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<\/a>Christopher Taylor, one of four family members who have gifted two collections to Brock, is pictured during the donation of the Woodruff Family collection in 2015.<\/p><\/div>\n
Upon discovering the collection amongst his late uncle\u2019s belongings, Christopher Taylor immediately knew he wanted to share his findings with the University, to which his family has previously made historically significant contributions.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I discovered what the material was, even my little knowledge of history told me that it was important,\u201d Taylor said. \u201cI knew I had to get it to the right place, where the community at large could have access.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brock University is proudly celebrating this invaluable gift in conjunction with National Philanthropy Day on Sunday, Nov. 15. Brock annually marks this occasion by reflecting on and thanking the alumni, faculty, staff and donors who provide the support necessary for the institution to thrive.<\/p>\n
The Alexander Hamilton collection is a prime example of a non-monetary gift that will have a lasting impact on the University, its students and researchers, said Sonia Dupte, Brock\u2019s Director, Development and Stewardship.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile generous financial support is important for a university, gifts of this nature enable us to preserve history and add to the cultural wealth of the institution and the region,\u201d she said. \u201cThoughtful gifts to Brock University can come in all shapes and sizes and we hope people feel inspired to continue to support Brock.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re grateful to the family of Robert Band for preserving this valuable Canadian history and for their continued support of Brock University throughout the years.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/a>A hand-drawn sketch of the Niagara River is among about 2,500 documents included in the collection.<\/p><\/div>\n
Known warmly to many as \u2018Uncle Bob,\u2019 Robert Band passed away in September 2013, leaving behind a spectacular collection of historically significant artifacts. Among those artifacts were the Hamilton collection donated recently, as well as the Woodruff Family collection, which Taylor and his family donated on behalf of his uncle\u2019s estate in 2015. That collection included 150 years of records documenting the prominent Woodruff family\u2019s influence in Niagara and also received a federal cultural property certification.<\/p>\n
The Hamilton collection was purchased for 17 cents at a garage sale in the 1940s by Band\u2019s father Percy, who was also an avid collector.<\/p>\n
With a passion for history that runs deep, Band\u2019s family made both donations to the University with the intention of seeing the material shared with the Brock and wider community. Being able to provide access to that history and potentially spark further research holds great meaning, Taylor said.<\/p>\n
David Sharron, Brock\u2019s Head of Archives and Special Collections, describes the Alexander Hamilton donation as a \u201cflagship collection\u201d for the University that is expected to inspire countless research projects.<\/p>\n
A \u201cmover and shaker\u201d in his time, Hamilton had a \u201cfinger in every little bit of history that happened around here,\u201d Sharron said. \u201cHe was the sheriff. He was the postmaster. He was a judge. He worked in the fur trade business for a little while and was in the War of 1812.<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring those years, you couldn\u2019t do anything without Alexander Hamilton\u2019s influence. He got things done and I think the Niagara area benefits from his legacy.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Hamilton\u2019s life has been documented \u201cbit by bit\u201d through various historical pieces held by different organizations, there has never been a collection as comprehensive as the one now housed at Brock, Sharron said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is an absolute treasure in a sense that anyone who wants to study Hamilton would have had to go to many different repositories to pull this information together,\u201d he said. \u201cFor generations now with the Band family, these papers have been kept together and have created a one-stop shop.\u201d<\/p>\n
Detailing the history of Niagara predominantly in the 1810s through the 1830s, the material also offers a look into the early Canadian postal system, showcasing how rates were chosen, how international mail worked between Canada and the United States, and how the growth of the system influenced the growth of Canada.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe collection tells a story about us as Canadians,\u201d Sharron said, adding the certification \u201cputs us in a good position to steward this material and be a part of the greater understanding of our history.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis will draw attention, but ultimately it\u2019s really about the students, researchers and community members who can come in and use these materials.\u201d<\/p>\n
Taylor said his family loves seeing people \u201ccaptivated\u201d by the pieces contained within the collection. They have been impressed, he added, by both physical and digital displays Brock has put together with their past donation, and are excited to see the same happen with the latest addition.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no better place for the history as recorded in these documents,\u201d Taylor said. \u201cBrock University has been extraordinarily good to us as beneficiaries and to the name of Robert Band.\u201d<\/p>\n
Examples of some of the materials found in the collection are available here<\/a>.<\/p>\n