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New for 2025 - reports scanned by Friends of the Rideau back in 2008-2014 are now available as free PDF downloads on this website. Additional manuscript and microfiche reports (see the blue covers) are being added.
In the 1970s and 80s, Parks Canada created a series of detailed research reports about various facets of the Rideau Canal (and other Parks Canada sites). Known as the Manuscript Report Series, most were never made easily available to the public. In 2013 they became much less available when Parks Canada closed down their two local Rideau libraries (Smiths Falls & Elgin). Prior to that, in 2008, Friends of the Rideau initiated a new project titled Resources for the Rideau. This project involved the digitization of these manuscript reports and making them available to the public as inexpensive books on CD (a PDF file). Twelve reports were digitized between 2008 and 2014.
In 2019, these were donated to the ParksCanadaHistory.com website (private website not affiliated with Parks Canada) and in 2025, with more local website capacity, they were added to this website. We're also adding additional manuscript reports scanned by Randall D. Payne for his parkscanadahistory site to this page (with permission - he mostly buys these reports on the used book market to scan for his website).
With the Friend's scanning project, the original manuscripts were borrowed from Parks Canada so that the images used in the report could be scanned at high resolution. In several cases, the digitization was done in co-operation with the original authors of these reports (i.e. Robert W. Passfield & Barbara A. Humphreys)
These PDFs are all fully searchable and are of immense use to anyone with an interest in the history of the Rideau Canal.
Canal Lock Design and Construction, The Rideau Canal Experience, 1826-1982. This 1983 microfiche report by Robert W. Passfield details the design, construction and evolution of the locks on the Rideau Canal from 1826 to 1982. For details see the MR57 Report Page. 482p. Download MR57 (116 Mb PDF) Download MR57 Addendum - photos of a gate replacement in Ottawa (11 Mb PDF).
The Canals of Canada. This 1971 manuscript report by John P. Heisler, looks at canal building in Canada from the beginning to later expansion of existing canals, and the significant role played by canals in
the development of transportation and communication in Canada 434p. It was scanned by Randall D. Payne (www.parkscanadhistory.com) Download MR64 (77 Mb PDF)
The Architectural Heritage of the Rideau Corridor. This 1974 manuscript report by Barbara A. Humphreys looks at the rich architectural heritage of the buildings in the Rideau Corridor. For details see the MR105 Report Page. 71p. Digital version 2012. Download MR105 (7 Mb PDF)
The Military Establishment at Bytown, 1826 - 1856. This 1983 microfiche report by James A. De Jonge looks at the military establishment at Bytown as well as the military control of the canal's operations up until it was turned over to civilian control in 1856. 139p. It was scanned by Randall D. Payne (www.parkscanadhistory.com) Download MR109 (4 Mb PDF)
The First Tay Canal in the Rideau Corridor, 1830-1850. This detailed 1984 microfiche report by Larry Turner looks at the building and use of the First Tay Canal, built and operated by the Tay Navigation Company. Locks on the Tay River connected Perth to the Rideau Canal by way of Port Elmsley. The canal opened in 1834 but had a bit of a tortured life before closing in the 1860s. For details see the MR142 Report Page. 183p. Download MR142 (22 Mb PDF)
The Rideau Canal: 1832 - 1914. This 1975 manuscript report by Judith Tulloch covers the 1832 to 1914 period of the Rideau Canal, providing us with a fascinating review of these early years of the canal’s operation. For details see the MR177 Report Page. 219p. Digital version 2009. Download MR177 (8 Mb PDF)
"Dividing the Waters": A Preliminary Overview of Water Management on the Rideau, 1832-1972. This 1985 microfiche report by Brian S. Osborne and Donald Swainson looks at the water management of the canal, including the addition of reservoir lakes and some alternative canal proposals. 133p. It was scanned by Randall D. Payne (www.parkscanadhistory.com) Download MR179 (4 Mb PDF)
Early Settlement in Ontario. This 1971-72 manuscript report by Edward Mills looks at settlement in Ontario by various ethnic groups - American, German, French-Canadian, Scottish and Irish. 183p. It was scanned by Randall D. Payne (www.parkscanadhistory.com) Download MR182 (32 Mb PDF)
Builders of the Rideau Canal, 1826-32. This 1976 manuscript report deals with some of the men, both soldiers and civilians, who built the Rideau Canal. The report includes information about the organization of the project and the background and personality of the superintending engineer, Lieutenant Colonel John By. Also includes several paylists. For details see the MR185 Report Page. 281p. Digital version 2009. Download MR185 (27 Mb PDF)
Construction History of the Rideau Canal. This 1976 manuscript report by Karen Price covers the 1826-1832 construction period of the Rideau Canal. This document provides transcribed excerpts from Lt. Colonel John By’s yearly reports detailing the work done and costs incurred at each work site. It is immensly valuable in terms of the actual wording of By's reports. 335p. For details see the MR193 Report Page. Download MR193 (95 Mb PDF)
Historic Bridges on the Rideau Waterways System. This 1976 manuscript report by Robert W. Passfield reviews the history of bridges built across the Rideau Canal and details 26 of the 59 bridges that existed in 1976. Includes 38 photos and illustrations of various bridges. For details see the MR212 Report Page. 129p. Download MR212 (10 Mb PDF)
