LOCAL HISTORY
Local history materials are not allowed to circulate, but photocopying is permitted.
If you have any questions, please ask at the Information Desk in the Adult Department and a staff member will be pleased to assist you. You can also call us at 519-631-6050 or email us.
Using the microfilm readers
The microfilm collection includes St. Thomas newspapers from 1832 to the present.
Patrons are encouraged to reserve a microfilm reader/printer in advance.
Note: Indexing of St. Thomas newspapers in the surname card index is incomplete after 1919. Elgin OGS has indexed the newspapers up to 1961 on their website (www.elginogs.ca). Other indexes on the OGS site include census records, land records, vital statistics, funeral home records, and will and probate records.
Using the indexes
Subject Indexes are also available and includes such headings as “Accidents,” “Businesses,” “Churches” and “Railroads.”
Note: Indexing of St. Thomas newspapers in the surname card index is incomplete after 1919. Elgin OGS has indexed the newspapers up to 1961 on their website (www.elginogs.ca). Other indexes on the OGS site include census records, land records, vital statistics, funeral home records, and will and probate records.
Illustrated Histories & Timelines
Ancestry Library Edition
Ancestry is the world’s renowned and most comprehensive genealogy website. Members of the St. Thomas Public Library can access many of the services Ancestry has to offer via our Ancestry Library Edition subscription. To access this service from home during the COVID-19 closure, please click here! All the records can be accessed through subdivisions: Census, Births, Marriages and Deaths, Military etc. Within these subdivisions, you can search in specific record collections, or conduct a general search for your ancestor.