What vital statistics microfilm does the Archives hold?
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. 1801-1926] (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 (1912 births,
1927 marriages, 1937 deaths) is being filmed and will be
available some time in 2009.
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What information is recorded in the Registrations?
The information below was requested but was not
always recorded in the Registration. The information
given to the Registrar and/or the data recorded can be incomplete,
entered on the wrong line, or incorrect.
| BIRTHS
(July 1869-1911) |
Year of birth
Name
Gender
Father's name
Mother's maiden name
Father's rank or occupation
Signature and residence of informant (usually a relative)
Accoucheur's name (person assisting with the birth)
Registration date
Registrar's signature
County or District of registration (an exact city,
town or township is normally not given for the earliest
years) |
| |
| MARRIAGES
(1801-June 1869) |
The information recorded
varies widely and can be very limited in the early
years (e.g. name of groom, bride, and clergy; location,
date, and religion of ceremony). |
| |
| MARRIAGES
(July 1869-1926) |
About each person:
Name
Age
Place of residence and of birth
Marital status (bachelor/ widower; spinster/ widow)
Occupation
Fathers' name
Mothers' maiden name
Religious denomination
About the marriage:
Location (not of the church but of the town or township)
Date
Witnesses' names and residences
Name of clergy conducting the marriage
Whether by issuance of a marriage license or publication
of banns
Registration date |
| |
| DEATHS
(July 1869-1936) |
Name
Age
Sex
Religious affiliation
Rank or profession
Birth place
Cause of death
Name and description of informant
Registrar's name
Date registered
County or District of registration
After 1907, the burial place, father's name, mother's
maiden name, and more information regarding cause
of death and reporting physician were also requested.
This information was not always included. |
If you have never seen a registration before you may wish
to view our examples
of registrations.
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How do I find a particular Birth, Marriage or Death Registration?
Due to limited resources and very high demand, the Archives
of Ontario is not able to perform searches and provide copies
of registrations. You must perform your own search using
microfilm by doing one of the following:
- Visiting our Main Reading Room on the
ground floor of 77 Grenville Street, Toronto. This room
is open weekdays 8:15 am to 10:30 pm and Saturday 10:00
am to 8:00 pm. Reference staff are available for assistance
weekdays from 8:15 am to 5:00 pm.
- Borrowing the indexes and registrations that you require
through our Microfilm Interloan
Service. This service allows you to order
microfilmed records through a public library or another
institution that is part of the interlibrary loan system.
The Vital Statistics main
page is designed to help you find the microfilm
reels that you need.
- Borrowing the indexes and registrations that you require
through a Family
History Centre of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter Day Saints. To learn more about
the records they hold and how to locate the centre nearest
to you, check our Family
History Centres page, contact your local
public library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,
or call 1-800-346-6044 (North America only). You must
visit the Centres as they do not accept written enquiries.
Telephone first to confirm their hours.
- Purchasing microfilm copies of the reels of indexes
and registrations that you require through the Ontario
Genealogical Society (OGS). For information on
how to place an order, visit the Ontario
Genealogical Society website or contact the
OGS at:
Ontario Genealogical Society
40 Orchard View Blvd. Suite 102
Toronto ON M4R 1B9
Phone: 416-489-0734 Fax: 416-489-9803
E-mail: provoffice@ogs.on.ca
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What if I need a Registration for Legal Purposes?
It is possible to obtain a certified copy of birth,
marriage and death registrations held by the Archives
of Ontario.
You or a representative must visit the Archives Main Reading
Room (77 Grenville Street, Toronto) and print out the registrations
from microfilm in the presence of Archives staff, who will
then forward the printouts for certification by the Archivist
of Ontario. The printouts can be mailed to you or picked
up from our reception desk in about two business days. See
Archives of Ontario Customer
Service Guide 111: Genealogical Researchers in Ontario
for a listing of independent researchers people who can
be hired to perform a search for you.
As of April 1, 2000 all certifications cost $25.00 plus
GST.
Please note: The Archives does not issue
birth, marriage or death certificates.
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Can I buy vital statistics microfilm?
