Archives / Local History

What is an Archive?
What is Genealogy?
How Can We Help You?
Our Collection & Resources
Ancestry Library Edition
Donations
Donation Form
Local History Policy
Genealogy Group
History of the Cochrane Public Library

What is an Archive?

An archive is a place or facility in which historical records of interest are kept. These records may be important to a government, an institution, a firm or a family, etc. The stored records are commonly referred to as archives and usually consist of papers, photographs, films, letters, oral histories, ledger books, minute books, architectural drawings and maps as well as muniments, which are documents of evidence of title or privilege. The records contained in an Archive serve as evidence of thoughts and actions.

Archives are comparable to a library in that they are highly focused on the written word and documentary history while at the same time archives are like a museum in that they preserve unique and irreplaceable materials.

What is Genealogy?

Genealogy is the study of the history or lineage of families and the line of descent from their ancestors, particularly that of a specific person or family to enable the creation of a family tree, chart or table that illustrates graphically, the line of descent of ancestors.

The study of Genealogy has become more popular in recent years and as the nuclear family has evolved to encompass many extensions not previously considered, the study of genealogy will inevitably become not only more fascinating for our future generations, but also harder to trace. This is where Archives become a very valuable tool for those seeking the trail left by those who lived before them. It is our hope to assist you in discovering your roots and family histories as a basic part of our Canadian heritage.

How Can We Help You?

The Cochrane Public Library is home to the Cochrane Genealogy Group who is available to help you with genealogical or historical research pertaining to Cochrane and area. Once a week a volunteer(s) goes to the library to work on research projects and is available to assist you in accessing most archived records you may wish to view and further, to facilitate our endeavors in preserving your family’s unique story.

If you need assistance, or if you wish to access the archives collection, you must first contact the library at 705-272-4178 to make an appointment. The Genealogy Group works on a volunteer basis and requires advance notice that you will be visiting the archives. In the event the group is unavailable library staff will make every effort to assist you. In order to do so, the library staff also requests you call ahead and arrange a date and time that staff is able to devote their time and attention to your needs and thus expedite your search.

You may also email the library at library@town.cochrane.on.ca with your request and staff will ensure your correspondence reaches the Genealogy Group. On the subject line of your email please enter Genealogical Research Request.

Due to limited resources the group is not able to conduct aboriginal research nor can they conduct research out side of Cochrane with a few exceptions in the immediate surrounding area. Library staff will make every effort to direct searches outside the Cochrane area to an appropriate Archives facility.

Our Collection & Resources

The following are some of the records contained in the Cochrane Public Library’s Archives collection:

Year Books
Telephone Directories
Souvenir Booklets & Programmes
Microfiches
Book Collection with links to Cochrane - both fiction & non-fiction
Local Cookbooks
Business Directories
Photographs
Local Authors Collection
Material on DVD/Tapes
Microfilm
Local Biographies
Rare Book Collection
Cemetery Transcripts
Various Records from: The Agricultural Society, Women’s Institute, U.C.F.O

Ancestry Library Edition is an online resource funded by the province’s 15 million dollar Investment in Public Libraries

Ancestry Library Edition Database (Proquest) For use in library only! Collection of approximately 4,000 genealogical databases including key collections such as the U. S. federal censuses from 1790 to 1930; census indexes for England, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man from 1841 to 1901; civil registration of births, marriages and deaths for England, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man from 1837 to 1983; civil registration of births (1869-1907), marriages (1857-1922) and deaths (1869-1932) for Ontario, etc. Click on the logo above to access the database from the library.

Click here for a tutorial of Ancestry Library Edition.

Donations

A part of the Cochrane Public Library’s mandate is to collect material related to all aspects of the history of our community and surrounding areas. Archived material is a vital aspect of our society as they are pieces of history that can tell a story and place events in context. These cultural and heritage documents form a portal to our past making history come alive, they honour the integrity of the people and events that have been instrumental to the evolution of our community. Through their collection and with proper care, archived materials become pieces of history preserved for future generations to enjoy and explore.

Help us to fill in the gaps in our community’s history by donating to your library’s collection. Don’t let valuable pieces of our heritage be sold at yard sales, lost, or thrown away. If you have old photographs, letters, maps, or additional documentation, help us to preserve these valuable records and make them available to the community, and to future generations, by donating them to the your library’s archives.

The next time you clean out your attic or are preparing for a yard sale ask yourself if these records might be of value to the library archives before discarding them.

Library staff will be pleased to accept archive donations and have prepared a special donation form to ensure your records are tracked and cared for. Your name will be recorded as the donor and you also become part of our history. You may wish to print the donation form from this site or pick one up at the library’s front desk. We would really like to hear from you.

