The Kitchener-Waterloo Record began with the publication of the Daily News of Berlin on February 9, 1878 and was the first daily paper in the area. It was published by Peter Moyer. Over the years it had several names and publishers: in January of 1897 it was purchased by the German Printing and Publishing Company and was amalgamated with that company's Berlin Daily Record to become the Berlin News Record, and later still the News Record, all published by William (Ben) V. Uttley. In 1918 the publishers of the German-language paper the Berliner Journal, William D. Euler (later Senator for North Waterloo) and William J. Motz, purchased the News Record and changed the name to the Kitchener Daily Record. On July 17, 1922 the Record absorbed the other daily, the Daily Telegraph. With that event, the original three daily papers (the News Record, the Berlin Daily Record, and the Daily Telegraph) became one.

The Berliner Journal began in December 29, 1859 by Frederick Rittinger and John Motz, and was located on Queen Street south, Kitchener. Motz remained editor until his death in 1899, at which time his son William acquired his father's interest. When Rittinger died in 1915 his share was acquired by William D. Euler. The weekly Journal ended on May 10, 1924. The Record’s first staff photographer was Harry Huehnergard, who worked for the paper for 49 years before retiring in 1986 as Manager of the Photographic Department.

In 1948 the Kitchener Daily Record was re-named the Kitchener-Waterloo Record, which name it retained until 1994, when it became simply The Record. In 1928 the paper moved from its home at 49 King Street west to a new building at 30 Queen Street north where it was to stay for 44 years until moving in May 1973 to 225 Fairway Road. When William J. Motz died in 1946 his son John E. Motz took over as publisher. The by-then Senator Euler sold his interest to Southam Press in 1953. John E. Motz died in 1975 and the Motz Family continued to own a controlling interest in the paper until 1990, when it was sold to Southam. In 1998, The Record was sold to Sun Media Corporation, and then in March 1999, to Torstar Corporation. In January 2005, the paper moved its offices to Market Square on King Street east in Kitchener's downtown core, and on March 11, 2008, the name was changed to the Waterloo Region Record.

Harry Huehnergard was born in Kitchener, Ontario to Alister Ezra Huehnergard (1897-1946) and Gertrude Pollakowski (1896-1974). The middle of the three children, his siblings included older brother Carl and younger sister June. In 1933, at the age of 12, Harry began working for the Kitchener-Waterloo Record as a carrier, going to the main Record offices on Duke Street to pick up the newspapers. By 1937 Harry had graduated to working as a proof runner, pastepot filler and accounts collector at the rate of 10$ per week. The Record took a chance on Harry in 1939 when he was made the first staff photographer. He would take the images for the newspaper, have them developed by William Cochrane and then engraving plates made by MacPhail Engravers. The Second World War interrupted Harry's photography career when he enlisted in 1942, joining the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Harry was stationed in Gander, Newfoundland and while there became the Associate Editor and then Editor of "The Gander" which was the magazine for RCAF troops. After the end of the war Harry returned to Kitchener and to working for the Record, with some key changes made to the photography department. He installed the first darkroom at the record in 1946 so that photographs could be developed onsite. He was also involved in the founding of the Commercial and Press Photographers Association of Canada (now Professional Photographs of Canada) serving on the executive committee. In 1948 Harry married Sylvia and the couple had two children, John and Mark. The next decades would bring changes to the field of photography including the installation of a wire photo machine in 1953, and a laserphoto receiver in 1977. Harry also helped to establish the Waterloo Regional Police Department's photography department. During the course of his career he wrote a popular photography column for 25 years, and by the time of his retirement he was the Manager of the Photographic Department. Towards the end of his career at the Record Harry began to search for a permanent home for the Record's negative collection and was the person behind the collection being donated to the University of Waterloo. Harry retired in 1986 after a 49 year career at the Record.