The Merrillees collection has already been accessioned by Archives Canada so
it's relatively safe by archival standards and certainly secure compared to the
collections of the elderly hoarders we've been discussing here.
The problem with the Merrillees collection is that most of it hasn't been
catalogued and the only way to access it is to make the trek to Ottawa and
spend days, weeks, months rummaging through boxes of materials, much of it
unlabelled except in the broadest categories. The logistical expense of that
when you're paying your own way is pretty daunting for those of us living in
Ontario, especially so for those of you in the west.
A few years ago, I came across the only photograph I've ever seen of Toronto's
first Union Station circa 1860. I couldn't even see it in Ottawa since it was a
glass negative that had never been printed before and I didn't have time to
visit their special facility in Gatineau for viewing these items. The item was
also mislabelled so I wasn't sure exactly what it was until after I paid to
have a print of it made and sent to me.
I've spoken to others who have been to Ottawa since and cataloguing the
Merrillees collection doesn't seem to be a priority. Except during special
anniversaries like the recent Last Spike commemoration, railway history just
isn't considered that "sexy" compared to other priorities, like the $310
million Canadian Museum of Human Rights in Winnipeg. I've often thought that if
the Underground Railroad was a real railroad rather than a metaphor, these
collections would be in a lot better shape.
Derek Boles
4c. Re: CPR 5900 Selkirk's west of Taft, BC.
Posted by: "Steve Lucas" stevelucas3@xxxxxxxx stevelucas3
Date: Tue Nov 16, 2010 12:56 pm ((PST))
Uh-oh--
Much of the Merrillees collection in the National Archives could disappear if
this is a concern!
Steve Lucas.
--- In cpsig@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "K V Railway" <kvrailway@...> wrote:
there is a question as to how the possessor obtained the photo in the
Derek, I guess the answer to your question is like so many other questions -
it's subjective. However, from what I've witnessed over the years, some of
the answers are:
first place - i.e. something lifted from company files without due
authorization.
I'm sure there are many other reasons too.
Joe Smuin
