Content last reviewed:
Ottawa Resource Collection (room 581): 9am-noon and 1-4pm, Mondays-Fridays.
Consider these examples:
Historical lens - multiple names for a single place
- Vanier evolved from Eastview which evolved from Janeville, Clarkstown, Clandeboye
- Bronson Ave was Concession Line
- Glebe Ave was Carling Ave
- Laurier Ave was Maria St
Boundaries can fluctuate or change name
- Ward or municipal boundaries may change, for example:
- Preston St formerly Dalhousie Ward now falls within Somerset Ward.
- The neighbourhood Barrhaven is in the city of Ottawa, but was formerly in the City of Nepean prior to amalgamation in 2001
Boundaries may be vague
- The intersection of Bronson and Gladstone may fall within Chinatown or Centretown West ... or both
Boundaries may be precise
- Beechwood Ave provides the boundary between Rockcliffe Park and Vanier
- Baseline Rd was the boundary between cities of Ottawa and Nepean (pre-amalgamation in 2001)
Major streets can offer clues
- Information about Albert St. may help tell the story of Lebreton Flats
- Information about Wellington St. may reveal history of "Banker's Row" across from Parliament
One street = many neighbourhoods
- Richmond Rd (Ottawa West) becomes Wellington St (Centretown) becomes Rideau St. (Lowertown) becomes Montreal Rd (Vanier)
- Bank St starts at Parliament Hill and continues through Centretown, The Glebe, Old Ottawa South, Alta Vista, Hunt Club, Blossom Park, Leitrim, South Gloucester, Greely, Metcalfe, Spring Hill, and Vernon before exiting the city limits at Belmeade Road
Different sources have different biases
- City documents reflect city interests
- Community organizations can capture grassroots concerns
- Federal institutions reflect federal interests.
- BIAs (Business Improvement Areas) collect economic and business information
One place may have many labels
- Lebreton Flats - Little Italy - Chaudiere - Zibi - Nepean Point -- Preston St
"Events" reveal information about "place"
- The Great Sewer Explosion of 1929 may provide details about Sandy Hill
- Central Canada Exhibition may lead to information about the Glebe
Different times reflect different issues
- 1950 and '60' - gentrification through demolition
- 1970's - appreciation for heritage structures, especially by community associations
- 1970's - increased tourism literature
- 1990's - environmental awareness
- 2000s - dialogue between community, developers and city interests
Local builders & architects
- James Strutt (influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright)
- George Bemi (Brutalist style - Main Branch Ottawa Public LIbrary)
- Ernst Noffke (residential buildings in the Glebe)
- Thomas MacKay (New Edinburgh's stone buildings)
Prominent people and city building
- Ahearn and Soper, inventors and businessmen introduce streetcars and electricity to Ottawa
- Former mayor Marion Dewar welcomes south Asian refugees (Project 4000)
- Historical figures such as Archibald McKellar, help develop Westboro
- Robert Randall, original title holder of land in Lebreton Flats (formerly Nepean Landing)
Geographical features tell stories
- Nanny Goat Hill (Ottawa Centre) - An escarpment overlooking Lebreton Flats
- Mud Lake (Ottawa West) - A significant wetland in Ottawa's urban environment
- Mer Bleue Bog (Ottawa East) - A unique "northern ecosystem" in the heart of Ottawa's Greenbelt
- Champlain Lookout (Gatineau Park) - The divide between St. Lawrence Lowlands and Canadian Shield
Need suggestions for a glossary?
See "Related Search Terms" on the Ottawa Resource Collection Online Neighbourhoods page.
Search OMNI - using your customized glossary:
- Refine your results by selecting "Carleton Library Location" - "Floor 5 (Room 581) Ottawa Resource Material (OTTR)"
- OMNI results highlight key words embedded in the records - OMNI doesn't search a book's full content so go to the next step!
Browse the OTTR print collection:
- Generic titles such as "Ottawa" may include valuable hidden content. Scan the shelves for titles of interest and check the Contents and Indexes using your customized glossary.
- See "FC" for history books, "HT" for planning, "NA" for architecture and so on.
- Publication dates may be part of the call number. This can be helpful remembering pre or post amalgamation dates.
- Record call numbers and enter in OMNI to get content for bibliography or citations.
Visit OTTR Webpage : "Neighbourhoods" and "Topics" offer links to maps, images, statistics and more!
Discover clues using the OTTR Discovery Tool:
- Zoom and click on map pins or open the address list on the left.
- Discovery tool map contains links to online sources and or OTTR books.
- OTTR Blue binders houses print copies. Go to Neighbourhood binder - see ASC staff for help
- some addresses are best guess.
- pins colour = neighbourhoods
- multiple entries provide a bigger story.
Why use Maps & Images? Spatial information enriches, clarifies and supports text.. Remember to cite maps - click here for help! Tip: One location may be covered by a single map or several sheets. Maps import bias so remember to consider the source and date.
Why use print (paper) maps? Paper maps can provide a baseline of information. Layer current data over older print maps to show trends or patterns..
