Cornwall Ontario Family History Centre


 * Welcome to the Cornwall Ontario Family History Centre webpage in the FamilySearch research wiki. Here you will find information about the centre, how to get here, when we are open and what resources are available for your use. Use of the centre is free of charge to anyone interested in genealogy and family history research.


 * Our enthusiastic friendly knowledgeable staff welcome you and are ready to help you make your visit a success and a positive uplifting experience. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

Centre Contacts and Hours
Location &amp; Map
 * 500 Cornwall Centre Rd., Cornwall, ON, Canada
 * Map to the Cornwall FHC
 * Please enter by the back door. Once inside turn right and follow the hall. The Family History Centre is about halfway down on the right side.

Phone: +1-613-933-1716 Please note that this phone is not monitored. If there is no answer please try again during Family History Centre Open Hours

E-mail: [mailto:ON_Cornwall@familyhistorymail.org ON_Cornwall@familyhistorymail.org]

Open Hours: Effective June 11, 2022

Saturday 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

Note: Centre is closed July 9 and July 16. We apologize for any inconvenience.

New expanded open hours coming soon. Please monitor this page for the announcement.

Holiday Schedule:

Upcoming Events
Family History Workshop postponed: Family History workshop at the Family History Centre, 500 Cornwall Centre Road. There will be something for everyone, from entry level genealogists to experts. Come out for a day of workshops.Please see our conference page for further information and to register for this exciting event.


 *  Notice: Due to the current Covid-19 pandemic the Family History Workshop has been postponed indefinitly.  

Class Schedule
"No classes scheduled at this time"

Collections
We are currently inventorying our collection. Check back for an overview soon.

"Our centre has access to the Family History Center Portal page. Through the portal you will have free access to many premium subscription ($) family history, software and websites. For a list of the websites available please check out the FHC Portal web page."

Hardware
"We have computers, printers, photocopiers, microfilm and microfiche readers and scanners, all of which are available for your use in the centre. There is a small charge for paper used in scanning or copying."

Resources in the Local Area

 * Unfortunately, there is no longer a local genealogical society in the Cornwall area. There is however a number of organizations with resources available for your family history research:


 * The Cornwall Public Library has a number of resources including access to Genealogy Quebec, the premier site for research into Quebec and French Canadian genealogy. They also maintain an online digital archives index and are the holders of the records of the former Genealogical society of Cornwall.


 * The Cornwall Community Museum holds a number of records of interest to family historians including "a variety of City Directories, telephone company directories, newspaper articles and historic photographs, maps and plans."


 * The SD &amp; G Historical Society while not genealogical society hold numerous records and artifacts relating to the history of the Cornwall and surrounding area which may be of interest to genealogists researching this area.

Historical Links

 * As one of the first areas to be settled in Ontario, the Cornwall area has a rich history dating back to the late eighteenth century. Here are some links to area attractions dedicated to celebrating the history of the area:


 * The Lost Villages Museum is a local museum dedicated to preserving the history of the villages that were submerged when the St Lawrence Seaway was built.


 * Upper Canada Village is a recreation of a typical eastern Ontario village of the mid-1800s.


 * The Historic SD &amp; G Jail was built in 1833. Decommissioned in 2002, it is open for tours during the summer season.

Genealogical Links

 * The Automated Genealogy website contains links to Canadian Census indexes as well as links to other genealogical projects.


 * The Library and Archives Canada contains the records of the government of Canada as well as many other private fonds of historical interest. The site contains search engines for all of the Canadian censuses as well as online scans of the original documents. There is also an online index of the archive's holdings.


 * The Archives of Ontario holds the records of the Ontario government. The site contains an online index of the archive holdings and sections on genealogy and the historical development of geopolitical Ontario.


 * The Ontario Cemetery Finding Aid is a pointer database consisting of the surnames, cemetery name and location of over 3 Million interments from several thousand cemeteries, cairns, memorials, and cenotaphs in Ontario Canada.


 * FindAGrave.com is one of the most popular of a number of online cemetery records sites.


 * Cyndi's List is a comprehensive, categorized & cross-referenced list of links that point you to genealogical research sites online. It isprobably the best online resource for finding other family history site.


 * Wikitree.org is a free collaborative family tree site. Popular with more serious genealogists, it consists of an online community of genealogists dedicated to assembling an accurate family tree of the human family. Wikitree contains many resources to help family history enthusiasts of all levels of skill.

Volunteer at the Centre

 * We are always looking for volunteers to help with running the Family History Centre (FHC).


 * Our goal is to expand the open hours of the FHC, especially in the evening to make it more convenient for those who wish to use our resources. As such we are looking for individuals who are willing to donate an hour or two on a weekly or biweekly basis to come in and help out. Duties would include:
 * Welcoming new patrons to the FHC
 * Helping patrons with their work. Answering questions and providing guidance.
 * Training new patrons in everything from how to start their family history to what we have available in the FHC to how to use our resources.
 * Making sure that the resources used are returned to their proper spots after use.


 * You don't need to be a genealogical expert to help out. All we need is an enthusiasm for family history work. We will provide the necessary training to help you get up to speed and become an 'expert'.


 * You will work under the direction of one of our member FHC staff


 * Of course, if the FHC is not busy while you are here you are welcome to work on your own genealogy!