Academic Research

Our primary source material dated prior to 1961 is open to academic researchers. Confidential or private records, and unprocessed materials are closed.

Academic researchers may conduct research at the Archives by appointment only:

Tuesdays 10-3
Wednesdays 10-3
Thursdays 10-1

All requests for appointments must be made at least one week in advance, in writing and delivered to the Archives by post at: Archives, Catholic Pastoral Centre, 1155 Yonge St., Toronto, ON, M4T 1W2 OR via email to: archives@archtoronto.org

In order to ensure that ARCAT has the information/materials that are being requested, and that these materials are not subject to any access restrictions and are accessible, all requests must also include a detailed description of the research topic of interest. A reference interview may be necessary.

If it is determined that ARCAT has accessible materials within our collections, researchers must then fill out and submit a Research Agreement Form.

As the Archives of a private corporation, we reserve the right to restrict access to members of the public.

Scanning, Photocopying and Photographing

Scanning and photocopying are done by Archives staff for a fee: ¢.50 per scan and ¢.75 per photocopy. Please note we are not equipped to faciliate electronic payments therefore accept cash payments only. Exact change please.

Approved researchers may be permitted to photograph archival material on-site to expedite research and lessen wear on documents.

Duplicates of archival material - photographs, scans, photocopies - are to be used solely for the purpose of private study and are subject the Canadian Copyright Act.

Images may not be transferred to another individual or organization, deposited in another institution, sold, or duplicated without prior written permission of the Archives or the copyright owner.

Loans

We do not loan any archival material, microfilm reels or reference books.

Citations

All quotations from sources within the Archives must be referenced. There is no single accepted way to cite primary sources found in archives. In general, state the name of the archives and provide enough details for the record to be retrieved in the future. Here are some citation guidelines:

If the document has an assigned code number: the name of the repository, the name of the fonds/collection, the code number.

For example:

Archives of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto (ARCAT), Bishop Michael Power fonds, M AA07.01a.

If the document has a partial assigned code number (i.e. the code number is assigned to the entire file, not the specific document): the name of the repository, the name of the fonds/collection, the file name, the series number, the date of creation.

For example:

Archives of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto (ARCAT),Catholic Church Extension Society of Canada fonds, General Correspondence, OC07CO01, 20 Oct 1953.

If the document does not have an assigned code number: the name of the repository, the name of the fonds/collection, the series number, the file name, title of document (if applicable), the date of creation.

For example:

Archives of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto (ARCAT), Parish Collection, St. Helen's Toronto, Construction/Renovations, 15 Sep 1951.
Archives of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto (ARCAT), Parish Collection, St. Helen's Toronto, Publications, "St. Helen's 125th Anniversary.

Publication & Display

Over 80 publications have been written based on our holdings.

To reproduce archival material from the Archives for publication or for display, researchers are required to sign a contract which grants reproduction permission on a one-time-only basis. A credit line reading "Courtesy Archives of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto (ARCAT)" must be included on each record or photograph reproduced. If the material is not copyright of the Archdiocese of Toronto, the publishing party assumes all responsibility for clearing publication with the copyright owner.