Regional history has been an important collecting area for the library for many years. The founding of the Ontario Agricultural College in 1874 links the college with one of Guelph's leading citizens, F.W. Stone, whose property provided the original site and building for OAC. The regional archival resources began in earnest after 1969 with the acquisition of the Hoodless Family Papers and other locally based families and community groups -- especially Scottish -- that had established a relationship with the University or complemented its areas of teaching and research.
Some collections are of provincial and national interest such as:
- The Goodwin-Haines Collection
- Sleeman Family Collection
- Connon Collection
- John MacIntosh Duff Collection
The regional collection also includes some documents from the era of the War of 1812.
This section also holds a variety of regional family, cultural, and business papers, such as:
- The Guelph Spring Festival collection
- Rockwood Academy collection
- Edward Johnson collection
- And other important figures
It provides perspectives on the history of the region that are diverse, ranging from items of national significance to small, personal collections.
Early campus history
These collections are of academic, historic interest and highlight the relationship between "town-and-gown." For many years, after the Massey Library opened in 1903, the library has collected information about the founding colleges prior to the formation of the University in 1964: OAC, OVC, the Macdonald Institute, and the Federated colleges. Although the library houses a significant collection of archival and printed materials relating to the history of the campus, there is no official institutional university archive for the subsequent period after 1964.
Campus collections contain information on many Guelph graduates and their activities in student groups.
Alumni-in-Action
The Alumni-In-Action Oral Histories Collection contains audio recordings of interviews with past Guelph Alumni.
- Ontario Agriculture College (OAC) records date from 1874 and cover many alumni and student groups.
- Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) records date from 1862 and include the history of veterinary science as it was practised in Ontario.
- Macdonald Institute records begin in 1903 and are closely related to the records of Adelaide Hoodless.
The OAC, OVC, and Macdonald Institute records do not extend beyond the late-1960s.
| Title | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Adelaide Hoodless Family Papers | Collection of correspondence, addresses, booklets, newspaper clippings, photographs and family scrapbook relating to Adelaide Hoodless. | 1890-1972 |
| Alexander MacGregor Papers | Ship seating plans, certificates, insurance company information, receipts, marriage licenses, day journal belonging to Alexander MacGregor Galt. | 1859-1907 |
| Allan-Higinbotham Papers | Collection of journals, scrapbooks, accounts, mortgages, legal documents, correspondence of David Allan, and Nathaniel Higinbotham families of Guelph. | 1834-1955 |
| Brink-Whitelaw Collection | Collection of family material, correspondence, genealogy, memorabilia and photographs relating to Whitelaw, Brink, Cuthbert, Johnston and Gunn families of Woodstock, includes the Whitelaw Machinery Co | 1828-2007 |
| Business and Professional Women's Clubs of Ontario | Minutes, newspaper clippings, copies of articles for the Business and Professional Women's Clubs of Ontario, kept by Roberta Gilbank. | 1904-1968 |
| Canada Company Papers | Collection of charters, photographs, correspondence, minutes, legal papers relating to the Canada Company, founded by John Galt. | 1827-1857, 1926 |
| Connon Collection | Collection of photographs, glass slides, negatives, papers and correspondence of Thomas and John R. Connon, Elora, Ontario. | 1850-1920 |
| Davidson-Kennedy Collection | Scrapbook and photograph album belonging to the Davidson and Kennedy families of Sunnyside (16 Arthur Street), Guelph. | 1864-1890 |
| Edward Johnson Collection | Collection of correspondence, photographs both operatic roles and family photographs, broadsides, theatre programs, speeches, postcards, diaries, slides, postcards, certificates, artifacts, etc. | 1887-1959 |
| F. W. Stone Family Collection | Collection of F. W. Stone Family material, property photographs, articles on herefords, livestock, and articles on Morton Lodge (Johnston Hall). | 1852-1960 |
| Federated Women's Institute Ontario Collection | Records of the Federated Women’s Institutes. | 1901-1994 |
| Fiorenza Johnson Drew Collection | Materials related to career and life of George Drew. | 1872-1969 |
| Goble Family | This is a collection of materials relating to the Goble family of Woodstock, ON from 1777-1950. | 1777-1950 |
| Goodal-Moyer-Comfort Family Collection | Memoirs of the Moyer and Comfort families, Mennonite immigrants from Pennsylvania to Niagara Peninsula, Saskatoon and Puslinch Township. | 1880-1986 |
| Goodwin-Haines Collection | A diverse collection of Canadiana including material relating to Niagara region, assembled by a private collector. | 1774-1930 |
| Gordon Couling Collection | Collection of materials relating to Guelph painter, stained glass artist and local art historian, Gordon Couling. | 1920-1983 |
| Guelph Centre for the Performing Arts | Architectural proposals, newspaper clippings, season brochures for the renamed River Run Centre, Guelph. | 1989- |
| Guelph Historical Society Collection | Miscellaneous collection of account books, correspondence, legal documents, clippings, maps, photographs, books, other material relating to Guelph families and businesses. | 1860-1960 |
| Guelph Photographs | Miscellaneous collections of photographs of Guelph and area. | ca 1890- |
| Guelph Presto Music Club | Collection of program booklets (some are autographed by the performers and artists), minute books, financial statements, newspaper clippings. | 1898-1960, 1982 |
| Guelph Regional Project Map Collection | Collection of maps, summary entries for registered subdivision plans from Guelph Registry Office. | 1800-1900s |
| Guelph Royal Opera House | The Guelph Royal Opera House was a theatre that featured live performances before being turned into a movie theatre. It has since ceased operation. | 1873-1926 |
