Local History & Genealogy

The main focus of the collection is the present City of Pickering and the former Township of Pickering in particular, but also encompasses materials from the former county of Ontario in general.

The collection includes:

• Hardbound and Paperback Books
• Township of Pickering Documents
• Town of Pickering records
• Pickering Airport Papers
• Marriage, Death Notices
• Cemetery Records
• Maps
• Photographs
• Census Indexes
• Pickering census on microfilm
• Oral Histories
• Newspaper Clippings
• Pickering News on microfilm

Due to COVID-19 impacts and restrictions, in-person access to the Local History Collection is unavailable. Please check back for on-going updates. Phone and video consultations can still be booked with the Local History & Genealogy Librarian.

The Local History Room is located on the 2nd floor of the Central Library. Access to original materials in our Local History collection is by appointment only. However, the majority of our Local History collection has been digitized and is conveniently available on the Pickering Local History Collection Digital Archive. The online collection contains books, photographs, maps, newspapers, family histories, and much more.

A small reference collection containing duplicate copies of the most popular items in the local history collection, is located at the Central Library and is available during all operating hours.

Appointments can be made by visiting in person, emailing the Library at localhistory@pickeringlibrary.ca, or by calling 905-831-6265 ext. 6240.

Whether you can trace your family to the Pickering area, or you are a Pickering resident looking to trace your family somewhere else in the world, our Genealogy collections and services are here to help. Check out a book, access a database, attend a program, or set up an appointment with the Local History & Genealogy Librarian.

The Pickering Local History Collection (PLHC) will tell the story of Pickering from its earliest people to today’s growing City by collecting, preserving, and making available Pickering’s recorded history to the community. Our aim is to acquire, conserve, protect, interpret and promote the collection, make the materials available to the public, and support community building through our shared connection to Pickering.

Appointments can be made by emailing the Library at localhistory@pickeringlibrary.ca, or by calling 905-831-6265 ext. 6240.