Local History and Archives
On this Page
Discover Hamilton’s Story
Discover Hamilton’s story. Since 1914, Hamilton Public Library has collected, preserved, and shared materials that illustrate the history of the Hamilton area and its peoples – the city’s natural and built environments, and the people who lived, worked, and made an impact here.
On this Page
Discover Hamilton’s Story
Discover Hamilton’s story. Since 1914, Hamilton Public Library has collected, preserved, and shared materials that illustrate the history of the Hamilton area and its peoples – the city’s natural and built environments, and the people who lived, worked, and made an impact here.
On this Page
Discover Hamilton’s Story
Since 1914, Hamilton Public Library has collected, preserved, and shared materials that illustrate the history of the Hamilton area and its peoples – the city’s natural and built environments, and the people who lived, worked, and made an impact here.
What You'll Find
Our collections span more than a century of collecting and include:
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- Photographs, images, and postcards
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- Maps, atlases, and plans
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- Newspapers, clipping files, and scrapbooks
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- City directories, telephone directories, and school yearbooks
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- Archival collections from local families, businesses, and organizations
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- Rare books and Canadiana
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- Local government documents
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- Audio, film, and video recordings
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- Copies of local census records, vital statistics indexes, and cemetery transcriptions
HPL Online
Government Documents Collection
Hamilton Spectator Historical
Collections
Our collections do not yet fully represent the many people and voices that make up Hamilton.
We are committed to a concerted effort to recognize, reflect, and amplify diverse voices and perspectives. Some records and descriptions contain language or depictions that are no longer used or appropriate today.
Local History and Archives is actively updating descriptions, contextualizing records, and building a collection that illustrates the history of all Hamilton’s peoples.
Explore
Resources
Images
Image Collections
Local History and Archives has a significant amount of images in our collection. A portion has been digitized and is available at these links.
Images can be used for personal reference or research use without prior permission. For any other use, please submit a Digital Reproduction Request.
Many materials in our collections are protected by Canada's Copyright Act. You may copy them for research or private study. If you wish to publish, share, or otherwise distribute them publicly, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. HPL owns the copyright for some materials; in other cases, another person or organization holds the copyright, or the owner cannot be identified. HPL cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of copyright information and is not responsible for your use of the material.
Learn More
- Searching and Accessing the Collection – how to find what you’re looking for and plan a visit
- Donating to the Collection – how to offer materials to the archives
- Reproductions – how to order digital copies of collection materials
Visit Us
Visit us in the Reading Room on the third floor of the Central Library.
For the most successful visit, we recommend contacting us a week in advance so staff can confirm materials are available or set them aside for you. Some materials are available by appointment only.
- Email: askhpl@hpl.ca
- Phone: 905-546-3200
- Location: Local History and Archives Reading Room, third floor, Central Library, 55 York Boulevard, Hamilton
Central Library Hours
Hours & Information
