Archives

Bruce County Archives

Archives Room

Stored on the shelves in the Archives are photographs, letters, postcards, family histories, land records, maps, newspapers, local histories, scrapbooks, videotapes and almost every other kind of record imaginable that tells the story of Bruce County – both past and present. The Archives are the collective memory of the County.

The age, scope and format of materials in the Bruce County Archives are quite diverse. Some of the types of records that we have are:

Personal Papers

As the years go by, everyone amasses a great amount of records in the form of personal letters, journals, diaries, business correspondence, photographs and the like. Often, these materials are passed on from generation to generation and can find their way into the Archives. These records give us a first hand account of what life was like in the past.

Municipal Records

The Archives are the official repository for many of the permanently retained records of the Corporation of the County of Bruce. As well, the other municipalities of Bruce County – past and present – have deposited some of their archival materials in the Archives. These records include Land Transfer Copy Books, Assessment and Collector’s Rolls, Voters’ Lists, Minute Books, correspondence and more.

Multimedia Collections

The Archives have a growing collection of still and moving imagery. The photographs and postcards number in the thousands and cover scenes and people from all over the County throughout the years. Our video collection consists mainly of oral histories conducted by the Bruce County Historical Society and Bruce Township Historical Society.

Business / Organizational Records

A massive amount of records are produced through the day-to-day work of companies and local organizations. Transactions, meeting minutes, advertising, photos, memos, correspondence and other parts of the paper trail can eventually be housed in the Archives. From ledger books of a general store or furniture factory, to the minutes of a local chapter of a Women’s Institute, the Archives are collecting these records.

For preservation and security reasons, the archival storage room is not accessible to the public. The majority of the records held within this room, however, are available for public use. Researchers must conduct their work in the Reading Room. On weekdays, the Archivist and Archival Assistant will retrieve any archival records needed. While the Reading Room is open on the weekend, the archival storage room is not accessible. If you need access to archival records on a weekend, call the Bruce County Archives before your visit to make arrangements with the Archivist or Archival Assistant.

For fifty years, the Bruce County Archives have cared for the records of our donors. These materials have become valuable resources for researchers and a source of inspiration for museum exhibits. The Archives staff is always looking for opportunities to improve and expand its collections. The Archives has the proper equipment to monitor and regulate temperature, humidity and light – archival records’ three worst enemies. These controls in combination with proper archival storage units and the professional expertise of the staff will ensure the long life of the records that are generously donated to the Bruce County Archives. If you have records that relate to Bruce County and its residents, they may find a home in the Archives.

Learn how to donate to the Bruce County Archives.