In the basement of Leddy Library, behind an unassuming door, relics of the past reside rows upon rows of documents with ink faded by time, rare and first-edition books, and preserved memories of Southwestern Ontario.
The space is home to Archives and Special Collections, which holds community records, historic documents, photographs, and other items preserved and cataloged by dedicated archivists.
"We preserve memory and history, and the past helps shape the future that's why we're here. It's a very noble calling, in my opinion," said librarian and faculty member Antoinette Seymour.
Seymour considers herself a "proactive archivist," actively seeking out materials rather than waiting for donations or purchases.
"That's the great thing about archives discovery, I have stumbled on so many precious and valuable records," she reflected.
As one of only two Black university archivists in Canada and a University of Windsor alum, Seymour's long-term goal is to establish a robust Black archives collection at Leddy.
Since moving to Windsor from the Bahamas, Seymour has become involved in the community, joining the Windsor West Indian Association and helping them to build their own archives.
"I'd like to have a collection here at the University a hub for areas that don't have much voice or presence. When I visited the museums here, I noticed there wasn't much on the Caribbean presence. I want to build those archives in Windsor, that's just one step. It's exciting to be actively involved in this work," Seymour said.
She noted that much of her work also involves advocacy, awareness, and outreach, helping people "connect the dots" between records used in day-to-day business and those preserved as permanent archives.
"It's about networking and promoting the preservation of history and our collective memory," Seymour said.
With that, she hopes to add a student life element that can also be expanded.
"Many moons ago, I was a student at the University of Windsor and a member of a vibrant group called the Caribbean Students Association (CariSA)," she said. "All our events and initiatives made the newspapers. Chancellors and presidents would attend it was full of energy."
"If you ask someone today about CariSA, they wouldn't know what you're talking about. It's like it never existed. So, I'm actively working to bring it back through archiving preserving the memories, photographs, and documents, and building that collection. It's important because it reflects student life, not just Black student life, as the Caribbean is a melting pot of different ethnicities. That's what excites me seeing it come back to life."
Seymour's work is just one example of the unit's ongoing efforts to preserve Windsor-Essex's rich history.
Those working in Archives and Special Collections say the records are there to tell us who we have been and "illuminate who we might wish to become," while inspiring creativity and knowledge.
"I think the university has a special opportunity to be a custodian and a steward of community memory," said archivist Sarah Glassford.
"Archives can ground a society in its own values that have been transmitted to the present but also allow it to recognize how it has changed over time. There are lessons that we can learn from the past. There are inspirations that we can take for creative works."
Connecting with the Community
Tucked away in the archives are tall shelving columns, only revealing their contents when a button is pushed. The columns slowly move away from each other, displaying the vast number of records and registries hidden within them.
"There's a wealth of information here about city works, historic buildings, and details of interest to people doing restorations," Dr. Glassford explained. "For groups that have lost touch with their history, this is a place where they can reconnect, whether that's with family or community. And for those who want to see themselves more represented today, they can work with us to help grow our collections and ensure their past is included in our shared history."
Much of what the archives hold comes from collections donated by people who had or have a connection to the region. This can range from historic textbooks, rare books, and other literary works, old photographs or newspaper articles, government documents and registries, among many others.
The oldest book sitting on the shelf?
A Latin text published in 1532, reprinting an ancient work by an author named Dionysus of Halicarnassus, titled Antiquitatum Sive Originum Romanarum Libri, which translates as "The Antiquities and Origins of the Romans, Book 9."
Although in recent decades the provenance of new acquisitions has been carefully documented, Glassford noted that "There's a little bit of mystery even for me as to how we ended up with a lot of what we have."
The archivists create finding aids and descriptions to help researchers identify collections relevant to their interests, but still, there are surprises. Glassford explained: "One of the fun things about the archival side of the work is that we joke that anytime you open an archival box, you have no idea what you're going to get."
Some of the unit's oldest books came from the Assumption College Library. Others belonged to John Francis Leddy, who the library was named for and served as the University of Windsor president from 1964-1978.
"Dr. Leddy was a bibliophile and donated nearly his entire personal library to us. Some of the books are part of the regular circulating collection, and you can still find some with bookplates that say, Gift of J.F. Leddy.' However, he also had rarer and more valuable volumes, which were placed in Special Collections due to their age or unique significance."
The commitment to preserving and sharing history extends beyond the library's walls. Archives and Special Collections plays a vital role in connecting with the community.
"We partner with Museum Windsor sometimes and other heritage institutions," Glassford noted. "If they're doing special displays, they might come and look at what we have, and we can arrange to lend some of our items so that the public can interact with them."
She said the archives is part of a larger network of heritage institutions within Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent.
"Our particular role is to do some of that preservation and access work for physical documents, images, artwork," Glassford shared. "By preserving those things for posterity, we're ensuring that for generations to come, people will be able to look back at not only the events and people of our history but those who contributed to documenting it."
Expanding Access Through Digital Initiatives
In addition to physical displays in the community and on campus, Archives and Special Collections has been expanding its reach through digital initiatives. By digitizing its most popular items, creating online exhibits and partnering with local organizations, the unit ensures historical resources are accessible to a wider audience, all while preserving that tangible connection to the past.
Glassford highlighted the North Star' Black History portal, a digital guide offering resources and recommendations for those interested in exploring significant locations, communities, events, and figures connected to Black History in Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent. The unit has also supported several sport history displays and is currently working on a digital exhibit focused on queer life in Windsor-Essex.
"We get lots of research requests from the community," she said.
"We see if we have anything either published or unpublished that might support their project, sometimes it's already digitized and we can point them to that online location, or they can come into our reading room. And we're always happy to see people in person and let them interact with the physical things in a more hands-on way."
While digital access is vital, Glassford encourages people to visit in person to experience the unique feel of the preserved items.
"To come and look at the actual things that historical actors have touched, that artists have drawn - people's handwritten letters, or the creases in the paper, even the kind of paper that is produced at different periods it really brings the past to life, and I think brings the people that created these things to life as well," she explained.
The Leddy Library's Archives and Special Collections is open to faculty, staff, students, researchers, and the general public by appointment. To learn more, visit https://leddy.uwindsor.ca/key-service-areas/archives-special-collections or send an email to archive@uwindsor.ca to get a firsthand look at the hidden treasures.
