The Bechler family fonds contains records created and accumulated by the Bechler family documenting life in Berlin (later Kitchener). Records include textual records and graphic material, predominantly photographs from an album. Records also contain confirmation certificates, marriage certificate, press clippings, and cards.

File consists of material relating to the Beechwood Park subdivision in Waterloo. Includes a newspaper clipping, a memorandum, information relating to restructions on residential lands, and a plan of the subdivision (plus a duplicate).

Photos of a large Beecroft Motors street sign along busy stretch of Weber Street North in Waterloo. Sign includes mention of leisure products and a bee graphic.

Relief shown by hachures.

One image (two sizes) of the Bell Telephone Company building exterior in Kitchener Ontario.

One image of a brick house located in Bellville, with a large two story porch with decorative fretwork.

File consists of material relating to Job #67-14, an office building on Belmont Avenue in Kitchener. Includes proposed, revised, and accepted architectural plans and drawings for the building as well as plans from previous jobs of a similar nature. Some plans contain handwritten annotations. File also contains some handwritten notes.

File consists of material relating to the Belmont Business Association, a zone change in the City of Kitchener, and the issue of parking in the Belmont neighbourhood. Includes correspondence, reports, handwritten and typed notes, meeting agendas, various types of notices, survey data, etc. File also includes photographs documenting the parking situation.

File consists of building plans for Job #67-14, Belmont Shop, Kitchener, by the Westmount Construction Co. Drawn by "A-Plan."

Bendix Automatic Home Laundry pamphlet detailing uses for the housewife, worker, nurse or chief. The advertisement makes reference to the use of Bendix during the Second World War.

Shows a section of Waterloo (Erb and Willow Streets).

Ten images of the Benjamin Fish Mill. Six are images that were included in Rempel's first edition of his book, two appear only in the second edition of the book, and two are images that were not included in either editions of the book.

Three different images of the interior of the Benton St. Baptist Church. Negatives and prints of 2 photographs of Deacons' groups.

File consists of one photograph showing the exterior of Daphne Berkinshaw's home. Two unidentified adults are visible in photo, one standing on a wrap around porch and the other seated on steps leading to the porch.

Copy prints.

File consists of one clipping reporting the effects of "the worst storm experienced in Berlin in 20 years" and the efforts of the Berlin and Waterloo Street Railway Co.

Survey of Berlin, some property owners identified, frontages listed.

File consists of a Berlin Collegiate and Technical Institute commence program from 1912.

Postcard of the Berlin Collegiate and Technical School.

Image of Ahrens family members seated and standing on the porch of a cottage with a "Berlin" sign affixed to the building siding taken at Grand Bend.

Copy negative of Page 28 "Berlin today Centennial number in celebration of the old boys' and girls' reunion August, 6th, 7th, 8th, 1906" of the 1906 Berlin city council. Caption under photo reads: "Berlin Council 1906. / W. V. Uttley; C.C. Harn; Mayor Aaron Bricker; J.M. Schneider; Dr. Gross, Jr. / A. W. Feick; V. F. Weber; H. Aletter, Clerk & Treasurer; L. McBrine; C. B. Dunke."

Copy negative of two old photographs, one a posed group portrait in front of the Fire Hall, the other an informal group portrait taken in the country.

Copy negative of Page 78 of Twentieth Century Number of Busy Berlin showing fire brigade in action at St. Paul's Lutheran Church on Queen St. and a partial view of group portrait. Fire brigade caption reads: "Berlin Fire Brigade (Throwing steam over St. Paul's Church)". Group portrait caption reads: "Another Group of Travellers. W. G. Cleghorn, I. S. K. Weber, A. K. Dunke, J. Voelker, and L. Stuebing."

Reference print of old photograph of band group portrait with the Benton Street post office visible in background. Corresponding caption from caption list in file 9 reads: "Berlin Firemens band posed on Fred st with instruments & equipment p/o in b.g., old times."

