County Archives undergoes name change to better represent scope of services

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Cobourg, ON – July 25, 2019 – Northumberland County Archives is undergoing a name change to Northumberland County Archives & Museum (NCAM)  in order to capture the full scope of services available to the community. This name change also positions the operation for the en­hanced programming and exhibitions that will be on-offer to the community once the collection moves to the new Golden Plough Lodge and Northum­berland County Archives & Museum facility, due to be completed in the fall of 2022.

“The  collecting activities of the County Archives, from the very beginning, have involved the care and preservation of both documentary materials and artefacts,” states County Director of Corporate Services Lisa Ainsworth. “This name change signifies a heightened awareness of the opportunities created by embracing this dual identity, and the further recognition of the important role that cultural institutions play in engagement, education, and identity-building within our community.”

Services available today through NCAM:

  • Research support
  • Access to artefacts and documents representing lives from all over Northumberland County—historical and contemporary– including mu­nicipal records, family and genealogical records, property records, pho­tos, maps, and other items
  • Programming—in-class ‘Intro to Primary Sources’ for young primaries, as well as a comprehensive lesson package for Grade 3 entitled ‘Life in the 1800’s in Northumberland County’
  • Engaging tours to small groups, which can be customized by interest

What visitors can look forward to at the new space:

  • Enhanced community programming for all age levels, including special­ized programming for the residents of the Golden Plough Lodge
  • A permanent display about the history of Northumberland County
  • Changing exhibits about content important to Northumberland resi­dents, developed in collaboration with community groups
  • An expanded reading room for public research
  • A forum for community groups to showcase the stories they wish to tell

The NCAM collection is built through the generous donation of materials by individuals and organizations. Staff seek to build a collection that repre­sents the diverse experiences and histories of this area, and are available to answer questions about the primary sources NCAM is interested in col­lecting, and how to donate.

“Northumberland County recognizes that Archives exist to make historical investigation possible and promote accountability, transparency and diver­sity,” states County Warden John Logel. “Likewise, Museums, created in the public interest, engage visitors in developing a deeper understanding of authentic cultural and natural heritage. This name change is a natural rea­lignment of the identity of this operation with the important functions it per­forms today for the community.”

Northumberland County Archives & Museum will continue to operate within the C. Gordon King Centre at 200 Ontario Street, Cobourg until the end of 2022, when the collection and staff will move into the new facility co-located with the new Golden Plough Lodge redevelopment. For more information, visit our GPL and NCAM page.