Collections and Research

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Explore our online collection

The Lambton County Archive collection consists of archival documents that share the stories of the people and places of Lambton County. We have primary and secondary sources to help you with your genealogy and local history research.

While we have some reference books and indexes publicly accessible in the Reading Room, some documents such as letters, photos, and unique books are held in the vault. Staff will happily retrieve documents for you to access during your visit. 

Maps are fragile however they are significant to us understanding changing population patterns from the past. Maps are made available upon request and date as far back as the 1830's in Lambton.

Highlights from The Collection

Family Files

Thousands of family surname files which may contain family trees, family group sheets, letters, wills, photographs, and newspaper clippings.

Local Newspapers

Dozens of local newspapers, including the Sarnia Observer from 1853-present, Petrolia Topic from 1874-present, and Watford Guide-Advocate from 1878-present. For a full listing, visit Newspapers at the Lambton County Archives.

Land Records

Land abstracts and instruments (deeds, mortgages, bargain and sales, wills) for Lambton County, Township Papers.

Cemetery Records

Transcriptions for cemeteries in Lambton, Kent, Middlesex, and Huron Counties

Directories

City and telephone directories for Lambton can be used to locate individuals geographically at a certain point in time

Municipal Records

Local government records including by-laws, council minutes, assessment and collectors rolls

Historical Atlases

Originally published in the late 19th century, these historical atlases for Ontario counties were edited and reprinted in the 1970s. Maps, directories, and historical sketches of townships provide great insight into local history

Census Records

Microfilm reels of Canadian census records for all of Ontario and most of Canada (early censuses, 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891, 1901, 1911, 1921 and 1931)

Ontario Vital Statistics

Microfilm reels containing registrations of Ontario births (1869-1914,) marriages (1869-1929), and deaths (1869-1939), as well as Overseas Death Registrations of Ontarians who died in military service during 1939-1947

Lambton Branch of Ontario Genealogical Society Library

Reference books, indexes, and family histories housed in the Archives' reading room and accessible to the public. For a full listing of their library holdings, please visit their website. 

Interested in material not listed above? Please contact us and we are happy to help.