Thousands of family surname files which may contain family trees, family group sheets, letters, wills, photographs, and newspaper clippings.
Online Collection
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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.
Records, images, and materials held by the Lambton County Archives are historical and contain language or depictions of people and places that are representative of their time. This may include problematic wording, cultural references, and stereotypes that may be harmful to racialized and marginalized populations. Maintaining these original records and making them available to students, researchers, and the public assist in understanding the historic and continued burden marginalized communities may face.
If you encounter records with harmful language or inaccurate statements in our catalogue or collections, please notify our staff team at archives@county-lambton.on.ca. We appreciate your feedback as we are actively reviewing and enhancing our records.
Interested in donating to the Archives?
Collection Highlights
*If you are interested in material not listed below, please contact us and we are happy to help.
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.
The Sarnia Observer Negative Collection is one of the most interesting and accessible collections at the Lambton County Archives. It is comprised of over 58,000 negatives of photographs that appeared in the Sarnia Observer in the 1950s and 1960s.
Land abstracts and instruments (deeds, mortgages, bargain and sales, wills) for Lambton County, Township Papers. View our land records page or the ONLand website for more information!
Our map collection is organized in an index which contains the map's full title, a description of its geographic breadth, details about the height and width, the name of the publisher/drafter, and special notations about any prominent features of the map.
Transcriptions for cemeteries in Lambton, Kent, Middlesex, and Huron Counties.
City and telephone directories for Lambton can be used to locate individuals geographically at a certain point in time.
Local government records including by-laws, council minutes, assessment and collectors rolls.
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.
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 has microfilm reels which contain 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.
We do not provide certified copies of these documents.
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 the Lambton County Branch website.
Genealogy
One of our specialties at the Archives is assisting researchers with genealogical or family history research. In addition to documents such as family files, local newspapers, and land records, we have an extensive reference library which can help you trace your family tree and put your research into context. Visit our Genealogy page to learn more.
Research
If you are conducting any kind of research, our research page is a great place to start.
Digital Resources
There are several virtual books are available for free online through the archives website for you to read and enjoy. View our virtual books to learn more about Lambton County History.
Historic Newspapers by ProQuest
Explore a range of historical and family documents including local newspapers, land registry information and more on the Lambton County Library page for History and Genealogy. With archival materials going back to 1853, you can start tracing your roots or researching Lambton County's past by using ProQuest.
Listed below are online resources that are useful for genealogy and local history research:
| Name | Notes |
|---|---|
| The Ancestor Hunt |
Helpful resource guides. |
| Ancestry Library |
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| The Canadian County Atlas Project (McGill University) |
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| Canadiana |
Early Canadiana Online (ECO) collection – full-text historical content including books, magazines and government documents |
| Cyndi's List |
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| David Rumsey's Map Collection |
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| DNA Painter |
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| Family Search |
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| Internet Archive: Digital Library of Free & Borrow able Books, Movies, Music & Wayback Machine |
|
| Service Files for WWII War Dead | |
| Of special note: access to online directories in PDF; census records 1666 - 1926; military service files | |
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Searchable database for Ontario graves. |
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| Ontario Historical County Maps Project (University of Toronto) |
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| Our Roots |
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| ProQuest |
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| TONI - The Ontario Name Index |
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Lambton's Stories
Discover the heart and soul of Lambton County through Lambton's Stories, a captivating collection that brings to life the people, places, and events that define our community. Dive in, explore, and be inspired by the stories that make Lambton truly special.
Preserve Your Documents
Many family documents, photos, letters, and diaries are passed down from generation to generation. Learn how to preserve your own family documents for generations to come.
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