On May 24, 1962, an organizational meeting was held in the St. Francis Elementary School, Richmond, to create a Richmond County Historical Society. The meeting was an outgrowth of a committee appointed by the Richmond County Women's Institute to gather information and compile a history of the county.

A slate of officers was elected with Miss Alice Dresser as President and the Richmond County Historical Society was formed. Work proceeded on the publication of two volumes of the history of the county which appeared in 1966 and 1968.

Incorporated in 1962, the Society's aims are:
  1. To discover and rescue from the unsparing hand of time the records which yet remain of the earliest history of Canada;
  2. To preserve while in our power such documents as may be found amid the dust of yet unexplored depositories, and which may prove important to general history and to the particular history of this province, County of Richmond and adjacent areas.

In June, 1998, the archives were moved from the Museum to the Melbourne Township Town Hall (formerly the Upper Melbourne Town Hall) at 1257, route 243, Melbourne. The new Archives Center provides a larger space and year- round access to the holdings.

Special events at the museum and archives for the summer of 1999 included a celebration of Scots' heritage in the Richmond area. A special exhibit as a tribute to the Richmond County Women's Institute was assembled at the museum to mark its 75th anniversary.

New England Heritage in Richmond County and Vicinity was the theme for the year 2000. RCHS commemorated the legacy of the first settlers who came to Richmond County and vicinity about two hundred years ago. Special events were planned as well as displays and exhibitions. A bilingual 2001 calendar was published which celebrated the heritage of the New England pioneers. This calendar depicted local landmarks and a unique New England architectural influence which is captured in photographs and engravings. Calendars and other publications may be ordered from Richmond County Historical Society by clicking here.

In 2001, the Post World War Two Immigrants who had settled in the Richmond area were honoured at a tea which featured forty posters of family histories of the Dutch, Swiss, German, French, Italian and Eastern European immigrants who remain in the area. The theme for 2003 was the English presence in the Richmond area. See English Theme for details. In 2004, plans are being made to celebrate French Protestant and Huguenot heritage in the Richmond area.

In 2004, French Protestant and Huguenot heritage in the Richmond area was commemorated. At the spring AGM, guest speaker Diane Perron recounted the Perron family's Huguenot ancestry in France and the Province of Quebec. Mr. René Paquin, guest speaker at the Harvest Luncheon spoke about Huguenot history in Europe and the New World. For more information about this topic, see the Links page.

In 2005, Richmond County Historical Society maintains a membership of 200 persons. Two Annual General Meetings are held in the spring and the autumn as well as regular executive meetings. The Museum Opening Brunch and the annual Ice Cream Social are popular fundraisers. In 2004-2005, the Museum underwent extensive renovations with the building of a new basement, new septic system, new roof and new verandahs. The executive of RCHS is grateful to Melbourne Township Mayor and Councilors, Hydro Quebec, the executors of the Marion Reed Kerr estate and the many members and friends of the Society for financial contributions, building materials and labour.

Special exhibits of the history of the region, arts and crafts are displayed at the Museum and Archives Centre each season.



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