ABOYNE – Next week, archivists across Ontario will celebrate Archives Awareness Week.
Among the facilities taking part in the annual event is the Wellington County Museum and Archives, located on Wellington Road 18 between Fergus and Elora.
“We’re just trying to get the message out that we’re here,” said archives assistant Danielle Drimmie.
From April 1 to 5, local archives staff will be conducting behind-the-scenes tours, including the processing room and storage vault.
From Monday to Wednesday staff will be offering one-on-one genealogy sessions using www.ancestry.ca and throughout the week staff will offer advice on how to preserve family photographs and how to research a house/property.
“We want to bring awareness to what we do and what records … and services we have here,” said Drimmie, noting the services are free.
“There’s always someone here to help.”
Officials are also encouraging visitors to check out the archives’ latest online digital resource: searchable issues of local newspapers including the Arthur Enterprise, Drayton Advocate, Elora Sentinel, Erin Advocate, Fergus News Record, Harriston Review and Palmerston Observer.
Issues of the Wellington Advertiser and Mount Forest Confederate can also be found online, officials note, with more issues expected to be added annually.
“The county archives is dedicated to appraising, selecting and acquiring the archival records relating to the history of Wellington County, its people, places and organizations,” states a press release from the archives.
Historical records housed in the archives’ environmentally-controlled storage area include:
– diaries, history books, assessment rolls and voters’ lists;
– 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.
“Due to the rarity of the records, the collection must remain non-circulating,” officials state.
“The Wellington County Archives conserves, arranges and describes these archival records according to accepted archival principles and makes these records available through our website www.wellington.ca/museum. Access points include names of people, organizations, places, creators, title and subject.”
The archives are used by many different groups, including genealogists or family historians, individuals working on building histories, students, and professionals such as lawyers, surveyors and engineers.
Drimmie said the most common inquiries concern property research and genealogy.
“Archival records relating to Wellington County need to be preserved to ensure that our rich documentary history is available for the future,” states the archives’ press release.
The facility relies on donations to expand its collection and encourages residents to contact archivist Karen Wagner prior to discarding historical records in their home, office or place of work.
The archives are open on weekdays from 9:30am to 4:30pm, and on Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 5pm.