| Guelph Trail Club Archives | Minutes, newsletters, handbooks, posters, scrapbooks, financial statements, correspondence relating to the Guelph Hiking Trail Club. | 1970- |
| H. B. Timothy Collection | Photographs, pamphlets, correspondence, research notes relating to the literary and historical aspects of John Galt and his descendants in Britain, Canada, & United States. | 1820-1980 |
| Hales Family War Correspondence | Collection of letters exchanged between Captain John Playford Hales (1893-1918) and his brother Ernest Alfred Hales (1884-1959) during World War I. | 1916-1918 |
| Hanna Family Collection | Collection of photographs of various Guelph Sports Teams, including hockey, baseball and information on the Hanna Family. | 1900-1971 |
| Henry Wissler Papers | Collection of copies of legal documents including land transfers, mortgages, quit claims relating to H. Wissler, Barrister, Elora, Ontario. | 1870-1940 |
| Howitt Family | Collection of photographs relating to the Howitt Family, ca. 1870-1950, scrapbooks and genealogical material. | 1653-2001 |
| Jarvis Family Papers | Collection of historical documents, genealogical records, books, photographs concerning the Jarvis and related families of Upper Canada. | 1800-1980 |
| Jean Little Collection | Collection of correspondence, articles, typescripts, diaries, publications and transcriptions of children’s author Jean Little. | 1950-1993 |
| John MacIntosh Duff Collection | Collection of correspondence, diaries, receipts, photographs, newspaper clippings, legal documents and books relating to the Loyalists Samuel Peters and William Jarvis and their descendants. | 1792-1910 |
| John McCrae Collection | Collection of articles, photographs, postcards and newspaper clippings concerning John McCrae and his birthplace in Guelph. | 1895-1997, 2015 |
| Journals of James Bowman | Collection of handwritten journals of James Bowman. | October 31, 1866 - January, 1944 |
| Ken Danby fonds | Materials related to the life and career of Ken Danby, artist. | 1864-2011 |
| Lillian Freiman Collection | Collection of correspondence, artwork, reviews, pencil and chalk renderings, ephemera relating to artist Lillian Freiman (born in Guelph). | 1904-1986 |
| Lizars Collection | Collection consists of documents which include John Galt correspondence, ledger dealing with agricultural and settlement matters, possibly the start of information for Canada Company settlers. | 1785-1887 |
| Marston-Archibald Collection | Collection of correspondence, financial records, diaries, photographs, clippings related to Elora families - Marston, Archibald, Snyder, Anderson, Mills, Godfrey and Cole. | 1757-1977 |
| Merton Home and School Club fonds | This collection consists of records, minute books, photographs, correspondence and other material related to S.S. #15 Trafalgar (Merton School) Home and School Club, as well as a few family histories. | 1910-1979 |
| Mickle Family Collection | Collection of correspondence, legal documents, accounts, and photographs relating to 6 generations of the Mickle Family. | 1710-1950 |
| Rockwood Academy Collection | Materials related to the Rockwood Academy. | 1807-1983 |
| Ruby Mercer Collection | Collection of manuscript, interviews, correspondence, reviews, research notes, newspaper clippings for publication, "The Tenor of His Time : Edward Johnson of the of Met," by Ruby Mercer. | 1900-1976 |
| Sleeman Family Collection | Materials relating to the Sleeman Family and Brewery in Guelph, Ontario. | 1832-2008 |
| Stewart Lumber Limited | Collection of correspondence and financial records of Stewart Lumber Limited (Guelph), and a newspaper supplement on Stewart Lumber. | 1913-1951 |
| Thompson-Christie Collection | Collection of correspondence, business ledgers, newspaper clippings, books, church records and family papers. | 1808-1967 |
| Walter J. Pasmore Papers | Collection of ledgers, memoranda, business letters, family photographs of Walter J. Pasmore. | 1869-1930 |
| Wellington County Project | The collection of minutes and tapes of project meetings, grant applications, bibliographies, lists of local library resources. | 1841-1977 |
| Wilkinson Family Papers | Collection of letters and documents relating to various members of the Wilkinson Family, early Huron Tract settlers in Sandwich, Upper Canada, including correspondence with T. Talbot. | 1790-1910, 1989 |
| Anderson Family Papers | Letters to Thomas Anderson, settler near Guelph, from family and friends in Kennoway and Edinburgh and later from Paisley Block to Toronto. | 1833-1870 |
| Burton Noble Gates Collection | Materials related to the study of apiculture. | Pre-1930 |
| Clarke E. Leverette Collection | Collection of stereographic cards that depict a wide variety of subjects, including views of the University of Guelph, portraits, and travel views from across the globe, including Scotland. | 1873-1980 |
| Conn Smythe Collection | Equine breeding and training records of Conn Smythe Horse Racing Stables, Caledon, Ontario | 1956-1980 |
| Developing Countries Farm Radio Network | Records of the Developing Countries Farm Radio Network. | 1982-2004 |
| Edna Staebler Collection | Published works and manuscripts belonging to Mennonite cook Edna Staebler. | 1900-1996 |
| Entomological Society of Ontario Collection | Records of the Entomological Society of Ontario | 1863- |
| Fasken Family Collection | Family papers including correspondence, legal documents, business and genealogical records of William Fasken and Margaret Mitchell. | 1784-1887 |
| Jardine Clan Society | Collection of photograph albums and some papers relating to the Ontario branch of the Jardine Clan Society. | 1978-2001 |
| Jardine Family of Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire, Scotland Fonds | Jardine Family of Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire, Scotland Fonds | 1799-1973 |
| John Galt Collection | Scottish author and first Superintendent (1826-1829) of the Canada Company. | 1785-2013 |
| Scottish Studies Foundation | Various materials relating to the Scottish Studies Foundation. | 1983-1992 |
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