Introduction
Vital statistics are records pertaining to births, marriages and deaths within the province of Ontario. The Archives holds a significant number of these records.
Vital Statistics Records Held by the Archives
The Archives of Ontario has the Indexes (where they exist) and Registration Books from the Office of the Registrar General of Ontario for:
- Marriages: [ca. 1801-1927] (Note: There are many gaps in pre-1869 marriage records)
All of these records are publicly available on microfilm. Another year of records is sent annually to the Archives. These are restricted until they have been made available on microfilm. The latest transfer (1913 births, 1928 marriages, 1938 deaths) is being filmed and will be available some time in 2010. For
all more recent registrations, you must contact the Office of the Registrar General.
Availability of the Microfilm Copies of the Indexes and Registrations
Microfilm copies of the indexes and registrations may be:
- Consulted at the Archives of Ontario, 134 Ian Macdonald Blvd., Toronto.
- Borrowed through the Interlibrary Loan Department of your public library. Quote the appropriate MS and reel #. These reels cannot leave the borrowing library, so make sure to order them from a library that has a microfilm reader.
- Borrowed from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints through their Family History Centres. The Family History Centres have a different numbering system than the Archives of Ontario. Use the microfilm conversion list to convert our reel numbers to one you can use at a Family History Centre.
- Purchased directly from the Ontario Genealogical Society. For a complete listing of vital statistics microfilm available, consult Purchasing Vital Statistics Microfilm on our Vital Statistics FAQ page, or visit the Ontario Genealogical Society website.
Note: The Archives of Ontario does not conduct Vital Statistics searches or issue birth, marriage, or death certificates.
However, we do offer certified copies for legal
purposes.
Looking Up a Registration
The indexes and registrations are not available on this web site. They are only available on Microfilm. This web site provides directions on how to determine which microfilm reels you need in order to find the registrations you are seeking.
Finding a particular birth, marriage or death registration involves the following steps:
- Use this web site to find the Index microfilm containing the surname and year of the event that you are looking for. Request that Index reel through a library, archives or other institution that uses the interlibrary loan system or through a Family History Centre of the Church of Latter Day Saints.
- Using the Index microfilm, look up the event and record the registration year and registration number.
- Returning to this web site, find the Registration microfilm containing the registration year and registration number. Request that Registration reel through a library, archives or other institution that uses the interlibrary loan system or through a Family History Centre of the Church of Latter Day Saints.
Note: You may also consult microfilm
copies of the Indexes and Registrations at the Archives
of Ontario, 134 Ian Macdonald Blvd., Toronto.
Research Guides and Pathfinders
If you are not familiar with Indexes and Registrations you may want to read the following
resources:
If you are not familiar with researching Vital Statistics Registrations you may want to consult the following pathfinders:
| Births |
The Archives holds Birth Registrations for July 1869-December 1911. |
| Marriages |
In addition to Marriage Registrations for the period 1869 to 1927, the Archives holds Registrations dating from the early part of the nineteenth century in the form of District and County Marriage Registers. |
| Deaths |
The Archives holds Death Registrations for July 1869- December 1936. |
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