Local History & Genealogy
Research history and genealogy in Toronto and beyond. Our largest collections are at Toronto Reference Library, with smaller collections at other locations. We also have many online resources.
Online research tools
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Digital Archive
170,000+ historical photos, books and Toronto maps digitized from our collections.
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Resources by neighbourhood
Interactive map to explore our photos, books and maps related to Toronto neighbourhoods.
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City directories
Digital and print city directories of Toronto from the 19th and 20th century.
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Fire insurance plans
Maps that can help you track the history of Toronto houses and other buildings (1858 to 1973).
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Ancestry Library Edition
Genealogy tool with birth, marriage and death records and Census of Canada records.
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Canadiana Online
Digitized books, government publications and newspapers on Canada, from European contact to early 20th century.
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Fold3
Genealogical resource featuring historical documents and military records for the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the U.K.
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HeritageQuest
Genealogical resource featuring archival records, family histories and primary sources dating back to the 1700s for the United States and Canada and select countries.
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Digital newspapers
Research guides
Local history and genealogy collections
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Local history collections at Toronto Public Library
Full list of local history collections at our branches and two research libraries.
Books
- Toronto biographies
- Toronto buildings
- Toronto genealogy
- Toronto photo books
- Fiction featuring Toronto
- Indigenous histories
Upcoming programs
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Ernest Hemingway in Toronto
Mon Oct 02, 2023 7:00 pm - 8:15 pm
Location: Toronto Reference LibraryOne hundred years ago Ernest Hemingway was living in Toronto and working as a reporter for the Toronto Star. Join Sharon Hamilton to hear how this early experience helped him to become one of the greatest writers of the 20th...
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Home of Her Heart: A Novel About Finding Family and a Place to Call Home
Thu Oct 12, 2023 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: BrentwoodJoin author Tara Goldstein for a reading and guided discussion surrounding her new novel Home of Her Heart. Tara will share her research process, read from the novel, and discuss some of the main stories that appear in the bo...
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A History of Royal Weddings from Victoria and Albert to Harry and Meghan
Fri Oct 13, 2023 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: North York Central LibraryRoyal weddings are viewed by millions worldwide and discussed endlessly on social media. Dr. Carolyn Harris ( Raising Royalty: 1000 Years of Ro...