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Of Note

Waterloo County

Waterloo County (today called the Region of Waterloo) is comprised of the following townships:

• North Dumfries
• Wilmot
• Waterloo ( 1861 map of township)
• Woolwich
• Wellesley

Community Involvement

Annually the Branch participates in the local Heritage Week events as well as events sponsored by local archives and libraries in both Waterloo and Wellington Counties. The Branch has also been called upon, and is more than willing, to participate in heritage events and local celebrations in any of the communities within our boundaries.

The Branch will supply speakers for groups or organizations who are interested in genealogy.

If you would like to contact the Waterloo Region Branch for matters other than membership we can be reached at the following address:

Queries

Volunteers will undertake a basic single name search of indexes, which could provide the enquirer with references. The basic search is free to current OGS members and $5, paid in advance, for non-members. Additional costs, such as photocopying, postage, etc. will be charged to the enquirer and an invoice will be sent. OGS members should include their OGS number and the OGS Branches they are associated with.

We are unable to undertake searches of census, church records, wills or land records because of the time required by volunteers. We will provide lists of professional genealogists or local private researchers at your request.

Cemetery Transcriptions: The above basic search does not cover extractions from cemeteries or newspapers. The fee for extractions from published cemetery transcriptions is $5 for the first name and 50cents per name up to a maximum of 10 names. This fee schedule is repeated for any additional names. Cemetery transcriptions are available for purchase from the Branch.

Payment: Cheques or money orders are to be made payable to Waterloo Region Branch, OGS. Non-Canadian residents, please pay in U.S. funds. Please direct your enquiry in care of the county of primary interest for a faster response. If by post please send your queries to: Waterloo Region Branch, OGS, c/o Kitchener Public Library, 85 Queen Street North, Kitchener, ON N2H 2H1. If by email:

• Waterloo County Enquiries

History

The Ontario Genealogical Society (OGS) was formed in 1961 in Waterloo, Ontario by members of the Pennsylvania German Folklore Society. It was felt that there was a need to gather others who, like themselves, were interested in the pursuit of family history. The Waterloo-Wellington Branch of OGS was formed in 1972 and on January 1, 2001, Waterloo and Wellington became two separate branches of the society. The Society has branches covering all parts of Ontario and has over 5000 members.

Newsletters

Branch Notes is a publication of the Waterloo Region Branch of OGS. It is published four times a year in Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall. All members receive copies of the newsletter which contains information about doing research in this area. Articles on new materials, sources, addresses of other organizations, queries and name indexes appear in each issue. Queries, requests for information about a family one is researching, are welcome from anyone and will be published space permitting.

Families, the periodical of the Ontario Genealogical Society, is mailed to OGS members in February, May, August and November. This periodical contains articles of general interest to the genealogist. The Queries column of this publication is probably the most widely read with each OGS member allowed to place two free queries a year.

Newsleaf comes to OGS members with each issue of Families. This publication contains more of the business issues of the Society as well as notices of conferences, meetings, reunions and other titbits of valuable information.

Special Projects

The Branch, in conjunction with OGS, is working on a project to record all of the cemeteries in Ontario. Waterloo Region Branch has completed it's transcription of grave stones in the county.

The 1871 Census Index was also a joint project of OGS and its branches. The index for both Waterloo County has been published and is available from OGS at the address given in this pamphlet.

Other special projects are undertaken by the Branch to index, record and preserve historical documents from a variety of sources.

Publications

The Branch produces a number of publications each year which are offered for sale. These publications include cemetery transcriptions, church records, census indexes and other name indexes. A publication list is available from the Branch at the address on this pamphlet.

Libraries

The Branch has a library containing books and other material of a genealogical nature. These materials are housed in the Grace Schmidt Room of the Kitchener Public Library, 85 Queen St. N., Kitchener, Ontario. For hours it is always wise to call (519)743-0271 and check before you go to the library.

OGS also has a library of considerable size which is housed with the Canadiana Collection at the North York Public Library, 5120 Young St., North York, Ontario, M2N 5N9. For hours of operation please contact the library at (416)395-5623. This collection is comprised of books, journals and periodicals, cemetery transcriptions, pedigree charts and other materials. It is augmented by the Canadiana collection which contains census, the IGI (International Genealogical Index) and many other valuable resources for the genealogist.

Meetings

Meetings are held on the second Monday of each month from September to May except in October when the meeting is moved to the third Monday because of the Canadian Thanksgiving holiday. The meetings are held in the Hamblin Room of the Kitchener Public Library, 85 Queen Street N., Kitchener, Ontario. The room is open at 6:30pm so you can meet with others and exchange information. Following this, at about 7:00, is the more formal meeting and speaker.

Membership

Membership to the Society is on a yearly basis from January to December. Any applications received after November 1 will be considered for the coming year. Cost of a membership is:

$58.00 - OGS and Branch
$13.00 - if you are already a member of OGS

To receive your tax receipt (Canadian tax receipt only) mail to: