Waterloo Historical Society
About
Upcoming Events
Book Table Open House – March 7, 2026
WHS members are invited to register for one of 4 time slots: 9:30-10:00AM; 10:00-10:30AM; 11:00-11:45AM; or 1145-12:30PM to visit the Book Table storage space in Kitchener. Register by sending an e-mail rychmills@golden.net. Payment is by cash or direct deposit. Members receive a 10% discount on the marked prices of used books and back issues of annual volumes. Location details will be provided when you register. Note: at the site, there are 4 flights of 8 steps each to climb to our floor.
Spring Meeting – March 21, 2026
WHS welcomes Philip Augustine to detail some of his family’s background in Berlin/Kitchener. In the first half of the 20 century, the Augustine name was well-known in social, civic and business circles. Through marriage, the Augustines were also connected to the Breithaupt and Kaufman families, many of whom lived close to the Augustine home at 22 Margaret Avenue. Doors open at 12:30PM and meeting begins at 1:15PM. Enter the meeting hall via the parking lot door. Park in the St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church lot at 54 Benton St., Kitchener. There is also free parking on Church Street and along Benton Street across from Arrow Lofts. Right beside the church are city parking lots and a parking garage. As always there is no admission charge to WHS meetings and everyone is welcome.
Mission/Goals
The Waterloo Historical Society fosters the recognition of our region’s unique heritage and diligently encourages heritage preservation.
The Waterloo Historical Society documents the history of Waterloo Region, including the cities of Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge, along with the Townships of North Dumfries, Wellesley, Wilmot and Woolwich.
History
Active steps toward the establishment of a historical society in Waterloo County (now the Regional Municipality of Waterloo) were taken in 1912. With the encouragement of the Ontario Historical Society, a public meeting was held in November 1912, which resulted in a recommendation that the WHS be organized. The first meeting of the board was held on November 26, 1912.
100 years later
It has been 100 years since that modest beginning. The Society has grown to over 230 members (2009) and has a set of by-laws which govern activities carried out by the board of directors. Current activities include five public meetings each year with invited guest speakers and held in various locations within the region; since 1913, continuous publication of a volume of local history articles; quarterly newsletters; acquisition of documents and photos for WHS archives; and erecting historical plaques.
Affiliations
The WHS is an affiliate member of the Ontario Historical Society and a founding member of the Waterloo Regional Heritage Foundation. The WHS collaborates regularly with heritage and historical groups in the region.
Charitable status
WHS is a registered charity, under Canada Revenue Agency.
Heraldic Badge
Thanks to the generosity of James Roos Breithaupt, president of the WHS in 1997-1998, the society was granted a revised badge (based on the 1922 design by E. M. Chadwick of Toronto) by the Canadian Heraldic Authority.
About
Upcoming Events
Book Table Open House – March 7, 2026
WHS members are invited to register for one of 4 time slots: 9:30-10:00AM; 10:00-10:30AM; 11:00-11:45AM; or 1145-12:30PM to visit the Book Table storage space in Kitchener. Register by sending an e-mail rychmills@golden.net. Payment is by cash or direct deposit. Members receive a 10% discount on the marked prices of used books and back issues of annual volumes. Location details will be provided when you register. Note: at the site, there are 4 flights of 8 steps each to climb to our floor.
Spring Meeting – March 21, 2026
WHS welcomes Philip Augustine to detail some of his family’s background in Berlin/Kitchener. In the first half of the 20 century, the Augustine name was well-known in social, civic and business circles. Through marriage, the Augustines were also connected to the Breithaupt and Kaufman families, many of whom lived close to the Augustine home at 22 Margaret Avenue. Doors open at 12:30PM and meeting begins at 1:15PM. Enter the meeting hall via the parking lot door. Park in the St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church lot at 54 Benton St., Kitchener. There is also free parking on Church Street and along Benton Street across from Arrow Lofts. Right beside the church are city parking lots and a parking garage. As always there is no admission charge to WHS meetings and everyone is welcome.
Mission/Goals
The Waterloo Historical Society fosters the recognition of our region’s unique heritage and diligently encourages heritage preservation.
