Request to view items in person

Request to view archival records

To request to view an archival record, you need to know the:

• title
• reference code (starts with F, RG or C)

It is also helpful to know the:

• location and ordering information
• permalink URL

This information is found in record descriptions in our Collection Search.

Vist our website to learn how to use Collection Search, or contact us if you need help finding record information.

When you’ve gathered the above information, you’re ready to submit your record request using our online form.

Personal information provided to the Archives through order forms or through email, phone or mail enquiry is collected under the authority of the Archives and Recordkeeping Act (2006) Chapter 34, Schedule A.  We only collect personal information that is necessary to address your inquiries or service requests, in accordance with section 38(2) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.  Personal information will be used only for the purpose of responding to enquiries and service requests, for statistical analysis and to send you surveys to solicit feedback that will help us improve the ways in which we engage with you. Contact us if you have questions or comments about anything in this Privacy Statement.

Request to view library items

To request to view library items, you need to know the:

• title
• call number
• volume number (if relevant)

This information is found in catalogue descriptions in our Collection Search .

Vist our website to learn how to use Collection Search, or contact us if you need help finding record information.

When you’ve gathered the above information, you’re ready to submit your library request using our form.

Personal information provided to the Archives through order forms or through email, phone or mail enquiry is collected under the authority of the Archives and Recordkeeping Act (2006) Chapter 34, Schedule A.  We only collect personal information that is necessary to address your inquiries or service requests, in accordance with section 38(2) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.  Personal information will be used only for the purpose of responding to enquiries and service requests, for statistical analysis and to send you surveys to solicit feedback that will help us improve the ways in which we engage with you. Contact us if you have questions or comments about anything in this Privacy Statement.

Request a divorce file

We hold all Ontario divorce files from 1931 to 1980 and up to 1986 for some counties and districts.

To request to view or order a reproduction a divorce file, you need to provide the:

• file number
• year the case started
• courthouse where the divorce took place

Visit our Divorce files topic page to learn how to obtain this information.

Personal information provided to the Archives through order forms or through email, phone or mail enquiry is collected under the authority of the Archives and Recordkeeping Act (2006) Chapter 34, Schedule A.  We only collect personal information that is necessary to address your inquiries or service requests, in accordance with section 38(2) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.  Personal information will be used only for the purpose of responding to enquiries and service requests, for statistical analysis and to send you surveys to solicit feedback that will help us improve the ways in which we engage with you. Contact us if you have questions or comments about anything in this Privacy Statement.

What to expect after submitting a request

Your request will be sent to a reference archivist to process.

We use the information you’ve provided to retrieve the matching containers or library items from our storage vaults. We may reach out to you for clarification while working on your request.

We will notify you when your request is ready.

While you wait for confirmation, you can prepare for your in-person visit by reviewing our Reading Room policies.

Retrieval times

The time it takes to retrieve records from our vaults depends on the physical format and access conditions of the records you have ordered. See our standard retrieval table for all our item formats.

Once your order has been received by a reference archivist, records without restrictions and not needing conservation treatment will be retrieved according to our standard schedule.

Note: While we strive to process retrieval orders as quickly as possible, it may take up to 15-business days for an archivist to respond to your request.