Elmira Oral Histories Now Available Online

Waterloo Region - The Region of Waterloo Library, in partnership with the Region of Waterloo Archives, has created an audio collection of local history. This unique, digital collection of interviews with “old-timers” creates a rich portrait of the history of Elmira, from the perspectives of families who have lived in our area for generations. 

Originally begun in 1974, this “town-memory” preservation was a joint project between the Elmira Library, Township of Woolwich and Canada Trust. The original cassette tapes, 42 in all, had begun to degrade by the time they were rediscovered in 2010. Thanks to community funds donated in memory of the late Mary Anne Cressman, these irreplaceable interviews are now preserved electronically. 

Recognizing the need to make this part of our local history available to as many people as possible, Lesley Webb, Regional Archivist, was approached by Sheryl Tilley, Supervisor of the Elmira Library, with the request to host these interviews on Archives Online, a descriptive database of records held in the Archives. Working together, the Region of Waterloo Library and Region of Waterloo Archives have created online 24/7 access to these interviews for students, researchers, genealogists, and members of the general public. 

To listen to the voices of Elmira’s past, you can visit The Region of Waterloo Library’s online catalogue, accessible from the home page www.rwl.library.on.ca, or through Archives Online at http://row.minisisinc.com. When searching the library’s catalogue, simply type oral history interview in the search box. Each of the 37 interviews has a direct link to the online voice recording, in the Catalog Record tab of the listing. Or, contact the Regional Archives at 519-575-4757, ext. 3027 to purchase your own copy on CD.

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For more information, please contact: 

Sheryl Tilley, Supervisor, Elmira Library, 519-669-5477

Lesley Webb, Archivist, Region of Waterloo Archives, 519-575-4757 ext. 3027

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The Region of Waterloo provides more than 60 per cent of municipal services to a growing population of 530,000 people. We are committed to creating an inclusive, thriving and sustainable community through innovative leadership and a range of services such as: public health, social services, planning, heritage, water supply, regional roads, waste management, ambulance service, rural libraries, public transit, community housing, emergency planning, Provincial Offences Courts and airport services.