About Us

Mandate
Bylaw 7400
The City of Richmond Archives is governed by Corporate Records Management Program Bylaw 7400 which came into effect July 29, 2002. Bylaw 7400 sets out the terms and scope of activities of the City of Richmond Archives as the official repository for the inactive public and private records of enduring and historic value to the City of Richmond and the community as a whole. It is the work of the City of Richmond Archives to preserve and protect these records and to make them accessible to City officials and the public.

The Archives acquires both public and private records by scheduled transfer, gift, bequest, purchase, exchange or any other action by which title to the material passes to the Archives, with the understanding that ownership is held in trust for future generations.

You are encouraged to follow the link to Bylaw 7400 and read it in its entirety as it provides a picture of the stewardship the City of Richmond exercises over City government and community records during their lifetime.

Authority
The Corporate Records Management Program Bylaw came into effect July 29, 2002 and replaces previous Archives collections policies for the City of Richmond.

Collection
The City of Richmond Archives holds over 1 kilometre of textual records, 170,000 photographs, 20,000 maps and plans, and over 500 sound and moving image recordings. In addition, the Archives maintains a small reference library and collections of subject and biographical reference files.

Social Media
The Archives and its dedicated support group, the Friends of the Richmond Archives, welcome you to our social media sites:
Friends of the Richmond Archives on Facebook
Outside the Box: The Richmond Archives Blog
Richmond Archives' Channel on YouTube
Richmond Archives' Channel on Historypin

History of the Richmond Archives
The idea to establish an Archives was first put forward by people working on Richmond's centennial celebrations in 1979. By 1987 the Archives became a separate institution within the City Clerk's Office. The next milestone occurred in 1992 when a dedicated space for the City Archives was created in the new Library and Cultural Centre at Minoru Park. For the first time, the holdings were under one roof with climate controls and a comfortable Reference Room for the public.

Hours and Location
The Archives is open by appointment only, Monday through Thursday. Due to COVID-19 there are no drop-in services available. Appointments can be made within either morning or afternoon blocks (9 to 11:30 am or 1:30 to 4:00 pm). Up to 2 household members may be included. No other researchers will be booked during your appointment time. To learn more, read the Archives Safety Plan.