Curated for over 60 years, the Carleton Library's print map collection covers a variety of topics and scales.
Click on Images and Maps for links to Fire Insurance Plans, historical topographic maps, GeoOttawa, images and more.
- Paper maps housed in map cabinets in room 581 and just outside the door on floor 5. Maps are filed by date. Feel free to browse cabinets.
- Most maps are catalogued - (provides the citation)
- For GIS data visit GIS MacOdrum Library including Open Data Ottawa
- Tip: Paper maps are searchable in OMNI. Just add the term "map" in the search box.
Pls note: Due to a recent map reorganization, some Ottawa maps may incorrectly indicate MPL (floor 1). They are in fact in OTTR (floor 5). Contact staff in Archives and Special Collections if you are having difficulty locating an Ottawa map.
Ottawa Fire Insurance Plans (1901 & 1912 pdfs / 1957 print only) See Images and Maps - Online Maps
GeoOttawa City of Ottawa interactive map - shows property parcels, contours, air photos 1929-present and more See Images and Maps - Online Maps
National Capital Commission (CoLab) NCC copyright free historical images of Ottawa) See Images and Maps - Online Maps
Greber Report (aka Plan for National Capital General Report) (1957 planning document) - use "free access link"
OTTR Discovery Tool (links to online neighbourhood sources)
OTTR Blue Binders (neighbourhood print resources) See cabinet in room 581
Atlas of Carleton Campus (David Bouse) print copies in OTTR and Floor 1 Click here for online copy
Ottawa Neighbourhood Study (ONS) / U of O, Carleton U and CIty of Ottawa (stats, images and maps of Ottawa neighbourhoods)
Timelines:
- 1826 Bytown founded
- 1827 Bytown divided by Lieut. Col. John By into two main sections—Upper Town and Lower Town
- 1850 Bytown becomes a town and Richmond becomes a village
- 1855 Bytown becomes the City of Ottawa
- 1867 New Edinburgh becomes a village
- 1875 Wrightsville (north of the Ottawa River) becomes the City of Hull, (now part of Gatineau)
- 1887 City of Ottawa annexes New Edinburgh
- 1888 Ottawa East becomes a village
- 1893 Hintonburg becomes a village
- 1898 Metcalfe becomes a police village
- 1903 Manotick becomes a police village
- 1905 Rideauville and Westboro become police villages
- 1907 Ottawa annexes Hintonburg and Rideauville
- 1908 Rockcliffe Park becomes a police village
- 1908 Janeville becomes a village.
- 1910 Kenmore and Osgoode Station become police villages.
- 1912 Ottawa West becomes a police village
- 1913 Janeville becomes Town of Eastview
- 1922 Overbrook and St. Joseph d'Orleans were incorporated as police villages.
- 1925 Rockcliffe Park became a full village in 1925.
- 1939 Hampton Park incorporated as a police village.
- 1949 Westboro and Village of Hampton Park and Ottawa West annexed by City of Ottawa
- 1950 Overbrook annexed by Ottawa
- 1954 City View incorporated as a police village
- 1956 Stittsville incorporated as a police village
- 1961 Stittsville becomes a full village
- 1963 Eastview (now Vanier) becomes City of Eastview
- 1969 City of Eastview is renamed Vanier
- 1969 Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton (RMOC) is formed from Carleton County
- 1974 Villages of City View, Kenmore, Manotick, Metcalfe, North Gower, Osgoode Station, and St. Joseph d'Orleans are dissolved
- 1974 Goulbourn Township annexes the villages of Richmond and Stittsville
- 1974 Rideau Township created from Marlborough Township and North Gower
- 1974 West Carleton Township created from Townships of Torbolton, Fitzroy and Huntley
- 1978 City of Kanata formed from March Township and parts of Goulbourn and Nepean Townships
- 1978 Nepean Township becomes City of Nepean
- 1981 Gloucester Township becomes the City of Gloucester
- 1999 Cumberland Township becomes the City of Cumberland
- 2001 Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton (RMOC) becomes City of Ottawa (includes the former municipalities of Ottawa, Vanier, Nepean, Kanata,Gloucester and Cumberland; the townships of Rideau, West Carleton, Goulbourn and Osgoode; and the village of Rockcliffe Park)
"Police Village"?
From Wikipedia: A police village was a form of municipal government used in the province of Ontario, Canada, beginning in the early 19th century. It was used in cases where the finances or population of the area did not permit the creation of a village.
