Family History Research Guide

If you have an interest in learning more about your family history, the following resources can help you get started.

City of Victoria Archives

The City of Victoria’s Archives include a variety of records and resources to help you start your research. Many of these resources have descriptions available online to help you start your search. If you would like to view these resources in person, schedule a visit to the Archives. 

Archives’ Online Search  Plan A Visit

City Directories (1860–1999)

City directories can be a good resource for genealogists. They list names and addresses of residents of the city and environs. Often, they include information about an individual’s occupation. The City Archives has a large collection of directories, most of which are accessible on microfilm.

List of City Directories at the Archives

The Vancouver Public Library has digitized many B.C. related directories that can be accessed online.

B.C. City Directories 1860–1955

Newspaper Clippings

Newspaper clippings can be useful for information on prominent residents. The list of clipping files is searchable through the Archives’ Online Search.

Archives’ Online Clipping Files Search

Full issues of some newspapers are also available online:

Photographs

The City of Victoria Archives has an extensive photograph collection from a variety of sources. Many of these images are scanned and searchable through the Archives’ Online Search. Please note that these images represent only part of the Archives collection, as the scanning of records is ongoing.

Archives’ Online Photograph Search

Community Records

Community records or Private Records are documents created by a business, organization or family. These records include correspondence, journals, ledgers, photographs and property files.

The City Archives has descriptions of these community records. Find them through the Archives’ Online Search.

Archives’ Online Search

MemoryBC, British Columbia’s Archival Information Network, is another source for community records. MemoryBC has descriptions of records held by archives throughout the province. These can provide a more comprehensive search.

MemoryBC

Reference Library

The Archives has a modest collection of publications that deal with Victoria local history. These items cannot be signed out of the Archives, but visitors are welcome to consult them in the reference room. The reference library catalogue is also searchable through the Archives’ Online Search.

Archives’ Online Reference Library Search

Burial, Death & Marriage Indexes

The Archives has indexes of: 

  • Ross Bay Cemetery Burial Records (1872–1990)
  • death notices from the Victoria Daily Times (1901–1939)
  • marriage notices from the Victoria Daily Times (1901–1939) 

These indexes are available online.

Burial, Death & Marriage Indexes

Full death and marriage notices are available for viewing on microfilm at the Archives. Victoria Daily Times has these records available online through the ProQuest Portal (free access to B.C. and Yukon residents). Select ‘The Times Colonist’ to find these records.

Voters List (1908–1996)

These records mainly cover the period from 1908 to 1996, although a few earlier ones do exist. These records provide names and addresses. Due to privacy concerns, only lists 50 years or older can be released.

Canadian Census

Copies of the 1881 and 1891 federal census data, Victoria section, compiled by the Public History Group at the University of Victoria, are available at the Archives. 1881 was the first year a census was compiled for British Columbia.

Census records can be a useful research tool. They show name, marital status, birthplace, religion, age, sex, occupation, relationships within a household, etc. Information about these records is available through Library and Archives Canada.

Library and Archives Canada

Birth, Death & Marriage Records

Birth, death and marriage registrations are held by B.C. Archives.

B.C. Archives Genealogy Database

Frequently Asked Questions about Family History Research