How a chance discovery in the London Room connected one patron to her grandmother and her city
When Sammy Orlowski opened a yearbook in the Ivey Family London Room at Central Library, she didn’t expect to see a familiar face looking back—her grandmother’s.
She had been researching London history for work when she noticed the archives included school yearbooks. Knowing her grandmother had attended the London Normal School, she decided to check.
“I just had this feeling...and I wondered if they’d have her yearbook. And when I saw it, it was just really emotional,” Sammy recalls. “I've never seen that yearbook photo of her before, and it’s even got some of her writing on it. It’s this window into her life at 19 that I’d never seen before.”
She describes the moment as both emotional and surreal, a glimpse into her grandmother’s life just years before she joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. Growing up in Calgary, Sammy hadn’t felt direct ties to London, but reading her grandmother’s reflections on farming life changed that. “It makes me feel connected to her, but also more connected to the city that’s been my home for the last 14 years.”
Experiences like Sammy’s happen often in the London Room. With its yearbooks, diaries, maps, photographs, and unique memorabilia, the collection brings local history to life in ways that are both personal and surprising.
For Sammy, the atmosphere is just as meaningful as the archives themselves. “It’s such a welcoming place to approach research with kind, passionate staff that are eager to help.”
Her discovery didn’t just deepen her connection to her grandmother, it also helped shape her future. Inspired in part by the experience, Sammy has decided to pursue a Master of Library and Information Science.
“This is someone’s job, to care for these materials, and that really struck me,” she shares. “I’ve always loved ephemera, and this showed me how important it is to save things others might overlook but that tell our local stories. The London Room really affirms why we need spaces like this—and Libraries and archives everywhere—because they preserve the parts of history that don’t always make it into the traditional record, but are just as vital.”
For anyone hesitant about local history research, Sammy offers encouragement: “Local history is for everybody. We document our history in so many interesting, human ways. I think it’s approachable for everyone.”
Her advice for first-time visitors is simple: “Just come in and spend some time in this room. It’s really lovely. It doesn’t have to feel academic or stuffy. This is in our Central Library, right in the downtown core. It’s an extremely special place that everybody should pop into at least once.”
Whether you’re tracing your family tree, curious about old neighbourhood photos, or simply looking to explore a hidden gem in the city, the London Room is open to all.
Step inside, ask questions, and you might just discover a story waiting for you.