View of Berlin factories, approximately 1900. Rieder and Anthes family fonds.
GA200-12-261.
URBANIZING KITCHENER:
USING GIS TO CONNECT THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
The Geospatial Centre at the Library is a hub of geographic information system (GIS) data, air photos, print maps and expertise, all accessible to support the work of Waterloo researchers. As such, the Library’s GIS staff are always looking for opportunities to add fresh data sets to the collection to advance research opportunities.
In 2016, Eva Dodsworth, geospatial data services librarian, had an idea. For her, maps aren’t just drawings, but a reflection and narrative of real life. “History can very easily be erased – changes in transportation infrastructure, building development, industry, and natural or fire disasters can all drastically alter the terrain of a city – what was there before deserves to be remembered because it can help us make informed decisions about the future through studying the impact of these changes,” says Dodsworth.
The Vernon City Directories – the best-known publisher of municipal census print directories throughout the 20th century – provide a rich source of data but can be inaccessible to researchers. Even after being digitized into PDF documents, researchers still have to sift through these vast files to find what they’re looking for, tracking down changes to the cityscape or errors made at the time of collection to ensure they have an accurate picture of the past.
The Library had the historical fire insurance plans for the City of Kitchener in our GIS collection. Using these, alongside the Vernon City Directories available in digital PDF format through a partnership with the Kitchener Public Library, Dodsworth started a pilot project to map historical changes through the years, including to individual Kitchener residences and businesses, using GIS technology.
The success of the pilot project helped the team win an SHHRC Connection Grant in 2019 to hire part-time staff to expand the project and work through all the city directories, from 1900 to 2000. Since that time almost 30 staff members have contributed to the project, transcribing data from inaccessible PDF documents to Excel files, carefully checking to ensure the accuracy of information such as names, professions, addresses, and business categories, and tracking down and correcting errors as they go.
Waterloo Fire Hall, 1954. Kitchener-Waterloo Record Photographic Negative Collection. 54-6677_001.
Kitchener City Planning Map, 1954. Kitchener-Waterloo Record Photographic Negative Collection. 54-6129_001
Freshette Tea at Waterloo College, 1959. Kitchener-Waterloo Record Photographic Negative Collection. 59-13547_001.
Once the Excel files were ready to go, the datasets were run through a GIS program to generate modern location points. Going line by line, the program creates X, Y location coordinates for each entry, automatically aligning the historical addresses contained in the Excel files with their modern equivalents. Just like a Google map, where you can find information on local businesses by clicking on their location, this project enablers users to click on the Library’s modern GIS map of Kitchener to find a rich source of historical data, right at their fingertips.
This interactive map combines historical information, local knowledge and GIS capabilities, providing the basis for future research on topics such as urban development, female entrepreneurship, industrial development, genealogy and so much more. With this information now easily accessible and searchable, we have a clear example of how much useful historical information is hidden away and why maps are important in revealing patterns from the past that are vital to making informed decisions for our future.
The Urbanizing Kitchener: A Historical Geospatial Perspective collection is now available through the Library’s GIS collection. It will continue to be added to as staff work through the remaining city directories.