Elgin Archive Library

Photograph album dated July 13, 1869 containing 39 photographs documenting the family of Phineas Drake and his descendants, Southwold Township, later London, Ontario.

A brief history of Payne's Mills School. Includes excerpts from letters pertaining to the building of a new school, a list of teachers, and a list of some of the trustees.

History of the Paterson family in North Yarmouth. Also contains history on the Paterson Log Cabin which is currently at Dan Paterson Conservation Area.

From a series which consists of papers and essays prepared for and/or presented to the Elgin Historical Society and its predecessor the Elgin Historical and Scientific Institute. 

"Elgin Women's Work During the Great War" by Hattie Robinson, 2001. Address by Hattie Robinson to: "Women's Historical Society" describing the work done by Elgin County Women's groups to raise funds for relief efforts and support materials for "Comfort Boxes" sent to soldiers at the front. Not dated.

Hattie Robinson served as Secretary of the Elgin Branch of the Canadian War Contingency Association (C. W. C. A.) during their First World War activities.

Contains images and descriptions of St. Thomas and Port Stanley. Two sketches show the Kettle Creek Railway Bridge at St. Thomas and Invererie Heights at Port Stanley.  

Scrapbook made by Dorothy M. Mayer on the history of the Original Senior Citizens Club 37.

Book made to commemorate fifty years of the Ontario District of Optimist International. Elgin County community's are featured in the book.

Program for the official opening of the new campus of the Ontario Police College, Aylmer, Ontario, May 6, 1977. Includes a brief history of the College, 1963-1977.

Letters written by Levi Young (to the Aylmer Express). Introductions by his daughter, Edna Young Johnson written in the early 1940's

Illustrated with numerous photographs showing public buildings, businesses, residences and prominent citizens of St. Thomas, Ontario.

The official programme and prize list for the International Plowing Match and Farm Machinery Demonstration held October 11-14, 1960 in the vicinity of Springfield, Ontario. This publication was distributed by the Publicity Committee of the Local Committee for the 1960 International Plowing Match and Farm Machinery Demonstration.

Booklet prepared to accompany the Nominal Roll presented at the reunion to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the departure of the 91st Battalion overseas.

The story of Jumbo The Elephant in an article from the May-June 1988 issue of Leisure Ontario.

A look at the 160 year history of the New Sarum Baptist Church.  Booklet includes pictures of church throughout the years.

A look at the 75 year history of the New Sarum Regular Baptist Church.

1902 directory for Elgin County shown among other counties. 

A look at the the formation of the Elmdale Public School Harmonica band and their later success. Lots of local advertising as well as messages from prominent members of the St. Thomas community are shown.

More continued pages from the Diary of Mary Elizabeth ‘Minnie’ (Baker) Williams, July 3, 1918-May 16, 1921.

More pages from the Diary of Mary Elizabeth ‘Minnie’ (Baker) Williams, July 3, 1918-May 16, 1921.

Diary of Mary Elizabeth ‘Minnie’ (Baker) Williams of Yarmouth Township. April 21, 1914- June 27, 1918.

Lists the name and address of all members of the St. Thomas militia, 1864. This militia roll was found in 2020 in a Township of Dunwich tax assessment roll for 1864.

The official souvenir program sold at the 1985 International Plowing Match and Farm Machinery Show held September 17-21, 1985 in the vicinity of St. Thomas, Ontario. Programs were produced and sold under the authority of the Merchandising Committee of the Local Committee for the 1985 International Plowing Match and Farm Machinery Show.

A speech given by John Sifton on June 9, 2012 during the Alma College International Alumnae Association Reunion at the Best Western Lamplighter Inn in London. John Sifton was the son of former principal Flora Sifton. He lived at Alma College for 11 years, from 1951 to 1962.

A provisional annotated list of the mammals of Elgin County, Ontario, reported from the beginning of European settlement until the present time.

Draft Plan and Design Guidelines" for a proposed Main Street Heritage Conservation District in Port Stanley

Typescript copy of last will and testament of Mahlon Burwell, dated April 29, 1846.

Record of the first four years of operation of the London and Port Stanley Railway following its electrification and municipalization, by the City of London. Book contains lots of images showing the improvements made to the railway.

History of the Lindsay Family who settled in Malahide in 1841

Full title of this book is "The Life of Colonel, The Late Honorable Thomas Talbot, Embracing the Rise and Progress of the Counties of Norfolk, Elgin, Middlesex, Kent and Essex." The earliest biography of Colonel Thomas Talbot published four years after his passing. The second half of the book contains  descriptions of the various towns and villages in the Talbot Settlement.

