Welcome to the Genealogy Room 

The Stirling-Rawdon Historical Society maintains a genealogy and local history reference room at the Stirling-Rawdon Public Library located at 43 West Front Street, Stirling.  Whether you’re just getting started with your family history or are an experienced researcher, we hope that there is something in our collection that will help your research.  While our primary focus is central Hastings County our resources go far beyond with some covering all of Canada and others going beyond our shores.  Since our collections are always growing it is important to check back with this site from time to time to see what has been added.  Our volunteers help staff the reference room on Wednesday evenings and Saturday afternoons to provide personal assistance with your research.

Library Hours Sunday Closed Monday Closed Tuesday 3 – 6P Wednesday 3 – 8:30P Thursday 3 – 7 P Friday 3 – 7P Saturday 11A – 4P

We are always available to provide assistance by special request either through our email address at http://www.stirling-rawdon.com/history/ or by making arrangements through the SRHS President, Lewis Zandbergen, at 613-394-3022.

For those just starting out in their ancestor quest here are a few valuable points to follow:

aAlways start with what you know and work backwards. (Go from the known to the unknown)

aRecord your research even if you find nothing. (You don’t want to repeat the same steps)

aProve your relationships using government, census, church and other official records.

aDocument the sources of your research. (1^st on paper and then on the computer)

aInterview your family elders now, before it’s too late. (But, don’t push into uncomfortable areas)

aJoin a local genealogy / historical society to get guidance and assistance.

aStay focussed with one family line at a time.

To help you get started the SRHS has provided two basic forms you can use: An Ancestral Chart to document your direct blood pedigree and a Family Group Sheet to record the details of each family.

The resources available in the research room include the following:

Microfilm                      =Women’s Institute Tweedsmuir Histories – North Hastings

                                      =Ontario Marriage Registrations (1868-1885)

                                      (NOTE: These are the actual regsitrations and not just an index.  Since more than one country are on some reels, click here to see the entire list)

CD-ROM’s                  =An ever growing collection of LDS and FTM titles.  Click here to see the list.

Databases                  =We have tried to assemble a range of helpful, searchable databases.  Click here to see the full list.

Books, etc.                  =A wide range of helpful guides, maps, directories, local histories, family genealogies, cemetery transcripts and much more.

Computers                  =There are 4 computers available for public access free of charge.  These include one connected to the Internet, two for CD-ROM use and one dedicated to the CemSearch program.  There are several printers available to help document your research.  To see a list of the ready to use web sites on the Internet Computer click here.

Reader/Printer            =A new reader/printer is available for use with the microfilm reels.

Projects                       =Stirling-Rawdon Historical Society volunteers are just getting started with several genealogical transcript projects which include the early Rawdon assessment rolls and local cemeteries.  The first publication of the society is the 1838 Assessment Roll for Rawdon and will be available for sale after August 21^st, 2004.