It’s a historical collection covering several decades of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s early days, includes hundreds of artifacts and details the story of one of Upper Canada’s most influential Loyalist families — a family whose fingerprints are all over the history of this town.

The museum is shining a spotlight on one of its most significant historical collections, the Servos family collection, during its next lecture on Thursday, May 15.

The lecture will be delivered by David Servos, a seventh-generation descendant of the Servos family, who was born and raised in NOTL.

“I first became truly aware of the family history in elementary school,” said Servos in a media release. “For my Grade 8 graduation, my aunt gave me a binder packed full of research, and I just carried on from there.”

The Servos family collection includes more than 400 artifacts, dating back to the 1700s through to the 20th century.

David Servos’s five-times great-grandfather, Daniel Servos, served as a captain during the American Revolution. After the war, Daniel Servos was granted 396 acres of land by the Crown at Four Mile Creek and Lakeshore roads, where he established mills and other enterprises.

He named the settlement Palatine Hill, a nod to his family’s ancestral home region in Germany. Today, the site is home to Palatine Hills Estate Winery.

“You may even be able to sample some of the wines while you’re at this lecture,” added David Servos.

Seeing the original artifacts on display at the museum brought his research on his ancestors to life, he said.

“For example, I discovered Mary Servos — what a character,” said Servos. “In the mid-19th century, she separated from her husband after he had an affair, took over the running of the Servos farm and mills, raised her four children and found time to start her own museum.”

That personal collection later formed the foundation of the Servos artifacts now held by the NOTL Museum.

“The Servos family helped establish the NOTL Museum and have served on our board for generations,” said museum CEO Sarah Kaufman.

“We feel very privileged that this collection came to us. It is perhaps one of the most significant Loyalist collections in Ontario — and, quite possibly, all of Canada.”

The lecture will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the NOTL Museum, located at 43 Castlereagh St. Admission is free for Niagara Historical Society members and $15 for non-members.

Space is limited and registration is required. To register, visit notlmuseum.ca/whats-on.