Primary Sources: Resources for Teachers & Students

The Huron County Museum houses thousands of artifacts and documents that can help you research, understand and tell local stories with local resources. Access our collection online and onsite to discover more about diverse subjects and time periods, whether you are researching your family or writing an assignment for school.

The Ontario Curriculum defines primary sources as “artefacts and oral, print, media, or computer materials created during the period of time under study.”

Ask an Expert

Field trips to the Huron County Museum or Huron Historic Gaol feature our exhibits and collections. Contact museum [@] huroncounty.ca to book a guided group tour or onsite education program.

Knowledgeable staff are also available for in-person or virtual outreach to speak about multiple topics! Get in touch with your questions, or you can choose from an existing list of presentations.

For in-person or virtual research appointments, you can book an appointment with the Archivist! Find out more on the Archives page of our website, including finding aids for select collections.

Envelopes fanned out on a grey surface. Some have stamps and visible postage marks.

Photograph of a jail cell, barred door ajar. Metal bead inside. Small rectangular window closed.

Contact staff to visit the archives onsite or set up a virtual appointment!

Documents & Artefacts

Huron County’s digitized newspapers chronicle local news from across the county! Click to search more than a century of history via Huron County’s digitized newspapers: free, online and keyword searchable.

The same database also includes select assessment rolls, returns of inhabitants and historical diaries from Huron County residents! Follow the research tips on our website to improve your results.

Visit our online catalogue to find artifacts and archival materials in the museum’s collection. Search by subject, kind of artifact, family name or community.

Virtual Exhibits

Part of the museum’s collection of photographs by local photographer J. Gordon Henderson have been digitized. During World War II, he travelled to air training schools in Goderich, Port Albert, and Clinton taking pictures of classes and other base activities. Many airmen came to his studio in Goderich to have their portraits taken to send home to family and friends. The Henderson Collection also includes wedding portraits, candid shots, correspondence and interviews with airmen related to WWII air training in Huron County. Access the virtual Henderson collection by clicking here!

You can also browse more photographs via our Flickr page!