The Waterloo Historical Society documents the history of Waterloo Region, including the cities of Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge, along with the Townships of North Dumfries, Wellesley, Wilmot and Woolwich.
History
Active steps toward the establishment of a historical society in Waterloo County (now the Regional Municipality of Waterloo) were taken in 1912. With the encouragement of the Ontario Historical Society, a public meeting was held in November 1912, which resulted in a recommendation that the WHS be organized. The first meeting of the board was held on November 26, 1912.
100 years later
It has been 100 years since that modest beginning. The Society has grown to over 230 members (2009) and has a set of by-laws which govern activities carried out by the board of directors. Current activities include five public meetings each year with invited guest speakers and held in various locations within the region; since 1913, continuous publication of a volume of local history articles; quarterly newsletters; acquisition of documents and photos for WHS archives; and erecting historical plaques.
Affiliations
The WHS is an affiliate member of the Ontario Historical Society and a founding member of the Waterloo Regional Heritage Foundation. The WHS collaborates regularly with heritage and historical groups in the region.
Charitable status
WHS is a registered charity, under Canada Revenue Agency.
Heraldic Badge
Thanks to the generosity of James Roos Breithaupt, president of the WHS in 1997-1998, the society was granted a revised badge (based on the 1922 design by E. M. Chadwick of Toronto) by the Canadian Heraldic Authority.
About
Upcoming Events
Book Table Open House – March 7, 2026
WHS members are invited to register for one of 4 time slots: 9:30-10:00AM; 10:00-10:30AM; 11:00-11:45AM; or 1145-12:30PM to visit the Book Table storage space in Kitchener. Register by sending an e-mail rychmills@golden.net. Payment is by cash or direct deposit. Members receive a 10% discount on the marked prices of used books and back issues of annual volumes. Location details will be provided when you register. Note: at the site, there are 4 flights of 8 steps each to climb to our floor.
Spring Meeting – March 21, 2026
WHS welcomes Philip Augustine to detail some of his family’s background in Berlin/Kitchener. In the first half of the 20 century, the Augustine name was well-known in social, civic and business circles. Through marriage, the Augustines were also connected to the Breithaupt and Kaufman families, many of whom lived close to the Augustine home at 22 Margaret Avenue. Doors open at 12:30PM and meeting begins at 1:15PM. Enter the meeting hall via the parking lot door. Park in the St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church lot at 54 Benton St., Kitchener. There is also free parking on Church Street and along Benton Street across from Arrow Lofts. Right beside the church are city parking lots and a parking garage. As always there is no admission charge to WHS meetings and everyone is welcome.
Mission/Goals
The Waterloo Historical Society fosters the recognition of our region’s unique heritage and diligently encourages heritage preservation.
The Waterloo Historical Society documents the history of Waterloo Region, including the cities of Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge, along with the Townships of North Dumfries, Wellesley, Wilmot and Woolwich.
History
Active steps toward the establishment of a historical society in Waterloo County (now the Regional Municipality of Waterloo) were taken in 1912. With the encouragement of the Ontario Historical Society, a public meeting was held in November 1912, which resulted in a recommendation that the WHS be organized. The first meeting of the board was held on November 26, 1912.
100 years later
It has been 100 years since that modest beginning. The Society has grown to over 230 members (2009) and has a set of by-laws which govern activities carried out by the board of directors. Current activities include five public meetings each year with invited guest speakers and held in various locations within the region; since 1913, continuous publication of a volume of local history articles; quarterly newsletters; acquisition of documents and photos for WHS archives; and erecting historical plaques.
Affiliations
The WHS is an affiliate member of the Ontario Historical Society and a founding member of the Waterloo Regional Heritage Foundation. The WHS collaborates regularly with heritage and historical groups in the region.
Charitable status
WHS is a registered charity, under Canada Revenue Agency.
Heraldic Badge
Thanks to the generosity of James Roos Breithaupt, president of the WHS in 1997-1998, the society was granted a revised badge (based on the 1922 design by E. M. Chadwick of Toronto) by the Canadian Heraldic Authority.
