Research on the history of uOttawa can be done through consultation of archival materials managed by the Information and Archives Management Service. The Archives are available to the University community as well as the general public.

Prepare for your consultation visit

1. Consult inventories 

The first step to conducting historical research is to browse the inventories to find materials that are relevant to your subject of research. The list of fonds and collections is found below. Please contact us to request copies of any inventories that are not available for download online. Conduct keyword searches of inventories to search within the listings.

Our records are divided by fonds or collections. A fonds is the sum total of all records created or accumulated by an individual, family or group. The Archives also holds collections, which are an artificial grouping of documents from a variety of sources touching on a particular subject.

Inventories

  • Each fonds and collection has a corresponding inventory of the textual records, described by folder, and/or an inventory of its multimedia records (photos, audio recordings, moving pictures, digital documents) described at the item level
  • Inventories of textual records are arranged by box number and folder number
  • Inventories describing multimedia records are organized by call number

2. Assemble the list of materials you would like to consult

After reviewing the relevant inventories, you should assemble a list of the materials you would like to consult. The list must include:

  • The Fonds or Collection number (Example: Fonds 6- Communications Directorate)
  • Box numbers and/or multimedia call numbers (Example: NB 1097, or AUO-PHO-NB-38-9024)
  • The full titles of the files or items
  • The full descriptions of the files or items as they appear in the inventory listings

3. Send the list and arrange an appointment

Email us with the list of material you would like to consult. Our staff will respond and arrange a date and time for you to consult the materials in our reading room at 100 Marie-Curie Private, Ottawa. Visits are by appointment only.

4. Consultation appointment and reproduction requests

Access to archival material is subject to Policy 11.

All researchers must abide by the Reading Room Regulations (PDF, 141 KB). 

Information and Archives Management Staff can produce reproductions of material after the consultation appointment. Researchers with be asked to complete and sign a reproduction request form. 

5. Citations of Archival material

Citations and references to archival material should include:

  • the name of the archives (in this case, University of Ottawa Information and Archives Management Service )
  • the fonds or collection number and name
  • the title of the record or call number
  • the date
  • the title of the record or other relevant information

Example of a citation: University of Ottawa Information and Archives Management Service, Fonds 16, Department of History, Investigation into the Professorial Structure of the Department, 1995, box 1470, folder 13, p. 6.

Contact us

Contact us

Information and Archives Management
100, Marie-Curie Private, Room 012
Ottawa ON K1N 6N5

613-562-5750

[email protected]

Hours of Operation

September to May
Monday: CLOSED
Tuesday-Friday: 8:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

June to August
Monday: CLOSED
Tuesday-Friday: 8:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Reading Room hours

By Appointment Only