This is a page of genealogical and historical resources for the province of Newfoundland and Labrador (“NL”), Canada.
Newfoundland joined Confederation in 1949..! The name was changed to Newfoundland and Labrador in 2001. (If you can’t tell, there’s a really long, juicy story hiding behind that sentence.)
Ancestor Search – Library and Archives Canada (LAC)
If you haven’t been on LAC lately, it’s worth another look. In 2019, LAC rolled out my three favourite words in the English language: centralized database search. Bearing in mind that the usual spelling issues still apply, you can now search all the collections at once.
Library and Archives Canada: Newfoundland and Labrador
More a site of sites, rather than a site of actual archives. A good place to look to get oriented on what’s available and where it’s housed.
Newfoundland’s Grand Banks
A non-profit site with a wealth of information. This site is a good place to start researching NL.
Newfoundland Census Records – 1675-1945
From 1675-1945, an astounding 38 census records may be found here. The only trouble for a non-native is they’re generally organized by district. You’ll enjoy poring over old maps to find your missing persons.
Newfoundland Vital Records 1840-1949 (Family Search)
Thanks to Family Search, a division of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, vital stats are available online.
NL GenWeb
Free genealogical resources, organized by region.
The Rooms Genealogy Research
If it’s not apparent, The Rooms encompasses the provincial archives, art gallery, and museum into one collective. The Rooms house an extensive collection of records on microfiche and photocopy. A digital archiving project is underway, but as of 2017, it appears the only option for genealogists outside the geographic area is to request individual records from Rooms’ staff or to hire a local researcher.