British Columbia Archives

#history #cdnhistory

Archives are an excellent place for researching the history of a place and time to complement your genealogy research.

The British Columbia Archives (BC Archives) are located in the city of Victoria, BC, Canada.  They provide research access for both public and provincial government researchers.

Since 1894, the BC Archives has been acquiring and preserving the records of British Columbia’s past. The history of the province is in these archives in various records.  A selected list below.

  • Crockford’s Clerical Dictionary (Anglican)
  • city and provincial business directories
  • telephone directories for various communities
  • British and Canadian Army militia lists
  • British Navy List
  • Canadian Expeditionary Force, Battalion List
  • Voter Lists
  • 1881 Census Vancouver Island
  • Index to Biographical Dictionaries of British Columbians
  • Historical Manuscripts, Wills, Papers
  • Newspapers
  • Maps
  • Birth records over 120 years old
  • Marriage (over 75 years old)
  • Death Records (over 20 years old)    [Vital Index Search is here]
  • Crown land grant records
  • Canadian Who’s Who
  • Gazettes and much more. There is an online search feature.

Location of the BC Archives:

655 Belleville Street

Victoria, BC, Canada

(This is downtown Victoria at the corner of Belleville and Government Streets, close to the Legislative Buildings and the Empress Hotel.  View the map.)

[Editor: It is important to note that the BC Archives does not participate in an Inter Library Loan program.]