The Rideau Lakes Local History Centre in Delta will be closed to in person visits as of March 30, 2023. Online requests can still be made at rideaulakeshistory@gmail.com or browse our digital collection.
The Rideau Lakes Local History Centre is located at 18 King St. beside the Library Branch and Firehall in Delta. The Centre is not open at this time.
If you need assistance with a local history or genealogy search please direct your questions to Susan Warren at the following email address: rideaulakeshistory@gmail.com .
Each branch of the Library has a small selection of local history books in their collection with the majority of resources located at the Local History Centre. The collections are designed for self-browsing. You may photocopy from the collections. Photocopying fees apply.
Want to know more about our local history policy?
More Genealogical and Local History Collections
Lakes & Islands Times Past
The townships of Rideau Lakes and Leeds and the Thousand Islands have some of the most deep-rooted, interesting histories of any municipalities in Ontario. The Lakes and Islands Times Past Project preserves, organizes and shares our rich resources through “Our Ontario.” Our records are available anywhere and at anytime. http://images.ourontario.ca/lakesandislands/search
Ancestry Library Edition Database
Library patrons are now able to access the Ancestry Library Edition database free of charge inside the Library. This online database allows library users to start exploring their family trees by simply typing in a surname. A two-year subscription for this resource is courtesy of the Ministry of Culture, Southern Ontario Library Service and Ontario Library Service – North.
Genealogical Internet Sources
- familysearch.org: This is the LDS website, the best source of genealogical information on the Internet. It also has all the listings of books in the LDS library in Utah. Most of these sources can be ordered on microfilm through your local LDS Family Centre. The Canadian 1881 Census is listed on this site.
- rootsweb.com: Rootsweb is one of the oldest sources of genealogical information on the Internet and has all kinds of surname lists and locality lists where people make queries and get answers to their questions from other researchers.
- archives.ca: the website for the Archives and National Library of Canada. Canadian Census material, military information, post office information, photographs – a wealth of tools for the researcher.
- archives.gov.on.ca: the website for the Archives of Ontario. This website contains microfilm numbers for Ontario Vital Statistics. Many of the microfilm listings here can be borrowed through your local LDS centre or through your public library.
- library.mcgill.ca/CountyAtlas/: an excellent source of county atlases from the 19th century. You can often locate an ancestor here by lot and concession if you know what township and county they were located in.
- ourroots.ca: a project recording many of the local histories done in Canada. It also is searchable by keyword, a very useful tool.
- islandnet.com/ocfa/about.html: The Ontario Cemetery Finding aid with millions of Ontario burials. Not all Ontario burials are listed here though so be aware.
- geneofun.on.ca/ongenweb/: This site has the listings for the genweb sites for Ontario counties as well as links to other interesting information including the Ontario Genweb census page (www.rootsweb.com/~ongenpro/census) which is updated frequently with lists of transcribed Ontario county census information.
- canadiana.org: A website with some early Canadian literature which is searchable by keyword. Much of the information is free although some is fee based. The Library now has a full subscription to this wonderful history site with all kinds of early Canadian documents including 19th century journals, magazines and government documents. Full access is only available at your library branch.
- automatedgenealogy.com: Transcriptions of the 1851, 1901, 1911 and 1916 Census of Canada of Canada
- cyndislist.com/ontario.htm: Cyndi’s list is one of the biggest sources of genealogical information (general and specific) on the Internet. She updates it often. This is the Ontario page but there are pages for other Canadian provinces and places.
- ltiarchives.ca: The Leeds and the Thousand Islands Archives acquires, preserves, promotes and makes available the historical record of the Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands. We are open to the public every Thursday from 1-8.
- ourontario.ca: Although this site houses our Lakes and Islands Past collection, it also houses a wealth of information about early Ontario including photographs, government documents and early newspapers (including the Kingston Papers).
- ogs.on.ca: The Ontario Genealogical Society’s web page with links to other provincial genealogical societies
- bytown.net: Bytown or Bust – a good source of information on Ottawa area settlers
- rideau-info.com: Ken Watson’s site has information on genealogy and local history with lots of good local links
- olivetreegenealogy.com: Lots of free databases, ship passenger lists and other information on Canadian genealogy. Check this one out!
- genuki.org.uk: This website is a good starting point for genealogical research of Scotland, England and Ireland.
Sites that require payment
- ancestry.ca: a very useful site but it does require that you pay an annual subscription – Ontario birth, death and marriage registrations are listed.
- paperofrecord.com: This site has many early local newspapers including some from Perth, Kingston and Ottawa. Payment is by the download.
- scotlandspeople.gov.uk: The Scots General Records office – Lots of census, civil registration and parish records searchable but a fee is required.
Leeds and Grenville Sources
https://leedsandgrenville.ogs.on.ca/index.php/archives/: This is the website for the Leeds and Grenville Genealogical Society. Their archives are located at the Brockville Museum, 5 Henry Street, Brockville, Ontario. There are lots of family histories, microfilm and other information on local families.
- rootsweb.com/~onleedsg: The Leeds and Grenville Genweb page with dozens of links and transcriptions. There is also a query page where you can ask questions about your family.
- Leeds and Grenville Mailing lists – You can receive daily email digests about Leeds and Grenville genealogy and other county genealogical information if you subscribe to a mailing list. See the Leeds and Grenville Genweb page for information.
- Leeds County Registry Office
7 King St. Brockville, Ontario | 613-345-5751
All land records for Leeds and Grenville are held at this location. - See also the Queens University Information Sheet for other kinds of local information. For example, Queens holds microfilm of many Ontario newspapers, and houses census records in its special collections.
LDS Family Centres
Local LDS Centre
2245 Battersea Rd. Glenburnie Ontario | 613-544-8489
The local LDS centre for residents closer to Kingston. Please phone ahead to book a microfilm machine. Hours should be searchable from the LDS website or by phoning.
Ottawa LDS Centre
1017 Prince of Wales Drive Ottawa, Ontario | 613-224-2231
Please phone ahead to book microfilm machine. Hours are searchable from LDS website or by phoning ahead.