Showing 32 results

Archival description
Shirley Ewanick Collection
Collection · [ca. 1990s]

Collection contains material collected, created or maintained by Shirley Ewanick, mostly regarding the history of cemeteries in Elgin County. Also contains research material relating to the history of street names in St. Thomas.

Ewanick, Shirley
Bruce Marshall Collection
Collection · [ca. 1955-1975]

Fonds consists of 36 photographs collected by Bruce Marshall. Many of the photographs are of minor hockey teams, many of which were connected to St. Thomas, Ontario.

Marshall, Bruce
Stan Speers Collection
Collection · 1896-1984

The collection consists of photographs, postcards, newspaper clippings and memorabilia documenting the personal history of Stan Speers, as well as the history of Port Stanley, Ontario and the surrounding areas. Main areas of interest include the Stork Club, Guy Lombardo, and the London Port Stanley Railway Line.

This collection contains the following series:
-Correspondence series, 1937-1960
-Documents series, 1896-1984
-Historical Records series, 1978
-Photographs series, 1925-1981
-Postcards series, 1912-1977

Speers, Stan
Collection · 1832-2005

Fonds contains miscellaneous material collected by Robert and Patricia Moore, with relevance to St. Thomas and Elgin County's history. Includes photographs, newspapers and newspaper clippings, magazines, publications, documents, maps, miscellaneous ephemera and a philatelic collection containing envelopes, postcards and stamps. Collection is arranged into the following series:

  1. Philatelic Collection series
  2. Ephemera series
  3. Scrapbook series
  4. Elgin County history series
  5. St. Thomas history series
  6. Maps series
  7. Newspaper series
  8. Photographs series
  9. Publications series
  10. Railway records series
  11. County records series
Moore, Robert G.
Collection · 1833-2017

This collection is comprised of research notes, award and society information, letters and stamps which comprise early postal markings and history of Elgin County and the surrounding region, 1833-2017

Johnson, Dr. B. Connor
Catherine Neff Collection
Collection · 1897-2010

Fonds consists of records created, collected or maintained by Catherine Neff. Fonds is arranged into the following series:
-Central United Church, St. Thomas series, 1897-2010
-Alma College Valleyview Satellite Home series, 1980-1990
-Elgin Historical Society series, 1983-1991

Neff, Catherine
Maggie Moore Collection
Collection · 1887-1997

Collection consists of photographs, newspapers and other documents collected by Maggie Moore, predominantly relating to Shedden, Ontario.

Moore, Maggie
Collection · 1928-2015

Fonds contains records created or collected by the Fritz family relating to Alma College. Includes personal records belonging to Betty Smith, a student from 1941-1945, and Mary Louise Fritz, a student from 1954-1955. Also includes a photograph album and photographic negatives compiled by Bernice Fritz (nee Eilber), who was a student from 1928-1930. Fonds also contains miscellaneous documents and ephemera relating to Alma College, ca. 1932-2015.

Fritz (family)
Collection · 1813-2000

Records relating to the history of West Elgin. Included are:

  • Church deeds from the area
  • Account books for businesses and municipalities
    -Daily registers for schools in Aldborough Township
    -Land study plans and maps from the area
    -Photographs of local sports teams, families, buildings and events
    -Personal correspondence such as wedding and party invitations
    -Municipality records and repots for towns and villages in the area
West Elgin Genealogical and Historical Society
Don Cosens Collection
Collection · 1817-2015

Collection contains historical material pertaining to the history of Elgin County, which was collected by Don Cosens throughout his lifetime. Material includes photographs, postcards, business records, records from local families and individuals, ephemera, land records, estate records, scrapbooks, newspapers and newspaper clippings, fire insurance plans, art and reference material and books. The collection also contains material that reflects Don Cosen's personal involvement in a number of local organizations, as well as personal photographs.

The collection is arranged into the following series:

•Photographs series
•Postcards series
•William Hendershott series
•Cameron Family Records series
•Paddon Family Records series
•David Fleming Hunter Records series
•Wallace Verne Ferris Records series
•St. Thomas Jumbo Centennial Committee series
•St. Thomas Collegiate Institute Reunion series
•Edna Bennett series
•Estates Files series
•Land Records series
•Municipal World Inc. series
•Reference files series
•Scrapbook series
•Carolyn Curtis Records series
•Directories and Gazetteers series
•Elgin County Local History series
•Ephemera series
•Fire Insurance Plans series

Cosens, Don
Collection · 1904-1935

Collection contains day books documenting transactions for Dr. Homer Garfield McLay's medical practice in Aylmer, Ontario. Also includes a draft book, and one day book for Dr. H.G. McLay and McLay Miller.

McLay, Dr. Homer G.
Collection · [ca. 1800s - ]

The Elgin County Vertical File Collection is comprised of records originating from a database of miscellaneous items inherited from the Elgin County Library which were described at the file or item-level. Some of these records may eventually become part of another fonds or collection, but are currently maintained as part of this collection to enhance accessibility.

