Enslaved Africans in Upper Canada

Slavery existed on a global scale for centuries and had devastating implications for the individuals subjected to it. Many people do not know that slavery existed in Canada. Produced in partnership with the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, the Archives of Ontario's newest exhibit, Enslaved Africans in Upper Canada, touches on the lives of enslaved Africans, and focuses on the actions they took to resist their servitude. It reveals that Lieutenant-Governor Simcoe’s 1793 Act to Limit Slavery in Upper Canada was precipitated by the resistance of a slave woman named Chloe Cooley and led to the end of slavery throughout the British Empire.

• PDF
• HTML

A Lifetime - Day by Day, Five Women and Their Diaries
Diaries provide an immediacy and intimacy provided by very few types of records. A Lifetime - Day by Day, Five Women and Their Diaries provides important insights into the every day lives of early Ontario pioneers. When we read about these women’s day to day experiences, the roles they played and the tasks they performed, we have a window into the society in which they lived.

• PDF
• HTML

David Thompson, Map Maker, Explorer and Visionary

David Thompson (1770-1857) fur trader, astronomer and surveyor, mapped more of North America than anyone else. His journals, letters, maps and autobiography provide detailed insights into the fur trade, the Native People he encountered, the lands he explored, and milestones in his life. The year 2007 marks the 150th anniversary of Thompson’s death and the 200th anniversary of his first crossing of the Rocky Mountains - a fitting occasion to commemorate North America’s “Greatest Geographer.”

• PDF
• HTM

The Archives of Ontario Remembers our Sporting Past

View images from the collection celebrating Ontario’s athletic heritage, including those leading moments and personalities in Ontario sports history, and the citizenship of those businesses that supported and promoted sports and fitness for Ontario and Ontarians.

• PDF
• HTML

Stories From Ontario’s Movie Theatres

Do you remember the excitement of that special night out at the movies? Was it your first evening show as a child, the first date with your future spouse, or maybe just the thrill of seeing the best movie ever? Those are your personal stories of movie going: the theatre regulatory files held by the Archives of Ontario tell stories of the theatres, their owners, and sometimes even their patrons. Come along for a tour of some of Ontario’s movie theatres.

• PDF
• HTML

The War of 1812

The War of 1812 had long term effects on the economic, social and political life of the province. This exhibit showcases some of the personalities and locations that played a role in the war and explores the events of that conflict as told through the correspondence and diaries of those who lived it. We invite you to explore this exhibit and experience the War of 1812 in Upper Canada.

• PDF
• HTML

The Archives of Ontario Celebrates Our Agricultural Past

Whether living and working in a farming community, or watching a harvest sunset while travelling a rural highway, Ontarians take great pride in their agricultural heritage. This exhibit celebrates the farming way of life focusing on the settlement of the land, its use, and the people who have made agriculture one of the province’s greatest assets.

• PDF
  
• HTML

Medical Records at the Archives of Ontario

Canadians and Ontarians take great pride and interest in their health care system, and the Archives of Ontario is proud to hold an important key to the province’s heritage through the health-related records that it acquires, preserves, and makes accessible to the public. Medical Records at the Archives of Ontario is an exhibit that explores the variety and scope of medical records held by the Archives of Ontario.

• PDF
  
• HTML

The James Bay Treaty Turns 100

2005 marked the centennial of The James Bay Treaty, also known as Treaty No.9. As part of the centennial marking the signing of the Treaty, the Archives of Ontario is proud to present The James Bay Treaty Turns 100, an exhibit outlining the main historical events leading to Treaty No.9.

• PDF
• HTML

Yours to Discover - Tourism in Ontario through Time

Ontario is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world. Visitors come to enjoy the natural beauty of the province’s parks and countryside, and to partake of the vibrant life of its cities. Yours to Discover - Tourism in Ontario through Time is an exhibit that explores tourism in Ontario from the early settlers in Upper Canada to the travellers of the current day, using documents and images from the Archives’ collection.

• PDF
• HTML