ABOYNE – In celebration of Archives Awareness Week (April 3 to 6), Wellington County Archives will open the doors for behind-the-scenes guided tours of the processing room and storage vault.
“Archives are used by many different user groups, including genealogists or family historians, individuals working on building histories, students, and professionals such as lawyers, surveyors and engineers,” stated archivist Karen Wagner.
“Archival records relating to Wellington County need to be preserved to ensure that our rich documentary history is available for the future.”
Historical records housed in the Archives’ environmentally-controlled storage area can take include:
– textual records, such as diaries, local history books, assessment rolls and voters lists;
– graphic records, such as photographs and slides;
– architectural drawings and maps or plans; and
– microforms of newspapers and audio visual records, such as films, videos and audio cassette tapes
There are many digital resources available (at www.wellington.ca/museum) from the archives, too, including:
– an online Collections Catalogue describing archival and artifact donations;
– Women’s Institute Tweedsmuir Histories;
– Historical society essays and journals;
– local history articles;
–Wellington County Remembers: Commemorating Our Fallen;
– county newspapers;
– the House of Industry and Refuge resident database; and
– coming soon: a “memory map” of Wellington County that will be a driving tour through communities’ historical sites.
The archives are open weekdays, from 9:30am to 4:30pm, and Saturdays from 1 to 5pm. Archives staff are available to answer questions related to family history research using www.ancestry.ca, family photograph preservation, or how to research the history of a house. No appointment is necessary. Online video calls can also be arranged.
“The archives relies on donations to expand its collection,” said Wagner.
“If you are unsure about records in your home, office or place of work, please contact us before discarding.”
The Wellington County Museum and Archives is located on Wellington Road 18 between Fergus and Elora.
