Archives - Anglican Diocese of Ottawa

Acquisition Policy

The Diocesan Archives’ collection policy provides for the acquisition of parish and Diocesan records that include:

Parish registers; records of births, baptisms, confirmations, marriages, deaths and burials
Vestry records; including annual reports, attendance records, minutes and related papers from meetings
Service registers; also called Vestry Books
Records of committees and organizations; including minutes, reports and correspondence of groups such as building committees, choirs, Sunday schools, parish councils, men’s groups, women’s organizations, and youth groups
Financial records
Property records; including contracts, deeds, architectural plans, building permits, indentures, petitions for consecration, etc
Service bulletins and leaflets; for regular and special events
Correspondence; including parish mailings
Parish newsletters
Historical information; books, booklets and news clippings
Photographs: identified as completely as possible by view, date, event and persons depicted
Guest books, parish lists and photo directories
Special collections and informational materials; usually identified by source and by topic, including scrapbooks

The Archives’ collection also includes the following Diocesan records:

Bishops’ papers
Episcopal Office records
Synod journals
Diocesan Council records
Governance and Communications Committee records
Financial Affairs Committee records
Parish Ministry Development Committee records
Risk and Audit Committee records
Diocesan newspapers
Papers of prominent clergy and laypeople

* The Diocesan Archives does not purchase archived materials.

* Parish registered for these locations are in the collection of the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa Archives. Access is subject to provisions of the Privacy Act, the Personal Information Protection and Electronics Documents Act.

Fee Schedule

Certificate (or certified transcript) of baptism, confirmation, marriage or burial* $30 each
Preliminary genealogical research requests (taking up to half an hour to carry out)* $20
Professional genealogical research* $40 per hour
Access to Parish registers by visitors* $3 per vol.
Access to Parish registers on official church business* No charge
Searching online database of 800,000 baptisms, marriages, burials $5 per hour; $2 for 20 minutes
Photocopies 20 cents per page
Subject to privacy/confidentiality/conservation/size of request restrictions
Photocopying and photographing parish registers is not permitted under any circumstances

Archeion

The Diocese of Ottawa has some 222 churches and parishes listed at the Archeion website of the Archives Association of Ontario. Find out about the extent and variety of records in the Diocesan Archives for any parish and congregation by browsing the Archeion database.

Volunteer Program

The Diocesan Archives welcomes a select number of volunteers to enjoy and contribute time to the preservation of our documentary heritage. Volunteers are able to execute a variety of tasks based on their interests and abilities, including accessioning, ranging records, identifying photographs, and cataloguing.

Friends of the Diocesan Archives

Established in November 2000, the Friends of the Diocesan Archives provides additional support for the Archives and the affiliated Wilfred H. Bradley Reference Library. The Friends is an arms-length organization, and provides addition funding to supplement the Diocesan Archives budget.

The aims and objects of the Friends, as they appear are:

To support the activities of the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa Archives to acquire, preserve, make available, and exhibit historical records of the Diocese and its parishes
To promote awareness of the history and heritage of the Anglican Church in the Diocese of Ottawa, and the programs and activities of the Diocesan Archives
To generate revenues and raise funds
To carry on related duties
Members are encouraged to become involved in the various activities of the Friends and are eligible to serve on the Board of Directors.

Cost

The cost of an individual membership is $20/year. New members are always welcome. Contact the Diocesan Archivist to register. We offer charitable tax receipts for all donations of $10 or more to the Diocesan Archives.

Book Sale

The Friends of the Archives has a popular sale each year of pre-owned books, to help raise funds for the purchase of new books desired for the Archives. This sale takes place in the display area of each Diocesan Synod.

Contact the Archives for the latest Friends and the Archives Newsletter.

Contact the Archives

For more information:

Dr. Glenn J Lockwood
Diocesan Archivist
Email: archives@ottawa.anglican.ca
Phone: 613-680-8585

ADO Diocesan Archives