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 Archives

Canada has a long history of participation with the United Nations and the many sub-strata of the UN family of organizations. The records of this legacy are widely disbursed through the UN system’s various archives as well as the collections of the Canadian national archives, and partner institutions in Canada. This guide aims to provide a general overview of both UN and Canadian archival records, as well as indications of where to find traces of Canadian participation within such a vast international system. The sections of this page detailing Canadian interactions with the UN are organized along the lines of the UN organizational hierarchy and thus provide a roughly thematic overview. Individual sections follow this hierarchy, and detail available information from UN websites and archives, followed by records available at Library and Archives Canada, and finally from additional Canadian sources.

Before exploring this guide, researchers may wish to consult  this website’s existing introduction to United Nations archives, in addition to the archival guide on UN New York for general information on the United Nations records.

For an overview of Canadian engagement with the UN, researchers may also be interested in the United Nations Association in Canada’s (UNAC) website, which has no documentation, but some new releases and statements available in the News and Events tab. For further information on UNAC, contact the Association at the coordinates below.


United Nations Association in Canada
309 Cooper Street, Suite 300
Ottawa, ON  K2P 0G5
Tel: (613) 232-5751
Fax: (613) 563-2455
Email: info@unac.org

For more comprehensive Canadian records, researchers should consult Library and Archives Canada, which has several hundred thousand listings relating to the UN between its library and archival collections. A good deal of governmental archival materials from the mid-twentieth century are concentrated in the Block 24 series on the United Nations,, in addition to non-governmental records in the United Nations Association in Canada fonds. Beyond these general access points, researchers should conduct archival searches on a topical basis for more manageable results. Due to the scope of these records, this guide stresses that the most expedient way to locate specific materials at LAC is through the LAC search engine and that researchers should consult the visitor information page before planning a trip the visit LAC.

Multimedia Records

-        Photographic Records

For general information on United Nations Photo Library, please consult this website’s existing archival guide on the UN New York page.

Researchers interested in Canadian engagement with the UN should consult Library and Archives Canada, which has more than 18,000 images related to the United Nations. The most expedient way to locate specific materials is through the LAC search engine before visiting LAC. The National Film Board of Canada Archive also has an extensive photo library which is searchable online. Photos can be ordered via the NFB Archive webpage.

-        Audio Records

For general information on United Nations Audio Library, please consult this website’s existing archival guide on the UN New York page.

Library and Archives Canada has limited audio holdings on Canadian engagement with the UN, the majority of which relate to the United Nations Association in Canada (UNAC). The most expedient way to locate specific materials is to use the advance-search tools in the LAC search engine to limit search results to audio recordings. Researchers should review the visitor information page prior to visiting LAC. For further audio materials on Canada and the United Nations, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s Digital Archive has a number of radio records available, the majority of which relate to Canadian peacekeeping operations.

-        Video and Film Collections

For general information on the United Nations Film Collection, please consult this website’s existing archival guide on the UN New York page.

Library and Archives Canada has several hundred video holdings on Canadian engagement with the UN. most expedient way to locate specific materials is to use the advance-search tools in the LAC search engine to limit search results to moving images. Researchers should review the visitor information page prior to visiting LAC. Researchers interested in film records have a wide variety of further resources available for consultation. The United Nations Association in Canada also has some limited video holdings on its online video page. The National Film Board of Canada Archive has an extensive library of films relating to Canada and the United Nations which can be searched online. Footage can be ordered via the NFB Archive website. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s Digital Archive also has some accessible film on Canada and the United Nations, the majority of which relates to peacekeeping operations. Researchers interested in film records may also wish to note that Youtube is becoming an increasingly comprehensive repository of accessible films, particularly in terms of news media, documentaries, and stock footage. 

Compiled by Preston Arens, University of Waterloo