Local History Research
The Grimsby Public Library has a variety of resources for your local history research. Please contact the Grimsby Museum, Grimsby Historical Society, Town Hall and Nelles Manor for more community history resources.
Microfilm
View hundreds of historical newspapers, assessment rolls, board and council minutes and other documents on microfilm using the library's microfilm reader. Microfilm are reels of film with scaled-down reproductions of documents. The library has a microfilm reader available for public use in the media lab. Staff can help you get started viewing microfilm
The library has the following documents on microfilm:
- Grimsby Lincoln News (Niagara this Week) 1997-current
- Grimsby Independent 1885-2005
- Assessment Rolls 1875-1976
- North Grimsby Assessment Rolls 1932-1969
- Grimsby Public Library Board Minutes 1900-1979
- Township Minutes 1790-1947
- Town of Grimsby Council Minutes 1974-2003
- Census Rolls 1851-1901
- Rev. Francis James Lundy Diaries 1849-1867
- West Niagara News 2006-2012
- Grimsby News Now 2014-current
Online Resources
Research your family tree and historical local news articles, images and documents online using the following library resources. Access these, along with other digital resources, through the Online Library.
- Ancestry.ca - Library edition for census searching and other family history data (must be used at the library, but no library card required)
- Grimsby Newspaper Index (digitized newspapers from 1885 - 1949 and an index of marriage/birth/death announcements.) No library card required
- Grimsby Chautauqua Portal (historic photos, postcards, and documents related to the history of Grimsby Beach.) No library card required
Books
The Grimsby Public library has a small collection of local Grimsby/Niagara history books. Find them in the non-fiction section around 971.351.
Contact Us
Grimsby Public Library
18 Carnegie Lane
Grimsby, ON L3M 1Y1
Phone: 905-945-5142
Open Hours
Monday 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Tuesday 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Wednesday 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Thursday 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sunday 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.