About the Archive

Our archival collections span over 500 linear meters of records. They include 30,000 photographs, 200 rare posters, as well as correspondences, programmes, flyers, manuscripts, textiles, artifacts, audio-visual materials, and materials dating from the late 19th century to present day.

Subject areas covered by our photographic and textual records include educational history, the labour movement, women’s rights movement, Yiddish literature and poetry, Canadian art, politics, music and entertainment, religion, portraits of families and individuals, and images of community events, schools, camp, and more.

The Archives is a dynamic collecting body. Donating personal and corporate records to the Archives ensures their preservation and access to researchers and future generations. Local institutions and organizations, as well as families and individuals can donate records.

We accept:

• Family papers (correspondence, journals or diaries, vital records, biographical and genealogical information).
• Photographs and already digitized audiovisual material.
• Business, organizational, or institutional records (minutes, by-laws, etc.).
• Posters, playbills, programmes, and ephemera from the community.

Note that archival material is original and unique. As a result, we do not accept photocopied materials. Similarly, the Archives does not take published material due to reasons of copyright legislation.

The work of the Jewish Public Library Archives is generously supported by the Azrieli Foundation, and the Alex Dworkin Foundation for Jewish Archives.