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K.W. McKay
- Museum / Archive
- Elgin County Archives
- Part Of
- Municipal World Inc. fonds
- Description Level
- Series
- GMD
- textual records
- Date Range
- 1850-1938
- Accession Number
- 2006-11
- Storage Location
- R5 S1 Sh3 B2-3
- Museum / Archive
- Elgin County Archives
- Part Of
- Municipal World Inc. fonds
- Description Level
- Series
- Accession Number
- 2006-11
- Storage Room
- Archives Storage Rm. 107
- Storage Location
- R5 S1 Sh3 B2-3
- GMD
- textual records
- Date Range
- 1850-1938
- Series
- Municipal World Inc. fonds - K.W. McKay series
- Physical Description
- 35 cm of textual records
- History / Biographical
- Kenneth Weir McKay was born to William McKay and Susan Sells of Southwold Township in 1862. He became Clerk of Elgin County on December 15, 1882, continuing the family’s connection to the office; his uncle, John McKay, was the first clerk and his father, William McKay, was the second. He served as Clerk until December 1, 1939, and is the longest serving Clerk in the history of the County.
K. W. McKay was considered the leading expert on municipal government during his day, participating in several monumental initiatives including the codification of the Municipal Act, the Assessment Act and the creation of the Ontario Good Roads Association. He founded Municipal World Limited in St. Thomas, Ontario in 1892 and was the first editor of Municipal World magazine.
K. W. McKay was active on numerous committees and supported numerous causes in St. Thomas and Elgin County, including the Red Cross Society, St. Thomas and Elgin County Children’s Aid Society, Alma College Board, and Elgin Historical and Scientific Institute. His historical prowess was well established; he authored the chapter on local government in Ontario for the seminal national history "Canada and its Provinces" (1914) as well as several books and articles on local history.
He had an abiding interest in his family’s genealogy and organized many events and reunions at his home Selldon, Payne’s Mills (the ancestral home of the Sell’s family).
Elgin County Council passed a by-law in 1939 declaring Mr. McKay Clerk Emeritus for the county. He died October 4th, 1941. A more detailed biography is contained in the publication "Documenting Our Roots: A Sesquicentennial History of the County of Elgin, 1852-2002" available through the Elgin County Library.
A prolific author on various subjects related to local government, local history and family history, K.W. McKay's publications include:
"Development of the County of Elgin", 1895.
"Consolidation of the by-laws of the County of Elgin : from the date of its incorporation in 1852 to the end of the year 1896" (compiled in collaboration with Richard Locker), 1897.
"The court houses of a century : a brief historical sketch of the court houses of the London district, the County of Middlesex and County of Elgin", 1901.
"Ontario Assessment Commission. Report of the Ontario Assessment Commission" (K.W. McKay, H. MacMahon, T.H. Macpherson), 1901.
"Municipal government in Ontario", published in University of Toronto Studies. History and Economics v. 2, no. 2, 1903.
"Municipal organization in Ontario", published in University of Toronto Studies. History and Economics, v. 2, no. 5, 1903.
"Tax rate and debenture tables", 1912.
"Municipal history, 1867-1913" in "Canada and its Provinces", Adam Shortt, Arthur G. Doughty, general editors. Vol. 18, section IX: The Province of Ontario, pp. 453-510, 1914.
"Municipal institutions in Ontario", 1916.
"The 'Sells' Family in Canada", c 1930.
"The MacKays: A brief genealogical history of the first Lord Reay and his great grandson Alexander MacKay, members of whose family settled in Canada 100 years ago", 1937.
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of records created, collected and maintained by K.W. McKay in his capacity as president of Municipal World Limited and editor of Municipal World magazine; Clerk of the County of Elgin; member of various civic, government and professional organizations and associations; consulting financial auditor; genealogist; and published author. Series includes Mr. McKay's research notes; records relating to the preparation, publication and distribution of Mr. McKay's publications "Tax Rate and Debenture Tables", "Municipal Institutions in Ontario", "Municipal Organization in Ontario" and "The MacKays"; records relating to Mr. McKay's membership and service in the Ontario Good Roads Association, Ontario Municipal Association (OMA), Soldiers' Aid Commission of Ontario, Sons of Scotland Benevolent Association and Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF); documents and publications relating to the local history of the County of Elgin, and directories for the County of Elgin and City of St. Thomas collected and maintained by Mr. McKay, perhaps in his capacity as a member of the Elgin Historical and Scientific Institute; and copies of auditors' reports and financial statements prepared for various municipalities.
- Name Access
- McKay, Kenneth Weir
- Municipal World Inc.
- St. Thomas (Ont.)
- Subject Access
- Business and Industry
- Publishers
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