Archives of Ontario

Archives of Ontario We collect, preserve and share the documentary heritage of Ontario. Terms of use: ontario.ca/SocialTerms. The collection is further enhanced by the J. J. The J.

Suivez-nous en français : www.facebook.com/ArchivesON

Our customers have access to a unique and multi-faceted collection that includes records dating back to the sixteenth century and contains everything from hand-written ledgers to electronic files, hand-drawn maps, architectural drawings, photographs, films and sound recordings. Our archival collection is divided into government and private rec

ords. Talman Library and the Government of Ontario Art Collection. The majority of the records in the collections of the Archives were created by the Government of Ontario and its predecessors in the fulfillment of its legal and administrative functions. These records date from the late eighteenth century to the present day. They document political and legal decisions, the evolution of provincial administration, and the interaction between the government and its citizens. The Archives of Ontario also acquires records from the private sector. The Archives holds the records of over 2,600 private individuals, businesses, clubs and associations, labour and political organizations. The records include a large variety of collections ranging from the architectural records of the Horwood Collection, to the film archives of CFPL-TV, to the business records of the T. Eaton Company. Talman Library at the Archives of Ontario is a research and reference collection for the general public and the staff of the Archives. There are approximately 80,000 books, pamphlets, Ontario Government publications, periodicals, microfilm, microfiche and other printed and published items in the Library's collections. The Archives of Ontario also administers the Government of Ontario Art Collection, which comprises over 2,700 original works of art. The collection includes paintings, murals, works on paper, indoor and outdoor sculptures, antique furnishings and decorative objects. Reading Room Hours of Operation: www.archives.gov.on.ca/en/about/prepare.aspx

06/01/2026

In honour of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Toronto, we’re celebrating local soccer history here for the next few weeks!

These are just some of the records you’ll find in our new online exhibit, The World’s Game in Ontario. Check it out!
https://archives-on-en.visitlink.me/8060oF



Starting next week, we're doing a deep dive into our soccer records. It’s a sport that you might be hearing a thing or t...
05/29/2026

Starting next week, we're doing a deep dive into our soccer records. It’s a sport that you might be hearing a thing or two about in the coming months. From military teams in the early 20th century to professional teams in the 1970s and more!

There's a lot to share. Stay tuned!

[Dutch soldiers playing soccer by Herbert Nott in Ontario, circa 1940-1949 (Herbert Nott fonds, C 109-18-4-15 H, image I0008956)]

Talk about a photo you don't see every day. This photo from our The Globe and Mail collection shows workers putting the ...
05/28/2026

Talk about a photo you don't see every day. This photo from our The Globe and Mail collection shows workers putting the finishing touches on the iconic CN Tower in 1975. This last addition made it the tallest free-standing structure in the world at the time!

[Helicopter lifting CN Tower antenna into place, 1975 (The Globe and Mail subject photography, F 4695-1, image NCG16117A)]

The Ontario Northland has long connected communities across Northeastern Ontario. Today, the Polar Bear Express continu...
05/27/2026

The Ontario Northland has long connected communities across Northeastern Ontario. Today, the Polar Bear Express continues to run between Cochrane and Moosonee, while the Northlander passenger service is set to return for the first time in over a decade.

[Ontario Northland Railway train arriving at Timmins, circa 1949-1955 (Tourism promotion photographs collection, RG 65-35-1-675, box B116438)]

Watch out! Rollercoasters and waterslides weren't the only thrills in Vaughan when this photo was taken in 1988. Workers...
05/26/2026

Watch out! Rollercoasters and waterslides weren't the only thrills in Vaughan when this photo was taken in 1988. Workers used techniques like this to assemble this home in the neighbourhood of Maple in under five hours.

[Workers assemble a house in Maple, Vaughan, February 1, 1988 (The Globe and Mail subject photography, F 4695-1, image HPA075780A)]

05/25/2026

Ontario has long been famous for its unique fermented beverages, from the wines of Niagara and Prince Edward County to the craft beers of Waterloo and Kingston. But about the important role played by Black entrepreneurs in the province's wine, beer and spirit-making industries, past and present?

From John W. Lindsay’s highly successful nineteenth-century brewery in St. Catharines (famous for its lemon beer) to Niagara's Nyarai Cellars (founded in 2009), Black-owned and -operated businesses have long been creating distinctive Ontario drinks.

A freedom seeker born in 1805 who escaped the US and traveled north to Niagara, Lindsay became an abolitionist, community activist and highly successful businessman—perhaps the wealthiest Black man in the region at the time. Over 100 years later, Nyarai Cellars created its own "Origin" wine spritzer as a tribute to the Black community and a homage to its greater diaspora.

This , learn more about this history and many others in our onsite exhibit, Illuminate Black: Shining Light on the Black Presence in Ontario: https://archives-on-en.visitlink.me/xaiPfL

Today’s the day! Join us at the Archives of Ontario for Doors Open Toronto 2026! Take a look behind the scenes, meet our...
05/23/2026

Today’s the day! Join us at the Archives of Ontario for Doors Open Toronto 2026!

Take a look behind the scenes, meet our experts, and enjoy activities for all ages.

We’re just across the street from York U. TTC Station. Discover something unexpected! https://archives-on-en.visitlink.me/L7mZdN

May is Asian Heritage Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the histories, diverse cultures and significant contribut...
05/22/2026

May is Asian Heritage Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the histories, diverse cultures and significant contributions of people of East, South, Southeast and Central Asian descent to Ontario's past, present and future.

Renowned Ontario-based architect Raymond Moriyama, whose parents came to Canada from Japan in the 1920s, grew up in Hamilton and studied architecture at the University of Toronto . He went on to design many provincial landmarks as co-founder of Moriyama Teshima Architects, including the Bata Shoe Museum, the Ontario Science Centre, Science North and the Canadian War Museum.

We're proud to care for two collections of records that preserve Moriyama's professional and personal histories for future generations: the Raymond Moriyama fonds (F 4449) and the Moriyama and Teshima Architects fonds (F 2187). Visit our GLAM-Wiki page to discover photos from Moriyama's own collection, including images that capture his early school days and family trips to Niagara Falls: https://archives-on-en.visitlink.me/ybce85



1. Raymond Moriyama as an infant sitting on a wicker chair, circa 1930 (Raymond Moriyama fonds, F 2187, image I0020983)

2. Raymond Moriyama's father John Michi standing in front of his car; Raymond and his mother, Elsie Nobuko, are in the back seat, circa 1931 (Raymond Moriyama fonds, F 2187, image I0020984)

3. Raymond Moriyama's sister Margie, his mother Elsie Nobuko, and his sister Joan at Niagara Falls, circa 1945 (Raymond Moriyama fonds, F 2187, image I0020992)

Today is , a day to celebrate the rich history, diverse heritage and values of all those who call Ontario home. In hono...
05/21/2026

Today is , a day to celebrate the rich history, diverse heritage and values of all those who call Ontario home. In honour of the occasion, we're sharing the cover from the programme for the first flag raising ceremony at Queen's Park, Toronto, on May 21, 1965.

[Flag raising ceremony for the Ontario flag, 1965 (Ministry of Colleges and Universities alphabetical central registry files, RG 32-1-1, image I0052583)]

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134 Ian Macdonald Boulevard
Toronto, ON
M7A2C5

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Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm

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