Have you ever wondered where your ancestors came from? Do you know when, why, and how they came to Prince Edward Island? Are you interested in learning more about your family history but don’t know where to start? This guide offers some basic tips to help you get started and...
This guide outlines some useful resources for researching an historic home or building in Prince Edward Island. Each source has been annotated providing geographical areas, dates of material, and the type of information included. It includes printed materials on the styles and...
The Public Archives and Records Office has a large collection of genealogical material including primary sources, finding aids, and indexes. Some of the major resources are listed below. If you are new to genealogy, Tracing Your Family History in PEI has tips to help you get...
Archival material can be searched online through our databases: the PARO Collections Database and Memory PEI. What is the PARO Collections Database? The PARO Collections Database can be searched for item-level access to vital statistics records, census material, and some of our most popular archival content, including maps, architectural plans, photographs, and other material. Where available, a digital scan of the original can also be accessed through the online database. Some of the major collections currently available online include: Vital Statistics Records Baptisms (including the former...
Staff at the Public Archives regularly create exhibits on a variety of themes in Island history. You can view the current exhibit at the Public Archives or, in many cases, view the exhibit online. What exhibits are available online? Some of the exhibits available online include: Celebrating Old Home Week New Kid on the Block: The Public Archives Moves to Great George Street (Heritage Week 2020) Caps and Gowns: Graduation Photos at the Public Archives Let it Snow: Images of Our Island Winter (Heritage Week 2019) Images of Early Camping in Prince Edward Island Island Heritage Stands the Test of...
A list of the most common abbreviations and nicknames for given names. This resource can be very useful when searching original records at the Public Archives and Records Office.
Prince Edward Island’s built heritage is an evocative symbol of our past. Historic churches, houses, and businesses speak to more than just the day-to-day; they give a sense of how those who came before us saw themselves, what they valued, and how they hoped to be remembered. An...
Our Island communities have fascinating stories to tell of life in Canada's smallest province. The following guide offers some general tips as well as suggestions for sources at the Public Archives and the wider community that may be of interest to your research. General tips...
The Public Archives has plenty of material that can be used in school projects and classroom teaching. Some of these resources are highlighted below. Online exhibits The online exhibits provide a great introduction to a variety of topics in Island history such as immigration...
Records and Information Management (RIM) is the systematic control of all recorded information regardless of format from creation to final disposition. Effective records management ensures: decision making is supported, costs are reduced, the organization meets business, legal...