Government of Ontario

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Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery




About the Archives of Ontario banner

The Archives of Ontario is the largest provincial archives in Canada, and the premier source of information about the history of the land we now call Ontario and its people. Since 1903, we’ve been collecting, preserving, and making available the documentary heritage of the province. As Information, Privacy and Archives division in the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery, we also provide leadership in recordkeeping, access, and privacy to the Ontario Public Service, provincial agencies, and the broader public sector.

Our collections document the decisions, functions and activities of the Government of Ontario. Individuals, businesses, and organizations also donate records of enduring provincial significance that illustrate the history and development of Ontario.

We provide access to unique and multi-faceted records that date back to the 16th century and include everything from hand-written letters to books, maps, architectural drawings, photographs, artwork, films, sound recordings, electronic documents, and more.

There are many ways to engage with our collections, whether it’s through onsite or online research, your own personal copies of records from our holdings, or via our educational workshops and lesson kits, building tours, public presentations, orientation sessions, microfilm interloan service, exhibits, social media content, and events.

Watch the video below to learn about some of our collections and services and how to access them: