After an eight-month closure, the Simcoe County Archives have reopened to the public with key improvements completed on the facility.
The facility underwent what the County of Simcoe is calling "upgrades essential to modernizing operations and enhancing public service." It had minimal structural changes until these new improvements were made.
In 1979 and 1992, the building was constructed in two separate phases, made to house municipal records from the County of Simcoe, all 16 lower-tier municipalities, and the City of Barrie. There's also documents from over 30 historic townships, towns, and villages.
The archival holdings take up 3.5 kilometres of shelving.
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IMPROVEMENTS
- Revitalized Reading Room: Designed to be more welcoming and accessible, the updated
space now features a small multi-purpose room and a self-serve reference library and microfilm
area. These changes will streamline service delivery and improve the research experience. - Enhanced Staff Workspace: The staff area has been expanded and tailored to support the
efficient processing of archival records. Additional shelving in the Receiving Room will further
expedite record handling. - New Digitization Area: A dedicated space has been created for scanning and digitizing
archival materials, supporting long-term preservation and improved access. - Sustainable Flooring: Eco-friendly cork and marmoleum flooring have been installed
throughout the facility, aligning with the County’s commitment to sustainability.
The County of Simcoe says the renovations enhance physical infrastructure boost workflow efficiency, and enable staff to make more archival material readily available to researchers.
NOTABLE ITEMS
- The first known butter tart recipe published in a cookbook (1900)
- One of the earliest photographs of a Canadian women’s hockey team (1896)
- Documentation of local involvement in the Upper Canada Rebellion of 1837
- Newspapers dating back to 1847
- The James R. Gowan Papers
