Research guides: Architecture, Landscape, and Design Research Guide: Canadian Architecture Resources

Local Toronto/Ontario/Canada Primary Resources

Archives of Ontario
Can view a limited selection of their holdings online if you search the Visual Database. You can browse by subjects like "Architectural Plans" and "Architectural Drawings"
Art Gallery of Ontario Library & Archives
Canadian Centre for Architecture
Consists of 100,000 prints and drawings, 65,000 photographs, and 200 archives (many of them papers of architecture firms). Search tool still under development.
Canadian Women Artists History Initiative
Based in the Department of Art History at Concordia University in Montreal, CWAHI is a collaborative endeavour that fosters and circulates scholarly research into women’s contributions to the cultural and material history of Canada. Focus is on the period prior to 1967.
City of Toronto Archives
A great resource for photos and architectural drawings of various buildings in Toronto. You can browse their holdings by topic, including Architecture. Some of their records are available to view online as well.
Don River Valley Historical Mapping Project
This project documents historical changes in the landscape of the Don River Valley. Drawing from the wide range of geographical information available for the Don River watershed (and the Lower Don in particular), including historical maps, geological maps, fire insurance plans, planning documents, and city directories, the project uses Geographic Information Systems software to place, compile, synthesize and interpret this information and make it more accessible as geospatial data and maps.
Library and Archives Canada
Has a guide on how to search for architectural plans in their vast collection. Can also search by type and then narrow your search by year. Some of the plans have been digitized.
Ontario Heritage Trust
Properties such as Fulford Place in Brockville, the Niagara Apothecary in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Uncle Tom's Cabin Historic Site in Dresden and Macdonell-Williamson House in East Hawkesbury attract thousands of visitors each year. Sites also serve as living museums, reception venues, leased spaces, offices and film locations, used and enjoyed by the people of Ontario and visitors to the province.
Ontario Historical County Maps Project
Royal Ontario Museum Library & Archives
Houses all archival material about the ROM including architectural models of the building.
Toronto Building Database
TO Built offers a means of recording all property in Toronto, including photographs, research, drawings, and links to other, external sources of information. The database is open source and provides an opportunity for anyone with information to share it with others.
University of Toronto Archives and Records Management Services
Holds many architectural drawings of buildings around campus. Most of these are housed in the Physical Plant Department records, but consult one of the staff if you are looking for a specific building. None are available online.

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Architecture, Landscape, and Design Research Guide

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