“Growing Stronger Together: A Celebration of Oxford County’s Past” Book Launch July 30, 2025!

Hello Everyone,
please see this guest post from the Oxford County Archives:

Folklore, true crime, heroes and Elvis: Oxford County’s most noteworthy
moments are captured in, “Growing Stronger Together: A Celebration of
Oxford County’s Past,”
a new book by the Oxford County Archives that
celebrates the 175th anniversary of the County’s incorporation.

A collection of stories about local people, events and communities, the
book has its origins in an Archives blog started during the COVID-19
pandemic to share interesting stories about the County’s past. It
features articles and historical research from multiple contributors and
was curated by Oxford County Archivist Liz Dommasch.

The public book launch for “Growing Stronger Together: A Celebration of
Oxford County’s Past” takes place this month:

When: Wednesday, July 30, 2025 from 1:00 – 3:00pm

1:30pm: Comments from Deputy Warden Brian Petrie and book excerpts
read by County Archivist Liz Dommasch

Where: Oxford County Archives (Governor’s House building)
82 Light Street, Woodstock N4S 7Y3
Phone: 519-539-9800 x3071

Copies of the book will be on sale at the event for $45.00 each.

The book will also be available for purchase online at
www.oxfordcounty.ca/archives, at the Ingersoll and Tillsonburg
branches of Oxford County Library, Oxford County Archives, and at the
Customer Service desk in the Oxford County Administration Building.

Oxford County is celebrating the 175th anniversary of its
incorporation as a county in 2025 and the 50th anniversary of the
restructuring of Oxford County into its eight area municipalities:
Blandford-Blenheim, East Zorra-Tavistock, Ingersoll, Norwich, South-West
Oxford, Tillsonburg, Woodstock and Zorra. It is the 60th anniversary
of the Oxford County Library system and the 25th anniversary of Oxford
County Archives.

To learn more visit www.oxfordcounty.ca/anniversary

Other anniversary year events

* Woodstock Art Gallery Exhibit: Oxford County Archives: Celebration,
175+ years: July 12, 2025 – January 24, 2026

This exhibit explores the history of some of Oxford County’s iconic
administrative buildings, including the Court Houses, Jail, Registry
Offices and House of Refuge, and highlights some of the architectural
drawings, photographs, and artwork maintained by the Oxford County
Archives.

* Display at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario: “Oxford County:
Celebrating 175 Years.” April- December 2025


Part of the Legislative Assembly Community Exhibits Program, this
submission by the Oxford County Archives and Oxford County Library
celebrating Oxford County’s 175th anniversary and the County’s
historical and milestone achievements is on display now at Queen’s Park
in Toronto.

* Oxford County Archives: “Who Do You Think You
Are.”

Coming this fall, this video series will share the genealogical
stories of some of Oxford’s current County Councillors.

* Oxford County Archives and Oxford County Library exhibits in the
Oxford County Administration Building.

The Archives is featuring four displays throughout 2025 highlighting
the history of the County; promoting the Archives’ holdings, programs
and services; highlighting stories from the new anniversary book;
and sharing the history of the Oxford County Library system.

Oxford County Library is also hosting special events this year to mark
the Library’s 60th anniversary.

* Oxford County Library Memory Wall:
This virtual scrapbook invites stories, photos and other creative expressions
of people’s memories of County library branches over the years. Visit the wall at
www.ocl.net/memory-wall.

* Local History Speaker Series events: “Twice a Pioneer: A History of
Oxford County Library Services “

Takes place on July 19, featuring local historian Dr. Matthew Griffis,
in a presentation that will share archival images and other historical items.
In May, Oxford County Archivist Liz Dommasch offered a sneak peek
of “Growing StrongerTogether: A Celebration of Oxford County’s Past”
as part of the Local History Speaker Series.

* Anniversary video: “The Oxford County Library at 60: Foundations and
Future”

A short video that celebrates Oxford County Library’s anniversary
is being released this week through the Library’s social media
channels.

* Oxford County Library Reception: “Remember When: Celebrating Our
First 60 Years”

A public celebration of the Library’s anniversary, will
be held on September 20, 2025, at the Ingersoll branch. Watch for
details at www.ocl.net  or Speak Up, Oxford!

