Local History
HISTORICAL INFORMATION AT NEW TECUMSETH PUBLIC LIBRARY
Each branch has a collection of local history materials. You can search for these items using our online catalogue or at your local branch. When searching online, we recommend using the following subject keywords: Alliston history, Beeton history, Tecumseth history or Tottenham history. For more information, please contact your local branch.
The Library subscribes to the online database Ancestry.com. It can only be accessed in the library.
Banting Digital Library
The Banting Digital Library is a 1600-page digital archive that is a pictorial record of rare artifacts, journals, photographs and paintings that pertain to the life and times of Sir Frederick Banting.
New Tecumseth Digital History
Funding from Industry Canada under the LibraryNet program was received in 2001 for student summer employment to digitize local history materials relating to Alliston, Beeton, Tottenham and Tecumseth Township. This website contains over 1700 images.
Tottenham Memories
Tecumseth / West Gwillimbury Historical Society
Formed in 1978 and mandated to preserve and promote public interest in the rich and varied heritage of Tecumseth and West Gwillimbury Townships in Simcoe County.
Meetings
Regular meetings are held on the 3rd Monday of every month, from September to November and from January to May at the Tec-We-Gwill Hall in Newton Robinson (aka the Newton Robinson Hall), at 7:30 pm. These meetings are open to visitors and members alike. Guest speakers, local historians and collectors provide varied and enjoyable programs followed by a social hour.
Information on publications (including a price list) can be obtained from:
Tecumseth & West Gwillimbury Historical Society
Box 171, Bond Head, ON L0G 1B0
Janine Harris-Wheatley
905-936-6549 [email protected]
Census Information
The Censuses of Canada for 1851-1916 are available to be searched on both the Library and Archives Canada and Ancestry.ca websites. The 1921 Census of Canada is currently only available on Ancestry.ca.
Women’s Institute Tweedsmuir Histories
The Alliston, Beeton and Tottenham Tweedsmuir Histories are currently located at the Simcoe County Archives in Midhurst (705) 726-9331.
Alliston Herald on Microfilm
This collection of the local weekly paper has been moved to the Museum on the Boyne (705) 435-3900. Microfilm: 1881-1994. Microfiche: 1990-2018.
Beeton World
This collection of the local weekly newspaper has been moved to the Museum on the Boyne (705) 435-3900. Microfilm: “Beeton World” newspaper for the years 1886-1968.
Tottenham Newspapers
This collection of historic Tottenham newspapers has been moved to the Museum on the Boyne (705) 435-3900. Microfilm: the Tottenham Reporter, the Tottenham Tribune, the Tottenham Sentinel and the Cardwell Sentinel covering the years from 1875 to 1925.
Municipal Histories Available
Historical information on other municipalities is available through the Interlibrary Loan (ILLO) system. Please click here for more information about this program.
Tottenham Remembered
Recollections of Early Tottenham Life and Personalities. A CD-ROM set of interviews with long-time Tottenham residents originally recorded in 1977. Available to borrow at all three branches.
Archival Information
For archival information on Simcoe County, please contact the Simcoe County Archives at (705) 726-9331.
Genealogy Club
The Genealogy Club meets in the Women’s Institute (WI) Room at the Memorial Branch. Learn more, and register for the next meeting using our calendar of events.