In Our Collection

Canadian Directories

Library and Archives Canada has one of the richest Canadian directory collections in the world. The collection includes Canadian national, provincial/territorial, county and city directories, primarily of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, in paper, microform and electronic formats. The earliest directory held by Library and Archives Canada is a microfilm copy of a 1790 volume for Quebec City.

The collection is housed in the Reference Room on the second floor and is available for onsite consultation. Directories are not available for interlibrary loan. Photocopying of original directories is not permitted, although prints can be made from microform copies, for a fee. See: Photocopies and Reproductions to obtain a copy from microform.

Service and Opening Hours

A selection of directories has been digitized by Library and Archives Canada. A searchable database of these volumes is accessible at the following address: www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/canadiandirectories/index-e.html