Since 1903 the Archives of Ontario has been providing innovative leadership in collecting, managing and preserving the records of the Government of Ontario and promoting and facilitating their use by present and future generations. The Archives of Ontario is the second largest archives in Canada and provides a window into the past for all Ontarians, connecting us with our ancestors, our communities and our government.Our customers have access to a unique and multi-faceted collection that includes records dating back to the late 16th century and contains everything from hand-written ledgers to electronic files, hand-drawn maps, architectural drawings, photographs, films and sound recordings.