Copy negative of old photograph Berlin gas and electric works with caption that reads: "BERLIN GAS CO.: gas and electric works, 1896."

File consists of a carbon sheet with background data about the history of the Commission, clippings about the work of the Commission and about the bringing of hydro-electric power to Kitchener in 1910.

Copy negatives of old postcard and photograph of the Berlin Carnegie Public Library.

Copy negative of unknown book page featuring the Berlin Carnegie Public Library.

Copy negative of a torn and taped photograph of members of the Rescue and Hose Co. on, and in front of, a horse drawn wagon. Corresponding caption from caption list in file 9 reads: "2) Berlin Rescue & Hose Co horse drawn in front of Fred St. firehall." Annotations on one of the reference prints in file read: "Scharlach, Charles [Loelu?], [Uhrig?], Timms, Dan Boettger, John Rhodes, Frank Seebert."

File consists of one clipping reporting an excursion of Berlin Rubber Co. employees to Penetang on Saturday, July 14, 1906. Comments on Breithaupt Leather and cottaging.

Photograph taken during the construction of an unidentified factory in Berlin (now Kitchener), probably the Berlin Rubber Manufacturing Company.

Negative taken by Norman C. Schneider of a rail car from the Berlin Street Railway full of passengers stopped along a tree-lined street with a crowd of people waiting to board. Adult in street looking toward camera with hand at waist possibly Charles Alexander Schneider.

Photograph of a Berlin streetcar, open-sided, stopped on a street. Adults and children are seen standing next to car and a wooden sidewalk is visible in foreground.

Photograph of factory buildings, possibly the Breithaupt Tannery in Berlin (today Kitchener, Ontario).

File consists of a plan of the Berlin water works at Shoemaker Avenue, showing the proposed outlet of the dam; and a plat of the land of the Berlin Water Works Company. Plat shows land owned by Alexander Shoemaker, Jane Ann Shoemaker, James Potter, Berlin Water Works Company, and Moffett, Hodgkins, & Clarke.

Studio group portrait. Front row (left to right): Harry Clemens; Mr. Wiegand; Prof. Zoellner; E.P. Clement (President); Arthur Bryant; Oscar Quirmbach; George Elliot (Secretary of Y); Oliver Martin; Middle row (left to right): Arnold Jantzen; Ab Ruddel; J.B. Weaver; Amos Musselman; Dr. Hilliard; Back row (left to right): Jo Foster; Herman Bender; R.D. Lang; Mr. Gowling; Norman Englent[sic]; Alan Eby; H.L. Hgmenn [i.e. Hymenn?]; Mr. Johnston; Walter Ziegler.

Three modern prints given to Norman Schneider by Irvin Erb, showing King St. in the 1880's.

Image of Clara Bernhardt seated in a wheelchair at a wooden desk with a book open on top and smiling toward the camera.

A berthing card and meal card issued to Cameron Hill during the Second World War likely when he traveled on a troopship sailing from Halifax Harbour in Halifax, Nova Scotia to Liverpool, England between August and September 1941.

The berthing card indicates that Cameron was assigned to cabin S22, in section 3 of the Sports deck. The meal card indicates that Cameron was assigned to eat first meal (breakfast) during the second sitting at table number 28. The name of the ship that Cameron traveled on is unknown.

Materials created or accumulated by Bettie Bernice Wilson and related to her years in the Royal Canadian Air Force Women's Division (1942-1945). Includes photographs of instruction and training sessions, of facilities, of graduating classes, and of Wilson and her colleagues; official documentation and ephemera related to Wilson's service and different events she attended; writings by Wilson and her colleagues; related newspaper clippings, and correspondence sent and received by Wilson.

Diaries belonging to Betty Forbes containing daily journal entries accompanied by photographs, letters, drawings, telegrams, press clippings, and cards. The diaries are primarily written during Betty's time as a student at the School for Nurses at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Ontario and during the early years of her career as a nurse.

