Explore highlights from the Arquives collections of personal and organizational papers, artefacts, ephemera and more! more
Do you know people who have made significant contributions to your LGBTQ2+ community? more
See what we've been preserving since 1973!more
Every archive or library has to decide what kind of material it will gather, preserve, and make available. Factors shaping such decisions include: the institution's specific purpose and constituency; the limits of its human, physical and financial resources; and the availability of similar material held elsewhere by other archives or libraries.
Explore highlights from the the world's largest independent collection of LGBTQ+ documentary heritage. Meet the people, places and organizations that have made a difference for LGBTQ+ Canada.
Established in 2013, in celebration of our 40th Anniversary, the Guardians of the Archives are those individuals who generously commit $1000 and above annually to ensure we are able to cover those operational expenses that will house, protect and secure our stories - our treasures - for generations to come.
We are Canada's LGBTQ2+ Archive. We collect and maintain collections related to LGBTQ2+ life in Canada, including books, archival papers, artifacts, photographs, and art. Founded in 1973, we have grown to become the largest independent LGBTQ2+ archive in the world.
On this day in CDN queer history in 1971, 100 individuals from numerous gay liberation groups in the country protested on Parliament Hill to publicize the We Demand requests aimed at eliminating all remaining forms of state sanctioned discrimination against homosexuals in Canada. Read More
On June 4, 2020 a group of concerned volunteers brought forward a letter outlining systemic barriers within The ArQuives related to racism and oppression (see Concerned Volunteer Letter). Due to lingering concerns about the relationship between political advocacy and our charitable status, the Board acknowledges that we have been hesitant in responding to recent issues… Read More
On this day in CDN queer history, the 2005 amendments to the Civil Marriage Act of Paul Martin’s minority government were given Royal Assent, guaranteeing gay and lesbian couples the right to marry across all ten provinces and three territories. Read More
The ArQuives (formerly the Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives) is the largest independent LGBTQ2+ archives in the world. Primarily a volunteer-run organization with a focus on Canadian content, The ArQuives acquires, preserves, and provides public access to information and collections in a variety of formats. Our organization offers a range of research, exhibition, educational, and… Read More
On this day in CDN queer history in 1971, 100 individuals from numerous gay liberation groups in the country protested on Parliament Hill to publicize the We Demand requests aimed at eliminating all remaining forms of state sanctioned discrimination against homosexuals in Canada. Read More
On June 4, 2020 a group of concerned volunteers brought forward a letter outlining systemic barriers within The ArQuives related to racism and oppression (see Concerned Volunteer Letter). Due to lingering concerns about the relationship between political advocacy and our charitable status, the Board acknowledges that we have been hesitant in responding to recent issues… Read More
On this day in CDN queer history, the 2005 amendments to the Civil Marriage Act of Paul Martin’s minority government were given Royal Assent, guaranteeing gay and lesbian couples the right to marry across all ten provinces and three territories. Read More
The ArQuives (formerly the Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives) is the largest independent LGBTQ2+ archives in the world. Primarily a volunteer-run organization with a focus on Canadian content, The ArQuives acquires, preserves, and provides public access to information and collections in a variety of formats. Our organization offers a range of research, exhibition, educational, and… Read More
Telephone: 416-777-2755
Email: queeries@arquives.ca
Street Address:
34 Isabella Street
Toronto, ON M4Y 1N1
Mailing Address:
The ArQuives
P.O. Box 699
663A Yonge Street
Toronto, ON M4Y 1Z9
6:30 pm - 9:00 pm Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
1:00 pm - 5:00 pm Friday
Please note that The ArQuives offices will be closed for winter holidays from December 21, 2019 to January 6, 2020. We will resume normal hours on January 7, 2020. All reference requests made to queeries@arquives.ca after December 12, 2019 will be answered in January 2020.
NOTE TO RESEARCHERS:
Some of our materials are
stored off site. Before visiting the archives, please send us an email
at
queeries@arquives.ca listing in
detail the topics and sources that you wish to consult and we will let you
know when they will be available. We aim to
respond to email inquiries within 4 business days.
The ArQuives is located on the lands of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, Haudenosaunee, the Anishnaabe and the Huron-Wendat. Today, Toronto is still the home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work on this land.
The ArQuives strives to gather the stories of the unheard and silenced voices of the 2SLGBTQ+ first peoples of this land. We acknowledge that some stories have already been lost, and we aim to ensure that those that remain and those that are to come are preserved for the future.
The ArQuives has an access ramp to the front door and a lift from the first floor to the second floor. There are volunteers available to operate the lift.
There is an accessible washroom on the first floor. All washrooms are gender-neutral.
The ArQuives is a scent-free environment.
Please contact The ArQuives if you have any specific questions about accessibility that we can help with at queeries@arquives.ca.