Ontario Directories

Directories
Directories of heads of households can help in locating individuals in a certain place, especially when their names do not appear in the censuses. Many city and county directories from the 1840s to the present are available.

Online Directories

 * 1819-1906 - Canada, City and Area Directories, 1819-1906 Select Ontario in right drop-down menu.
 * Province of Ontario gazetteer and directory... : containing an alphabetically arranged list of post offices... a classified list of patrons -- 1910-11, ebook
 * Ontario City & Farmers Directories
 * The Canada directory for 1857-1858 : names of professional and business men, and of the principal inhabitants in the cities, towns and villages throughout the province ..
 * Canadian Directories Collection
 * Internet Archives, Directories of Toronto, ebooks, several years
 * Digital Toronto City Directories
 * Internet Archive Search: Directories Toronto

Archives of Ontario
The Archives holds a number of city and county directories on self-service microfilm. To search for these directories, click here to access our online library catalogue, BiBLION.
 * Search the name of the county or city to find the appropriate reel number.
 * For Toronto and London city directories, check Library finding aids L 15 Toronto City Directories on Microfilm and L 19 London, Ontario City Directories on Microfilm in BiBLION. The Toronto city directories are also available through microfilm interloan.
 * The Archives also has copies of microfilmed Bell telephone books for Ontario for 1879-1979. There is a microfilm listing on the General Reference bookshelves of the Reading Room. The microfilm may also be available through other libraries.


 * Microfilmed directories can be searched at the Archives of Ontario, requested in interlibrary loan for use in your local library, or you can hire a researcher from the provided list of individuals who are certified by the Board for Certification of Genealogists or who are members of the Association of Professional Genealogists.
 * Prepare for Your Visit to the Archives of Ontario.
 * For information and request forms for interlibrary loans, see What is the Microfilm Interloan Service?
 * Genealogical Researchers in Ontario