Nineteenth Century Industrial Development in the Rideau Corridor. This 1977 manuscript report by Marsha Hay Snyder looks identifies the major industries and commercial enterprises of the Rideau Corridor during the 19th century 221p. It was scanned by Randall D. Payne (www.parkscanadhistory.com) Download MR215 (3 Mb PDF)
Profile De Certains Édifices Le Long Du Canal Rideau. This 1977 manuscript report (in French) by Jean-Claude Parent looks at the Royal Engineers' Office and the Commissariat building in Ottawa, the landscape of the lock station in Ottawa, the railway tunnel in Ottawa, the forge at Jones Falls and the blockhouse at Kingston Mills. 237p. It was scanned by Randall D. Payne (www.parkscanadhistory.com) Download MR225 (28 Mb PDF)
Commercial Navigation on the Rideau Canal, 1832-1961. This 1981 manuscript report by Edward Forbes Bush looks at all aspects of commercial navigation on the Rideau including details on over 170 vessels known to have served on the Rideau Canal. For details see the MR247 Report Page. 276p. Download MR247 (70 Mb PDF)
Supplying the Workers. This 1985 microfiche report by Jaime Valentine looks the labourers on the Rideau Canal project in terms of provisions, health care and other issues. It's a bit dated such as referencing all Irish as Catholics when we now know many on the Rideau were in fact Protestant (McCabe list analysis), but it still contains some valuable info. 111p. It was scanned by Randall D. Payne (www.parkscanadhistory.com) Download MR249 (2 Mb PDF)
Recreational Boating on the Rideau Waterway, 1890-1930. This detailed 1986 microfiche report by Larry Turner looks at the development of recreational boating on the Rideau. It includes information about the types of recreational boats, the boaters, recreational boating activities, the development of steamer excursions and the impact of recreational boating on the administration of the canal. For details see the MR253 Report Page. 431p. Download MR253 (23 Mb PDF)
The Construction Camp at Newboro, Land Use Study. This 1987 microfiche report by Karen Carter-Edwards looks at the 1829 to 1831 site of the construction camp for canal labourers and their families and for the 7th Company
of the Royal Sappers and Miners. Approximately 60 buildings occupied the site during that period. 173p. It was scanned by Randall D. Payne (www.parkscanadhistory.com) Download MFR293 (30 Mb PDF)
The Second Tay Canal in the Rideau Corridor, 1880-1940. This 1986 microfiche report by Larry Turner looks at the planning, financing, construction and use of the Second Tay Canal (the one still in use today). For details see the MR295 Report Page. 331p. Download MR295 (16 Mb PDF)
Elements of a Military Heritage. This 1980 manuscript report by William Wylie looks at the structural History of the Merrickville and Newboro Blockhouses, The Jones and Whitefish Guardhouses, and the Jones Falls Defensible Lockmaster's House. 227p. It was scanned by Randall D. Payne (www.parkscanadhistory.com) Download MR372 (30 Mb PDF)
A History of the Smiths Falls Lock Station, 1827-1978, Volume 1. Volume 1 of this 1979 manuscript report by Peter DeLottinville looks at the construction and subsequent maintenance of Smiths Falls Detached, Combined and Old Slys. 245p. It was scanned by Randall D. Payne (www.parkscanadhistory.com) Download MR373 Vol.1 (40 Mb PDF)
A History of the Smiths Falls Lock Station, 1827-1978, Volume 2. Volume 2 of this 1979 manuscript report by Peter DeLottinville looks at the economic activities in Smiths Falls related to the Rideau Canal. 493p. It was scanned by Randall D. Payne (www.parkscanadhistory.com) Download MR373 Vol.2 (28 Mb PDF)
Kingston Mills. This 1977 manuscript report by Richard Tatley looks at Kingston Mill from the first mills in 1784 to the 20th century tourism era. 338p. It was scanned by Randall D. Payne (www.parkscanadhistory.com) Download MR413 (55 Mb PDF)
Industries and Industrialists of Merrickville, 1792-1979. This 1979 manuscript report by Richard Tatley deals with the industrial operations in Merrickville, powered by water, steam and electricity, and the men that ran these, over the span of 189 years. For details see the MR423 Report Page. 736p. Download MR423 (30 Mb PDF)
Overland Transport in the Rideau Region, 1800-1930. This 1979 manuscript report by Edward F. Bush looks at the development of roads and railways in the Rideau region. For details see the MR424 Report Page. 397p. Download MR424 (95 Mb PDF)
Engineering the Defence of the Canadas. This 1980 manuscript report by Robert W. Passfield looks at the design of the Rideau Canal in the context of the overall defence of Canada and Lt. Col. John By's foresight to have it built as a steamboat canal and the trouble that got him into in terms of cost. 478p. It was scanned by Randall D. Payne (www.parkscanadhistory.com) Download MR425 (81 Mb PDF)
Archaeological Excavations at the Newboro Lock Station. This 1990 microfiche report by Stephen F. Mills details the results of archaeological work at Newboro, including the stratigraphies, architectural, and landscape features as well as the analysis of over
14,000 artifacts discovered at the site. 180p. It was scanned by Randall D. Payne (www.parkscanadhistory.com) Download MR459 (5 Mb PDF)
In the 1970s and 80s, Parks Canada created a series of detailed research reports about various facets of the Rideau Canal (and other Parks Canada sites). Known as the Manuscript Report Series, most were never made easily available to the public. In 2013 they became much less available when Parks Canada closed down their two local Rideau libraries (Smiths Falls & Elgin). Prior to that, in 2008, Friends of the Rideau initiated a new project titled Resources for the Rideau. This project involved the digitization of these manuscript reports and making them available to the public as inexpensive books on CD (a PDF file). Twelve reports were digitized between 2008 and 2014.
Download MR57
