Finding Information

• How can I tell if the BC Archives has the records I need?
• Which of your records are available online?
• How can I learn more about searching your indexes and catalogues?

How can I tell if the BC Archives has the records I need?
Our holdings include: government documents and records; private historical manuscripts and papers; maps, charts and architectural plans; photographs; paintings, drawings and prints; audio and video tapes; film; newspapers; and an extensive library of publications with a strong emphasis on the social and political history of British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest. You can search on line to see if the records you need are on our web site, but please note that not all of our archival descriptions are available online, so you may need to search the hard-copy catalogue cards and finding aids in our reference room. If you still can't find what you’re looking for, you can visit the MemoryBC (formerly the BC Archival Union List) to see descriptions of records held at 173 publicly-accessible archives in BC.

Which of your records are available online?
In order to allow researchers who live far from Victoria to have access to our records, we have also made it a priority to provide our indexes, catalogues and finding aids online. Converting these access tools is an ongoing project. Because we have so many records, in myriad forms, converting them all into an electronic format for viewing online would be an enormous and expensive project. Instead, you can consult records in our collections at the BC Archives. There is no charge for using the archives and during full-service hours, staff can help you with your research.

Due to great public interest in photographs, we have begun to scan and describe photographic records item by item. To date, you can view descriptions of over 175,000 photographs and over 80,000 scanned photographs through our visual records database. See Visual Records.

How can I learn more about searching your indexes and catalogues?
See Search.