Library
and Archives
Click here to view the pages with frames and images
Collections
Catalogue
Books
Manuscripts
Photos
Films and sounds
Rights and permissions
Opening Hours
Services
How to contact us
Interested in Canadian cultures? Looking for that special picture on Aboriginal peoples in Canada or that unique recording of traditional fiddle music? Perhaps you’re looking for that special ethnographic document you can’t find anywhere.
Whether your need is fueled by passion, by reason or simply by curiosity, the WEB site of the Library and Archives of the Canadian Museum of Civilization is the best place to start your search!
Our WEB site is a window to our national (and international) treasures. It’s up to you to discover them! You will find a brief description of our collections, as well as the services offered, on the following pages:
On-line or on site at the Museum, we cordially welcome you!
Please send all questions, comments or suggestions to
library@civilization.ca
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Collections
Considered as a national resource in anthropology, the origins of some of these collections can be traced back as far as the 19th century. At the time, the Museum was part of the Geological Survey of Canada and had the mandate to illustrate and provide information regarding the “natural history” of Canada, as well as Canadian Native and Inuit life. Every summer, archaeologists and ethnologists would undertake on-site research to carry out that mission. The compilation of their field notes, unpublished research reports, ethnographic films, and black and white photos constitute the foundation of the Library and Archives collections.
During the 20th century, the collections expanded and
became more diversified. You can now find documents
in a variety of subject areas such as:
- Anthropology
- History and material culture
- Archaeology
- Ethnology
- Studies of the First Nations of Canada (Indians, Métis and Inuit)
- Folklore and Folk Culture studies
- Museology
Under these different topics, the Collections include:
- 100,000 books and other publications
- Textual archives, maps and plans
- Over half a million images
- Films, videos and sound recordings
The Library and Archives are open to the general public and offer many kinds of services. On-site consultation and study areas equipped with audio and visual equipment such as CD-ROM, microfilm and video readers, are available to visitors.
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The Online Catalogue
GESICA, the online catalogue, is now available on the Web. It allows users to access the Library and Archives of both the Canadian Museum of Civilization and the Canadian War Museum. Since new items are regularly added to the collections, this database is constantly expanding.
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Books
The Library of the Canadian Museum of Civilization is one of the main resources in Canada for those interested in anthropology, archaeology, ethnology, Native and Inuit peoples, history, folklore, multiculturalism and museology.
The collection includes:
- 100,000 published titles
- Most major periodical titles in the social sciences
- Multilingual dictionaries
- Atlases and encyclopedias
- All Museum publications and CD-ROMs
- Videotapes
- CD-ROMs
- A unique rare book collection
- Vertical files on Canadian Aboriginal Native artists
- Vertical files on museology and Canadian culture
All these documents can be consulted on site and/or can be borrowed through our Inter-Library Loan Service.
Our Rare Book Collection is the only one of its kind and contains approximately 2,500 titles, amongst them Jugements du Conseil souverain de la Nouvelle-France, 1663, original edition in 6 volumes; Fables de La Fontaine, Paris, 1875; Edward Curtis collection entitled, The North American Indian: being a serie of volumes picturing and describing the Indians of the United States and Alaska, with photographs, 1907-1930, original edition; The Gentleman’s Magazine and Historical Chronicle, London, MDCCLV; stories of nineteenth-century journeys in Asia, Europe, America and Greenland.
Do you want to know more about our collections or are you looking for a specific title? Come for a visit or contact us. During the week, the Library is open and you can visit us without an appointment.
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Manuscripts
Consisting mainly of material generated by anthropologists, archaeologists, historians and other Museum staff, the textual archives encompasses one kilometre of unpublished documents such as field notes, research reports, correspondence, folktales, legends and folksongs, musical transcriptions and transcribed interviews, maps, exhibition files, artifact documentation files, etc.
All these records are divided into five categories:
- Archaeology: Canadian Archaeology research
documents and Archaeological collections of the Museum
- Ethnology: Research papers dealing with
North American Native, Inuit and Métis peoples
- Folklore, Folk Culture studies and ethnomusicology:
papers relating to research undertaken in different ethnocultural
communities throughout Canada
- History: papers dealing with Canadian
social history and material culture
- Museology: documents pertaining to the history, exhibitions, collections and various production of the Museum
If you wish to have more information or arrange for an appointment for an on-site consultation of documents, please do not hesitate to contact us.
