Collection contains historical material pertaining to the history of Elgin County, which was collected by Don Cosens throughout his lifetime. Material includes photographs, postcards, business records, records from local families and individuals, ephemera, land records, estate records, scrapbooks, newspapers and newspaper clippings, fire insurance plans, art and reference material and books. The collection also contains material that reflects Don Cosen's personal involvement in a number of local organizations, as well as personal photographs.
The collection is arranged into the following series:
•Photographs series
•Postcards series
•William Hendershott series
•Cameron Family Records series
•Paddon Family Records series
•David Fleming Hunter Records series
•Wallace Verne Ferris Records series
•St. Thomas Jumbo Centennial Committee series
•St. Thomas Collegiate Institute Reunion series
•Edna Bennett series
•Estates Files series
•Land Records series
•Municipal World Inc. series
•Reference files series
•Scrapbook series
•Carolyn Curtis Records series
•Directories and Gazetteers series
•Elgin County Local History series
•Ephemera series
•Fire Insurance Plans series