About Us
It is our mission to preserve and present the history of Oshawa and foster an appreciation and understanding of the City's heritage. The broad theme of the Oshawa Community Museum & Archives is to tell the story of Oshawa from the first native settlements to the present day. We are the only museum in Oshawa with the mandate to preserve and present the history of the City.
Maintains and offers tours of Henry and Robinson Houses and the Oshawa: Tour Through Time gallery in Guy
House
Curatorial activities – collections management and research
Research and conservation services
Exhibits – temporary, permanent and online
Dissemination of knowledge through newsletters, presentations, publications, social media
Event hosting
Wedding photos
Special event days, open houses, workshops
Participating with community partners in events such as Doors Open, Canada Day, Jane's Walk
Curriculum linked educational programs including both in-house and off-site.
Our collection is diverse and highlights include a photograph/postcard collection from the late Thomas Bouckley, newspaper microfilm dating to 1862, reference library featuring local history books, artifacts from the Henry, Robinson and Guy families and other early settlers, medical instrument collection, extensive camera collection, 7,000 item Grandview artifact collection and vast photograph collection depicting Oshawa events, places and personalities.
The Oshawa Community Museum & Archives is an important heritage resource in Oshawa. As one of the few remaining heritage districts and Oshawa's only community museum, the four buildings that comprise the Museum are ideally situated to tell the story of Oshawa from its earliest native occupation to present times. By preserving, presenting and actively connecting people and communities with their past, history organizations make their communities more attractive places in which to work, live, and visit. With astute leadership, compelling vision, engaged partners and resources sufficient to the task, the Oshawa Community Museum and Archives will continue to be a leader in promoting Oshawa's history.
Respected
Pro-active outreach
Inclusion
Education
Purposeful Presentation
Diligence
The Oshawa Community Museum and Archives (OCMA) is administered by the Oshawa Historical Society through a duly elected Board of Directors as an agent for the City of Oshawa. The Constitution and By-Laws (2005) of the Oshawa Historical Society detail the election process and the roles and responsibilities of the Board. Currently there are four regular full time positions (Executive Director, Curator, Visitor Experience Coordinator and Archivist) and two regular part-time positions (1 Maintenance, 1 Interpreter). Seasonal and temporary staff complements the museum's staffing component as funds are available.
The Oshawa Historical Society maintains, as an agent of the City of Oshawa, the Oshawa Community Museum and Archives as a repository for artifacts and written records of historical interest to Oshawa. Funding received by the Oshawa Historical Society from the City of Oshawa is used solely to support the operation and administration of the OCMA. The historically designated buildings, Guy, Henry and Robinson Houses, are owned by the City of Oshawa and in 2010 a 20 year occupancy license was signed between the Oshawa Historical Society and the Corporation of the City of Oshawa. In 2009, the Anniversary Drive Shed was opened as an additional area of exhibition. The Oshawa Historical Society owns the contents of all the buildings including the museum and archival collections.
The services offered by the museum and archives are as follows:
Maintains and offers tours of Henry and Robinson Houses and the Oshawa: Tour Through Time gallery in Guy House
Curatorial activities – collections management and researchResearch and conservation servicesExhibits – temporary, permanent and online Dissemination of knowledge through newsletters, presentations, publications, social mediaEvent hostingWedding photosSpecial event days, open houses, workshopsParticipating with community partners in events such as Doors Open, Canada Day, Jane's WalkCurriculum linked educational programs including both in-house and off-site.
Our collection is diverse and highlights include a photograph/postcard collection from the late Thomas Bouckley, newspaper microfilm dating to 1862, reference library featuring local history books, artifacts from the Henry, Robinson and Guy families and other early settlers, medical instrument collection, extensive camera collection, 7,000 item Grandview artifact collection and vast photograph collection depicting Oshawa events, places and personalities.
The Oshawa Community Museum & Archives is an important heritage resource in Oshawa. As one of the few remaining heritage districts and Oshawa's only community museum, the four buildings that comprise the Museum are ideally situated to tell the story of Oshawa from its earliest native occupation to present times. By preserving, presenting and actively connecting people and communities with their past, history organizations make their communities more attractive places in which to work, live, and visit. With astute leadership, compelling vision, engaged partners and resources sufficient to the task, the Oshawa Community Museum and Archives will continue to be a leader in promoting Oshawa's history.
Our Values
RespectedPro-active outreachInclusionEducationPurposeful PresentationDiligence
Governance
The Oshawa Community Museum and Archives (OCMA) is administered by the Oshawa Historical Society through a duly elected Board of Directors as an agent for the City of Oshawa. The Constitution and By-Laws (2005) of the Oshawa Historical Society detail the election process and the roles and responsibilities of the Board. Currently there are four regular full time positions (Executive Director, Curator, Visitor Experience Coordinator and Archivist) and two regular part-time positions (1 Maintenance, 1 Interpreter). Seasonal and temporary staff complements the museum's staffing component as funds are available.
The Oshawa Historical Society maintains, as an agent of the City of Oshawa, the Oshawa Community Museum and Archives as a repository for artifacts and written records of historical interest to Oshawa. Funding received by the Oshawa Historical Society from the City of Oshawa is used solely to support the operation and administration of the OCMA. The historically designated buildings, Guy, Henry and Robinson Houses, are owned by the City of Oshawa and in 2010 a 20 year occupancy license was signed between the Oshawa Historical Society and the Corporation of the City of Oshawa. In 2009, the Anniversary Drive Shed was opened as an additional area of exhibition. The Oshawa Historical Society owns the contents of all the buildings including the museum and archival collections.
To view our 2013 Business Plan, please click here