North York Central Library Blog

Getting Started

The Society & Recreation Department at the North York Central Library houses the North York History Collection where you can find books, newspapers, photographs and maps of people, places and events in North York. Both Society & Recreation and the Humanities and Social Sciences Department at Toronto Reference Library house minutes, reports, planning documents etc. from the former municipality of North York.

Searching the Library Website

Suggested Subjects and Keywords (to limit results, use Advanced Search and the subject field)

• Land use-Ontario-North York
• "North York" history
• "North York" township
• York Ont county
• York Ont township

Suggested Titles

• Don Valley Conservation Report, 1950 (Chapter 2 Land Settlement available at North York History Collection 333.720971354 D)
• Humber Valley Report: Land and Settlement
• North York: Realizing the Dream
• North York lot owners
• Pioneering in North York

Using Online Resources

• Visit the Toronto Neighbourhoods Map

• click on a neighbourhood name and follow the link for books and digitized images

Recommended Websites

• North York Historical Society includes a timeline of North York history
• Toronto and its neighbourhoods - North York (from TPL website)

Recommended Databases

• Toronto Public Library Digital Archive
This archive contains digitized images including photos, books and maps.

• Globe and Mail - Canada's Heritage from 1844 (Toronto Public Library card login required)

• Toronto Star - Pages of the Past (Toronto Public Library card login required)

In-Library Resources

Database

• Ancestry Library Edition (access from any Toronto Public Library computer)

Files

• North York History Files 
Contains mainly newspaper articles about North York people, places and events . (In Reading Room)

• North York Pamphlet Files
Contains pamphlets and other material concerning North York people, places and events. (In Closed Reference Stacks)

• North York Historical Society Scrapbooks (also available on microfilm reels NY022 - NY026)

• Urban Affairs Scrapbook Collection (years 1969-1999 available on microfiche)
→More

scrapbooks

Newspapers on Microfilm

• Bayview-Mills Town Crier (1993- [almost] present)*
• Bayview Post (1989-[almost] present)*
• Enterprise (1926-1969) [some issues missing]
• Mirror (various editions: 1957-[almost] present)*
• North York News (1951-1995)
*More recent issues available in paper format

Microfilms

• Abstract index [by lot and concession number], York Township (Reel LML 1494+)
• Assessment Rolls, York Township, 1882-99 (Reel LML 2-105-6+)
• Deeds, York Township,1868+ (Reel LML 1455-6+)
• York County Surrogate Court Records Index 1940-1967 (Reels MS 869)

Additional Resource

• Directories (list in North York History Files) and some extracts (917.1354 Y in North York History Collection)
• Family histories
• Maps and aerial photos (see finding aid Guide to Canadiana Maps)
• Municipal Documents (former City of North York documents such as official plans, minutes of North York Council)
• Photographs
• Township Papers (Toronto and York)
• Voters' Lists, York Township and North York (1942+)

For further assistance contact:

North York Central Library, Society & Recreation Department 416-395-5660

Humanities and Social Sciences Department, Toronto Reference Library 416-393-7175