(in-library use only) Ancestry Library Edition is an online genealogy research tool that provides access to billions of records from more than 7,000 collections.

Our clippings collection contains a wealth of historical newspaper articles and ephemera from various sources, and is organized by subjects. It is housed in a set of publicly accessible filing cabinets in our local history area at the Main Branch. An index of the subjects is printed out and available on top of the cabinets, and is also viewable online in WPL’s Local History Collection Index using the link below.

The Genealogy Database is an index of names from local sources, such as Birth, Death and Marriage announcements from the local paper, and names that appear in local books. The index currently has over 112,000 entries. Search a name to see recorded instances where it appears in our collection.

Pictures & Documents From The Welland Public Library's Local History Collection.

Welcome to Welland Public Library's Local History page. Collected below are our available resources, applicable for genealogical researchers, academics, or anyone curious to learn more about the history of Welland. Please explore our collections and links, and if you have questions or research requests you can send us an email anytime. Additionally we have a comprehensive index of our Local History Collection available as a pdf, by clicking the link below, that can be browsed or searched by keyword.

The Main Branch of the library has two microfilm reader stations next to our program room. They are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. In cases where the microfilm reader is in high demand, users are asked to limit themselves to two hours at a time. In addition to a nearly complete collection of the Welland Tribune, various books and government publications are also available. An index is printed out and available beside the cabinet, and is also viewable online in WPL’s Local History Collection Index. In addition to the titles available at our Main Branch, microfilms from the Archives of Ontario Microfilm Interloan Service can be requested using WPL as an intermediary. To see what is available visit the link below.

The wooden display case at the end of the local history area is our rare books cabinet. It houses older books that need protection from regular shelf-wear. The material can be viewed and handled, just ask staff at the front desk for access to the cabinet. These items are searchable in our online catalogue, and a call number would show LHC-RARE 027.471338 Wel for example. An index with all the titles in the cabinet is viewable online in WPL’s Local History Collection Index by clicking the link below.

If you’re not in the Niagara area or just need help with your historical search, you can send us a research request using the form by clicking the link below and choosing Local History for Department. Alternatively, you can call us at 905-734-6210, extension 2506. There is no charge for the service.

We have a large amount of local history material in our storage room. This includes historical newspapers, books, slides, films, various types of records, photo binders, etc. We plan to digitize and make publicly available what we can, like photos, slides, and video tapes. Photos and documents are being put on our historical images site hosted by Omeka, and cassettes, films and videos will be put on our YouTube channel in the future. If you would like to view any of the material in the storage room please ask staff at the desk who can retrieve it for you. An index containing storage room materials is viewable online in WPL’s Local History Collection Index using the link below.