?) was a Toronto lawyer, and the eldest son of Ontario premier and federal Liberal Party leader Edward Blake (1833-1912).
Edward Francis Blake (1860-1905) was the second son of Ontario premier and federal Liberal Party leader Edward Blake (1833-1912).
Samuel Verschoyle Blake (1868-1923) was a lawyer and the youngest son of Ontario premier and federal Liberal Party leader Edward Blake (1833-1912).
Verschoyle Benson Blake (1899-1971) worked as an historian with the government of Ontario and was a founding member of the Architectural Consevancy of Ontario.
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Blake, Edward (family) Blake, Edward, 1833-1912 Blake, William Hume, 1809-1870 Blake, Anna, [183-]-1882 Blake, Anne Margaret Hume, 1771-1867 Blake, Catherine Hume, [1804]-1886 Blake, Dominick Edward, 1806-1859 Blake, Rebecca, 1836-1901 Blake, S.H. (Samuel Hume), 1835-1914 Blake, Sophia (Sophy), 1837-1909 Blake, Edward Hume, [1860?]-[1938?] Blake, Edward (Ned) Francis, 1860-1905 Blake, Samuel Verschoyle, 1868-1923 Blake, Verschoyle Benson, 1899-1971Title supplied from content of fonds.
Accessions 1304, 1471, 2525, 2827, 4870, 4876.
Please consult series and sub-series decriptions.
Click here to see a list of records series that make up this fonds or collection
Scroll up to "Finding Aid" for more information about any available finding aids or listings.
Click on a reference code for more information about a series of records.
| Reference Code | Series Title |
| F 2-1 | Records of Edward Blake's relatives |
| F 2-2 | Edward Blake Papers |
| F 2-3 | Published material collected by Edward Blake |
| F 2-4 | Original catalogue of the Edward Blake papers as found in Edward Blake's home |
| F 2-5 | Blake family genealogical materials |
