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
• Research guides
• Local history collections
• Books
• Upcoming programs

Online research tools

• 

  Digital Archive

  170,000+ historical photos, books and Toronto maps digitized from our collections.

• 

  Resources by neighbourhood

  Interactive map to explore our photos, books and maps related to Toronto neighbourhoods.

• 

  City directories

  Digital and print city directories of Toronto from the 19th and 20th century.

• 

  Fire insurance plans

  Maps that can help you track the history of Toronto houses and other buildings (1858 to 1973).

• Ancestry Library Edition

  Genealogy tool with birth, marriage and death records and Census of Canada records.

• Canadiana Online

  Digitized books, government publications and newspapers on Canada, from European contact to early 20th century.

• Digital newspapers

  Globe and Mail Historical Newspaper Archive

  Toronto Star Historical Newspaper Archive

Research guides

Local history and genealogy collections

• 

  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

• Genealogy Webinar For Beginners : Genealogy Collections in Print @ TPL

  2:00 pm - 3:00 pm on recurring dates listed below

  This three week series of webinars will introduce genealogists to print resources held mainly at the Toronto Reference Library. Topics covered over the three weeks will also demonstrate how to access records of mat...

  Upcoming Dates:

  • Thu Oct 29

• Talking Treaties in Tkaronto

  Thu Nov 05, 2020 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

  Reflecting on treatymaking and upkeep in what is now known as Toronto, through the lens of three main agreements: the Dish with One Spoon; the Covenant Chain and 1764 Treaty of Niagara; and the "Toronto Purchase" with the Mis...

• Cancelled: Alderwood Library Genealogy Club

  6:00 pm - 8:00 pm on recurring dates listed below
  Location: Alderwood

  Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this event has been cancelled. While we're working to reschedule as many events as possible, no new dates have currently been determined. *** Just because your Famil...

  Upcoming Dates:

  • Mon Nov 16
  • Mon Dec 14