Research Support

The United Church of Canada Archives staff strive to support all users and researchers to access and search the collection.

How we can help

Reference archivists can help researchers:

  • Identify archival fonds that may pertain to a stated topic or research question
  • Explain how to access and search the UCCA’s collection via its online descriptive database, and how to navigate its digital finding aids
  • Demonstrate how to properly handle records in the reading room to prevent accidental damage
  • Interpret records where possible, including explanations of technical or subject-specific terminology, church history and administrative structure, or other vital contextual information needed to understand the collection, and where the archivist has the necessary knowledge.
  • Create digital or physical copies of requested records (see fee schedule)

The UCCA will respond to all research inquiries within two weeks. Priority is given to internal requests from General Council, regional councils, communities of faith, and external requests from Indigneous Communities, residenital school survivors and their families.

The United Church of Canada Archives staff are unable to conduct research on an external user’s or researcher’s behalf. If a researcher is unable to visit the archives’ reading room, the UCCA can provide a list of professional researchers to come on their behalf.

Genealogical research

UCCA staff are happy to conduct confirmatory genealogical searches through baptismal, marriage, and burial registers [i.e. where a name is known, as well as a reasonably approximate date and geographic range]. Researchers must supply the archives with the reference details (accession, box, and file number, found in the finding aids in the archives’ descriptive database) in order for a confirmatory search to be conducted.

NOTE: Staff resources prohibit the UCCA from performing in-depth or exploratory genealogical research. This includes requests to search registers from broad geographical areas, searchers for multiple names or name variants, and requests that span large chronological periods. If a researcher is unable to visit the archives’ reading room themselves, the UCCA can provide a list of professional genealogists to come on their behalf.

For information on certified copies of baptism or marriage register entries, refer to our Certificate Requests page.