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Canadian Baptist
Archives
The Canadian Baptist Archives (CBA) is housed at McMaster Divinity College and is one the largest of its kind in Canada. It is the central archives for the Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec (CBOQ) denomination, including its affiliated associations, organizations, and churches. It also holds historical records for Canadian Baptist Ministries and pre-1957 records for McMaster University. Additionally, the archives holds periodicals, pamphlets, and biographical files on prominent Canadian Baptists.
Our Collections Submit a RequestStudy with CBA
Research Opportunities
There are many opportunities for graduate studies within the Canadian Baptist Archives. Students may be interested in researching topics such as:
- Canadian Baptists in Global Mission
- Women in the Canadian Baptist context
- The work of Grande Ligne Mission within French Protestantism
- Canadian Culture and the Baptist Church
- Indigenous Baptist churches in Canada
- Biographical studies of Canadian Baptists
- Canadian Baptist responses to ethical and polity changes in contemporary Canada
- Nineteenth Century Religious Periodicals and Print Culture
These, and other, topics can be researched as part of the following programs:
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Christian Theology
Dissertation
Master of Arts (Christian Studies)
Thesis option
Doctor of Practical Theology
Research Dissertation Project
Master of Arts (Theology & Ministry)
Major paper option
Master of Divinity
Thesis option
Contact the Centre Director or our Admissions Team for more information about our programs and how the Archives can be part of your program.
Who It's For
Our Researchers
There are a wide variety of researchers that use the material in the Canadian Baptist Archives for their projects. In addition to genealogists and local church historians, students and teachers from Canada and throughout the world that use the archives in their work.
The Canadian Baptist Historical Society (CBHS) uses the archives regularly in the various projects on Canadian Baptist life and thought. For more information about the CBHS and its previous and current publications, visit their website at the link below.
A Look Inside
Our Collections
The Canadian Baptist Archives is housed at McMaster Divinity College and is the central archives for the Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec (CBOQ) denomination, including its affiliated associations, organizations and churches. It also holds historical records for Canadian Baptist Ministries and pre-1957 records for McMaster University. Additionally, the archives holds periodicals, pamphlets, and biographical files on prominent Canadian Baptists. See more about each collection below.
-
Canadian Baptists of Ontario & Quebec
(CBOQ) -
Canadian Baptist Ministries
(CBM) -
McMaster University
(1888-1956)
The Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec denomination stores its archival records at the Canadian Baptist Archives. These records are broken into three major groups: (1) local church records, (2) associations records, and (3) denominational records.
Local Church Records
Local church records can consist of membership records, church minutes, annual reports, historical & anniversary material, marriage records and other miscellaneous material. The amount of archival material in the archives will vary from church to church, as local congregations voluntarily send their records to the archives: Examples of local church records include:
Vittoria Baptist Church, church minutes, 1820-1880
Woodstock, First Baptist Church, church minutes, 1822-1844
St. George Baptist Church, membership roll, 1827-1921
Montreal, First Baptist Church, history, 1831-1981
Association Records
Western Baptist Association, 1830 annual meeting
The various associations of Baptist churches in Ontario & Quebec are another key source of historical records. The earliest associations in Ontario and Quebec were formed before 1850. The associations were responsible for overseeing the ordination of ministers and for making sure that local churches were supporting each other and adhering to Baptist norms. As the number of Baptist churches increased, so did the number of associations in Ontario and Quebec. Here are some key association records:
Western Association minutes: 1830-1929
Ottawa Association minutes: 1837-1890
Amherstburg Association minutes: 1841-1894
Toronto Association: 1875-1930
Denominational Records
The Canadian Baptists of Ontario & Quebec (formerly known as the Regular Baptists of Ontario & Quebec, and as the Convention Baptists of Ontario & Quebec) became a denomination in 1888 by a vote of member churches and was formally recognized by the Canadian government by an Act of Parliament in 1889. CBOQ records consist of various committee minutes and its publications, some of which pre-date the denomination itself. Here are some of key publications that tell the story of the CBOQ:
Canadian Baptist Magazine and Missionary Magazine: 1837-1841
Canadian Baptist (Christian Messenger): 1854-1967
Baptist Register: 1857-1876
Baptist Yearbook: 1877-2007
Members of the Baptist Convention, October 1867
Canadian Missionary Link, 1885
Canadian Baptist Ministries can trace its roots back to the 1870’s when the first Canadian missionaries, John and Mary McLaurin, travelled to India. A second mission field in Bolivia was established by Rev. Archibald Reekie in 1898. In the early 20th century, the Ontario/Quebec and the Atlantic Canada mission boards merged to the Canadian Baptist Foreign Mission Board, and after a few more name changes, the current iteration of Canadian Baptist Ministries was established in 1995.
Canadian Baptist Ministries now operates in over 25 countries around the world. Key periodicals that tell the story of CBM include the Canadian Missionary Link, Among the Telugus, Among the Bolivians and the Enterprise. Here are some of the key historical resources regarding Canadian Baptist ministries:
Regular Baptist Foreign Missionary Society, minute book, 1873-1891
Regular Baptist Foreign Missionary Society, minute book, 1891-1903
Peniel Hall Society (Bolivia), minutes, 1911-1969
Canadian Baptist Missionaries in India, c. 1895
Moulton College, 34 Bloor St E, Toronto, circa 1900
McMaster University was established in Toronto in 1888 and later moved to Hamilton in 1930. Founded as Baptist university, it remained a privately funded institution until 1957, when it became publicly funded.
