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Digital Archive Ontario

Explore all digitized items held by Toronto Public Library — including over 100,000 historical photos, maps, postcards & more from Ontario
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Blank colouring page of vintage classroom
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Download educational printables to colour in Ontario's past — based on items in our Digital Archive Ontario.
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Featured cities

Image representation for Cambridge

Cambridge

Three long-haired children in dresses, at the top of a ridge, gaze down at a railway yard on th ...

Hamilton

Image representation for Kingston

Kingston

Image representation for Ottawa

Ottawa

Two steam lakers wait for the water to lower. Picture taken from the lower end, with locks clea ...

Sault Ste. Marie

Image representation for Sudbury

Sudbury

Image representation for Thunder Bay

Thunder Bay

Image shows Harbour buildings and CN Tower on the left.

Toronto

Browse items in French

Image representation for Books in French

Books in French

Image representation for Maps in French

Maps in French

Image representation for Ephemera in French

Ephemera in French

Image representation for All items in French

All items in French

Primary source sets

Documents and overview of related history, made for educators

Illustrated poster of two soldiers in maple leaf pointing to poster reading Small Nations Must ...

Canadian WWI Posters

Poster reading You Serve By Saving Buy War Savings Certificates with drawing of smiling soldier ...

Canadian WWII Posters

Pin with the word Prohibition in Union Jack

Prohibition in Ontario

Vintage illustration of two large war ships titled A Scene on Lake Ontario 

War of 1812

Woman in medical uniform writing on table 

WWII: Canadian Women

Blogs & videos

Recent content from Toronto Public Library about Ontario or items in Digital Archive Ontario
Portrait of Hemingway with superimposed newspaper with vintage postcard
Ernest Hemingway's Toronto Ties
A young King Charles in front of Canadian military officers
King Charles III in Canada: Photos from the 1970s
Stately large building with columns at entrance
Carnegie Libraries in Ontario: Vintage Postcards
Archived blog posts

Related resources from TPL and beyond

Digital Ontario City Directories View an index of city directories (addresses and residents) for several Ontario communities.
Virtual Exhibits Online exhibits highlighting TPL’s special collections.
Reproduction Service Order high-resolution digital images.
Copyright & Licences Learn about usage rights for items on Digital Archive Ontario.
Archives of Ontario Visit for more resources related to Ontario. Separate from Digital Archive Ontario.
OurOntario Search digitized items across many heritage institutions in Ontario (resource by non-profit, Our Digital World).