Resources

Maybe you’ve thought about researching your home’s history. Or perhaps you’re interested in finding out more about your neighbourhood. Jessica Algie, from the City of Toronto Archives, showed us how to dig into the city’s past by accessing city directories, insurance maps, photo archives, old newspaper files and other online databases. We offered the workshops to help our Mapping our Memory participants — our “Mappers” in their story collecting and research. Some 200 interested participants joined the two Zoom sessions. Her workshops were a great success. Jessica has shared useful links to various databases below. Watch the video, “Researching Toronto History Online,” for an excellent course on some of the powerful tools that are available to you.

Links

City of Toronto Archives

• Browse our web exhibits

• Online maps & fire insurance maps

• Photo searching

• Researching your home (or any building) step-by-step guide

Toronto Public Library

• Digital Toronto City Directories open access, no library card needed

• The Globe and Mail Historical Newspaper Archive requires Toronto Public Library card to access

• Toronto Public Library Digital Archive search archival photographs in the Toronto Public Library collection including the Toronto Star photographic archive

• Toronto Star Historical Newspaper Archive requires Toronto Public Library card to access

• TPL local history and genealogy resources an overview

Toronto Archives

• Flickr Toronto History browse Toronto Archives photos grouped by location or theme

• Instagram @toronto_archives latest news and updates, photo highlights, behind the scenes

• RESEARCH TUTORIALS. Watch Researching Your House +2

• Twitter @TorontoArchives archival photos and conversations about historic Toronto

• YouTube

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