It is also possible to get copies of records conditional to restrictions pertaining to certain collections.
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Photos
The photo archives comprise a collection of over half a million images from the end of the 19th century to the present day. These slides, black and white or colored negatives, transparencies and photographs deal with the subject areas of anthropology, ethnology, archaeology, folklore, and history, and pictorially represent the fieldwork of Museum researchers. There are also images of artifacts, exhibitions and special events as well as the spectacular architecture of the Museum. A large portion of this collection has been digitized and is available on Photo CDs.
The Canadian Museum of Civilization also owns the most important collection of historical photographs of Canadian Native peoples among which you can find photos of Inuit peoples taken by ethnologist Diamond Jenness, or photos of totem poles and West Coast Aboriginal peoples.
Would you like to know more about this unique collection? Do you wish to obtain a traditional or digitized reproduction of one of our images? Please do not hesitate to contact us.
The Photographic collection can be consulted by appointment or by asking us to do a search for you. It is also possible to have an overview of the Museum’s artifacts by visiting our Virtual Collections Storage.
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Films and Sounds
The audiovisual collection includes 10,000 films and videos and over 28,000 sound recordings related to ethnology of Native, Inuit and Métis peoples, folklore and folk studies, history, archaeology and Museum exhibitions. These archives have been captured on varied media ranging from wax cylinders to the vary latest in sound and image technologies, and include vinyl discs, magnetic tapes, audio cassettes, films, videos and laser discs, to name a few.
In this collection, you will also find old ethnographic films from the beginning of the century like Canadian Arctic Expedition, a film that was produced among the Inuit between 1913-1916, as well as those of anthropologist Harlan I. Smith, who spent time among the West Coast Aboriginal peoples of Canada in the 1920’s and 30’s. There is also an historical collection of 5,000 folk songs recorded on wax cylinders as well as Inuit and Aboriginal songs, folklore music, interviews with local artisans and popular artists, videos on exhibitions and archaeological digs, etc.
The collections can be consulted on site or by appointment. Copies of films and sound recordings are available, conditional to restrictions pertaining to certain collections.
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Rights and Permissions
If you wish to reproduce and use any of the Museum’s images, texts, films, sound recordings, CD-ROMs, etc. in a publication, film, multimedia production, website, etc., you must first obtain a written permission from the Canadian Museum of Civilization. Please send us a written request specifying what you wish to use and the description of your project such as its title, print run, rights required, etc. Please note that usage fees are applicable. For more details on the rights and permissions or to make a request, please click here.
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Opening Hours
From May 1st to mid-October:
Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
From mid-October to April 30th:
Tuesday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Closed on statutory holidays.
Photos, textual and audiovisual archives: consultation by appointment only; please contact us before your visit.
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Services
On-site consultation and general reference: no charge.
- Terminal access to the electronic catalogue
- On-site study area with listening and viewing equipment for visitors
- Interlibrary loans: charge of $11 per title
- Subject search, preparation of information packages and bibliographies: $30 per hour plus commercial database user fees, if applicable
- Photocopies: $0.25 per copy made by the user or $0.30 if made by staff
- Reproduction of photographs, slides, transparencies, contact sheets and digitized photos: fees upon request
- Reproduction of manuscripts, maps, microfilms and microfiches: fees upon request
- Sound and video reproduction: fees upon request
- Licences and reproduction rights of Museum collection materials (images, films and videos, publications, unpublished documents, sound recordings, CD-ROMs , etc.): fees upon request
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How to Contact us
Canadian Museum of Civilization
Library and Archives
100 Laurier Street
P.O. Box 3100, Station B
Gatineau, Quebec, Canada J8X 4H2
Telephone :
(819) 776-7173
Fax :
(819) 776-7152 (Library and Photos)
(819) 776-7055 (Films and sound recordings, textual archives, rights and permissions)
Email:
library@civilization.ca
archives@civilization.ca
permission@civilization.ca
(for rights and permissions)
Envoy ILL.00NMM
SLB/LDS 127-00NMM
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