Purchasing Vital Statistics Microfilm
The following vital statistics microfilm is available for
purchase directly from the Ontario
Genealogical Society:
Indexes
16 mm microfilm:
- Indexes to Births and Stillbirths, 1869-1911 - MS
931, Reels 1-21
- Indexes to Marriages, 1873-1926 - MS 934, Reels
1-22
- Indexes to Deaths, 1869-1936 - MS 937, Reels
1-22
35 mm microfilm:
- Original Index Books to Birth, Marriage and Death Registrations,
July-December 1869 - MS 938, Reel 1
- Original Index Books to Birth and Stillbirth Registrations,
1869-1905 - MS 939, Reels 1-32
- Original Index Books to Marriage Registrations, 1870-1911
- MS 941, Reels 1-20
- Original Index Books to Death Registrations, 1870-1911
- MS 942, Reels 1-14
Registrations
35 mm microfilm:
- Registrations of Births and Stillbirths, 1869-1911 -
MS 929, Reels 1-206
- Delayed Registrations of Births and Stillbirths, "50"
Series, 1869-1911 - MS 930, Reels 1-57
- Delayed Registrations of Births and Stillbirths, "90"
Series, 1869-1911 - MS 933, Reels 1-57
- Registrations of Marriages, 1869-1926 - MS 932,
Reels 1-695
- Delayed Registrations of Marriages, 1892-1919 - MS
948, Reels 1-5
- Registrations of Deaths, 1869-1936 - MS 935,
Reels 1-496
Other Vital Statistics Records
35 mm microfilm:
- Evidence for Delayed Registrations of Births, 1861-1897
- MS 946, Reel 1
- Direct Clergy Returns for Simcoe County Births, Marriages
and Deaths, 1892-1896 - MS 936, Reel 1
- Marriage License Books, 1907-1910 - MS 945,
Reels 1-12
- Registrations of Ontario Overseas Deaths, 1939-1947
- MS 944, Reels 1-11
- Division Registrar Vital Statistics Records, 1858-1935
- MS 940, Reels 1-29
For information on how to place an order,
visit the Ontario
Genealogical Society website or contact the
OGS at:
Ontario Genealogical Society
40 Orchard View Blvd. Suite 102
Toronto ON M4R 1B9
Phone: 416-489-0734 Fax: 416-489-9803
E-mail: provoffice@ogs.on.ca
Please note: Some reels contain only a
few records. This occurs most frequently in the following
series:
- Delayed Registrations of Births and Stillbirths, "50"
Series, 1869-1911 - MS 930, Reels 1-57
- Delayed Registrations of Births and Stillbirths, "90"
Series, 1869-1911 - MS 933, Reels 1-57
- Delayed Registrations of Marriages, 1892-1919 - MS
948, Reels 1-5
- Division Registrar Vital Statistics Records, 1858-1935
- MS 940, Reels 1-29
Reels with few records will have a short range of registration
numbers in the descriptive tables. For example, the entry
for Delayed Registrations of Births and Stillbirths listed
below contains only 24 registrations:
| 1904 |
3/500 |
503001-503024 |
MS 930, Reel 42 |
2210914 |
One may consider borrowing the film through the Archives
of Ontario Microfilm Interloan
Service or the Family
History Centres of the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints prior to purchase.
Please note filming of vital statistics is undertaken annually
based on what is received by the Archives in a given year.
Some records series have low annual accumulation rates.
Microfilming standards and best practices do not permit
the splicing of newly filmed material onto previously filmed
reels.
For vital statistics reference assistance,
please telephone,
write, e-mail, or fax the Archives of Ontario.
Archives staff will be glad to answer questions you may
have about using vital statistics microfilm. You may also
visit our Main Reading Room on the ground
floor of 77 Grenville Street, Toronto. Main Reading Room
staff are available for assistance weekdays from 8:15 am
to 5:00 pm.
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How can I access more recent vital statistics?
For Births 1911-present,
Marriages 1926-present, and
Deaths 1936-present,
you must contact:
Office
of the Registrar General
189 Red River Road
P.O. Box 4800
Thunder Bay, Ontario
Canada P7B 6L8
- Metropolitan Toronto residents call: 416-325-8305.
- Ontario residents outside Metropolitan Toronto: 1-800-461-2156
(toll-free).
- Outside Ontario: 416-325-8305.
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