Local History Collection

The Margaret H. “Peg” Perry Local History Room houses the local history collection of the Canton Public Library.

The mission of the Canton Public Library’s Local History Room is to locate, collect, organize, preserve, and make available for public research books, pamphlets, newspapers, periodicals, photographs, diaries, yearbooks, maps, atlases, audiovisual materials, and manuscripts that document the history, biography, and genealogy of the Town of Canton. Emphasis of the collection will be on the people, industries, businesses, politics, religion, clubs, and other organizations of Canton and Collinsville. Also to be collected, organized, and preserved will be similar materials and information of regional interest that relate to Canton.

Library staff and volunteers currently are working to organize, index, and catalog the collection in order to make it accessible and usable.

The collection contains a wealth of items offering a glimpse into Canton’s rich history, including things such as a nearly-complete set of yearbooks from Canton High School; old newspapers and newspaper clippings; information on the devastating Flood of 1955; a large collection of photographs collected by former library director “Peg” Perry; scrapbooks compiled by various Canton residents over the years; and much more.

The public is welcome to use the resources of the Local History Room collection by prior arrangement with and under the guidance and supervision of a library staff member. Please call the library at 860-693-5800 and speak to a librarian at the Information Desk to arrange a visit, or contact the library at bvanness@townofcantonct.org.

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Canton Public Library • 40 Dyer Avenue • Canton, CT 06019 • 860-693-5800 • Fax 860-693-5804