The Elgin County Archives is home to a wide array of archival fonds and collection and summaries are available through the following links. The Archives has made available a descriptive database that can be searched and additions are being made on a regular basis. Records are also described on-line through ARCHEION, Ontario's Archival Information Network.

Elgin County Municipal Records - Includes records of the county government and its sixteen former and current local governments dating back to 1852 (or earlier in some cases). Included in these records are local minutes, by-laws, tax assessment rolls, maps and voters lists. The Archives is fortunate to have a complete set of records from the Elgin County Clerk's Office since its inception, documenting many aspects of the area's social and economic development, including petitions on matters such as temperance, social welfare, justice and the need for infrastructure. View records from the County's formative years of 1852 and 1853, or click here for a brief administrative history of the County of Elgin. View a virtual gallery of images from the first 150 years of Elgin County Council. The County of Elgin now offers an online document search, allowing the public to view all Elgin County Council minutes and by-laws from 1852 to the present as well as agenda packages from 1998 to the present.
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The Scott-Sefton Photo Studio Collection - This collection numbers close to 100,000 negatives from three generations of studio photographers, documenting many aspects of local life in Elgin County, including dignitaries, community events and the local landscape from the early 1890's to 1988. You can view examples of the collection in the Online Gallery or search our Online Database. Photographic reprints are available for any image. Print the reproduction order form and make payment in advance to the Elgin County Archives. Photographic Reproduction Fees .
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Women's Institute Records - The County possesses records of several local branches. This includes Tweedsmuir histories for communities throughout the County, providing a female perspective of life in rural Ontario throughout the twentieth century. You can access Tweedsmuir history books of Elgin County branches or view a virtual exhibit of selected photographs from each book.TOP

Alma College Records - The Archives possesses records of this internationally known educational institution for young girls that operated in St. Thomas from 1881 to 1994. To review contents of the Alma College collection, you can access this finding aid which lists the inventory. (Note: this is a large file and may take several minutes to open depending on your internet connection.) View a selection of Alma images from the Scott-Sefton collection. Learn more about Alma College by reading this brief history. Search and view "Toujuors en Avant", a collection of over 4200 photographs from the Alma College photograph series.
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Anderson Department Store/ Anderson Family Records – The Archives maintains a large volume of records documenting the history of the Anderson Department Store in St. Thomas, 1896-1988, and the Anderson family’s contributions to the community of St. Thomas and Elgin County. Learn more by touring this virtual exhibit.
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Elgin County Library Microform Collection - The Archives is the repository for this collection of over 1500 microforms formerly housed at the St. Thomas Public Library. This material includes; province-wide census returns, Upper Canada Land Petitions, probate/surrogate court records, directories and local newspapers (including the Rodney Mercury, West Lorne Sun, Dutton Advance and Aylmer Express).
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Surrogate Court Records - Volunteers at the Elgin County Library have indexed the Surrogate Court Records for the London District and Elgin County from 1800 to 1900. For the London District, all the available records were indexed. Elgin County was formed in 1853; thereafter only Elgin County residents appear in the index.  The following fields are found:

Elgin Golf and Country Club Records - These records date back to 1908, making them one of the earliest records of this sport in Canada. View the agreement to purchase land for the Club at its original location east of St. Thomas in 1908. (The remaining pages of this document can be viewed at the Archives.)
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Elgin County Road Reports and Petitions - An index of petitions to the District of London circa 1821-1841. Hard copies for many of these petitions exist as part of the Elgin County Clerk fonds.
The Elgin County Archives acknowledges the efforts of Frank Clarke in the gathering of this information. View a transcription of these records. Note: To find a particular name use the Find (on this page) function in the Edit Menu.
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Maps and Plans - This includes Tremaine's Map of the County of Elgin, 1864, a valuable resource measuring approximately six feet by three feet and documenting property owners throughout the County at that time. Order a copy of this map in atlas form. The Archives also has a number of Fire Insurance Plans documenting buildings in communities throughout the county during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. View Goad's Fire Insurance Plan of Belmont, 1894.
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Elgin County Plowing Match Records - The Archives has a large collection of textual records, photographs and artifacts documenting the 1940, 1960, 1985 and 2010 International Plowing Matches held (and to be held) in Elgin County, and the annual Elgin County Plowing Match organized by the Elgin County Plowmen's Association. Learn more by touring this virtual exhibit.

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Second World War Records - The Archives has a large collection of textual records and photographs documenting Elgin County's contributions to Canada's Second World War effort. Learn more by touring this virtual exhibit.

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