Archival Donations

What does the Thornhill Archives Collect?
The Thornhill Archives & Special Collections collects materials of all formats which have enduring significance to the history of Thornhill.

All the records in the Archives come from the private sector, from individuals and groups who have donated them so they can be preserved for the benefit of present and future generations.

Private records include documents, photographs and negatives, letters, diaries, art work, recordings, artifacts, and other materials produced in the course of everyday life and special activities. The Archives also collects records, maps, plans, architectural drawings, reports, minutes, newsletters, and materials from local organizations and groups that have played a significant role in the life of the community of Thornhill.

If you would like to donate materials to the Thornhill Archives & Special Collections, please contact us and we would be happy to discus with you any questions you may have.

How do I donate records?
When donating records to the Thornhill Archives & Special Collections we can arrange to meet with you to conduct an historical assessment of the materials, to determine if they fall within the scope of the collection.

If we decide to accept the materials into the collection a Deed of Gift agreement will be signed between the donor and the Archives Committee to transfer ownership to the Society for the Preservation of Historic Thornhill.

The names of our donors are listed on this website and also in our society's newsletter unless they wish to remain anonymous.

What happens to my donation?
Our collection, while owned by a private non-profit institution, is accessible to members of the general public. Users of this collection have included private citizens such as students, genealogists, local historians, media personnel, as well as local government employees.

Materials received by the Archives are preserved according to their original context and order. The papers of a particular person, group or organization are kept together in their original order, based on the concept that original order and the association between materials is as important as the individual components themselves.
Sometimes individual items, or those where no original association has been determined by the donor, are arranged into 'record groupings' where appropriate.

All materials, regardless of age, are stored in archival acid-free envelopes and boxes which are appropriate for the particular format.