Research

Conduct your own research

There are a number of local research resources where interested community members can learn more about Peterborough. Explore the following resources to learn more about a property you are interested in, a family member you want to know more about, or a fun fact about the City!

Digital historic newspapers

Browse through historic Peterborough newspapers on Internet Archive. Here you will find articles dating back to 1845 from the Peterborough Examiner, Peterboro Chronicle, Weekly Times, Daily Review, and many more.

Peterborough Public Library

Visit the Peterborough Public Library at 345 Aylmer St. N. The Library is open seven days a week and Information Desk staff are available to assist with questions or inquiries.

Historic photo, black and white, downtown buildings

Digital historic directories

Examine historic Peterborough directories on the Internet Archive. Here, you can find books dating back to 1908 that list names and addresses of individuals, businesses, and organizations. Directories can be searched alphabetically, thematically, or by using specific keywords.

Heritage Gazette

Discover Peterborough's local history through The Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley, published seasonally by Trent Valley Archives.

Archives

Explore Peterborough's collection of public records at the following local archives. The archives hold secondary sources like books and articles, and primary documents such as letters, plans, photos and maps. It is always advisable to phone or email archives ahead of your planned visit.

The Peterborough Museum and Archives holds over 2,000 different collections related to all aspects of Peterborough history, including thousands of photographs of the City in the Balsillie Collection of Roy Studio Photographs.

Trent Valley Archives holds collections relating to the history of the Trent Valley, including the City of Peterborough. Collections include photographs, documents, books, and historic newspapers.

Trent University Archives is open to the public and has holdings relating to both the university and the history and culture of the Peterborough region. It also holds a number of special collections, including rare books, relating to topics of interest such as Canadian history, settlement, and exploration.

The Peterborough Historical Society is a local history organization that publishes books and papers on the history of Peterborough and area and hosts monthly public meetings with presentations on local history. Their archival collection, which includes a large reference library, is held at Hutchison House.

City Hall
500 George St. N.
Peterborough, ON
K9H 3R9

Phone: 705-742-7777
Toll Free: 1-855-738-3755
Email Us