The City of Vancouver Archives has documented and preserved Vancouver's past since 1933 when the first City Archivist Major J. S. Matthews was appointed by City Council. We are a public institution administered by the City of Vancouver and the official repository of Vancouver's civic government records.

The Archives houses original records dating back to Vancouver's earliest exploration and settlement, including records donated by private individuals, organizations, businesses and families.

We have over two thousand linear metres of textual records; 1.5 million photographic images; hundreds of audio recordings and moving images; a library of books and videos; over six thousand maps; thousands of plans of built heritage and landscape
architecture; over two thousand works of documentary art; electronic records; and City publications.

Our film and video holdings include works created by the City to document its activities, home movies, and documentaries.