Preserving and Promoting Oakville's Heritage
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Collections, Exhibits and Libraries

Search our Library for physical items in our library


Discover Oakville's history through our archival collections, libraries and exhibits:

The Society has an extensive collection covering various aspects of the history of Oakville and the former Trafalgar Township. It includes original documents, pictures, newspapers, maps, albums, ephemera, letters, diaries and both archival and reference books. Our main reference library contains over 1,500 works dealing with arts and crafts, costumes, Oakville history, family histories and genealogies, municipal directories, cookbooks, Trafalgar Township and numerous others. A separate section includes aids to genealogical research.
Feel free to download these three items from our collection:
  • 1841 census of Trafalgar Township. Come to our library to see the notes thereto compiled by Hazel Chisholm Mathews dated 28 September 1965, plus an extensive collection of other material relating to the history of Oakville. 
  • Oakville Collector's Roll 1873
  •  A syndicate, the Cumberland Land Company, Limited, purchased about 200 acres which had formerly been the Anderson farm. The area called Brantwood is on the eastern side of Oakville, bounded by Colborne (now Lakeshore), Allan, Spruce and Gloucester Streets. This lavish marketing booklet was published in 1913 to attract home buyers. Photographs of existing houses and on page 22, the "Oakville Plan of Brantwood Survey" are of particular interest. This Heritage Research Report on 387 Allan Street, shows some of the work of Oakville's Heritage Planers. Brantwood Survey was named in honour of Chief Joseph Brant and the Mohawks originally of the area.     
  • "Oakville by the Lake", is from the July 15, 1893 edition of Toronto's The Saturday Globe.
Our climate controlled archival storage area has been inspected and approved by the Archives Association of Ontario of which the Society is a member. We continue to expand our collection through donations. 

If you have papers, photographs, or diaries that you think might possibly be of historical interest, please let us know - better yet bring them in and we'll advise you on them - perhaps we have additional information to share. Please contact us!


Picture
The George Sumner Diaries: Aug 6-7, 1869: a Charge of Bigamy, Eclipse of the Sun, & a Reclaimed Bull! Click above image to read all about it.
Picture
R.W. (Bob) Davis Marine Collection
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The content of the Oakville Historical Society's ("OHS") website is to be used for general information only. The Oakville Historical Society and its officers and directors, members, webmaster and any other person contributing to this website do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any material contained herein. The Oakville Historical Society specifically disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to the use of this material or any results with respect thereto. The material contained in this website shall in no way be construed to constitute a recommendation by Oakville Historical Society Inc. The material contained within this website, except as otherwise indicated*, is owned by the Oakville Historical Society and is protected by copyright, trademark and/or other proprietary rights. You are free to copy and use the images herein for non-commercial purposes provided you give clear attribution to the Oakville Historical Society or the indicated copyright holder. Further details and restrictions are available here. Commercial uses are forbidden without OHS's or the copyright holder's written consent. Please use the Email Contact Form on the right side of our contact page and select Information as the topic.
  • HOME
  • Contact
    • DONATE
    • Internships
  • ABOUT
    • Our Story
    • Our Town
    • Our Downtown
    • Our Office and Grounds
    • The Thomas House
    • Our Interns
    • Our Sponsors
    • Our Plaques >
      • Plaque Process
      • Plaque Order and Payment
    • Supporting our Cadets
  • Publications and Resources
    • Newsletters
    • Reprints >
      • Beautiful Oakville - 1897
      • Garden of Canada - c1902
      • Telephone Book 1947
      • The Sumner Diaries
    • Audio Video >
      • Videos of Life in Early Oakville
      • Oakville Heritage Moments
    • Links
  • Collections and Exhibits
    • Archives, Photos and Libraries
    • Stories
    • Village Essays
    • Website
    • Basket Factory Memorial Plaques
    • War >
      • First World War
      • First World War Poppies Exhibit
      • Ontario Farmerettes
      • Munro Letters
    • Health Care As It Was >
      • Health Care As It Was - Continued
    • Oakville Images
    • Plaqued Houses and Buildings
    • Town of Oakville Online Collections
  • Membership
    • Join, Renew or Update
    • Why Be A Member
    • Our Volunteers
  • Activities
    • Speakers' Nights
    • Guided Walking Tours
    • Self-guided Walking Tours >
      • Downtown Oakville Historical Walk
      • Erchless Estate
      • Navy Street
      • Old Oakville
      • Trafalgar Road Heritage Conservation District
      • Trafalgar-Allan Corridor
      • Lot 12
      • Historic Reynolds
    • Black History Month
    • Indigenous History Month
    • Ghost Walks >
      • Survey
      • Photo and Video Submission
      • Photos 2022 Ghost Walks
      • Photos 2010 - 2022, Reviews 2016 - 2018
      • Reviews 2022 Ghost Walks
      • Volunteer for Ghost Walks
      • Ghost Stories
      • Video Ghost Stories
    • Doors Open
    • Culture Days
    • Historic Places Days
    • Yard Sale
    • Mayor's Historical Picnic
    • Family Activities >
      • Family Day
      • Annual Family Activities
      • Colouring >
        • Jigsaw Puzzles
  • Shop
    • Shop
    • Fine Art Prints
    • Shop Order Form
    • Art of Oakville
    • Payment