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Research on pre-confederation Canada has its own unique challenges, as the names of government institutions and geographical regions were different before the nation of Canada was formed. Some terminology used at the time is also no longer appropriate today, but persists as a keyword in primary documents (e.g. indian vs indigenous). Whether you are working on a primary sources analysis, a research paper, a historiographical paper, or other project work, the sections on this page will help you discover both primary and secondary sources relating to your topic. However, if you are not finding what you need, please let me know. I'm committed to helping you do the best research possible.
-- Mike Chee, History Librarian
Find secondary sources by searching the library catalogue (OMNI) and looking in topic-specific history databases. Learn more about the work undertaken in Canadian history by tapping into the community spaces (virtual and journal-based) where these historians gather and discuss.
Primary sources for pre-confederation Canada can be difficult to track down, as a historical period with fluid geographical boundaries and a diversity of peoples and cultures. Archives remain a primary repository of primary sources from this period. In addition, primary sources may be found in collections of primary sources available in the catalogue, in digitized form within searchable databases, and as newspapers from the period that are available in-part in digitized form.
When searching primary documents by key word, remember that terms and alternate/older spelling variations have changed over time. For example:
use v for u; u for v; j for i or y; i for j or y; y for i or j; w for vv or uu; s for f
Questions? Let me know.
Mike Chee, History Librarian
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