Upcoming Dates:
- Fri Feb 07
- Fri Mar 07
- Fri Apr 04
- Fri May 02
Local History & Genealogy
Research history and genealogy in Toronto and beyond. Our largest collections are at Toronto Reference Library, with smaller collections at other locations. We also have many online resources.
Online research tools
-
Digital Archive
170,000+ historical photos, books and Toronto maps digitized from our collections.
-
Resources by neighbourhood
Interactive map to explore our photos, books and maps related to Toronto neighbourhoods.
-
City directories
Digital and print city directories of Toronto from the 19th and 20th century.
-
Fire insurance plans
Maps that can help you track the history of Toronto houses and other buildings (1858 to 1973).
-
Ancestry Library Edition
Genealogy tool with birth, marriage and death records and Census of Canada records.
-
Canadiana Online
Digitized books, government publications and newspapers on Canada, from European contact to early 20th century.
-
Fold3
Genealogical resource featuring historical documents and military records for the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the U.K.
-
HeritageQuest
Genealogical resource featuring archival records, family histories and primary sources dating back to the 1700s for the United States and Canada and select countries.
-
Digital newspapers
Research guides
For in-person help, visit a location with a local history collection. If you need in-depth help, Book a Librarian for a 30 or 60 minute appointment.
Local history and genealogy collections
-
Local history collections at Toronto Public Library
Full list of local history collections at our branches and two research libraries.
Books
- Toronto biographies
- Toronto buildings
- Toronto genealogy
- Toronto photo books
- Fiction featuring Toronto
- Indigenous histories
Upcoming programs
-
C.W. Jefferys: Four Generations at 4111 Yonge St.
Wed Jan 29, 2025 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: Northern DistrictNancy Baines, granddaughter of artist and illustrator Charles William Jefferys, will give an illustrated talk on Jefferys and the four generations of their family who lived in the heritage home just north of York Mills....
-
Out from the Shadows: Women and their Work in 19th-century Toronto
Tue Feb 04, 2025 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Location: YorkvilleAuthor Elizabeth Gillian Muir discusses her book, An Unrecognized Contribution: Women and their Work in 19th-century Toronto, which details the work that women did in the city that has not been recognized in ear...
-
Ancestry Library Club
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm on recurring dates listed below
Location: BrentwoodLearn basic search techniques to find your ancestors records using the popular genealogy database Ancestry Library Edition. Over the course of this series you will learn the basics of family trees, search Ancestry for birth,...