Ontario Marine History & Underwater Archaeology Research Centre
Welcome to the MHUA Research Centre
The BCM&CC is developing an Ontario Marine Heritage and Underwater Archaeology Research Centre, housed in the Bruce County Archives & Research Room. The Research Centre will become a repository for shipwreck documents and other underwater site information from areas across Ontario.
As the Research Centre evolves the BCM&CC is working in partnership with the Ontario Marine Heritage Committee (OMHC).
To view OMHC’s presentation and BCM&CC’s report to Bruce County Council proposing the Research Centre, click here: Ontario Marine Heritage Committee Proposal Report
Individuals, organizations, and public agencies may contribute materials to the Research Centre. The BCM&CC welcomes donations of books, photographs, and other records related to marine history and underwater archaeology across Ontario. Once received, these items are stored in a secure storage area with environmental controls suited to long-term preservation. They are also accessible to researchers to view in the Research Room.
During the donation process, the BCM&CC may require an inventory of items, with enough detail to:
- demonstrate the relevance of the items to Ontario marine history, and
- enable the identification of duplication within the Collection.
When reviewing a potential donation, other factors that may be discussed include:
- Legal ownership
- Donor restrictions
- Resources to properly store and care for an item
Donated materials become the property of the BCM&CC through the completion of a Deed of Gift.
Please schedule an appointment with the Archivist, Deb Sturdevant, by emailing archives@brucecounty.on.ca or calling 226-909-2426.
Tax receipts may be available upon request at the time of donation. To receive a tax receipt for donations exceeding $1,000, the donation must be accompanied by an appraisal from an accredited source at the donor’s expense.
- Books about local marine history
- Books about ships and shipwrecks
- Books about lighthouses
- Drawings of ships used in archaeological research
- Lighthouse Keepers logs
- Magazines, journals and newsletters related to marine history
- Marine Heritage scrapbooks
- Marine navigation items
- Nautical charts
- Ontario Marine Heritage Committee collection
- Photographs of ships
- Photographs of lighthouses
- Photographs of harbours
- Shipwreck-related artefacts and lifesaving medals (part of the BCM&CC Collection)
- Vessel registers