Police Village with date of creation: City View (1954) -- Manotick (1903) -- Metcalfe (1898) -- North Gower(1905) -- Rockcliffe Park(1908) -- Osgoode (1910) -- Overbrook (1922) -- St-Joseph d'Orléans (1922) -- Ottawa West (1912) -- Stittsville (1956)
Ottawa City Directories: (missing dates are available in print at the Ottawa Public Library, Main Branch, Metcalfe St. Ottawa)
- 1863 Online at the Ottawa Public Library (requires OPL library card to access)
- 1866-67 Online at the Ottawa Public Library (requires OPL library card to access)
- 1870-71 Online at the Ottawa Public Library (requires OPL library card to access)
- 1872-73 Online at the Ottawa Public Library (requires OPL library card to access)
- 1874-75 Online at the Ottawa Public Library (requires OPL library card to access)
- 1876 In print in OTTR Rare (room 581)
- 1877 Online at the Ottawa Public Library (requires OPL library card to access)
- 1878 Online at the Ottawa Public Library (requires OPL library card to access)
- 1879 Online at the Ottawa Public Library (requires OPL library card to access)
- 1880 Online at the Ottawa Public Library (requires OPL library card to access)
- 1902 In print in OTTR Rare (room 581)
- 1903 Online at the Ottawa Public Library (requires OPL library card to access)
- 1904 Online at the Ottawa Public Library (requires OPL library card to access)
- 1905 Online at the Ottawa Public Library (requires OPL library card to access)
- 1906 Online at the Ottawa Public Library (requires OPL library card to access)
- 1907 Online at the Ottawa Public Library (requires OPL library card to access)
- 1908 Online at the Ottawa Public Library (requires OPL library card to access)
- 1909 In print in OTTR Rare (room 581)
- 1910 Online at the Ottawa Public Library (requires OPL library card to access)
- 1912 I In print in OTTR Rare (room 581)
- 1914 In print in OTTR Rare (room 581)
- 1917 In print in OTTR Rare (room 581)
- 1917 Online at the Ottawa Public Library (requires OPL library card to access)
- 1918 Online at the Ottawa Public Library (requires OPL library card to access)
- 1920 Online at the Ottawa Public Library (requires OPL library card to access)
- 1921 Online at the Ottawa Public Library (requires OPL library card to access)
- 1922 Online at the Ottawa Public Library (requires OPL library card to access)
- 1923 Online at the Ottawa Public Library (requires OPL library card to access)
- 1924 Online at the Ottawa Public Library (requires OPL library card to access)
- 1926 Online at the Ottawa Public Library (requires OPL library card to access)
- 1927 Online at the Ottawa Public Library (requires OPL library card to access)
- 1937 In print in OTTR Rare (room 581)
- 1991 In print (room 583)
- 1992 In print (room 583)
- 1993/4 In print (room 583)
- 1996 In print (room 583)
- 1997 In print (room 583)
- 1998 In print (room 583)
- 1999 In print (room 583)
- 2000 In print (room 583)
- 2002-3 In print (room 583)
- 2004-5 In print (room 583)
- 2006-7 In print (room 583)
- 2007-8 In print (room 583)
- 2008-9 In print (room 583)
- 2009-10 In print (room 583)
- 2010 In print (room 583)
- 2011 In print (room 583)
- 2012 In print (room 583)
- 2013 In print (room 583)
Other Local Collections in the Area:
Explores the city’s history from the early years of Rideau Canal construction, through the rough and tumble days of Bytown, to its emergence as Canada’s capital and beyond. Enjoy unique artifacts and exhibits year-round.
The City of Ottawa Archives welcomes all researchers. If you have specific historical questions about Ottawa, reference staff can provide assistance. The Archives provides access to a wide range of resources including photographs, maps, architectural drawings and artifacts. The 16,000-volume specialized reference library holds unique resource materials on the history and development of the City of Ottawa.
Cumberland Township Historical Society (Cumberland Branch - OPL)
Discovering, preserving and sharing Cumberland Township history.
Diefenbunker Canada's Cold War Museum
Goulbourn Historical Society (Stittsville Branch - OPL)
Dedicated to the history of the former Goulbourn Township, now amalgamated into the City of Ottawa in Ontario, Canada. This includes the communities of Stittsville, Hazeldean, Richmond, Munster Hamlet, Ashton, Stanley’s Corners, Stapledon and Mansfield and surrounding rural areas.
Looks at rural life beginning with the creation of the Richmond military settlement in 1818; a History Centre provides information about local families and community life.
Huntley Township Historical Society (Carp Branch - OPL)
A collection of historical and genealogical material establishing a repository of information and artifacts on the former Huntley Township for research purposes and as a contribution to Canadian history, and to publish and display related materials.
Kanata Room in the Beaverbrook Branch OPL
Houses an in-depth collection on the history of March Township and the City of Kanata.
Nepean Centrepointe (Ottawa Public Library)
Comprises over 300 books, periodicals, and newspapers. Material in the collection represents the greater Ottawa region, with a focus on Carleton County, and Nepean Township in particular.
Focuses on agricultural development, pioneer life and the people of Osgoode Township from 1826 to the present day.
Ottawa Public Library (OPL) Ottawa Room - main branch
A centralized information resource about Ottawa and surrounding areas, both past and present, that helps preserve Ottawa’s written heritage for researchers and for residents with a passion for local history. Its unique collection brings together printed documents about Ottawa, important municipal documents, including current and past city by-laws, and a broad selection of historical and literary works by Ottawa authors. The collection includes over 15,000 items that can be consulted free of charge.
