Visiting the Archives of Ontario

Location

77 Grenville Street, Toronto

Queen's Park Subway Stop on the University Ave. subway line or College Subway Stop on the Yonge St. subway line

Wheelchair accessible entrance on Grenville Street. Wheelchair accessible washrooms are available.

Public parking in the area is minimal. Use public transit for convenience.

Mailing Address:

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Hours

Main Reading Room:

• Mon. to Fri. 8:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Full reference service until 5:00 p.m.
• Last retrieval at 4:00 p.m.

Main Reading Room Extended Hours

• Mon. to Fri. 5:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
• Sat. 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• No reference and retrieval service
• Ring the metal buzzer on the wall beside the door to gain entrance to the building.

Special Collections Reading Room

• Mon. to Fri. reference service 8:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Retrievals 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Sound and Moving Images by Appointment Only

The Archives of Ontario is closed on Sundays and statutory holidays.

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Phone Numbers

• 1-800-668-9933 Toll-Free Number (Ontario only)
  
  
• 416-327-1600 Reception
  
  
• 416-327-1583 Reading Room Reference Desk
  
  
• 416-327-1582 Reading Room Reference Desk
  
  
• 416-327-1552 Special Collections Reference Desk
  
  
• 416-327-1551 Sound and Moving Image Reading Room
  
  
• 416-327-1999 Fax Number
  
  

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Preparing For A Visit to the Archives

Preparing for your visit to the Archives will allow you to make the most of your time here. In some cases, a visit to the Archives may not even be necessary. Here are some tips:

• If you are planning to trace your family history in Ontario, please see our Genealogical Research web pages.
  
  
• Use this website to start your research. You can search online databases that describe some of our holdings and read about the services that we offer. Our Customer Service Guides and Research Guides provide information about particular records or about policies and procedures.
  
  
• It is possible that the records that you require have been microfilmed and can be borrowed through your local library using our Microfilm Interloan Service.
  
  
• You can send us an enquiry. Although we cannot conduct detailed research on your behalf, we may be able to help you identify records that apply to your question and arrange to have them on-site before you arrive.
  
  
• Consult local resources and other websites. It is possible that a local library, archives or historical society can answer your question. See our Related Resources page for other archives and related Internet resources.

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Registration

Anyone who wishes to may visit the Archives of Ontario. To use our reading rooms, you must have a Research Pass, which will be issued to you on your first visit. The guard on duty in the registration area at the entrance to the Main Reading Room will issue your pass when you fill out a short form and present acceptable identification. Acceptable identification includes, but is not limited to: driver's licence, passport, student card, birth certificate, S.I.N. card, Senior Citizen's card, or Government of Ontario employee ID card. Credit and business cards are not acceptable. The Research Pass that you obtain is good for one year.

Please note:

• You must show your Research Pass each time you visit the Archives and sign in and out of the reading rooms.
  
  
• For security purposes personal belongings including briefcases, oversize purses, backpacks, folders, umbrellas, and outerwear such as overcoats and raincoats must be stored in the cloakroom and/or lockers on the ground floor near the Registration Desk. Coat hangers and free lockers are available to store your belongings. The Archives of Ontario is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
  
  
• Small purses, wallets, research notes, personal computers, and personal dictation may be taken into the reading rooms.
  
  
• There is an eating area near the registration desk. In order to protect archival material, food and drink are not permitted in the reading rooms.
  
  
• Archival records are unique and irreplaceable. We have established guidelines to protect our province's documentary heritage for future generations. Please take a moment to read Customer Service Guide 101: Reading Room Rules.
  
  

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Conducting Research in Our Reading Rooms

Research at the Archives of Ontario is conducted in one of three supervised reading rooms:

Special Collections Reading Room

Photographs, maps and plans, architectural records and documentary art are made available through this room. This room is open only on weekdays from 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please see Customer Service Guide 103: Special Collections for information about access to this room.

Sound and Moving Image Reading Room

Audio, video and motion picture film material are made available through this room. Access to this room is by appointment only. Please see Customer Service Guide 102: Sound and Moving Images Reading Room for information about access to this room.

Main Reading Room

Original textual records (paper files and bound volumes) and library materials are ordered and consulted in this room. Over 54,000 reels of self-service microfilm is also available. You will find computers that can be used to search our databases and other sources, as well as a full selection of paper-based finding aids and library reference works. In most cases, you should come to this room to begin your search.

Reference archivists are on duty from 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. These staff members will assist you in using the databases and paper inventories so that you can identify records that may relate to your topic. Reference archivists can also assist you with ordering material, provide information on how to obtain copies, and when necessary, call upon more specialized staff for assistance.

Main Reading Room Hours

The Main Reading Room is open for full service weekdays from 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Partial Service is offered during our extended hours:

Monday to Friday:	5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Saturday:	10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The table below outlines what services are offered during extended hours:

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Circulation and Retrieval in the Main Reading Room

Unlike most libraries, archives do not permit public access to the stack areas. Instead, you order material and it will be provided to you in one of our supervised reading rooms.

Once you have identified records that interest you there are three possibilities:

1. The records may have been microfilmed and are available for self-service use in the Main Reading Room.
   
   
2. The records may be stored on-site and can be retrieved that day, usually within the hour.
   
   
3. The records may be stored off-site in another building. Off-site retrievals take a minimum of 2-3 business days to receive.

Our online databases and paper finding aids will indicate which of the above options apply.

On-site retrievals

Many older government records and private sector records as well as all library material are stored on-site at 77 Grenville Street in Toronto.

Retrievals of on-site materials are made weekdays at the following times:
9:00am 10:00am 11:00am 12:00pm	1:00pm 2:00pm 3:00pm 4:00pm

Records and Papers Request Slips must be submitted by these times. Records will be retrieved and brought to the circulation desk for pick-up, usually by twenty minutes past the hour. Please see Ordering Original Records and Library Material to the Main Reading Room.

