COLLECTIONS

Willowbank houses an increasingly large collection of artifacts related to the history of the site and the periods of history it represents. 

From the archaeological research has come an extensive collection of artifacts from all periods in the site's history, including precontact items, material related to the War of 1812, and extenstive material from the Hamilton family occupation. Most of these items are in storage, but a few are currently on display. From the Hamilton family come some original letters and family artifacts that have been bequeathed to Willowbank. This collection will be expanded when the restoration of the key Hamilton rooms has been completed, with upgraded environmental controls. From the Bright family come additional items of historical interest related both to this house and their other house in Queenston. 

Other gifts of furniture, fittings and archival material have been made over the years. These relate to the broader mission of Willowbank to interpret the early history of Upper Canada and the evolution of Queenston and Niagara-on-the-Lake. 

Additional artifacts include historic tools, which form part of the teaching program within the School of Restoration Arts. 

Willowbank is building up a specialized library in support of its heritage conservation programs. Two significant donations form the basis of the current collection. The first is a collection of books on Niagara history and the restoration of the artifacts and architecture of Upper Canada, from various donors in the Niagara Community. The second is a collection of 19th and 20th Century books on building technology, architectural history, and conservation, from Gerry White, long-time professor of architectural conservation technology at Algonquin College. It includes hundreds of books on traditional practice as well as current conservation and restoration techniques. A more recent gift of books from Pierre du Prey, head of the Art History department at Queens University, includes copies of all of the measured drawings of Ontario architecture done in the 1950s and 60s by the students of Professor Eric Arthur at the University of Toronto. Additional volumes have been received from a variety of individual donors and supporters. This library forms an important resource.