The full title of this book is "Life of Colonel Talbot and the Talbot Settlement, its rise and progress , with sketches of the public characters, and career of some of the most conspicuous men in Upper Canada, who were either friends or acquaintances of the subject of these memoirs." A favourable biography of Thomas Talbot written by Talbot's longtime friend Edward Ermatinger. 

Produced and distributed by the Railway ca. 1907 as an enticement to tourists to use the railway to visit Port Stanley; Rondeau; The Mettawas resort and Paradise Grove, Kingsville, Ontario; the St. Clair River; Detroit and the Detroit River, including Belle Isle. Booklet includes several photographs relating to Port Stanley.

Produced and distributed by the Railway ca. 1897 as an enticement to tourists to use the railway to visit Port Stanley. Booklet includes several historic photographs of Port Stanley.

Contains historical sketches of the ministers of Knox Presbyterian Church in St. Thomas.

Associated with Jumbo Days, June 27-July 1, 1985, marking the 100th anniversary of the death of Jumbo, September 15, 1885. Contains lots of history on the famous circus elephant as well as lots of local advertising. 

Typed copy of Colonel Mahlon Burwell's journal. August 16, 1814 to January 15, 1815.

The Autobiography of St. Thomas based doctor James Curtis with Introduction done by his daughter Carolyn Curtis.

Index: Articles about Port Bruce and Area: St. Thomas and Aylmer Newspapers, 1850s to 1948. Compiled by Ian Johnson.

Includes advertisements of local businesses.

An illustration of the "Erecting Traveller, Kettle Creek Trestle, M.C.R.R." derrick, from the publication "The Engineering and Building Record", June 2, ca. 1888. It was designed and built by the Detroit Bridge Company. Regarding this illustration, the publication states: "This derrick was designed and built by the Detroit Bridge Company for their own use on the Kettle Creek trestle of the M.C.R.R.. Its duty was to remove the old and set up the new structure without interfering with the regular traffic, which was all transferred to one track while work progressed on the other".

An illustration, captioned: "Ancient Mound Builders' Fort, in the County of Elgin, Ont.", from the Canadian Illustrated News, January 20, 1877. The publication states that these mounds of earth were used by a people who, at one time, thickly populated various portions of the United States and Canada. They were laid out for the purposes of defence, or for enclosing villages.

An article from the 'Municipal World' September 1904 issue. Describes the management and infrastructure of the Elgin County House of Industry, such as its' water supply, drainage, buildings, heating, cottages, laundry, inmates, maintenance, farm stock and crops, and meals.

This Pamphlet provides information to the public about hospital service.

Contains photocopied histories regarding Yarmouth S.S. #3 (Dexter). Compiled ca. 2005-2006.

A History of the Whites of Springtwater written by Ward McKenna, Aylmer, Ontario. The booklet focuses on Ira White and his descendants in Elgin County. Written ca. 1984 in celebration of Ontario's Bicentennial Celebrations.

Some history of the University Women's Club of St. Thomas.

A History of the Catfish Creek Conservation Authority from 1975-1985.

A look at the 100 year history of St. John's Presbyterian Church in Port Stanley.

History of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in St. Thomas.

History of School Section #3 Dunwich compiled by the reunion committee to celebrate over 100 years of  the schools service.

Historic Walking tour of Port Stanley featuring sketches and locations of multiple historic sites in Port Stanley.

A history of Port Stanley compiled by Agnes Hepburn as part of Elgin County's Centennial Celebrations in 1952.

History of the school sections in Southwold Township.

The 1893 Gazetteer for St. Thomas. Includes a guide to the city of St. Thomas with pictures of buildings and a short history of the area

Guidal's Atlas of Elgin County, ca. 1918. Includes maps showing South Dorchester, Bayham, Malahide, Yarmouth, Southwold, Dunwich and Aldborough.

The Graduates' Roll was signed by each member of the annual graduating class between 1883 and 1988. Graduates signed their name under the graduation pledge and year, and are listed alphabetically and occasionally by diploma.

Early directory for St. Thomas and Elgin County.

An autobiography of Forrest Freeman Moore, Aylmer's Centennial Mayor.

Booklet gives some of the history of the church and a list of the ministers

Part One and Two of the Frank L. Farley biography. Published in "The Cardinal" newsletter by The McIlwraith Ornithological Club, London's Nature Club.

Memorial to W.F. Thomas and his years of service to First United Church.