Along with other archives in Ontario, the Wellington County Museum and Archives wants to help people recognize and appreciate historical pieces and artifacts.
In recognition of the contributions made by archives, the Archives Association of Ontario (http://aao.fis.utoronto.ca) is proclaiming April 5 to 10 as Archives Awareness Week. The week provides people with an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of archives in local communities throughout the province.
Is anyone looking for historical information to complete a school project? Has anyone ever wondered who used to live in their houses or when those houses was built? Has anyone always wanted to research a family history? Students, historians, and genealogists visit the Wellington County Archives to research those and many other questions.
The Wellington County Archives has developed a number of internet research tools to assist with those projects. The Virtual History Book gives access to 16,000 pages of the Women’s Institute Tweedsmuir Histories for the entire county. Those scrapbooks contain a wealth of local information about the people, places and organizations that formed local communities.
That database describes the museum’s collection of artifacts and archival records reflecting the history of the people, places and organizations of Wellington County. Significant collections include textiles, agricultural implements, furniture, and household wares. Archival records include assessment rolls, voters lists, Newspapers, and minutes. The internet resource is searchable using an individual or organizations name, place of residence, type of artifact (such as “wedding dress”) or archival record (photograph), creator, title, and subject.
The online research tool serves as a guide for researchers.
A visit to the Wellington County Museum and Archives is recommended for additional and more extensive research.
The archives collection has been enhanced over the years through the donation of records from individuals, organizations, and member municipalities.
For more information about the records in the Wellington county archives visit www.wcm.on.ca or call 519-846-0916 extension 225.