A diary containing daily entries written by Betty Forbes in 1948. Several entries describe Betty’s work in British Columbia, family events, dances, a trip to Alaska, holidays, and Peg Forbes’s wedding to Colin Andrew (Joe) Wilson. The diary contains letters, invitations, lists, a patch, and press clippings including one titled, Girls advised to train for career and marriage published in The Globe and Mail on January 27, 1948.

A diary containing daily entries written by Betty Forbes in 1944 during her time as a student at the School for Nurses at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Ontario. Several entries describe Betty’s work at the hospital, student exams and marks, school dances, class dinners, and capping ceremony. The diary includes press clippings, letters, notes, event programs, and a photograph of an adult and child. In addition, numerous entries describe events and activities related to the Second World War including an entry written on D-Day (June 6, 1944). Some of these entries contain attached items such as press clippings related to military personnel and banknotes including a 1 lire banknote issued by Italy in 1939, 5-francs Type 1942 issued by Banque de l'Algérie, a 10-AM lire banknote as well as a one shilling and a half shilling Japanese government-issued Oceanian Pound.

A diary containing daily entries written by Betty Forbes in 1945 during her time as a student at the School for Nurses at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Ontario. Several entries describe Betty’s work at the hospital, student exams, patient care, and school dances. The diary includes press clippings, a convocation program, letters, telegrams, notes, pressed flowers, restaurant menus, business cards, event programs, and a photograph likely of Betty and an unknown individual. In addition, numerous entries describe events and activities related to the Second World War including an entry written on Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) on May 8, 1945, an entry written on Victory over Japan Day (VJ Day) on August 15, 1945 as well as entries describing food rationing, and the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt, 32nd president of the United States (1933–45). Also includes one United States Army Anti-Aircraft Command sleeve insignia. The insignia is circular with an embroidered white background, blue border, and two red capital letter A's in the centre.

A diary containing daily entries written by Betty Forbes in 1946 during her last year as a student at the School for Nurses at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Ontario. Several entries describe Betty’s work at the hospital, student exams, patient care, school dances, a scholarship she received, and her enrollment in a diploma course in Child Study at the University of Toronto. The diary includes press clippings, menus, convocation programs, invitations, postcards, telegrams, tickets, letters, ribbons, and two photographs of unknown individuals.

A diary containing daily entries written by Betty Forbes in 1947. Several entries describe family events, parties, dances, trips to Buffalo, Sudbury and British Columbia, and Betty’s work at Claremont Nursery School. The diary includes letters, telegrams, invitations, programs, press clippings, pressed flowers, a napkin, and a photograph of an unknown individual.

An album containing photographs of the Forbes family and their friends including Millicent Lyall Forbes, George Alexander Forbes, Peg Forbes, Betty Forbes, Bill Land, Jennifer Land, Janet Land, Thomas Land, and Greg Clark. Several photographs feature the Hillhead estate, Lake Tyson, the Toronto Hunt Club, and a party held at Dr. Biglow’s residence in honour of Greg Clark receiving an L.L.D. from the University of Western Ontario (now Western University) on June 4, 1960. Also includes a letter written by Janet Land to Dampa regarding an attached photograph of Bill and Betty Forbes along with their children.

An album containing photographs of the Forbes family and their friends including Betty Forbes, Millicent Lyall Forbes, Peg Forbes, George Alexander Forbes, Bill Land, Janet Land, Jennifer Land, Thomas Land, Pamela Wilson, Ross Wilson, members of the Kaufman family, and many others. Several photographs feature camping activities, Christmas celebrations, family pets, a trip to British Columbia, and images of the Land family home located at 187 Claremont Avenue in Kitchener, Ontario.

