If you recently attended our Black Cambridge: Footsteps to Freedom walking tour you might be interested in these Cambridge Black history resources for further reading and learning about Black History in Canada, Ontario and Waterloo Region. Peggy Plet, writer, researcher and guide for Black Presence in Berlin, used many of these resources when developing the stories for Black Cambridge and Black Presence in Berlin.
Queens Bush Settlement
- In Search of Freedom: Early Blacks in Waterloo County – by Linda Brown-Kubish (1992) – available in the 1992 Waterloo Historical Society Annual Volume ((v.80, p.46-57), Kitchener Public Library, Grace Schmidt Room
- The Queen’s Bush Settlement: Black Pioneers, 1839 0 1865 – by Linda Brown-Kubish (2002) – available at Kitchener Public Library & some local bookstores
- African Hope Renewed: Along the Grand River (1400s-1800s) – by Angela Files (2004) a rare find as it was self-published
- Queen’s Bush Driving Tour – created by Mennonite Historical Society of Ontario, Dr. Timothy Epp
Slavery in Canada
- Chloe Cooley and the 1793 Act to Limit Slavery in Upper Canada – Ontario Heritage Trust
- The story of Black slavery in Canadian history – Canadian Museum for Human Rights
- Slavery in New France – Canadian Museum of History
Emancipation Day
- Emancipation Day – by Natasha L. Henry (2010) – available through local bookstores & libraries
- Talking about freedom: Celebrating Emancipation Day in Canada – by Natasha L. Henry (2012) – YA, available through local bookstores & libraries
- Enslavement and Emancipation in Canada
- Emancipation Festival in Owen Sound – since 1862!
Galt’s 19th Century Black Residents
Learn more about the Waterloo County House of Industry & Refuge (poorhouse) where Albert Hunt & Harriet Moore once stayed. There is also a good section about Race & the Poorhouse.
The Black Baptist church shown on the 1867 map located on King Street (now Ainslie, near Park Hill Road) likely dates from the 1850s. We don’t exactly when it became disused, but in 1876, a new Baptist Church was built on South Water Street (now Cambridge Community Players, formerly Galt Little Theatre). Church records indicate there were Black & white members at this location. In 1983, South Waterloo Street Baptist joined together with Delta Park Baptist to build & form the Avenue Road Baptist Church.
Frederick Douglass in Galt, 1857
- Frederick Douglass in Galt (2015) – by David Menary, Cambridge – available at Cambridge Public Library
- The book recounts the scant details that are available about Douglass’ visit the Galt in 1857 and covers a lot of other Galt history and society at the time.
Black Barbering
- Knights of the Razor: Black Barbers in Slavery and Freedom
- These Hamilton barbers started cutting hair as teens. Now, at 20, they run their own shops
- Black men meet at barbershop in an effort to disrupt domestic violence
Calypso ’67
- Memories of Calypso ‘67 in Cambridge
- What is Ska?
- More about Ska here
- If you know of anyone who has memories of Calypso ’67, we’d love to hear them!
More Black history learning resources about Ontario
- The history of North Buxton, a Black settled community of freedom seekers in Chatham Kent, Ontario.
- Josiah Henson Museum of African-Canadian History (Dresden) – Josiah Henson’s story was the basis for Harriet Beecher Stowe’s book Uncle Tom’s Cabin, 1852. Until 2022, this site in Dresden Ontario was called Uncle Tom’s Cabin, until it was renamed to honour the real person, Josiah Henson rather than a stereotypical, fictional character.
- Speakers for the Dead, a documentary about the Black community in Priceville, Ontario and the efforts of the community to save a forgotten Black Cemetery (watch it free on NFB)
- Canfield Roots, a documentary about the Black community in Canfield, Ontario and the efforts of the community to save a forgotten Black Cemetery
Do you have Black history learning resources or connections we should know about?
We expect to add more Black History learning resources relevant to Waterloo Region as we find them! If you have learning resources or research about Black history in Waterloo Region, please contact us!
