Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
General material designation
- Textual record
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- Source of title proper: Title is based on content of the fonds
Level of description
Repository
Reference code
Edition area
Edition statement
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Class of material specific details area
Statement of scale (cartographic)
Statement of projection (cartographic)
Statement of coordinates (cartographic)
Statement of scale (architectural)
Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)
Dates of creation area
Date(s)
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1913-1968 (Creation)
- Creator
- Oke (family)
Physical description area
Physical description
6 cm of textual records
Publisher's series area
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Archival description area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The Oke family documented in the fonds are the descendents of lighthouse builder and inspector Robert Oke, an English immigrant who had initially been employed at Burin by the Slade mercantile firm. The Oke family established several family businesses in Harbour Grace and in St. John's.
William Robert Oke (1833-1894), son of Robert Oake, established Oke's Carriage Factory and Undertaking Rooms in Harbour Grace in 1856; the business was relocated to Duckworth Street, St. John's. Four of Oke's sons were involved in the business: Robert Kammay, John Carnell, William Carnell, and Edward Landgon; the name of the firm was changed to William R. Oke & Sons, Builders (1885) to reflect their involvement. William R. Oke & Sons constructed carraiges, wheelbarrows, cartwheels and caskets.
Following the St. John's Great Fire (1892), the factory, which was uninsured, was completely destroyed. A son, John Carnell Oke, reestablished the business on Prescott Street as John C. Oke & Sons, later renamed Oke's Carriage Factory (ca. 1900). Gordon Jeans Oke, son of J.C. Oke, entered the business as a partner in 1906 and assumed full control of the firm in 1931.
After World War II, the Oke family phased out carriage production, although the coffin factory remained in operation until 1968. In 1968, following 62 years in the trade, Gordon Oke retired and the business closed.
Custodial history
Scope and content
The fonds consists of papers of the Oke's Carriage Factory and Undertaking Rooms, Oke's Funeral Home, and some personal papers and correspondence belonging to John Carnell Oke and Gordon Oke. The fonds includes tax returns (1920-1924), correspondence (1913-1968), notebooks, insurance policies (1915,1950), and related records such as an Associated Funeral Directors Service membership card.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
Arrangement
Language of material
- English
Script of material
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Restrictions on access
No restrictions
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Finding aids
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Associated materials
Accruals
No further accruals are expected.
Alpha-numeric designations
M-116
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Created - April 20, 2013