Acquisition Mandate of the Archives of Ontario and the Donation of Private Records

In addition to acquiring the records of the government of Ontario, which form the majority of our holdings, the Archives of Ontario also has a mandate to acquire recorded information from the private sector. Such records can exist in any medium, including textual documents, photographs, maps, architectural drawings, documentary art, audio-visual and sound recordings, and electronic records. The Archives and Recordkeeping Act (2006, S.O. 2006, chapter 34, Schedule A.) provides the basis for all acquisitions of archival records by the Archives of Ontario.

The Archives of Ontario is very interested in discussing any potential donations. When the Archives is appraising potential donations from private donors, provincial significance is the primary criterion considered. Offers of records that are outside the scope and collecting mandate of the Archives of Ontario may be referred to national, regional, local or thematic archives better suited for their preservation.

Private records of provincial significance are those which best document life in Ontario. These may include records which document the activities and experiences of individuals, families, organizations and corporate bodies involved in fields such as politics, labour, health, education, social, cultural, business, or the legal profession.

Records of provincial significance can also document the physical environment in Ontario, as well as events and trends having a broad social or political impact across the province, or reflecting its cultural diversity. For example, we have acquired the records of former premiers such as John P. Robarts, corporate records of companies like the T. Eaton Co. Ltd., architectural firms including Moriyama and Teshima, associations such as the Ontario Society of Artists, and records of the Ontario Federation of Labour. We also have acquired the records of non-profit corporations such as the Wellesley Central Hospital, educator and social activist D’Arcy Martin, photographs from journalist and amateur photographer M. O. Hammond and records of early settlement in Ontario such as those of the Crysler family from the Niagara area.

Most archival collections are received by donation, and the Archives offers tax receipts to donors for donations of archival records. Individuals interested in making a bequest to the Archives are encouraged to contact us when reviewing their wills.

For further information about donating your records to the Archives of Ontario please visit our Donations page or contact us by telephone at 416-327-1600 or 1-800-668-9933 (Ontario only), or by e-mail at reference@ontario.ca.