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Local History and Genealogy

Service Interruptions

Digitized Local Newspapers Current Unavailable

VITA Toolkit, which hosts our digitized newspapers, is currently experiencing a service outage due to a cybersecurity incident with the City of Hamilton. There is no evidence the servers have been compromised. There is currently no estimated time of resolution.

Clarington Library, Museums & Archives is proud of its local heritage! We have a variety of materials covering the history of Clarington and surrounding areas, including local newspapers on microfilm and a collection of historical texts about the region. Let us help you get started in your discovery!

 

Library, Museums & Archives Resources

 

Local Resources and Partners

 

Other Resources

 

Ancestry Library Edition

Ancestry Library Edition is a powerful research tool available for free with your library card!

Come to any library branch and use our public computer stations to search for your ancestors by name, country and date range to find original documents and more. Documents that can be found on Ancestry include census records, voter lists, birth, marriage and death records, military records, immigration records, travel records, newspaper articles, photos and maps.

Video Tutorials

Local Newspapers: Digitized and Microfilm

PLEASE NOTE: Digitized Local Newspapers are currently unavailable. 
VITA Toolkit, which hosts our digitized newspapers, is currently experiencing a service outage due to a cybersecurity incident with the City of Hamilton. There is no evidence the servers have been compromised. There is currently no estimated time of resolution.

Clarington Library, Museums and Archives has begun digitizing our newspaper collection, and a portion is now available online! Search the Orono Weekly Times, the Merchant and General Advertiser, and the Canadian Stateman, with papers available from the 1860s to the 2010s.

Visit the microfilm collection, bring in your own microfilm reels, or request microfilm reels from Library and Archives Canada. To help your search, our Microfiche Surname Index is available at the Bowmanville Branch for newspapers ranging from 1868 to 1926. The Durham Region Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society also has an Surname List for 1926 to 1934.

Our microfilmed newspaper holdings include:

  • Canadian Statesman, 1867-1970 Apr. 22, 1981-2003
  • West Durham News, 1879 - 1901
  • Bowmanville News, 1880-1901 1901-1910
  • Bowmanville Merchant, 1869-1876
  • Bowmanville Star, Feb. 9,1855
  • Bowmanville Sun, 1883-1890
  • Bowmanville Observer, 1883-1884
  • Orono News, 1901-1942
  • Clarington This Week, 1996-2009
  • Courtice / Bowmanville News, 1993-1997
  • Durham Post, 1999-2000
  • Orono Weekly Times, 1986-2009

Cemetery Records

Cemetery Records for the Clarington area are available in the Bowmanville Branch upon request. They cannot be checked out, but you may purchase copies directly from the Ontario Genealogical Society's Durham Branch by visiting their website and selecting the area you are interested in.

Newcastle Village and District Historical Society

The Newcastle Village and District Historical Society is located within Newcastle's Massey Community Hall. They are open to the public Tuesdays and Saturdays from 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM and by appointment.

20 King Ave. W., Newcastle
905-987-5482

Ontario Genealogical Society, Durham Region Branch

The Durham Region Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society (AKA Ontario Ancestors) meets once a month on the first Tuesday from September to June in the evening, virtually and/or at the Northminster Church. Their members focus on preserving information that will be useful for anyone doing research on ancestors from the Durham Region, and provide a sound base for researchers living here who have ancestors in other areas around the world. Their research library is housed at the Northminster Church.

Northminster United Church
676 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa, ON L1G 4V7
Voicemail line: 1-855-MYROOTS (1-855-697-6687), ext. 304

Surname Indexes

The Library's Microfiche Surname Index is available at the Bowmanville Branch for newspapers ranging from 1868 to 1926.

The Durham Region Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society has a digital Online Surname Index available online for 1926 to 1934.

OurOntario

OurOntario.ca is an online resource that allows users to search across hundreds of sites – digital collections of libraries, archives, museums, historical societies, community groups, government agencies, and content organizations. Discover people, places, events and objects about Ontario, and from Ontario organizations. It's easy to find photographs, maps, videos, audio recordings, government documents and other media.

Library and Archives Canada

The national library of Canada, Library and Archives Canada has a wealth of databases and resources to assist in your search, including an Ancestors Search.

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