WELLINGTON COUNTY – History comes alive this spring as the Wellington County Archives opens its doors, inviting residents to uncover local heritage through a series of events and opportunities.
The Archives welcomes visitors weekdays from 9:30am to 4:30pm, and Saturdays by appointment from 11:30am to 4:00pm. Online video consultations are also available for those unable to visit in person.
This April and May, guests can step into the heart of historical preservation with exclusive behind-the-scenes guided tours of the archives’ processing room and storage vault – a rare glimpse into how precious community memories are carefully collected, preserved, and made accessible.
Got a burning question about local history? Expert archivists can help trace family roots, research a house’s history or offer historical document preservation tips, during the Archives’ Ask an Archivist programme.
They’ll be at the Harriston Library on April 14 from 2 to 6pm, the Mount Forest Library on April 22 from 1 to 4pm, the Puslinch Library on May 3 from 12 to 3pm, the Rockwood Library on May 5 from 2 to 5pm, the Hillsburgh Library on May 13 from 3 to 6pm and the Clifford Library on May 15 from 3 to 6pm.
The archives’ collection includes:
– personal diaries;
– local history books;
– photographs;
– architectural drawings; and
– digital resources.
Visitors can also explore digital collections from home that include an online catalogue, Women’s Institute Tweedsmuir histories, Wellington County Historical Society essays, local history articles and newspapers; Wellington County remembers: commemorating our fallen; and Wellington County House of Industry and Refuge resident database.
“Archival records are created every day and provide windows into our shared past,” says Karen Wagner, archivist.
“From family historians to researchers, students to professionals, these documents tell the story of Wellington County. Wellington County Archives preserves our rich documentary history, ensuring it is available for the future, keeping our community’s memory alive.”