Historical records that reflect the administration of McMaster University, such as the Senate minutes, Board of Governor’s minutes, and minutes from various faculties and departments are not part our collection of pre-1957 McMaster University material.
Our collection of early McMaster of material reflects the original Baptist nature of the university when it was a Baptist institution. Key components of the collection include the University Calendars, the McMaster Monthly, the early Marmor yearbook, as well as material from Woodstock College, Moulton College and Toronto Baptist College.
McMaster University Brass Band, 1907
-
Canadian Baptists of Ontario & Quebec
(CBOQ)
The Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec denomination stores its archival records at the Canadian Baptist Archives. These records are broken into three major groups: (1) local church records, (2) associations records, and (3) denominational records.Local Church Records
Local church records can consist of membership records, church minutes, annual reports, historical & anniversary material, marriage records and other miscellaneous material. The amount of archival material in the archives will vary from church to church, as local congregations voluntarily send their records to the archives: Examples of local church records include:
Vittoria Baptist Church, church minutes, 1820-1880
Woodstock, First Baptist Church, church minutes, 1822-1844
St. George Baptist Church, membership roll, 1827-1921
Montreal, First Baptist Church, history, 1831-1981Association Records
Western Baptist Association, 1830 annual meeting
The various associations of Baptist churches in Ontario & Quebec are another key source of historical records. The earliest associations in Ontario and Quebec were formed before 1850. The associations were responsible for overseeing the ordination of ministers and for making sure that local churches were supporting each other and adhering to Baptist norms. As the number of Baptist churches increased, so did the number of associations in Ontario and Quebec. Here are some key association records:
Western Association minutes: 1830-1929
Ottawa Association minutes: 1837-1890
Amherstburg Association minutes: 1841-1894
Toronto Association: 1875-1930Denominational Records
The Canadian Baptists of Ontario & Quebec (formerly known as the Regular Baptists of Ontario & Quebec, and as the Convention Baptists of Ontario & Quebec) became a denomination in 1888 by a vote of member churches and was formally recognized by the Canadian government by an Act of Parliament in 1889. CBOQ records consist of various committee minutes and its publications, some of which pre-date the denomination itself. Here are some of key publications that tell the story of the CBOQ:
Canadian Baptist Magazine and Missionary Magazine: 1837-1841
Canadian Baptist (Christian Messenger): 1854-1967
Baptist Register: 1857-1876
Baptist Yearbook: 1877-2007
Members of the Baptist Convention, October 1867
-
Canadian Baptist Ministries
(CBM)
Canadian Missionary Link, 1885
Canadian Baptist Ministries can trace its roots back to the 1870’s when the first Canadian missionaries, John and Mary McLaurin, travelled to India. A second mission field in Bolivia was established by Rev. Archibald Reekie in 1898. In the early 20th century, the Ontario/Quebec and the Atlantic Canada mission boards merged to the Canadian Baptist Foreign Mission Board, and after a few more name changes, the current iteration of Canadian Baptist Ministries was established in 1995.
Canadian Baptist Ministries now operates in over 25 countries around the world. Key periodicals that tell the story of CBM include the Canadian Missionary Link, Among the Telugus, Among the Bolivians and the Enterprise. Here are some of the key historical resources regarding Canadian Baptist ministries:
Regular Baptist Foreign Missionary Society, minute book, 1873-1891
Regular Baptist Foreign Missionary Society, minute book, 1891-1903
Peniel Hall Society (Bolivia), minutes, 1911-1969
Canadian Baptist Missionaries in India, c. 1895
-
McMaster University
(1888-1956)
Moulton College, 34 Bloor St E, Toronto, circa 1900
McMaster University was established in Toronto in 1888 and later moved to Hamilton in 1930. Founded as Baptist university, it remained a privately funded institution until 1957, when it became publicly funded.
Historical records that reflect the administration of McMaster University, such as the Senate minutes, Board of Governor’s minutes, and minutes from various faculties and departments are not part our collection of pre-1957 McMaster University material.
Our collection of early McMaster of material reflects the original Baptist nature of the university when it was a Baptist institution. Key components of the collection include the University Calendars, the McMaster Monthly, the early Marmor yearbook, as well as material from Woodstock College, Moulton College and Toronto Baptist College.
McMaster University Brass Band, 1907
Research Policy
Due to our limited hours of operation, the CBA does not perform genealogical research for individuals. Genealogists need to make an appointment with the archivist in advance, so that the archivist has time to make sure that relevant records are available to be reviewed. Researchers that cannot come to the archives in person will need to hire a professional researcher to examine the records on their behalf.
Additionally, due to the fragile condition of our older archival holdings, researchers may not be given access to the original paper copies. Instead, researchers may be provided with a scan of the original material. If there is not digital copy of a fragile document at the time of the request, it can take several weeks for a digital copy to be created.
Please send any research requests or questions to cbarch@mcmaster.ca.
Archives Hours of Operation
The Archives can schedule an appointment for researchers during operating hours. Appointments must be made two weeks in advance to ensure that space is available and that the requested material can be accessed.
Office Hours
Monday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
CLOSED
Wednesday
CLOSED
Thursday
CLOSED
Friday
CLOSED
Saturday
CLOSED
Sunday
CLOSED
