Finding Aids
Most of our finding aids are not located on this website, but instead are located on an online database, Manitoba Archival Information Network. We have over 1000 searchable findings aids there, including almost all of our Congregational finding aids. To see the majority of our collections and fonds please visit MAIN.
Finding Aids are guides to identifying and locating the documents and records in the Archives.
The Finding Aid to an individual collection (also called a fonds) includes a description of the fonds, explains how it is organized, and outlines its contents, listing locations where relevant materials may be found.
Each set of archival records is unique and requires a hand crafted map to find treasures. This 1888 map of the Qu’Appelle Valley in Saskatchewan is from the Andrew Baird Papers.
The detail in Finding Aids varies as a result of factors such as the type and size of the collection, the era when the Finding Aid was prepared and the amount of resources available when it was created.
How to find what you are looking for
All of the processed records in The United Church of Canada Archives MNWO/ANCC have a Finding Aid but not all the Finding Aids are available online. Contact us if you are searching for a Finding Aid not available online, or if you have a question about our Finding Aids.
Records on MAIN
The United Church of Canada Archives MNWO/ANCC is a participant in the Manitoba Archival Information Network (MAIN), a project of the Association for Manitoba Archives. MAIN is a database of descriptions of archival material held in Manitoba archives.
Most of the fonds held at The United Church of Canada Archives MNWO/ANCC are described on the MAIN site, including Congregational Records and Personal Papers.
Records on this site
Many of these fonds are related to Indian Residential Schools, mission work with Aboriginal peoples and Urban Missions. In some cases, more detailed Finding Aids than those found on MAIN are included here with links to printable versions and photographs. (See Table of Residential School related fonds)