Donation Form
Should you have a donation, you can print this form to accompany your donation.

Local History Policy
Coming Soon.

Genealogy Group

The Cochrane Genealogy Group was formed in 1993 and has, since that time, held regular meetings at the library. Working with the library’s archived collection, the group has responded to requests received by the library for information contained in the collection.

In addition to conducting historical information searches the group has also recorded and maintained records pertaining to the community of Cochrane and surrounding area.

Over the years the Genealogy Group has transcribed the cemeteries in Cochrane, Clute, Genier, and Frederickhouse. Inscriptions on every tombstone in each of these cemeteries have been recorded and the names of the deceased have been indexed.

The group has also indexed all the local newspapers from 1910 to 1990 for births, marriage, and, deaths with the information collected placed in binders and on discs to facilitate access. The group is currently working on the indexing of information from 1990 to the present and has assumed responsibility for the ongoing effort of binding the archived newspapers.

The Genealogy Group has created an archives file index and is currently conducting a comprehensive inventory of the complete archives collection.

The library board has purchased a membership for the library in the Ontario Genealogical Society and in so doing have become a part of the effort to encourage the research of family history and the preservation and expansion of family history resources for future generations. The benefits, such as receiving the OGS quarterly journal Families, the quarterlynewsletter Newsleaf, and eight issues of e-NewsLeaf per year will be great addition to the library and a great resource for its patrons.

In 2005 the Cochrane Genealogy Group were presented with a Certificate of Achievement from the Ontario Heritage Trust in appreciation of the group’s many volunteer hours working to identify, preserve, protect and promote Ontario’s rich heritage.

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History of the Cochrane Public Library

Cochrane Public Library 1914 – 2010

1914 Residents defeat By-law #88 to commit municipal funds for a Carnegie Library in Cochrane.
1917 Ella (Mrs. Otto) Thorning accepts donated books for community use, no formal records are kept.
1921 Approximately 10 citizens structure the first formal Cochrane Library located in one room in the Knights of
Columbus Lakeview Hall.
1921 Ella Thorning becomes the first Librarian.
1921 Cochrane Public Library becomes a formal Association Library sanctioned by the province.
1922 Library relocates to a space in Dr. William Murray’s reception room on the west side of 6th Avenue.
1925 First French language collection is introduced.
1926 Cochrane Town Council issues first grant of $150 to the Library.
1926 Library relocates to the Powell Building, also on the west side of 6th Avenue.
1929 Library relocates to east side of 6th Avenue in space donated by Carter, Bradley & Silverstone.
1934 Library relocates to the Warrell Block on 3rd Street.
1940 Elsa (Mrs. R.E.) Shirley becomes Cochrane’s 2nd Librarian, Circa 1940.
1941 Library relocates to a room on Railroad Street and a juvenile collection is introduced.
1944 The first Saturday morning children’s story hour is held.
1951 Library relocates to free space in the basement of the Post Office.
1958 The Association Library is dissolved by Council and on November 24th By-law #898 is passed incorporating
“The Cochrane Public Library Board” and establishing the first Board of Trustees.
1959 Avis (Mrs. J. T.) Burkholder is appointed the first Librarian of the Cochrane Public Library.
1959 The Library joins the Northeastern Regional Library System.
1963 The Cochrane Public Library is the first Public Library to offer public services hours to accommodate rural
school children travelling by school bus to the community.
1964 The children’s section officially dedicated “The Elsa Shirley Memorial Library for Boys & Girls.”
1970 Library relocates to the Wicks Lumber Company building at 143 3rd Street.
1972 “The Harold Wills Reference and Canadiana Library” dedication is made.
1974 Joan Shoemaker appointed Librarian.
1975 Denise Cotgrave appointed Librarian.
1985 September 26th, Library Archives officially opened.
1993 Audrey Andrews appointed Chief Executive Officer.
2000 Library relocates to the current and formal Library building at 178 4th Avenue.
2000 The municipality amalgamates with the Township of Glackmeyer and municipal Boards are dissolved. On the 24th of January Town Council passes By-law #011-2000 to re-establish a Public Library Board.
2006 Dawn Monroe appointed Librarian.
2008 Town council passes By-law #493-2008 amending By-law #011-2000
“reduction from two council members to one.”
2009 Christina Noël-Blazecka appointed Chief Executive Officer.

Cochrane’s First Library “Board” – 1921
Mr. W.C. Sharp President
Mrs. Arthur Stevens Vice-President
Miss J.V. Wright Secretary
Mrs. Otto Thorning Librarian
Mr. J.A. Bradette Trustee
Mr. A. Clay Trustee
Mr. J.A. Clermont Trustee
Mr. M.D. Douglas Trustee
Mrs. R. E. Reid Trustee