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Special Collections

Like archival collections, special collections are unique, often one of a kind documents but they are not always associated with a larger group of records. They can be purposefully created and are not always by-products of some sort of business activity.

What can you learn from Special Collections?

Items within our special collections can provide answers to essential questions and can serve as a kind of time capsule into the past. Each item can shed light on unique histories and perspectives about the people, places and events of Guelph.

Photo Gallery: Special Collections will appear here on the public site.

Assessment Rolls

Assessment rolls recorded property values, but some of earliest assessment rolls also included biographical information useful for family historians and genealogists.  Biographical information was recorded yearly in these early assessment rolls providing information to the researcher for years census records are not available. 

These items can be accessed on microfilm while later additions are available in print format only and are located offsite.  Please speak with the archivist to learn more about how to access these records. 

Biltmore Hat

Beginning in Guelph in 1919 the company made causal and uniform hats until it went into receivership in the early 2000s.  Although no hats are made in Guelph today, an American purchased the company which now operates in Texas.  To view these items please make an appointment with the Archivist. 

Guelph Mercury Negatives

Although the Guelph Mercury no longer publishes, the library holds a large collection of their negatives and some prints created to support journalist activities.  Those negatives and prints not selected for a story have also been maintained.  Negatives and prints not used by the Mercury can still tell an important story. 

To access these records, it is important to have a date of publication as this is how many of the Mercury photographs were organized.  Many have been digitized and can be searched online using Archeion. 

About Guelph Its Early Days and Later

Contains some wonderful, colourful illustrations and was digitized several years ago.  In cooperation with the Guelph Historical Society, a second edition was created from the digitized original.  If you are interested in learning a little about Guelph’s history, this is one resource to consult. 

This item is fragile and care is required when handling the original.  Please book an appointment to view this item. 

John Galt Books

John Galt is credited with founding Guelph, but he was also a writer and the library holds a collection of his writings.  If you are interested in learning about Galt and the period he lived, you can do so through his writings. 

These items can be accessed by appointment.  Some of his works or copies may be available in the regular library holdings.

Plaque (A Piece of the First Tree)

Contains an inscription that this piece of wood is from the first tree cut in Guelph by John Galt in 1827.  It is this physical connection to an important event of our past that makes this object unique.  It can be viewed by appointment. 

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