Ron Payne Collection
Collection · 1844-2000

Fonds contains records collected by Ron Payne that are significant to Elgin County's history, with an emphasis on West Elgin, including West Lorne and Eagle. Collection contains postcards with images of Elgin County and St. Thomas scenes, as well as messages sent to or from Elgin County residents. A significant portion of the collection is comprised of records created by A. McKillop and Sons Ltd. and includes legal documents, correspondence and administrative records. The Collection is arranged into the following series:
-Photographs series
-Newspapers series
-A. McKillop & Sons Ltd. records series
-Eva Cosens notebook series
-Promotional calendars series
-Letterhead series
-Land records series
-Miscellaneous documents series
-Maps and plans series
-Postcards series

Payne, Ron
Milton Berry Collection
Collection · 1925-1926

Collection consists of reports, documents, photographs and maps relating to the Talbot Estates, former home of Colonel Thomas Talbot, ca. 1925-1926. Collection is arranged into the following series:
-Documents series, 1925
-Reports series, 1925
-Photographs series, 1925
-Maps series, ca. 1926

Berry, Milton
Morley Thomas Collection
Collection · 1926-1938

The collection includes school records created or collected by Morley Thomas, a student at School Section No. 6 (Talbotville School) and the St. Thomas Collegiate Institute. Contains reports, a certificate, and volumes of the student publication titled "The Collegian."

Thomas, Morley
Haight Family Collection
Collection · 1871-1955

Collection includes photographs of the Haight and Zavitz families from Elgin County and Lobo Township in Middlesex County. The photographs primarily show close relatives of Eva Marguerite Haight, who went by Marguerite, and later married Russell Zavitz. Includes photographs of her children and grandchildren, mainly taken at Sunnyside in Lobo Township, and Cedar Villa or Locust Grove in Elgin County. Item-level description is available.

Haight (family)
Evelyn Moore Collection
Collection · [ca. 1850-1989]

Collection contains material collected or created by Evelyn Moore and her husband Frank C. Moore, with records mostly relating to Belmont, Ontario. There is an emphasis on records from the Yarmouth and Belmont Agricultural Society records, which were likely acquired by Frank C. Moore during his tenure as the society's President. Fonds is arranged into the following series:

  1. Photographs
  2. Yarmouth and Belmont Agricultural Society records
  3. Manuscripts
  4. Belmont Telephone Co-Operative Association Limited records
  5. Knox Presbyterian Church records
  6. Miscellaneous historical records
Moore, Evelyn
Ken Verrell Collection
Collection · [ca. 1851-2010]

Collection contains several thousand items, including correspondence, photographs, personnel records, financial records, subscription books, lease agreements, maps, plans and drawings from a number of railway companies that operated in Elgin County. This includes the Michigan Central Railroad, the London & Port Stanley Railway, the Pere Marquette Railway Company, the Grand Trunk Railway, the Wabash Railroad Company, Canada Southern, the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Company, the Canadian National Railways, the Canadian Pacific Railway, and the Consolidated Rail Company (Conrail), as well as many of their subsidiary companies. There is a strong emphasis on the Michigan Central Railroad and the London and Port Stanley Railway.

The collection provides insight into the day-to-day interactions between local businesses, residents and the railway companies that were operating in Elgin County and increases our understanding of the county’s economic development over time. The collection documents changes in the county’s built environment as a result of the development of railway in the area, and illustrates the evolution of railway technology from early steam engines to electrified and high-speed rail.

The collection also includes personal records belonging to Ken Verrell, reflecting his role in various local organizations and his interest in railway history.

The collection is arranged into the following series:
-Photographs series
-Postcards series
-Michigan Central Railroad Records series
-Canada Southern Railway Records series
-Pere Marquette Railway Records series
-Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Records series
-London and Port Stanley Railway Records series
-Grand Trunk Railway Records series
-Wabash Railroad Records series
-Canadian Pacific Railway Records series
-Canadian National Railways Records series
-Conrail Records series
-Miscellaneous Railways Records series
-General Railway History series
-St. Thomas Railway History series
-Labour Unions Records series
-Elgin Photographic Heritage Society Records series
-Elgin County History series
-St. Thomas History series
-Personal Records and Memberships series
-Miscellaneous Records series
-Newspaper Clippings series
-Audio-Visual series

Verrell, Ken
Collection · 1885-1891

Fonds consists of a Bailiff Process Book for the 4th Division Court in the County of Elgin, 1885-1891. Placed inside the book is a typed document that outlines the Phrenological Chart of D. McGregor.

Hale, Duncan Richard
Collection · 1894-[ca. 1960]

Collection consists of fire insurance plans of St. Thomas, produced in 1894 and 1903. Also included is a map of highways in Elgin County, dated ca. 1960.