Visiting the Archives

The Thunder Bay Archives has a wide range of materials about the social, political, economic, natural, and built history of the City. This page contains information on: Archives hours and location, tours, finding aids, researcher guidelines, photocopies and reproductions, registration, access and privacy, and contact information.

HOURS AND Location

The City of Thunder Bay Archives is open from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday, except statutory holidays. The Archives building is at 235 Vickers Street North, near the intersection with Miles Street.

View Map to the Archives  Adobe PDF, 1 page, 76 KB

The Archives welcomes visitors at any time. For complicated research questions, you may wish to phone or e-mail ahead so that we can determine what materials are available to meet your needs.

Tours

Any interested individuals may request a tour of the City Archives facilities. Tours can also be arranged for school classroom trips. The City Archives holds an annual open house and public tour for Archives Awareness Week, and regularly participates in Doors Open.

You can request a tour of the Archives online using this site.

Finding Aids To holdings

An overview and listings of our holdings are available on this site. Archival materials are arranged by municipality – Thunder Bay, Port Arthur, Fort William, Townships, and private donations. Lists are also available of particular record types – photographs, maps, plans, and blueprints, and publications.

Visitors to the Archives will also be able to search our holdings database, and consult directories and local publications. Reference assistance is available.

The Archives is designed to provide the best possible environment for both the researchers who use it and the records they use. To preserve the physical and intellectual integrity of these historical records we ask that you:

• do not remove materials from the Archives
• make no marks or erasures on any materials
• wear gloves and exercise care when handling materials
• use a maximum of five items at a time
• credit the City of Thunder Bay Archives when publishing photographs or quoting from materials in our collection

Rules and Regulations  Adobe PDF, 1 page, 77 KB

Photocopies and Reproductions

Photocopies or microfilm prints are available for 55 cents per page. The student rate for photocopies is 25 cents per page.

High-resolution digital copies of photographs and other documents already scanned are available for research purposes at $2 per image; students are allowed the first five images at no charge. Images for publication are subject to approval, but may be available at $10 per image. Photographic reproductions are available at cost.

Researchers will be required to sign an agreement regarding the use of photographs and other images.

The Archives is open and accessible to everyone. However, when you visit the Archives for the first time, we will ask you to fill out a research application.

Research Application Adobe PDF, 1 page, 31 KB

Access and privacy

The Archives contains some materials that you may see only under certain conditions. Archival series have been classified under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Privacy Protection Act (MFIPPA). These designations are as follows:

Users requesting materials designated (A*) must wait for files to be reviewed by Archives staff. Materials designated (FOI) require a formal application for access.

How to Contact Us