Unboxing the Archives title card. Video title: The Archives of Ontario and You. Archives of Ontario (AO) and Government of Ontario Trillium logos, still photo of the AO montage wall featuring various records as the background image]
Narrator: Hi – ever wonder what Ontario’s provincial archives might have in store for you?
In this video, you’ll learn about the Archives of Ontario’s collections and services.
[Pan shot footage of AO’s public facility exterior on York University’s Keele campus at 134 Ian Macdonald Boulevard, Toronto, from a distance, with a researcher walking in front door]
Narrator: The Archives of Ontario is a premier source of information about the history of the land we now call Ontario and its people.
[Footage showing inside of AO vaults. Close-up pan shot of original record: Niagara Falls by Elizabeth Simcoe, July 30, 1792 (I0006923)]
Narrator: Since 1903, we’ve been collecting, preserving, and making available the documentary heritage of the province.
[Researcher looking at records in AO’s public Reading Room]
Narrator: Our collections document the decisions, functions and activities of the Government of Ontario.
Our collections also include records of provincial significance donated by individuals, businesses, and organizations that illustrate the history and development of Ontario.
[Sequence of records with zooming effect:
Woman holding a child, between 1900 and 1920 (I0024828)
Exterior of Toronto Eaton's Centre, circa 1977 (I0016047)
Letter from Margaret “Maggie” Brown to George Brown, Page 1, December 1, 1875 (F21-1-2-1_004)
Map of Algonquin National Park of Ontario, 1893 (I0032543)
Video clip of Murphy the Molar television announcement, circa 1972]
Narrator: At the Archives, we provide access to these unique records that date back to the 16th century and include everything from photographs to hand-written letters and diaries, published works, maps, architectural drawings, artwork, films, sound recordings, electronic documents, and more.
[Close-up shot of researcher looking at the publication titled Beautiful Ontario Canada’s Premier Province: The Lakeland Playground of America, 1932 (Archives of Ontario Library Collection, Govt Doc T & P Misc Box 2 no 9)]
Narrator: Our records are useful for many reasons, whether you’re exploring your family history, learning more about your community, or researching other topics in Ontario’s past.
[Researcher on computer viewing AO website from home]
Narrator: There are lots of ways to engage with our collections, both online and in person.
[Screen recording of AO website: A search in the Visual Database; scrolling down the “Tracing Your Family History” webpage]
Narrator: You can visit our website at ontario.ca/archives.
Here, you can access databases to discover our archival holdings, view thousands of digitized records online, explore our web exhibits, and prepare for an in-person visit.
Our most popular family history records are also available on Ancestry.ca, FamilySearch and other websites.
[Researcher walking in front entrance to AO]
Narrator: You can also visit our public facility on the Keele campus of York University in Toronto—accessible by subway.
[AO receptionist handing an Archives of Ontario researcher card to the researcher, followed by a close-up of the card]
Narrator: Becoming a researcher is free, and only requires a government-issued piece of photo ID.
[Pan shot of AO Reading Room, followed by a researcher at the reference desk in the AO Reading Room receiving archival boxes from an archivist]
Narrator: Before your visit, you can request original records to view in our Reading Room.
[Researcher opening up microfilm cabinets]
Narrator: Microfilmed records are available onsite in self-serve cabinets.
[Researcher interacting with a reference archivist at the reference desk in the AO Reading Room]
Narrator: Our knowledgeable reference staff are ready to help!
[Researcher viewing a record, making an “aha!” expression like they made a discovery in their research]
Narrator: Our collections and services are here for you.
[Text: ontario.ca/archives; reference@ontario.ca; Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube social media logos; AO and Government of Ontario Trillium logos, with pan image of AO image montage wall as background]
Narrator: Experience the Thrill of Discovery with the Archives of Ontario!