Artifacts and Archives Services

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Kawartha Lakes decide was artifacts it will accept?

1. History: the value of an object increases when more is known about it. Do you have information about how and where the artifact was created, collected or used?

2. Condition: Is the object complete and in good condition? Qualified Kawartha Lakes staff will assess the item to make sure it can be properly cared for.

3. Relevance: The municipality will consider how the object fits within its artifact mandate and if it will bring a new perspective to existing collections.

We receive far more offers of donations than we can accept. Our storage, display space and our resources to care for artifacts is limited. We are grateful to receive objects but must decline objects that are:

• Already well represented in our collections
• Without a known history
• No connection to Kawartha Lakes
• In poor physical condition

Like most organization that hold an artifact collection, we can not guarantee if, or when, we will exhibit artifacts. The continuous display of many different objects is not beneficial to their long- term preservation. Part of the role of this program is to preserve artifacts for future generations.

Most of the artifact in our collection are donated. The Municipality will rarely purchase unsolicited offers of artifacts.

No, Kawartha Lakes cannot return donated artifacts (whether deaccessioned or not) to their original owners. This is in compliance with the Canadian Income Tax Act.

Kawartha Lakes accepts objects for its permanent collection with the goal of preserving them for the education and enjoyment of future generations. However, in some situations, we have to remove an item from our collections.

Will Kawartha Lakes hold onto my artifacts if I don’t want to donate them?

Kawartha Lakes does not accept permanent loans. We preserve and display items only when they are donated to us for permanent preservation or we have agreed to a temporary loan with a deadline.

Frequently Asked Questions

What archival material does Kawartha Lakes collect?

Kawartha Lakes accepts records from a variety of different sources, including:

• Local government
• Individuals and families
• Community organizations, groups and clubs
• Churches
• Businesses (small and large)

Kawartha Lakes collections a wide variety of material in any format (digital and/or analog), including but not limited to:

• Paper (physical and digital)
• Diaries and letters
• Photographs and digital image files
• Postcards
• Maps
• Art
• Movies and films (including video files)
• Sound recordings
• Architectural and technical drawings and plans
• Original research
• Family histories and genealogical material

We are particularly interested in original, unpublished materials (diaries, photographs, personal and institutional papers).

What archival material does Kawartha Lakes not collect?

Kawartha Lakes is eager to expand its collections but reserves the right to refuse records. Records will be refused when:

• They are not related to Kawartha Lakes, its communities, residents, businesses, or organizations
• They are contaminated (this will be on a case by case basis, but the archives can not accept anything that would out the rest of the archival collection at risk)
• We already have multiple copies of the same record
• Records that are not donated outright, wither in their original form or as a copy loan

We store records only when they are donated to us for permanent preservation.

How do I donate archival material to the City?

To make the donation process as efficient as possible, please ensure that:​

• You have the legal right to donate the records.
• The records meet the museum’s collection criteria.
• The records relate to the history of the City, past and present

• The name of the creator or creating organization
• The custodial history – who has held the records, and when
• Historical or biographical information about the creator or creating organization
• The nature of the records and the purpose for which they were created and/or used
• Any rearrangement of the records that may have occurred
• Any organizational systems used to arrange the records
• The name of the copyright holder

Isn’t an archive a part of a museum?

Some archives are a part of museums, some are with libraries, and some are stand-alone.

Where is the Municipal Archive for Kawartha Lakes and how do I access the Municipal Archives?

The Municipal Archives for Kawartha Lakes is found at:

Kawartha Lakes Archive does not charge for entry to the Archives nor are there any charges associated with in-person research at the Archives. There are only charges for reproduction fees, copies of photographs, and for remote research that takes longer than one hour. All fees are in accordance with those charged by the Kawartha Library.

Why does Kawartha Lakes have an archive when there are other archival repositories within Kawartha Lakes, i.e., Kawartha Library and KLMA?

The Municipal Archives program in Kawartha Lakes comes out of the Ontario Municipal Act §254 (1) that states “[a] Municipality shall retain and preserve the records of the municipality and its local boards in a secure and accessible manner.”