The resources on this page have been assembled to assist with your local history research!
Greater Sudbury Memories
The Greater Sudbury Public Library, in partnership with the Greater Sudbury Museums, is creating a storehouse for Greater Sudbury’s memories, an online project designed to bring the memories of the area together, to share and preserve for generations to come.
This project brings together video and audio interviews, historical photographs, and textual context.
CGS Museums: Flickr
The Greater Sudbury Museums Flickr account contains various digital albums and online displays featuring different facets of Greater Sudbury’s history.
Greater Sudbury Historical Database
The last portion of the Greater Sudbury Museums and Greater Sudbury Public Library online database to migrate from the old platform is the photographic collection. This collection contains thousands of historic images of the Greater Sudbury region.
Greater Sudbury Histories
Here you will find summaries of Greater Sudbury local history by geographical area.
City of Greater Sudbury Cemetery Map
This map can be searched by owner for the locations of Greater Sudbury cemetery plots. The owners of some historic plots are not known.
City of Greater Sudbury Historical Aerial Photography
This map includes aerial photographs of Greater Sudbury from 1946-1999.
City of Greater Sudbury Archives
The Archives serves the entire population of the City of Greater Sudbury and its institutions by acquiring, preserving and providing access to records of enduring value which show evidence of the activities of the City of Greater Sudbury and its predecessors.
These records include both municipal government records and private records of organizations, businesses or individuals that make or have made a significant contribution to an understanding of the development of the city.
Online Exhibition: Copper Cliff at War
Copper Cliff at War tells some of the tale of early Copper Cliff as well as its role during the First and Second World Wars through text and photographs.
Vernon’s Directory
The Vernon’s Directory was a telephone and address directory for Sudbury and Copper Cliff.
The directories for Sudbury & Copper Cliff (pre-1970s) typically included 5 sections:
- Business/Miscellaneous Directory
- Alphabetical Directory for Sudbury
- Street Directory for Sudbury
- Alphabetical Directory for Copper Cliff
- Street Directory for Copper Cliff
In 1973, the title changed to Directory of Sudbury, to reflect the modifications to the municipal boundaries of the time.
The 1992 Directory included the town of Lively, but it wasn’t until the 1996-1997 edition that the areas of Azilda, Blezard Valley, Capreol, Chelsmford, Garson-Falconbridge and Hanmer were included in the Street Guide. Editions after 1968 are available to access in person at the Main Library in downtown Sudbury.
Available Online: 1911-1964; 1966-1967
Newspaper Index
This Newspaper Index collection was compiled using the newspaper records from the Greater Sudbury Historical Database. With almost 180,000 entries, the Index is a text only reference for headlines, obituaries, birth notices and articles of local interest. Local newspapers include, but are not limited to: Sudbury Journal, Sudbury Star, Northern Life, Le Voyageur, Manitoulin Recorder, Manitoulin Expositor and L’ami du peuple.
The articles in this collection are searchable by keyword, date, source and subject heading. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information.
The Falcon
The Falcon was a monthly publication for employees of Falconbridge Nickel Mines Limited and affiliated companies. The publication was produced to “report on company activities, to put into focus their significance and to portray the talents and skills of the Falconbridge people at work”. The final issue was produced in 1995.
In August 2006, Falconbridge Limited was absorbed into Swiss-mining company Xtrata.
Available Online: 1967-1978
Inco Triangle
The Inco Triangle was a monthly publication produced by the International Nickel Company (now Vale Canada) for its employees between the years of 1936 and 1998. The publication contains stories about communities with Inco facilities, including Copper Cliff, Coniston, Sudbury and Port Colborne as well as others. You will find photos and stories about the mining industry, local community, sports, entertainment and more.
Available Online: 1936-1939, 1944-1998, 2001
IN Touch
IN Touch was a quarterly publication produced by Inco Limited (International Nickel Company of Canada), for Inco pensioners. The publication features retirement interviews, and other big milestones that would have been of interest. The magazine was absorbed into Inco’s other publication ‘The Inco Triangle’ in the spring of 1983. By the spring of ’89 the magazine was reintroduced in a shorter, seasonal release.
Available Online: 1973-1983, 1989-2004
The Northern Life
The Northern Life was a newspaper published in Greater Sudbury beginning in 1973.
The final print edition of the Northern Life was published March 26, 2020 – it is now a digital-only publication called Sudbury.com
Available Online: 1973-1987, and 2003-2009
Northern Ontario Mining News
Northern Ontario Mining News was a quarterly publication devoted to the mining industry in Northern Ontario. Its first edition was published in August 1980. In 1992 the paper changed to a bi-annual publication.
Its final edition was published in 2002.
Available Online: 1980-2002
Le Voyageur
Le Voyageur is a publication created to inform Sudbury-area Francophones in their own language and to promote the French language and the Franco-Ontarian culture.
Available Online: 1968-2022
Vertical Files
Greater Sudbury Public Library Vertical Files are part of the Mary C. Shantz Local History Collection. They are a collection of material such as:
- newspaper clippings
- booklets
- brochures
- pamphlets
- newsletters
The material covers a wide variety of local topics intended to supplement our other Local History Collections (books, maps, microform). Produced by local organizations, businesses and authors, the collection is divided into numerous Subject Headings, creating a quick ready reference point for any researcher.
This is a digital finding aid for the physical collection located at the Main Branch of the Greater Sudbury Public Library at 74 Mackenzie Street in Sudbury, ON.
Sudbury District OGS Library Catalogue
The Sudbury District Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society was founded June 20, 1979 to promote genealogical research, encourage and instruct effective research methods, share research experiences and collect and preserve genealogical data related to the Sudbury area.
The Sudbury District Branch created a reference library which includes resources such as:
- Branch newsletters (the first Sudbury Branch newsletter published November 1979)
- Families – the OGS periodical
- Census records
- Cemetery transcriptions
- Birth, Marriage and Death records
- How-to guides and research aids
And much more.
This is a digital catalogue for the physical collection located at the Main Branch of the Greater Sudbury Public Library at 74 Mackenzie Street in Sudbury, ON.