Port Arthur was established as a Town in 1884 and as a City in 1907. The following series reflect the operations of Port Arthur prior to amalgamation in 1970 with the City of Fort William.
The City of Thunder Bay Archives uses four categories to describe how access may be granted to archival records:
- (A) The records are available for everyone to view.
- (A*) Some records might need special permission to view. Archives staff will perform a quick review upon request for access and may require you to file a formal request for some files or documents.
- (RST) Records are restricted and require a formal request for access. Access to records may be denied based on restrictions in the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. You may need to sign a research agreement before you can access these records.
- (PIB) These records are a Personal Information Bank and may only be accessed by the person to whom the records relate, or that person's representative.
Series without a classification code have not yet been designated, but are also be subject to Freedom of Information/Privacy legislation.
Requests for records classified as Restricted may be redirected as formal requests under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. In any case, requests for access will be processed as quickly as possible but cannot be done on the spot.
On most computers, you can search any of the finding aid PDF documents once opened by pressing CTRL-F or selecting "Find."
We have photos on the City of Thunder Bay Archives Flickr site! New photos added regularly.
If you require a PDF in an accessible format, contact our Municipal Accessibility Specialist.
Vital records
Access to vital records is governed by the Vital Statistics Act (1990).
Records will be made available after a period of:
- 95 years (records of births)
- 80 years (records of marriages)
- 70 years (records of deaths)
For any record more recent, all requests for access should be directed to:
The Office of the Registrar General
P.O. Box 4600
189 Red River Road
Thunder Bay, ON P7B 6L8
1-800-461-2156
InfoMGS@ontario.ca
Port Arthur archival records series
Series 17 - Council Minutes, 1884-1969 (A)
Series 18 - Indexes to Council Minutes, 1884-1969 (A)
Series 19 - By-laws, 1884-1969 (A)
Series 20 - Original Duplicate By-laws, 1959-1969 (A)
Series 21 - By-laws - Bound Volumes & Index, 1884-1964, Index 1954 (A)
Series 22 - Tax Ledgers & Indexes, 1884-1914 (RST)
- Series Description: Tax Ledgers & Indexes
- File list is not posted online due to privacy restrictions. Contact us for more information.
Series 23 - Assessment Rolls, 1886-1969; predominant 1950-1969 (A)
Series 24 - Tax Collector's Rolls, 1884-1965 (1966-1969 supplement) (A*)
Series 25 - Port Arthur Solicitor's Files, 1955-1964 (RST)
- Series Description: Port Arthur Solicitor's Files
- File list and Maps, Plans, Blueprints List are not posted online due to privacy restrictions. Contact us for more information.
Series 26 - Tax Arrears Ledgers, 1953-1966 (RST)
- Series Description: Tax Arrears Ledgers
- File list is not posted online due to privacy restrictions. Contact us for more information.
Series 27 - Auditor's Reports, 1915-1941 (A)
Series 28 - Parks & Recreation Files, 1908-1969; predominant 1950-1969 (A*)
- Series Description: Parks & Recreation Files
- File List: Parks & Recreation Files
- Maps, Plans, Blueprints List: Parks & Recreation Files
- Photographs List: Parks & Recreation Files
Series 29 - City Clerk's Files, 1905-1969; predominant 1950-1959 (A*)
- Series Description: City Clerk's Files
- File List: City Clerk's Files
- Maps, Plans, Blueprints List: City Clerk's Files
- Photographs List: City Clerk's Files
Series 30 - Licensing By-laws, 1918-1968 (A)
Series 33 - City of Port Arthur Legal Files, 1949-1963; predominant 1950-1959 (RST)
- Series Description: City of Port Arthur Legal Files
- File list and Maps, Plans, Blueprints List are not posted online due to privacy restrictions. Contact us for more information.
Series 34 - City Clerk's Agreement Files, 1903-1969; predominant 1950-1969 (A*)
- Series Description: City Clerk's Agreement Files
- File List: City Clerk's Agreement Files
- Maps, Plans, Blueprints List: City Clerk's Agreement Files
Series 35 - Records of Sale of Lands for Arrears of Taxes, 1918-1969; predominant 1933-1969 (A*)
- Series Description: Records of Sale of Lands for Arrears of Taxes
- File List: Records of Sale of Lands for Arrears of Taxes
Series 36 - Receipts for Land Sales for Taxes, 1892-1969; predominant 1933-1969 (A*)
Series 37 - Miscellaneous Tax Arrears and Tax Sale Records, 1897-1969; predominant 1940-1969 (A*)
- Series Description: Miscellaneous Tax Arrears and Tax Sale Records
- File List: Miscellaneous Tax Arrears and Tax Sale Records
Series 38 - Summary Register of Local Improvement, 1913-1930 (A*)
- Series Description: Summary Register of Local Improvement
- File List: Summary Register of Local Improvement
Series 39 - Miscellaneous Local Improvement Records, 1884-1969 (A*)
- Series Description: Miscellaneous Local Improvement Records
- File List: Miscellaneous Local Improvement Records
Series 44 - City of Port Arthur Board of Park Management Minutes and Index, 1913-1961 (A)
- Series Description: City of Port Arthur Board of Park Management Minutes and Index
- File List: City of Port Arthur Board of Park Management Minutes and Index
Series 45 - Port Arthur Industrial Survey Report, 1930-1931 (A)
- Series Description: Port Arthur Industrial Survey Report
- File List: Port Arthur Industrial Survey Report
Series 46 - Board of Police Commissioners Minutes, 1907-1969 (A*)
- Series Description: Board of Police Commissioners Minutes
- File List: Board of Police Commissioners Minutes
Series 47 - Parks and Recreation Committee Minutes Civic Recreation Committee, 1964-1969 (A)
- Series Description: Parks and Recreation Committee Minutes Civic Recreation Committee
- File List: Parks and Recreation Committee Minutes Civic Recreation Committee
Series 48 - Board of Park Management Records By-laws, General Ledger, Auditors Reports, 1911-1963 (A)
- Series Description: Board of Park Management Records By-laws, General Ledger, Auditors Reports
- File List: Board of Park Management Records By-laws, General Ledger, Auditors Reports
- Maps, Plans, Blueprints List: Board of Park Management Records By-laws, General Ledger, Auditors Reports
Series 49 - Board of Health Minutes, 1907-1916 and 1926-1956 (RST)
- Series Description: Board of Health Minutes
- File list is not posted online due to privacy restrictions. Contact us for more information.
