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Local History: Home

Interested in Local History? Use this guide as a starting point to learn about Winnipeg neighbourhoods and local landmarks, read about popular Manitoba history topics, and find historical photographs and directories.

JANUARY 2023 NOTICE

Access to the Millennium Library's Local History Room collection is not available during renovations.  Please consult online resources linked to from this guide or contact the Library at 204-986-6450 with any further questions.

For a better world : the Winnipeg General Strike & the Workers' Revolt
Establishing Shots : An Oral History of the Winnipeg Film Group.
Rooster Town : the history of an urban Métis community, 1901-1961

Local History at Winnipeg Public Library

From books to online archives, newspaper clippings to historical postcards, Red River to the Winnipeg General Strike, local history associations, museums and more, we hope this Guide supports and inspires your research.  Keep checking back for updates or contact us for help with your searching.

Use this guide to find:

  • lists of titles related to specific Manitoba history topics or about the history of the province in general.
  • Library databases with local history content such as Canadian Reference Centre and Newspaper Archive.
  • online historical resources and organizations websites that can assist in your research.
  • information about the Local History Room collection located on the 4th floor of the Millennium Library

Henderson's Directories

Henderson's Directories for Winnipeg and Manitoba can also be consulted in-person in the Local History Room at the Millennium Library.  Print copies exist up to the year 2000.

PastForward

Winnipeg newspapers

The Local History Room at the Millennium Library

The Local History Room was opened in 2005 as part of the renovated Millennium Public branch and is located on the 4th floor.  The overall goal of the Local History Room is to raise awareness of the Manitoba's historical heritage through its printed and electronic resources.  Its purpose is to provide centralized and easy access to unique and rare resources devoted to the history of the city of Winnipeg and the province of Manitoba, and create an environment that will appeal to general readers as well as researchers. 

While there are books covering a wide range of topics, the strong points of Local History collection includes: histories of Manitoba communities as well as of the city of Winnipeg Winnipeg, Metis history (including the Riel Rebellion), local genealogy, biographies of local personalities, and rare prints of novels by local authors. 

The Local History Room at the Millennium Library viewed from outside its doors.The collection also includes:

  • Winnipeg Henderson's Directories from 1880 to 2000

  • Winnipeg and Manitoba telephone directories dating back 100+ years

  • Local History Clipping Files of local newspaper articles

  • A collection of magazines focusing on Manitoba topics

  • Rare prints of fiction titles from Manitoba authors

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