Research My Home

Local newspapers

We have a collection of local newspapers. You will find some are available on microfilm. You will also find a curated newspaper collection that may contain information about:

• neighbourhood histories
• historic homes
• property owners or builders

You may ask us for help in using these resources.

Photographs

We have a large collection of photographs from two local newspapers. You can use photographs to view how a home may have looked. We highlight photographs on our website which you can search using Archeion. Archeion is a database the library uses to host our photographs and descriptions of archival records. You can request an image, although we may charge a fee. You will need permission to use the photograph. Available newspapers and dates for which the library holds the original photographs include:

• The Guelph Mercury, 1960 to 1999
• The Guelph Tribune, 1986 to 2003

Please note that not all photographs have been processed.

City directories

You can use city directories to learn the approximate date a home was built. You may learn that a business may have operated from the home. You may discover that a well known Guelphite lived at the address you are researching. We have city directories on microfilm from 1852 to 1980. Please see us at the information desk for hard copies after 1980.

Couling inventory

If you discover your home was built before 1927, we have a resource that lists streets alphabetically and then chronologically by street number. Brief information is provided about:

• location
• architect
• contractor
• original owner
• original use
• construction date and building material used

You may ask for a photographic print which is included with this information. You may use this resource through Archeion.

Assessment rolls

We have assessment rolls that were created to assess and record property values. You may find changes in property values over time. This may mean a change occurred in the building itself. You can use this resource to learn about the property owner such as age, religion and/ or occupation. You will find that the assessment rolls are arranged by year, then alphabetically by ward name. We have 1852 to 1898 available on microfilm. Additional records are stored offsite.

Fire Insurance plans

We hold a collection of fire insurance plans. You will learn that these plans can show where a building may have been located. You may get a sense of the size or shape of the lot. We hold the following:

• 1897 (incomplete)
• 1897 (revised 1907)
• 1960