Collections and Research

Online Collection

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Explore our current online collection Explore our old online collection

The Lambton County Archive collection consists of archival documents that share the stories of the people and places of Lambton County. We have primary and secondary sources to help you with your genealogy and local history research.

While we have some reference books and indexes publicly accessible in the Reading Room, some documents such as letters, photos, and unique books are held in the vault. Staff will happily retrieve documents for you to access during your visit.

archive materials on a shelf.

Maps are fragile however they are significant to us understanding changing population patterns from the past. Maps are made available upon request and date as far back as the 1830's in Lambton.

Records, images, and materials held by the Lambton County Archives are historical and contain language or depictions of people and places that are representative of their time. This may include problematic wording, cultural references, and stereotypes that may be harmful to racialized and marginalized populations. Maintaining these original records and making them available to students, researchers, and the public assist in understanding the historic and continued burden marginalized communities may face.

If you encounter records with harmful language or inaccurate statements in our catalogue or collections, please notify our staff team at archives@county-lambton.on.ca. We appreciate your feedback as we are actively reviewing and enhancing our records.

Interested in donating an artifact to the Archives?

Artifact Donation

Collection Highlights

*If you are interested in material not listed below, please contact us and we are happy to help.

Family Files

Thousands of family surname files which may contain family trees, family group sheets, letters, wills, photographs, and newspaper clippings.

Local Newspapers

Dozens of local newspapers, including the Sarnia Observer from 1853-present, Petrolia Topic from 1874-present, and Watford Guide-Advocate from 1878-present. For a full listing, visit Newspapers at the Lambton County Archives.

Land Records

Land abstracts and instruments (deeds, mortgages, bargain and sales, wills) for Lambton County, Township Papers. View our land records page or the land records website for more information!

Cemetery Records

Transcriptions for cemeteries in Lambton, Kent, Middlesex, and Huron Counties.

Directories

City and telephone directories for Lambton can be used to locate individuals geographically at a certain point in time.

Municipal Records

Local government records including by-laws, council minutes, assessment and collectors rolls.

Historical Atlases

Originally published in the late 19th century, these historical atlases for Ontario counties were edited and reprinted in the 1970s. Maps, directories, and historical sketches of townships provide great insight into local history.

Census Records

Microfilm reels of Canadian census records for all of Ontario and most of Canada (early censuses, 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891, 1901, 1911, 1921 and 1931).

Ontario Vital Statistics

Ontario Vital Statistics has microfilm reels which contain registrations of Ontario births (1869-1914,) marriages (1869-1929), and deaths (1869-1939), as well as Overseas Death Registrations of Ontarians who died in military service during 1939-1947.

Lambton Branch of Ontario Genealogical Society Library

Reference books, indexes, and family histories housed in the Archives' reading room and accessible to the public. For a full listing of their library holdings, please visit the Lambton County Branch website.

Genealogy

One of our specialties at the Archives is assisting researchers with genealogical or family history research. In addition to documents such as family files, local newspapers, and land records, we have an extensive reference library which can help you trace your family tree and put your research into context. Visit our Genealogy page to learn more.

Research

If you are conducting any kind of research, our research page is a great place to start.

Digital Resources

Virtual Books

There are several virtual books are available for free online through the archives website for you to read and enjoy. View our virtual books to learn more about Lambton County History.

Historic Newspapers by ProQuest

Explore a range of historical and family documents including local newspapers, land registry information and more on the Lambton County Library page for History and Genealogy. With archival materials going back to 1853, you can start tracing your roots or researching Lambton County's past by using ProQuest.

Online Resources for Research

Listed below are online resources that are useful for genealogy and local history research:

Name	Notes
The Ancestor Hunt	Helpful resource guides.
Ancestry Library	Access available at any Lambton County Library location or at Lambton County Archives. Tip: Use Card Catalogue function in searching
The Canadian County Atlas Project (McGill University)	1880 Ontario County maps available with land and lot owner information. Searchable and exportable database by name, county, township, town, on the map. Walkers and Miles Atlases
Canadiana	Early Canadiana Online (ECO) collection – full-text historical content including books, magazines and government documents
Cyndi's List	List of online genealogical sites and resources. Updated almost daily; categorized and cross-referenced
David Rumsey's Map Collection	Contains more than 150,000 maps from rare 16th century maps to 21st century maps (global content, North American content)
DNA Painter	Tool that helps genealogists make sense of DNA testing Includes shared CMV4 tool to help interpret centimorgan results (DNA/Ancestral linkage)
Family Search	Free Membership Research Wikis especially helpful. Use catalogue function – i.e Vernon’s Directories
Internet Archive: Digital Library of Free & Borrow able Books, Movies, Music & Wayback Machine	Non-profit library Digital copies of books and publications including ”Beers Book”, directories, newspapers, yearbooks, audiovisual, and more.
Last Post Database (Legion Magazine)	Service Files for WWII War Dead
Library and Archives Canada	Of special note: access to online directories in PDF; census records 1666 - 1926; military service files
ONLAND	Ontario Land Property Records Portal Digital access to historical books Searchable by lot/concession/plan, which can be obtained via address, pin or by using map.
Ontario Cemetery Finding Aid	Searchable database for Ontario graves.
Ontario Heritage Property Index	Searchable database and map for heritage properties in Ontario. Pre-Confederation Maps and Ancestors Database
Ontario Historical County Maps Project (University of Toronto)	Map application – geospatial database of land occupancy, cultural information and environmental change Historical maps are overlaid to help navigate with present-day configurations. Searchable with location query or by name. Currently no maps of Lambton.
Our Roots	Formerly hosted by University of Calgary & University Laval – content is being moved to new digital platform (not currently online) Formerly a free digital library of local histories. Transitioning to new host site.
ProQuest	Access provided by Lambton County Library. Access to Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, and Windsor Star.
TONI - The Ontario Name Index	OGS site Searchable name index

Lambton's Stories

Discover the heart and soul of Lambton County through Lambton's Stories, a captivating collection that brings to life the people, places, and events that define our community. Dive in, explore, and be inspired by the stories that make Lambton truly special.

View Lambton's Stories →

Share Your Story

COVID-19 has impacted how our local community lives day-to-day, so it is essential to capture this unique moment in history. Join our community and share your story about your pandemic experience.

Preserve Your Documents

Many family documents, photos, letters, and diaries are passed down from generation to generation. Learn how to preserve your own family documents by visiting our Preserving Your Documents page.

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