Research Links – Toronto
Bill Gladstone's Genealogy
Bill Gladstone’s Genealogy
Bill Gladstone is a Toronto-based journalist, author, publisher, public speaker, and noted genealogist. He has written numerous short stories for Parchment, the Canadian Jewish literary journal, written and published books on the history of Toronto families and synagogues, the Jewish community of London, Ontario, and the exploration of Jewish genealogy.
His website, www.billgladstone.ca, contains links to online copies of historic Toronto and Canadian genealogical resources, including books and vital records, as well as thousands of articles he has written about Toronto Jewish history.
Back to topCemeteries and Funeral Homes
Cemeteries and Funeral Homes
Cemeteries and Funeral Homes
The Greater Toronto Area (GTA) has 12 main Jewish cemeteries, most of which contain burial grounds for a large number of synagogues. A description of the burial grounds can be found here: http://iajgscemetery.org/canada/ontario-on/toronto Note that Oakville, Hamilton, and other cities and towns around the province also have Jewish burial grounds.
Additional information about the individual cemeteries can be found on the website of Steeles Memorial Chapel, one of Toronto’s two Jewish funeral homes. This information, along with a map, can be found at the bottom of each web page below, under the listings of current funerals.
Back to top- Bathurst Lawn Memorial Park
- Beth Tzedec Memorial Park
- Dawes Road Cemetery
- Holy Blossom Memorial Park
- Pape Avenue Cemetery
- Jones Avenue Cemetery
- Lambton Hills Cemetery (aka Lambton Mills)
- McCowan Road Cemetery
- Mount Sinai Memorial Park
- Pardes Chaim Cemetery
- Pardes Shalom Cemetery
- Roselawn Cemetery
City Directories
City Directories
Toronto City directories (1833–1969) have been digitized and are available online from the Toronto Public Library, the Archives of Ontario, and the City of Toronto Archives.
The Ontario Genealogical Society also has an excellent chart with links to all available city directories available online. https://torontofamilyhistory.org/researching-toronto-ancestors/city-directories/ In addition, the library houses many city directories from not only the rest of Ontario but across Canada.
The entire run of print directories can be viewed on open shelves in the Humanities and Social Sciences Department on the second floor of the Toronto Reference Library.
Back to topCity of Toronto Archives
City of Toronto Archives
The City of Toronto Archives holds a large variety of historical records reflecting the history and work of the government of the City of Toronto and its various boroughs and municipal governments, which manage the affairs of the city and its residents. Some records, including photographs, are available online. Check the website to see what is available https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/accountability-operations-customer-service/access-city-information-or-records/city-of-toronto-archives/. You can search records by topic as well as by type of record.
Records include:
Back to top- records created by the City of Toronto government
- records created by municipal governments that existed before the 1998 amalgamation of Toronto municipalities
- papers of people, families, organizations, and businesses
- over 1.25 million photographs, dating from 1856
- over 10,000 maps, aerial photographs, plans and architectural drawings
- city directories
- assessment rolls
- bylaws
- building permits and plans
- city directories
- council proceedings
- fire insurance maps and plans
Historical Newspaper Collections
Historical Newspaper Collections
Historical Newspaper Collections
Back to top- Canadian Jewish News: Issues of this weekly English-language newspaper, published in Toronto, dating from 1 January 1960 to 23 December 1993, and for Montreal as of 2010, have been digitized. They have been digitized and are available on the Simon Fraser University Digitized Newspapers site: https://newspapers.lib.sfu.ca/cjn2-collection.