Series 50 - Port Arthur Committee of Adjustment Records, 1951-1969 (A)
- Series Description: Port Arthur Committee of Adjustment Records
- File List: Port Arthur Committee of Adjustment Records
Series 51 - Transit Books, 1939-1969 (A)
Series 52 - Juror's Records, 1939-1969 (RST)
- Series Description: Juror's Records
- File list is not posted online due to privacy restrictions. Contact us for more information.
Series 53 - Board of Works Financial Records, 1961-1969 (A)
Series 54 - Payroll Records, 1954-1967 (RST)
- Series Description: Payroll Records
- File list is not posted online due to privacy restrictions. Contact us for more information.
Series 55 - Public Utilities Commission Financial Records, 1904-1969; predominant 1968-1969 (A*)
- Series Description: Public Utilities Commission Financial Records
- File List: Public Utilities Commission Financial Records
Series 56 - Miscellaneous Ledgers, 1917-1918, 1922-1970 (A*)
Series 57 - Cash Books; tax collection, 1962-1969; Receiving, 1932-1966; Paying, 1959-1961 (A)
Series 58 - Register of Special Water Rates, 1904-1954 (A*)
Series 59 - Public Utilities Trial Balance Records (Transit, 1960-1969; Telephone, 1962-1969; Waterworks, 1944-1969) (A)
- Series Description: Public Utilities Trial Balance Records
- File List: Public Utilities Trial Balance Records
Series 60 - Journal Vouchers, 1963-1969 (A)
Series 62 - P.A. Board of Electric Railway, Light & Telephone Commissioners Minutes, 1899-1905 And 1908-1910 (A)
- Series Description: P.A. Board of Electric Railway, Light & Telephone Commissioners Minutes
- File List: P.A. Board of Electric Railway, Light & Telephone Commissioners Minutes
Series 63 - Port Arthur Miscellaneous Records, 1912-1969 (A*)
Series 64 - General Ledger, 1960-1968 (A*)
Series 65 - Tax Bill Ledger Sheets, 1966-1969 (A*)
Series 88 - Public Utilities Commission Files, 1914-1969 (A)
- Series Description: Public Utilities Commission Files
- File List: Public Utilities Commission Files
- Maps, Plans, Blueprints List: Public Utilities Commission Files
- Photographs List: Public Utilities Commission Files
Series 92 - Aerial Photographs, 1949-1987 (A)
Series 93 - Official Plan Files, 1951-1969 (A)
Series 94 - Zoning By-law Amendment Files, 1961-1969 (A)
Series 95 - Subdivision Reference Files, 1964-1968 (A)
Series 96 - Subdivision & Agreement Files, 1950-1969 (A)
Series 99 - Field Assessment & Census Books, 1955, 1957, 1961-1966 (A*)
Series 101 - Treasurer's Operating Files, 1948-1969; predominant 1951-1967 (A*)
Series 102 - Public Utilities Reference Files, 1895-1948; Predominant 1909-1920 (A*)
- Series Description: Public Utilities Reference Files
- File List: Public Utilities Reference Files
- Maps, Plans, Blueprints List: Public Utilities Reference Files
- Photographs List: Public Utilities Reference Files
Series 105 - Financial Statements and Audit Reports, 1934-1969; predominant 1948-1969 (A*)
- Series Description: Financial Statements and Audit Reports
- File List: Financial Statements and Audit Reports
Series 110 - Fire Reports, 1922-1970 (A)
Series 111 - City Treasurer's Agreements for Property Sales, 1954-1969 (A*)
- Series Description: City Treasurer's Agreements for Property Sales
- File List: City Treasurer's Agreements for Property Sales
- Maps, Plans, Blueprints List: City Treasurer's Agreements for Property Sales
Series 118 - Port Arthur Deeds & Index, 1922-1969 (A)
Series 124 - Port Arthur Agreements for Sale & Purchase of Lands, 1922-1969 (A)
- Series Description: Port Arthur Agreements for Sale & Purchase of Lands
- File List: Port Arthur Agreements for Sale & Purchase of Lands
Series 127 - Indexes to Port Arthur City Clerk's Correspondence 1914-1969, predominant 1940-1969 (A*)
- Series Description: Indexes to Port Arthur City Clerk's Correspondence
- File List: Indexes to Port Arthur City Clerk's Correspondence
Series 133 - Tax Collector's Files, 1927-1969 (A*)
Series 145 - Applications & Records of House/Sewer Connections 1904-1912 (A)
- Series Description: Applications & Records of House/Sewer Connections
