Series consists of records pertaining to the administrative operations of the Head-of-the-Lake Historical Society, including the Society’s Constitution and by-laws, executive officer’s lists, duties and guidelines, minutes for regular, executive and annual meetings, president’s reports, loan and transfer of ownership agreements for historical material, as well as 2 administrative seals, one belonging to the former Wentworth Historical Society, and one belonging to the Head-of-the-Lake Historical Society. There is also one stamp with the inscription, “Property of Wentworth Historical Society, Hamilton, Ontario.” The series also contains a file with 4 photographs of past presidents and executive members of the Society for the years 1982, 1983, 1988 and 1989.

Series consists of records relating to the incorporation status of the Society for heritage grant funding applications, annual financial statements, cash books and a record book of paid membership fees.

Series consists of records such as agendas and meeting minutes, guidelines of conduct, correspondence and reports from the various committees of the Society including the Archives Committee, the Hamilton Biography Advisory Committee, the Historical Committee, the June Outing Committee, the Marketing Committee, Newsletter Committee, Publications Committee, Public Relations Committee, the Old City Hall Clock Restoration Committee, and the Seniors Committee. The series also contains 2 photographs of the members of the Publications Committee, dated 1994.

Series consists of incoming and outgoing correspondence between the Society and other historical societies and organizations, funding agencies, levels of government, as well as the general public. The series also includes public reference requests, which are predominantly genealogical in nature. Some documents are fragile and torn.

Series consists of records relating to the Fountain Foundation Subcommittee. The Foundation was established in 1993 between the Society, corporations and members of the general public, in an effort to restore and rebuild the 1850s Gore Park fountain for Hamilton’s sesquicentennial celebration in 1996. The series contains project background information on the history of the fountain and its importance to Hamilton, copies of a proposal for the restoration of the fountain, meeting minutes, reports, financial and budget statements, balance sheets, fundraising event information, agreements made for work on the fountain and for contributions to the fund, correspondence, as well as marketing materials. The series also contains an audio cassette tape of public service announcements (PSAs), for local radio stations Y108 and 900 CHML, as well as photographs of the event held for the rededication of the Gore Park fountain. The Foundation raised over $500,000 for the reconstruction of the fountain and in October of 1996, the reconstructed fountain was turned back on by then mayor Robert Morrow and Hamilton area MPP Sheila Copps.

Series consists of records relating to the programs and events held by the Society including its annual Heritage Day Dinner, presentations made to the Society by various speakers from the community on local history topics, day trips and outings to various historical sites, historic plaque unveilings, as well as participation in local events. This series includes member invitation cards announcing upcoming Society meetings, lecture series, events and day trips. The series also includes audio cassette tapes of speakers’ addresses and lectures at various events and functions on topics related to Hamilton history such as landmarks, buildings, companies, prominent citizens, and places. The series contains photographs of tours and outings such as day trips taken by Society members including a bus tour of Hamilton, a day trip to Crawford Lake Indian Village, and a trip to Seagram Museum and Doon Heritage Village. There are also photographs of the Annual Heritage Dinners, Society representation at events around the city, as well as historic plaque unveilings for various people and places including prominent citizen Thomas Baker McQuesten of Whitehern, which featured dignitaries in attendance such as then mayor Robert Morrow and her Royal Highness Princess Anne.

Series consists of awards presented to the Society for the publication “Around and About Hamilton, 1785-1985, an award for the Society’s assistance in celebrating the bicentennial year, as well as a certificate from David Christopherson, M.P.P. for Hamilton Centre, on the occasion of the Society’s 65th anniversary in February 2009, and 2 photographs of Society volunteers receiving service awards. The series also consists of a file on former President and founding member of the Society, Thomas Melville Bailey (1912-2005). The material includes biographical information, highlights of his numerous contributions to Hamilton heritage preservation, references to some of the many books he authored and published, as well information on the Reverend T. Melville Bailey Heritage Award that was created in his honour by the City of Hamilton and the Hamilton Mountain Heritage Society, to recognize people in the community who devote their time to preserving and promoting Hamilton’s history.

Series consists of marketing materials such as letterhead, brochures, book launch publication announcements, correspondence related to the Illustrated History of Hamilton publication, an index to the volumes of the “Wentworth Bygones from the Papers and Records of the Head-of-the-Lake Historical Society,” published between 1956 to 1982, as well as newsletter guidelines pertaining to the Herald Newsletter, published by the Society.

Series consists of scrapbooks containing articles related to the Society or its members, as well as articles on various historical landmarks, people, companies, properties and events. There are also newspaper clippings containing articles on a Hamilton Spectator series called “Out of the Storied Past,” written by Society member Mabel Burkholder. This series also contains 6 video cassette tapes of television coverage of Society events and interviews regarding historical subjects related to the history of Hamilton.

Series consists of a collection of original photographs, photograph prints, contact sheets and negatives including glass plate negatives, of various people, places, buildings, companies, parks, monuments, landscapes, beach scenes, historic sites, streetscapes, transportation, and events such as celebrations, ceremonies and parades, all relating to Hamilton and its history. Some of these images were donated to the Society and others were collected by various members. Many of these images were used in Society publications such as “Around and About Hamilton, 1785-1985”, and “Hamilton: Panorama of Our Past.” This series also contains 13 postcards with photograph images. There is no image file list for this material.