Research at the Archives

The Archives can assist researchers looking for information about Winnipeg’s history.

Our services include:

Reference services

To ask about a historical topic and/or record, please contact us.

Our staff may be able to help by identifying resources but can’t conduct in-depth research on your behalf.

Research appointments

To visit the Archives, please contact us to make an appointment.

When visiting, you will be greeted by one of our staff members, asked to sign in, and given an orientation to the research room.

To protect the archival records, the following rules apply in the research room:

  • No food or drink is permitted
  • Pencils only
  • Documents must be handled with care
  • Backpacks and large bags are kept in lockers onsite

Research guides and tips

A series of guides can be found on the Winnipeg in Focus help page. 

To ensure that your visit to the Archives is successful, we suggest the following: 

  • Know your topic: Consult published material and determine what work has already been done on your topic
  • Formulate your question: Identify the topic, time period, and focus of your inquiry as much as possible
  • Discuss your topic with Archives staff: When you contact the Archives, discuss your topic with staff. We can advise what records are available and how much time it will take to go through them
  • Allow enough time: Be sure to give yourself enough time to use the Archives. It often takes more time than expected to pull records, review records, and take notes

Copyright

Researchers are responsible for following copyright laws and for citing archival records.

Citation

  • Records from the City of Winnipeg Archives should be cited as follows:
    • City of Winnipeg Archives, [Title], [Box/File/Item and/or Page reference].
    • Example: City of Winnipeg Archives, Parks and Recreation photograph collection, Box A52, File 21, Item 3, Page 1.

Access

Archival records are available for access by the public, with the following exceptions:

  • Access to some civic government records is restricted by Provincial access and privacy legislation
  • Access to some non-government records is restricted and donor permission is required
  • Access may be restricted or limited if records are fragile or require treatment before they can safely be handled

Visit the access to information website for more information about requesting access to City of Winnipeg records under The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

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