Off-site retrievals

Many of the records in our holdings are stored off-site. Since off-site retrievals take a minimum of 2-3 business days, you should plan your research visits carefully. By speaking to staff, you can make arrangements in advance for the retrieval of off-site material.

There are no retrievals of onsite or offsite material during weekday evenings or Saturdays. To consult original records during extended hours you can pre-arrange to have records ordered and placed in a reading room locker.

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Microfilm in the Main Reading Room

Using Microfilm Readers and Making Copies

The Archives of Ontario has microfilmed important and heavily-used records in order to preserve them and to provide better access. Approximately 54,000 reels of microfilm are available in the Main Reading Room for self-service use. You can access microfilmed records directly from cabinets in the Main Reading Room. To determine which microfilm reel you wish to use, you must consult a finding aid or card catalogue. See a reference archivist for details.

Coin and copycard-operated reader-printers are available for self-service copying from microfilm. Various page sizes up to 11 x 17 inches are available at $0.25 per page. A change machine is available in the reading room. As well, most of the machines accept and provide change for $1.00 coins, and some accept $2 coins.

During business hours, staff at the Circulation Desk are available to provide assistance with microfilm readers and reader-printers.

Major Archives of Ontario Collections on Microfilm include:

• Vital Statistics:

  Births: 1869 to 1904
  Deaths: 1869 to 1929
  Marriages: c.1780 to 1919 (pre-1869 records are very incomplete)

• Wills and Estate Files: c. 1790 to 1930 (dates will vary depending on the county).
  
  
• Newspapers: The Archives has microfilmed most of its newspaper holdings, including a large selection of older Ontario newspapers.
  
  
• Eaton's Mail-order Catalogues:1884-1976

The Archives also provides access to some Library and Archives Canada microfilm including:

• Ontario Census Returns: 1842, 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891, 1901
  
  
• Upper Canada Land Petitions: 1792-1867
  
  
• Ships Passenger Lists: 1865-1919

See our Register of Microfilm Collections from Other Institutions for a complete listing of the Archives' microfilm holdings from other institutions.

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Using Original Archival Records

In many cases, the records that you will be consulting at the Archives of Ontario are original historical records. This may mean paper files, bound volumes, photographic prints, maps and plans, architectural drawings or audio tape. Many of these records are fragile and almost all are unique and irreplaceable. The preservation and security of these records is one of our chief concerns. Some things you should know:

Retrieval

Unlike libraries, archives do not permit public access to stack areas. Instead, you order material and it will be provided to you in one of our supervised reading rooms.

Handling

The greatest threat to archival records is improper and careless handling. To protect the province's documentary heritage for future generations, we have established reading room rules and guidelines for the handling of archival records. Please take a moment to read these guidelines before visiting the archives.

Under no circumstances will original archival records be removed from the Archives of Ontario.

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Obtaining Copies of Archival Material

You can purchase copies of most archival material.

The Archives of Ontario can provide one copy of material in our holdings for research and private study when no restrictions apply. Any further copying or use of the material (for example publication) is subject to the restrictions imposed by the Copyright Act.

Because of the unique nature of the records we do not allow researchers to do their own reproductions. The only exception to this rule is copying done on our self-service microfilm in the main reading room. Staff will do all other copying on your behalf. For details see Customer Service Guide 105: Reproduction Services and Fees.

In some cases copies cannot be made:

• The agreement with the donor of some private sector records may not allow copying.
• The records are too fragile or damaged to be copied.
• Access to the records is otherwise restricted because of legislation such as the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, the Mental Health Act, the Young Offenders Act etc.

Photocopies

Copies from Self-Service Microfilm:

Researchers can do their own copying using our microfilm reader-printers in the Main Reading Room. The fee is $0.25 per sheet.

Reading Room Service:

This service is offered twice daily in the Main Reading Room at 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. weekdays. Maximum order is 30 sheets per session or 60 sheets per day; the fee is $0.50 per sheet. Ask a reference archivist for details.

Regular Service:

Work orders are processed in the order that they are received and are generally completed within 5 business days. Turnaround time for large orders will be negotiated with clients on an individual basis. The fee is $0.50 per sheet. Orders of 9 copies or less are free of charge. For details on how to order photocopies, please see Customer Service Guide 106: How to Order Reproductions.

Rush Service:

Work orders are processed on the same day. Turnaround time for large orders may be the next business day. The fee is $1.00 per sheet.

Please note that for conservation reasons, photographs cannot be photocopied.

Other Copying Services

The Archives offers numerous other copying services including: whiteprints, photographic processes, microfilm duplication, digital imaging, and sound and moving image duplication. Fees and turnaround times vary depending on the process.

For complete details please see Customer Service Guide 105: Reproduction Services and Fees.

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Access to Some Material May be Restricted

Before making a visit to the Archives of Ontario, be aware that some records may not be immediately available for your use. Access to records may be restricted for the following reasons:

Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act

Some government records contain sensitive personal information or other confidential data. While everyone has a right to information held by the Ontario government, including your own personal information, the Ontario Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act places some limits on this right. Please see our Customer Service Guide 109: Freedom of Information and the Protection of Privacy for more information on the Act and how it may affect your research.

Donor Agreements

Some private records have been donated to the Archives with certain conditions on access as part of the donation agreement. For example, some records may not be available until a number of years have passed or until a donor has died. However, most private records are open to the public. Any restrictions on them are explained in the description of the records.

Fragility of Records

In some cases, documents may be so fragile that they cannot be made available for research use. Generally, a copy of the document is available, sometimes in another format such as microfilm.