Skip header and navigation
Henry Roe Photograph Album
- Museum / Archive
- Elgin County Archives
- Part Of
- Don Cosens Collection
- Description Level
- File
- GMD
- graphic material
- Date Range
- ca. 1900
- Accession Number
- 2018-58
- Storage Location
- M5 S1 Sh2 B3 F1
- Museum / Archive
- Elgin County Archives
- Part Of
- Don Cosens Collection
- Description Level
- File
- Accession Number
- 2018-58
- Storage Room
- Archives 4th Floor Storage Room
- Storage Location
- M5 S1 Sh2 B3 F1
- GMD
- graphic material
- Date Range
- ca. 1900
- Series
- Don Cosens Collection- Photographs series
- Physical Description
- 1 album : 103 photographs
- History / Biographical
- Henry Roe was born in St. Thomas, Ontario, on June 11, 1866, to Charles Roe and Zebee Mary Roe (nee Kains). On June 11, 1913, he married Ethel E. Jones in St. Thomas, Ontario. They lived at 9 Drake Street and, later 59 Metcalfe Street, in St. Thomas. They had two daughters. He died in 1942 at 75 years old.
The Roe family were among the first residents in the southwest section of St. Thomas, off Wilson Avenue to present day Sunset Drive. Henry Street, one of the earliest established streets in this area, was named after Henry Roe.
As a child, Roe was educated at the local public schools and attended St. Thomas Collegiate Institute. In 1882, he joined his father in the grain business as a clerk, then joined the Michigan Central Railroad as an employee in 1888, where he worked as a timekeeper. In 1902, he left the railway service to establish an insurance and real estate business with the Canada Life Insurance Company, in which he developed a significant clientele.
Roe was an active member of his community and served in various capacities for many organizations. He served as Chairman of the Board of Education, member of the Library Board, member of the Cemetery Board, Warden of Trinity Church, and was a member of all branches of Masonry in the London District, including the Shrine, Knights of Pythias, Knights of the Maccabees, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Roe had an interest in photography and was a member of the St. Thomas Camera Club. He was also interested in history and was revered for his knowledge of local anecdotes and historical events. He took interest in the preservation of the Old St. Thomas Church, where he once attended services and played the organ as a young child.
- Scope and Content
- A photograph album containing images taken by Henry Roe, which include candid photographs of his family and acquiantances, as well as photographs showing scenes throughout Elgin County, including Port Talbot, Port Stanley, Sparta, Union and St. Thomas. Photographs also include scenes beyond Elgin County, including of Byron and Lambeth, as well as Cambridge Springs in Pennsylvania during family travels. A sample selection of these photographs have been scanned. Item-level description available.
- Name Access
- Roe, Henry
- Subject Access
- Photography
Less detail