The Future of Our Past Council of Nova Scotia Archives

 Yarmouth County Museum Archives
The Yarmouth County Historical Society was established in 1935 with a constitutional mandate to "preserve data, records and artifacts relating to the history of Yarmouth County". In 1958 the Society acquired what was previously the Public Library in Milton, to showcase the artifacts, documents and books in a museum/library setting. A Curator and dedicated volunteers began the work of establishing a museum and research library. Within nine years the museum had outgrown its first home, and with the help of a benefactor, in 1967 the Society was able to acquire the much larger Central United Church, recently vacated, in the Town of Yarmouth.

Much of the drive to organize the library came from volunteer Alice Wetmore. She spent her early years at sea with her mother and her father, Captain George L. Wetmore, a time which greatly impacted her and lead to one of her many volunteer projects collecting photographs local sea captains. Her goal was to acquire 100 photographs. A selection of these photos remain on exhibit to this day in the and the remainder are in the archives.

Another figure who played a vital role in the history of the archives was Helen Hall. She assured that the library was open two or three days a week to serve the public. In 1980 Helen Hall was offered the position of Librarian/Archivist, an important step for the Historical Society. In this position, Helen paid special attention to the older material in the library's collection. Shelving was added to the library to store the increasing number of document boxes. In 1990 Laura Bradley was hired as the Society's Archivist. In 1999/2000 the Museum expanded which included increased archival storage, space for processing and research facilities were added.

The Yarmouth County Historical Society operates the Museum and Archives, and promotes Yarmouth County history through publications, maintenance of historic sites, speakers, exhibits, and meetings. The Museum is home to the largest non-institutional Archives and Research Library in the Province is also housed in the museum building. It contains an extensive newspaper and photograph collection; family paper; records from Yarmouth and County businesses; and many resources for genealogical and historic research.

Below are examples of the types of records found at the Yarmouth County Museum and Archives. For a larger view and item details, click on desired image.

Note book kept by Dr. H.G. Farish, 1799-1815.

Master's Certificate of Capt. Frederick Ladd, 1880.

Daniel Wyman letter, Nov. 1918.

Salon of the Sokoto

Visit the ArchWay database and search for descriptions of records held at the Yarmouth County Museum and Archives.