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Explore Your Topic: Genealogy

Our librarians have handpicked the most helpful resources on this topic from the Library collection and online.

Two people in front of library books are looking at a microfiche that one person is holding up to the light. The other person is holding a newpaper facing the viewer.

On The Shelf

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Databases

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Ancestry Library Edition

Ancestry Library Edition

Discover your family history using records from the US, UK and Canadian census and vital records, immigration records, photos & more. Onsite access only.

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BC Historical Newspapers

BC Historical Newspapers

Explore over 125 years of BC newspaper archives including The Vancouver Sun (1912-2010); The Times-Colonist (1884-2010); The Province (1894-2010).

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Canadian Newsstream

Canadian Newsstream

Access over 300 BC & major Canadian daily newspapers, including The Vancouver Sun, Times Colonist, National Post, Globe and Mail, North Shore News & more.

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North Shore Digital Libraries

North Shore Digital Libraries

A special collection of digitized scans of newspapers from North Vancouver and West Vancouver, including the North Shore News from 1976-2000.

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Points to the Past

Points to the Past

Primary source historical content back to 1450, including The Smithsonian, Anti-Slavery Transnational Archive, treaties, declassified documents & more.

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UBC Library's Open Collections

UBC Library's Open Collections

UBC Library's Open Collections reflect the research interests of UBC and beyond. Of particular interest to Family Historians could be collections such as the BC Historical Documents, BC Historical Newspapers, and BC Sessional Papers, among many others.

On The Web

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B.C. Archives Vital Events Index (Royal BC Museum)

Electronic index to British Columbia's historical birth, death and marriage registration records. Search BC Archives indexes to births (1854-1903), marriages (1872-1941), deaths (1872-1996), colonial marriages (1859-1872) and baptisms (1836-1888).

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BC Genealogical Society

Home of the largest genealogical library in Western Canada! Although a small cost is associated with membership, several times a year, they open their library up to guests free of charge.

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Cyndi's List

Cyndi's List of Genealogical Sites on the Internet is a comprehensive, categorized & cross-referenced list of links that point you to genealogical research sites online.

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FamilySearch.org

From the LDS (Mormon) church, FamilySearch is the largest genealogy organization in the world. FamilySearch provides free access to 4+ billion names from all over the world. PLEASE NOTE: Some material is only available for viewing at a Family History Center. West Vancouver Memorial Library on the North Shore is a Family History Center and has access to that material.

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Library and Archives Canada

Access Canada’s rich heritage through digital and physical records, documents, multimedia and publications.

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MONOVA: Museum and Archives of North Vancouver

Search online for photographs, maps, plans, film, oral histories and more, or visit onsite in Lynn Valley to view records and collections.

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Surrey Public Library - Cloverdale Library

Surrey Libraries, at their Cloverdale Library, has over 5000 microfilms and over 3000 books in their archive. Access genealogical databases (at Cloverdale Library only): Ancestry, Find My Past World, Heritage Quest, Points to the Past, and Scotland Places.

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UK National Archives

The UK's central advisory body on archives and manuscripts. Use the "Help with your research" page to learn how to find and use military records, wills, the census and a wide range of other records to trace your ancestors.

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US National Archives - Genealogy

US genealogists/family historians main page for information, events, and research in genealogy and family history.

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Vancouver Public Library

VPL has a comprehensive genealogy and family history subject guide with helpful links to material in their own collection as well as links and ideas for searching elsewhere. VPL also hosts free workshops on topics of genealogical interest.

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West Vancouver Archives

Whether you're researching the history of your house, your neighbourhood, your family, or the development of the municipality, they have a variety of tools to assist you.

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