- Canadian Jewish Reviewwas founded in 1921 in Toronto and added a Montreal office and edition in 1929. In 1966, it merged with the Canadian Jewish Chronicle to become the Chronicle Review, publishing until 1976. This collection has been digitized for the years from 1921 to 1966 and is available on the Simon Fraser University Digitized Newspapers site: https://newspapers.lib.sfu.ca/mcc-cjr-collection
- Toronto Star Historical Newspaper Archive (1894–2016), which has been made available by the Toronto Public Library, is available online to Toronto Public Library cardholders. https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDMEDB0111&R=EDB0111
- Globe and Mail Historical Newspaper Archive (1844–2016) has been made available by the Toronto Public Library and is available online to Toronto Public Library cardholders. https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDMEDB0057&R=EDB0057
Toronto Family History Centre
Toronto Family History Centre
Toronto Family History Centre (TFHC)
24 Ferrand Drive, Don Mills, Ontario
(416) 422-5480 x111
The Toronto Family History Centre has online resources as well as a library of resources from the Family Search organization based in Salt Lake City. https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Toronto_Ontario_Family_History_Centre
Back to top- Links to their online resources will download a searchable PDF to your computer. A complete list of these resources is available to download at http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/en/microfilm/c_gsuconversion.aspx. The resources are grouped according to region by content or subject matter. The file is searchable for terms like the town, city, or village.
- On-site, the Centre has ten computers available for use that provide access to digital images on FamilySearch and free access to subscription websites, like Ancestry, FindMyPast, MyHeritage, 19th Century British Newspapers, etc. through the Family History Library Portal.
- The Centre has more than 15,000 items in its library to assist those pursuing their family history, which are available to use on-site.
Toronto Reference Library
Toronto Reference Library
Toronto Reference Library (TRL)
Main branch of the Toronto Public Library (TPL) 789 Yonge Street, one block north of Bloor Street. The closest subway stop is Yonge.
The Toronto Reference Library is the largest public reference library in Canada with an extensive collection of books, manuscripts, microfilm, and other items. Most items in its collection are designated for reference-use only, so the public is unable to borrow these items for use outside the library. It is the research branch of the Toronto Public Library (TPL).
The library is known for its local history and genealogy resources. These include online research tools that focus on their digital archive of photos, books, and Toronto maps, city directories, fire insurance plans, access to the Ancestry Library Edition, Canadiana Online, and digital newspapers. Their local history and genealogy guide has online research tools, research guides, programs, local history collections, and books that support genealogical research.
Some of the most useful resources include:
Back to top- Digital archive of 170,000+ historical photographs, books, and Toronto maps.
- Digital newspaper databases for the Toronto Star Historical Newspaper Archive (1894–2016) and the Globe and Mail Historical Newspaper Archive (1844–2016). These are available online with a TPL library card.
- Fire insurance atlases and plans — detailed maps used to research the history of buildings and neighbourhoods. Atlases cover the city as a whole. Plans cover specific neighbourhoods and often have more detail than atlases. Library holdings include online atlases and plans (1858–1912) or print versions (1858–1973), found onsite in the Toronto Reference Library.
- JGS Toronto’s Library Collection is also located at the Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street (at Bloor Street). The collection is a reference, non-circulating collection, and is housed in closed stacks on the 2nd floor in the Humanities and Social Sciences Department. An index to our Society’s library resources is found at: https://practice.jgstoronto.ca/jgstoronto-library-collection/
Toronto Ukrainian Genealogy Group (TUGG)
Toronto Ukrainian Genealogy Group (TUGG)
Toronto Ukrainian Genealogy Group (TUGG)
The Toronto Ukrainian Genealogy Group (TUGG) is a non-profit cultural and educational organization consisting of persons interested in tracing their ancestors. It operates out of the St. Vladimir Institute, which is located at 620 Spadina Avenue, Toronto. It offers lectures, guidance, assistance, and instruction for its members. TUGG undertakes research in the fields of Ukrainian genealogy, which it shares with participants.
Back to topUniversity Libraries
University Libraries
University libraries
Toronto has three universities: the University of Toronto, York University, and Ryerson University — each with large reference libraries. Their collections can be viewed by going to their websites. In most cases, one must be a student to enter the library or to use their resources. However, the bibliographic information contained about their collections can be useful to help plan a research strategy. The largest collection is contained at the University of Toronto.
The University of Toronto Libraries has produced a Research Guide to Jewish Studies that provides information and links to primary sources and published materials available in their library. Robarts Library is the largest academic library in Canada. Its collection focuses mainly on the humanities and social sciences and contains many print and archival documents of use in genealogical research. Important sources are a large collection of published and unpublished sources, including yizkor books, historical newspapers, archives, encyclopedias of Jewish communities in Eastern Europe and the Islamic world, access to online resources around the world, and archival collections of photographs, stories, film, and exhibitions.
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