- File List: Applications & Records of House/Sewer Connections
Series 146 - Applications & Records of Water Works Service 1904-1911 (A)
- Series Description: Applications & Records of Water Works Service
- File List: Applications & Records of Water Works Service
Series 147 - Water and Sewer Installations 1911-1969; predominant 1926-1969 (A)
Series 166 - Public Works Reports, 1957-1963 (A)
Series 167 - Port Arthur Debenture Registers, 1885-1989 (A)
Series 169 - Indexes to Building and Plumbing Permits, 1914-1969 (A*)
- Series Description: Indexes to Building and Plumbing Permits
- File List: Indexes to Building and Plumbing Permits
Series 170 - Water Treatment Plant Daily Journals, 1915-1969 (A)
- Series Description: Water Treatment Plant Daily Journals
- File List: Water Treatment Plant Daily Journals
Series 173 - Tax Arrears Consolidation Agreements, 1935 (A*)
- Series Description: Tax Arrears Consolidation Agreements
- File List: Tax Arrears Consolidation Agreements
Series 174 - Property Leases, 1907-1951 (A)
Series 177 - Port Arthur Planning Board Minutes, 1951-1969 (A)
- Series Description: Port Arthur Planning Board Minutes
- File List: Port Arthur Planning Board Minutes
Series 178 - Street Service Records, 1904-1970 (A)
Series 183 - Negotiation, Conciliation & Arbitration Files, 1937, 1951-1968 (A*)
- Series Description: Negotiation, Conciliation & Arbitration Files
- File List: Negotiation, Conciliation & Arbitration Files
Series 184 - Thunder Bay Lands Limited - Agreements for Sale and Purchase, 1927-1929 (A)
- Series Description: Thunder Bay Lands Limited - Agreements for Sale and Purchase
- File List: Thunder Bay Lands Limited - Agreements for Sale and Purchase
Series 195 - Port Arthur Sinking Fund Records, 1924-1969 (A)
Series 201 - City Engineer's Files, 1875-1930 (A)
- Series Description: City Engineer's Files
- File List: City Engineer's Files
- Maps, Plans, Blueprints List: City Engineer's Files
Series 204 - City Engineer's Office Scrapbooks, 1962-1970 (A)
Series 214 - Port Arthur Vital Statistics, 1948-1969 (PIB)
- Vital Records: Restricted Access
- File List: Port Arthur Vital Statistics
Series 215 - Municipal Income Tax Records, 1924-1925 (A)
Series 218 - Port Arthur Tax Collector's Returns and Cash Books, 1905-1909, 1962-1969 (A)
- Series Description: Port Arthur Tax Collector's Returns and Cash Books
- File List: Port Arthur Tax Collector's Returns and Cash Books
Series 221 - Debenture By-law Files, 1941-1969 (A)
Series 238 - Port Arthur Miscellaneous Agreements & Contracts, 1897-1923 (A)
- Series Description: Port Arthur Miscellaneous Agreements & Contracts
- File List: Port Arthur Miscellaneous Agreements & Contracts
Series 273 - Port Arthur Fire Department Annual Reports, 1942-1968 (A)
- Series Description: Port Arthur Fire Department Annual Reports
- File List: Port Arthur Fire Department Annual Reports
Series 274 - Council Resolutions, 1907-1915 (A)
Series 445 - Building Permit Applications, 1912-1969 (A)
Series 451 - Port Arthur Plumbing Permits, 1960-1971
Series 464 - Unattributed Audiovisual Material, 1920-1995
- Series Description: Unattributed Audiovisual Material
- File list: Unattributed Audiovisual Material
- Maps, Plans, Blueprints List: Unattributed Audiovisual Material
- Photographs List: Unattributed Audiovisual Material
Series 484 - Board of Management of the Joint Home for the Aged Minutes, 1953-1956 (A)
- Series Description: Board of Management of the Joint Home for the Aged Minutes
- File List: Board of Management of the Joint Home for the Aged Minutes
Series 494 - Port Arthur Newspaper Clipping Scrapbooks, 1913 - 1969 (A)
- Series Description: Port Arthur Newspaper Clipping Scrapbooks
- File List: Port Arthur Newspaper Clipping Scrapbooks
File titles and descriptions are listed as they appear in the original records and have not been edited. These file listings may therefore contain variant spellings, inaccuracies, or terms which are now considered offensive. They have been left in this original format for historical authenticity.
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