ABOYNE – The Wellington County Museum and Archives (WCMA) presents Ephemera, a new exhibition that challenges visitors to reconsider the value of everyday objects – items created with the intention of being used once and discarded, yet which often become invaluable windows into our shared past.
“Ephemera tells the stories that traditional historical artifacts sometimes miss,” states assistant curator Lindsay Woelfle, who curated the exhibition.
“These are the objects people touched every day, the things that shaped their routines, their entertainment, their communications, but were intended to have a fleeting existence.”
Items typically disposed of can be found in museums around the world, including at Wellington County Museum and Archives.
From yellow newspapers and historical product packaging, to matchbooks, prescription bottles, baseball cards, ticket stubs, handwritten diaries and comic books, ephemera represents the material culture of daily life.
“There are over 250 pieces of ephemera in this exhibition, offering just a glimpse into what we have in our collection,” says Woelfle.
“Each item raises important questions about memory, value, and preservation. What makes something worth saving? How do we care for materials that were manufactured without longevity in mind? And what can these fragile fragments teach us about the communities and individuals who came before us?”
Ephemera is open now and will remain on display through 2026, offering visitors ample opportunity to explore these transient treasures and reflect on what we choose to remember and why.