An album containing photographs of the Forbes family and their friends including Millicent Lyall Forbes, George Alexander Forbes, Betty Forbes, Peg Forbes, Pamela Wilson, Ross Wilson, Margaret Neilson, Jean Lyttle, Isabel Taylor, Jane Drope, Betty Hall, Joan MacPhail, Joan Norwich, Jayne Clement, Jack Vincent, Betty and Lou Breithaupt, Eleanor Snyder, Jean Augustine, Patty Ann Augustine, Barbie Augustine, and many others. Several photographs feature Camp Forty at Lake Tyson, Thistletown (part of the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto), Christmas celebrations, christenings, and trips to British Columbia, Arizona, California, Texas, South Carolina, and Yellowstone National Park. Also includes a ticket stub or name card for Millicent Lyall Forbes when she attended the Canadian Nurses Association 25th biennial meeting at the University of British Columbia between June 26-30, 1950.

An album containing photographs of Forbes, Land, Wilson, and Kaufman family members including Millicent Lyall Forbes, George Alexander Forbes, Peg Forbes, Betty Forbes, Bill Land, Thomas Land, Jennifer Land, Janet Land, Pamela Wilson, Ross Wilson, Elizabeth Kaufman, Alvin ("A.R.") Kaufman, Jane Helen "Jean" Kaufman (nee Hutton), Bill Kaufman, and others. Several photographs feature Christmas celebrations, family pets, Bill Kaufman’s cottage in Pointe au Baril, Ontario, the home of Betty Forbes and Bill Land located at 187 Claremont Ave in Kitchener, Ontario, and Glen Bernard Camp. This album was likely created by Betty Forbes.

An album containing photographs of the Forbes family and their friends including Betty Forbes, Peg Forbes, Millicent Lyall Forbes, Robert Forbes, Grace Forbes (nee Bickford), Judy Forbes, George Alexander Forbes, Jim Johnson, Bill Stuart, Bob O’Connor, and others. Several photographs feature camping activities, cars, picnics, family pets, planes, parades, trips to British Columbia and Alaska, Lake Tyson, Puslinch Lake, Tobermory, Bishop Strachan School, St. George’s Nursery School, Thistletown, part of the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, and Club Kingsway in Toronto. Also includes photographs of Betty and Forbes in their nursing uniforms and their graduation ceremonies, and images related to the World Wars including George Alexander Forbes in uniform, prisoner of war Jack Currie [?] and many other individuals in military uniform.

Loose album pages containing photographs of the Forbes family and their friends including George Alexander Forbes, Millicent Lyall Forbes, Betty Forbes, Peg Forbes, Isabelle Alexandra Burt (nee Buck), Judy Carter, John Freudeman, Bernice Adam, Segreant William Hartman, Russ Johnston, Robert Forbes, and many others. Several photographs feature sports, cars, planes, family pets as well as the Toronto Maple Leafs 1937-1938 hockey team, camping activities, the Hespeler Gun Club, Ridley College, Bishop Strachan School, Austin Airways, Lakeview Dancing Casino, Port Elgin, Puslinch Lake, Lake Tyson, and Niagara Falls. Also includes a press clipping and wedding invitation related to the wedding of Robert Forbes and Grace Bickford on April 19, 1941.

Loose album pages containing photographs of the Forbes family and their friends including Betty Forbes, Peg Forbes, Evelyn Alice Foster Ferguson (nee Buck), Millicent Lyall Forbes, George Houlding, Marie Swan, Ruth Beynon, Caroline Spencer, Marion Hanneford, George Alexander Forbes, and many others. Several of the photographs feature scenes taken outside in Brantford and Hespeler, Ontario, King’s farm, family pets, and camping activities particularly at Camp Wapomeo in Algonquin Provincial Park. Also includes a postcard photograph of Taylor Statten, founder of Camp Ahmek in Algonquin Provincial Park.

A wedding planner notebook containing correspondence, sketches, advertisements, and notes pertaining to Betty Forbes's wedding ceremony with Bill Land on May 29, 1954 in Hespeler, Ontario.

Head and shoulders studio portrait of J.E. Bilger seen looking off camera.

Image of a child propped up against a pillow in a crib looking at the camera with a slight smile.