Local History & Genealogy

The Muskoka Collection

The Muskoka collection in our Muskoka Room encompasses both Local History and Genealogy material. A collection of historical and current material including fiction, and non-fiction works about Huntsville and the surrounding area. This collection also includes a section of works by local authors.

View our online catalogue for a list of materials available in the Muskoka Room

*Please Note* All materials in the Muskoka Room are for use in library only. For local history books that can be checked out, please view our Circulating Local History collection.

Online Databases

 Ancestry Library Edition

Ancestry LogoAccess Ancestry Library Edition

Note: Ancestry is available for use only in the library

Genealogy resource, especially for U.S. and Canadian records. Ancestry includes census, birth, marriage, death, immigration, military records and more. It also has some European, Australian and New Zealand records.

For extra information about how to use Ancestry, visit ProQuest Libguides for videos and step-by-step instructions.

Canadiana Online

Canadiana Logo

Access Canadiana Online

Canadiana Online is a digitized collection of books, government publications, periodicals, annuals and newspapers about Canada published from European contact to the early 20th century.

Digital Archive Ontario

Digital Archive map

Access Digital Archive Ontario

Developed and managed with resources from the Toronto Public Library, Digital Archive Ontario provides free access to digital material of historical importance to Ontario and Canada.

Digital Archive Ontario is a unique and vast digital collection of high-quality images, including Ontario maps, fire insurance plans and views of towns and cities over time, culled from Toronto Public Library's collection and dating back to the 1880s.

Huntsville Forester Online

Forester logo

Access Huntsville Forester Online

Explore the Huntsville Forester newspaper from 1895 to 2018.
Learn more about the local area, people, events, and local merchants and businesses. Find photographs, classified ads, birth notices and obituaries.

Hosted by the Canadian Community Digital Archives.

Huntsville Heritage Walking Tour
 Huntsville Historical logo

Access the Huntsville Heritage Walking Tour

Welcome to the Huntsville Heritage Walking Tour, curated by the Huntsville and Area Historical Society, a local not-for-profit organization dedicated to the promotion and preservation of our local history and built heritage.

Download the App

Once the app has downloaded, search for and download the Huntsville Heritage Walking Tour.

 More Information
  • The app is free to download and use on Apple and Android.
  • Once downloaded, you don't need Wi-Fi/data to run it.
  • The app uses GPS to alert you to heritage stops and automatically plays the audio and brings up pictures of the location when you reach that location.
Muskoka Digital Archives

Muskoka Digital Archives logo

Access Muskoka Digital Archives

This online collection offers a snapshot into Muskoka's origins, development, culture, and people. Though predominately indexes, there are 500+ images available. The indexes link out to the Online Huntsville Forester for quick and easy access to more details.

Ontario Genealogical Society Library Collection

Ontario Genealogy logo

Access Ontario Genealogical Society Library Collection

Get access to books, family histories, cemetery records, and more. A great resource for everyone whether you are beginning your journey to find family trees or are an expert researcher.

Toronto Star: ProQuest Historical Newspapers

Toronto Star logo

Access Toronto Star: ProQuest Historical Newspapers

Toronto Star: ProQuest Historical Newspapers is a fully digitized and searchable database of every issue of the Toronto Star from 1894 to 2021. Every page is included, from the headlines to the classifieds. It is an excellent resource for genealogists and history projects.

Additional Resources

Local History & Genealogy Websites
Maps
Microfilm Collection

Our microfilm collection can only be used in the library. The Muskoka Room has a ScanPro microfilm scanner that has the ability to scan microfilm images to a USB stick. Our collection includes:

  • The Huntsville Forester from 1895-2018 (also available online)
  • Census of Canada for Parry Sound and Muskoka from 1851-1901
  • Assessment Rolls Town of Huntsville from 1890-1946
  • Bell Phone Directory from 1906-1917
  • Free Grant and Homestead from 1868-1888
  • Minutes and Bylaws of Brunel Township from 1877-1943
  • Post Office Inspection Reports from 1876-1879
  • Marriage and Death Indices Archives of Ontario
  • Land Records Index
  • Surrogate Court Records from 1793-1858

You can also make an Interlibrary Loan (ILLO) request to the Archives of Ontario to bring in microfilm from their collection. *Please Note* Not all ILLO requests may be accepted by the Archives of Ontario.

 Library Hours

Day Hours
Sunday  CLOSED
Monday 10 AM - 6 PM
Tuesday 10 AM - 6 PM
Wednesday 10 AM - 6 PM
Thursday 10 AM - 6 PM
Friday 10 AM - 6 PM
Saturday 10 AM - 4 PM

 

Drop Box is available 24/7


 

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