Hands-on Research Excursion

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Please note: OGS Conference 2010 is now over.

• Toronto Reference Library (TRL)
• City of Toronto Archives (TA)
• North York Central Library’s Canadiana Department (NYCL)
• Archives of Ontario (AO)

The day starts at 8:45 am, at the Conference hotel to board the chartered buses. Then travel, with our escorts, to your chosen archives or library (by bus and subway). Local experts will be available throughout the day to help you navigate through catalogues and finding aids, and make the most of your research time. Bring your lunch, or we’ll show you where you can buy it. We’ll escort you back to the Conference hotel in time for dinner.

Fee: $36 per person (includes all travel costs)
Advance registration is required, and will allow our local experts to contact you about your research.

NOTE:
We will be using the subway to get to the Toronto Reference Library and the City of Toronto Archives. Fares will be provided. However, participants may be required to walk two or three blocks (within the subway system and above ground) and climb some stairs.

If walking is a problem for you, you may want to consider visiting either the Archives of Ontario or North York Central Library. The chartered bus will stop at these locations.

All of the archives and libraries are wheelchair accessible, but the transit system is not fully retrofitted. Specially equipped taxis are available. Any extra cost would be the responsibility of the participant.

CHOOSING WHICH ARCHIVES OR LIBRARY TO VISIT
Each archives and library can accommodate only a limited number of researchers. Spaces will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, once we’ve received your registration fee. Please read the information below carefully and explore the web sites mentioned.

While it is possible to visit more than one facility (numbers permitting), we recommend that you limit your research to one archives or library. If you do wish to visit two facilities, take into account travel times by subway (e.g. TRL and TA [requires a change of subway lines, allow 20 minutes], or NYCL and TRL [both on the Yonge Line, allow 30 minutes]).

Toronto Reference Library: Highlights for genealogical research

One of two major reference libraries in Toronto, the TRL shares a catalogue with the North York Central Library and more than 90 branches. When consulting the catalogue, be sure of the location of the materials you find.

For Toronto research: The TRL has the easiest-to-use set of city directories; an excellent map collection; lots of local histories and biographies; and a manuscript collection that emphasizes Toronto and area. It also has the best collection of Toronto newspapers on microfilm, and free access to the digitized Toronto Star and Globe and Mail newspapers.

For Ontario and other places in Canada: The TRL has a broad range of city directories and local histories from throughout Canada, and one of the country’s best collections of local histories for Western Canada. The TRL holds the entire Canadian Institute for Historical Micro-reproduction collection and includes those holdings (except periodicals) in its catalogue.

For Irish and UK research: The TRL has a good collection of city and county directories; extensive record society and family history society holdings; Victoria History of the Counties of England and many other local histories; modern and Victorian ordnance survey maps; Griffith’s Valuation and tithe applotments (Ireland); indexes to Services of Heirs (Scotland); and Army Lists and other military history.
Please visit: www.torontopubliclibrary.ca

City of Toronto Archives: Highlights for genealogical research

The TA holds the records of the current “mega” city (including the predecessor municipalities of Etobicoke, East York, North York, York, and Scarborough) with emphasis on the pre-1998 City of Toronto. These records include assessment rolls, building permits, council minutes, and records of city departments. The TA also holds the archives of the Toronto Transit Commission, and the records of the St. Andrew’s Society and St. George’s Society. Don’t miss the excellent photo collection, much of which is arranged by street. Please visit: www.city.toronto.on.ca/archives

North York Central Library, Canadiana Department: Highlights for genealogical research

One of two major reference libraries in Toronto, the NYCL shares a catalogue with the Toronto Reference Library and more than 90 branches. When consulting the catalogue, be sure of the location of materials you find.

The Canadiana Department of NYCL collects Canadian genealogical material and local history, emphasizing North York and Ontario. It holds census returns for all of Canada on microfilm, and a very broad collection of Canadian immigration records, also on microfilm. Please see: http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/uni_can_index.jsp

The Canadiana Department of NYCL also houses a number of deposit collections for other organizations. The largest of these is the library of the Ontario Genealogical Society, which includes cemetery transcriptions and virtually all publications of OGS and its branches. Please see: http://www.ogs.on.ca/services/library.php

Other deposit collections at Canadiana are:

• Canadian Society of Mayflower Descendants
• Jewish Genealogical Society of Canada
• Société franco-ontarienne d’histoire et de généalogie
• York Pioneer and Historical Society

The catalogues for these collections may be consulted on the organizations’ web sites or in the library.

Archives of Ontario: Highlights for genealogical research

The AO is the repository for records of the Government of Ontario, including registration of births, marriages, and deaths; estate records (wills) and other court records; and early land records. It has the best collection of Ontario newspapers for places other than Toronto, and holds all available Ontario census returns on microfilm.
Please visit: www.archives.gov.on.ca