Local History at Thunder Bay

Public Library

TBPL has an extensive collection of materials about the Thunder Bay area, ranging from first-hand accounts of early explorers to contemporary books by local writers.  Materials are in various formats and include topics such as the Fur trade, the environment, wildlife studies and medical research. 

Special collection items are often fragile and one-of-a-kind; therefore they are for in-library use only and are accessible during regular hours at the Brodie Resource Library. Handling Procedures and Terms of Use for special collection materials are available for review prior to visiting the library.Out of town researchers may submit requests for information via our e-mail reference form.  Staff can provide facts, figures and short answers on local topics; however, some service limits may apply.

Collection Highlights:           

Photographs:

• Includes more than 3,000 photographs, some dating back to the late 1800's. 
• Library staff will scan individual photographs for $5.00 per scan.
• Copyright rules apply.

Newspapers:

• Newspapers on Microfilm - From 1875 to the present
• City Directories - From 1884 to 2004
• The Fort William Newspaper Index - Covers the Fort William Daily Times Journal from 1933 to 1970.
• Newspaper clippings and local pamphlet material date from the late 1950's to 1989

 Obituaries:

•  A print index is available from 1988 to the present
• Earlier notices can be referenced through additional resources at the Brodie Reference department such as the Fort William newspaper index which dates back to 1933. 

Map Collection:

• Hundreds of maps dealing with Thunder Bay, the surrounding region, Ontario, Canada and areas outside of Canada, some dating to the early 1900s
• At the Brodie Resource Library, the map collection includes maps on:o   Mineral deposits, mining, aeromagnetics, geological resources and water and forest resources
• There are also nautical and shipwreck maps housed at the library, as well as maps which delve into recreational areas such as fishing and canoe trails
• The Waverley Resource Library has a large collection of road maps and visitor guides for Canada and the United States
• Please click on these links to view our Map Catalogues:

                    TBPL Map Collection 1 (Outside Thunder Bay)

                    TBPL Map Collection 2 (Thunder Bay)

                    TBPL Road Maps and Visitor Guides

Books:

• Local History
• Thunder Bay
• Northwestern Ontario

Online Databases:

 Ancestry Library Edition

• The largest online genealogy resource available
• Includes over 4,000 complete databasesand more than 4 billion names from the US, UK, Canada, Ireland and other countries
• New content is added every week
• Available on public internet stations at all four branches of the Thunder Bay Public Library

 Gateway to Northwestern Ontario History

• Virtual gallery of historic photographs, books, drawings and artifacts from the libraries and museums of Northwestern Ontario
• Project is funded by the Ministry of Culture through the OurOntario project. OurOntario.ca provides access to the digital collections of the Thunder Bay Public Library, as well as other libraries, archives, museums, historical societies, government agencies, and private collections from across Ontario and Canada

 Thunder Bay News Index

• Sponsored by The Chronicle-Journal, the Thunder Bay News Index is a subject index bringing together newspaper and magazine articles on Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario
• Includes more than 50,000 headlines over the past 15+ years. Updates are provided quarterly
• The full text of these items is available at the Brodie Resource Library on microfilm

Ontario Genealogical Society Collection

The Ontario Genealogy Society houses their library of resources at the Brodie Resource Library for the benefit of genealogy enthusiasts. The OGS Collection includes:

• OGS newsletters and reports
• Print resources pertaining to Thunder Bay and District
• Guides, how-to’s, directories, indexes and bibliographies that concentrate on Ontario region
• Information on researching other areas of Canada and outside of Canada
• Death and birth recordso   Family trees
• Census information
• Obituary indexes

Other Resources:

City of Thunder Bay Archives 
Fort William Historical Park
Fort William Historical Park Library
Lakehead University - Northern Studies Resource Centre
Northwestern Ontario Aviation Heritage Centre
Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame
Thunder Bay Founders Museum and Pioneer Village
Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society
Thunder Bay District Branch - Ontario Genealogical Society
The Ontario Heritage Toolkit is a series of guides that explain different aspects the Ontario Heritage Act, the Planning Act, the Historic Places Initiative, and related programs.