General Council Archives
The General Council Archives has existed informally since 1930s and formally since 1952. It has moved locations several times, the most recent being 2012 to its current Regent Park location.
It has previously been referred to as the National Archives, the Central Archives and the United Church of Canada/Victoria University Archives. The General Council Archives is staffed by 3 full-time and 1 half-time employee, and works together with the Central Ontario Conferences Archives to provide access to records, preserve the holdings and promote the collection in the research community.
General Council records include: Records of antecedent denominations (prior to The United Church of Canada’s birth in 1925) – Methodist, some Presbyterian, Evangelical United Brethren and Congregational Church records; Personal papers of Church leaders and prominent members of the church community; Department records of the General Council Office; Inter-church and ecumenical organization records; Social justice and Canadian history records; Missionary photographs and papers; an extensive publication and ephemera collection; Records related to residential schools run by The United Church (and former Methodist/Presbyterian Church).
Central Ontario Conferences Archives
The Central Ontario Conferences (Bay of Quinte, Manitou, Hamilton, London and Toronto) Archives have had a longstanding relationship with the General Council Archives. There are 2 full-time and 1 half-time positions in the Conference Archives program; these staff members are responsible for care of the records, providing access to researchers and providing outreach to the community about holdings and services.
Conference Records include: Administrative records of Conference and presbytery offices; congregational records; vital statistics records and registers; and Local Church History file collection.
The Archives are currently located at 40 Oak Street in Regent Park, Toronto.