The Archives & Special Collections have assembled a diverse collection of resources over the past 50+ years. While there are many avenues of potential research here, several collections have emerged as strengths including:
The collection covers all aspects of life on the Niagara Peninsula from the earliest geological formations to the present. Potential research topics are numerous. Major themes within the collection include:
- Individuals: women, business people, families, politicians, artists, writers, historians, immigrants
- Major events: War of 1812, Fenian Raids 1866, World Wars, Rebellion of 1837, United Empire Loyalists, Underground Railroad
- Local history: town/city histories, elections, surveys, land transactions, urban development and growth, agriculture/wine
- Industrialization: Welland Canal, hydroelectric power, railways, manufacturing, paper making
- Tourism: Niagara Falls, the Bruce Trail, Niagara Escarpment, wine tourism, historic landmarks, arts/culture
The Niagara Collection is comprised of both primary and secondary resources to strengthen the depth of the collection. Thus, a researcher will find correspondence, diaries, maps, photos, and other archival records among the published works.
Descriptions of most items in the Archives & Special Collections can be found by keyword searching in Omni – our academic search tool or in our Digital Repository.
It is estimated that approximately five thousand refugees choosing to remain loyal to the British Crown settled in Niagara at the conclusion of the American Revolution in 1783. This collection provides an insight into their history as they developed this region, province and country.
With the rise of instances of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) globally and the increase of awareness in the media and the research community, we see ASD as a collection focus with great potential. Specifically, what we wish to collect are the day to day records of those who live with or work with ASD. These records can be letters, diaries, photographs, reports, e-mails, blogs, research data, drawings, film and the like. We want to preserve the history of autism in North America.
Our Current Collections:
Temple Grandin Collection
Bettelheim, Tinbergen and Hall fonds, 1972-1981
Cynthia Kim fonds
Mandy Klein fonds
Andrew Bloomfield Collection
Estee Klar fonds
Bloomfield Family / Waterloo-Wellington Autism Services Resource Collection
The Autism Acceptance Project fonds
Here is a detailed look at our collection policy for ASD including the five main areas of focus.
Through significant donations from Dr. Charles A. Sankey (former Chancellor of Brock University), Lawrence Runnalls, the Standring family and others, the Masonic Collection at Brock University numbers more than 1200 works making it one of largest collection of books on Freemasonry at any Canadian University.
The Masonic Book Collection is available to all interested users.
Through an endowment provided by the Grand Lodge of Canada A.F. and A.M. in the Province of Ontario and Heritage Lodge No. 730 A.F. and A.M. of Canada in the Province of Ontario, Brock University has digitized a number of resources on Freemasonry.
- Brock University’s Digital Repository: Masonic Resources (308 works)
- Grand Lodge of Ontario annual proceedings: Internet Archive
- Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons of Ontario annual proceedings: Internet Archive
The Brock University Archives holds some of the records that document the history of the University from its earliest conception to the present. It includes annual reports, meeting minutes, promotional literature, departmental records, convocation programs, calendars, media releases, various publications, photographs, other imagery and more.
Some of our digitized records can be found in our Digital Repository.
