Christina Archer stumbled upon a hidden envelope while cleaning her old London, Ont., bedroom in 2001. The envelope contained a handwritten letter dated back to 1929, which she described as a historical treasure due to its depiction of the early 1930s and the elegant cursive writing style. The letter, authored by Charles Slater, a crew member of the S.S. Lemoyne Great Lakes freighter, discussed the challenges faced by Canada’s grain industry during the onset of the Great Depression and referenced forest fires and a book recommendation.
Despite unsuccessful attempts to locate Slater’s relatives initially, Archer revisited the search 25 years later. Her post on a London-based Facebook group led her to connect with genealogist Marisa Cooper, who eventually facilitated a meeting with Aaron Powers, the grandson of Slater’s half-sister. Powers expressed surprise at discovering a previously unknown extended family.
Through Cooper’s research using census data and public records, it was revealed that Slater, born in London in 1914, faced personal tragedies early in life, including his mother’s death when he was six. Slater’s letter from 1929 captured the impact of The Great Canadian Grain Blockade and the subsequent economic challenges. Following his experiences on the freighter, Slater returned to London, worked various jobs, and eventually passed away in 1984 at the age of 70.
Cooper’s investigation uncovered Slater’s family history, revealing his siblings, step-siblings, and half-siblings, including Powers’s grandmother Audrey. The newfound connection with Slater’s family has sparked Powers’s curiosity in exploring his lineage further through old family photo albums and stories.
Archer, who painted a tribute to Slater and his family, expressed joy in reuniting the letter with its rightful descendants and described the experience as a meaningful journey that has forged new friendships and a sense of closeness to Charles Slater.