Comment

Marcus Ryan, Warden, Oxford County

“Oxford’s 175th Anniversary reminds us that we have a story that is
worth sharing–in fact, multiple stories worth sharing, more than 150 in
this publication alone. The story of how Oxford grew to become Oxford
shows a vibrant past and a love of community that continues today. Thank
you to the many contributors who devoted their time and passion to
keeping these stories alive.”


If you would like your event or article published (relating to Oxford County ON or South-Western ON), on the Society’s blog please email us at info@oxhs.ca

Oxford County Archives Virtual Exhibit!

Hello everyone,

Please read this guest post from the Oxford County Archives:

“The Oxford County Archives has created a new online exhibit celebrating the history of human-animal relationships. The exhibit provides virtual visitors with a peek into archival records featuring animals, including photographs, artwork, old by-laws, greeting cards, posters, newspaper material, and more. Virtual visitors will also delight in stories about some of the more famous animals in Oxford County’s history.

The inspiration behind the exhibit was National Pet Day (April 11) and Archives Awareness Week (April 3-7), which provide staff with an opportunity to showcase these specific records and spread awareness of the importance of keeping archival records and the stories attached to them. Visitors can browse through categories to explore animals at work, animals in art and entertainment, wild encounters and many more. The exhibit also celebrates the role of animals in Oxford County’s rich farming history, from helping to clear and plow fields before the invention of engine-powered farm equipment to offering nutritional sustenance in the form of milk, eggs and animal meat.

Learn more and visit the exhibit online at https://archives.oxfordcounty.ca/Archives/Exhibits.”

Holiday Book Sale!

Hello Everyone,

Looking for a great holiday gift? No need to look any further!

The Oxford Historical Society, the Oxford County Archives and the Ingersoll & District Historical Society will be selling local publications on:

Wednesday, December 14, 2022 from 10am to 4pm at the Oxford County Administration Building (OCAB) foyer, located at 21 Reeve St., Woodstock ON N4S 3G1

Cash or cheque only!

Visit the Society’s Publication page to see some of our offerings!

The following poster can be printed and shared: Holiday Book Sale!

For more information contact the Society at info@oxhs.ca, 226-242-4774; or the Oxford County Archives at archives@oxfordcounty.ca, 519-539-9800 ext. 3070

Family History & Memory Book!

Book Cover image provided by the Oxford County Archives

Hello Everyone,
Please see this guest post from the Oxford County Archives about their latest publication.

The Oxford County Archives is spreading awareness about the importance of recording your family history with a new book to help genealogists get started at home:

The Family History and Memory Book is a fun and meaningful way anyone can record their personal or family history. The book contains typical genealogical and autobiographical questions about birth, education, marriage, occupations, death and residence locations. It also includes more personal questions like, “What is your favourite childhood memory?”, “Share some stories about your pets.”, “Which cultural traditions does your family observe?”, “What do you remember about your first vehicle?” and more, with over 40 questions total. The interactive book includes a family tree diagram, a recipe section, and blank pages for scrapbooking mementos.’

In collaboration with staff at the Woodingford Lodge sites in Ingersoll, Tillsonburg and Woodstock, copies of the Family History and Memory Book are being donated by the Oxford County Archives and distributed to interested residents at the long-term care homes.

Copies of the new book are also available to the general public for $15, with an option to have the completed book scanned and preserved as a digital record

For more information or to purchase a copy of the Family History and Memory Book, contact the Oxford County Archives at archives@oxfordcounty.ca or by telephone at 519-539-9800 ext. 3070.

Virtual Curator Talk: The History of the John White Building

Hello Everyone,
This is a guest post from the Woodstock Art Gallery:

Virtual Curator Talk: The History of the John White Building

Thursday, October 14
3pm

Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_rp5CksgdRyyVU96eBdKLyA

Join Assistant Curator of Education Julia deKwant for a virtual curator talk on the current exhibition, Ten Years in the Building: The John White Co. Inc.

This exhibition celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Woodstock Art Gallery’s move to the historic John White Building. With artifacts and photographs from the Woodstock Museum NHS and Oxford County Archives, the exhibition traces the building’s history of commerce and enterprise beginning with the formation of the John White Co. Ltd., which spanned three generations of the White family and 100 years. Follow along as Julia explores the curatorial practices used in the creation of the exhibition and the unique challenges of placing historic artifacts within an art gallery space. Q & A to follow.

The exhibition is currently on view until January 22, 2022.