Researching Family History

Hudson’s Bay Company Indexes - Indigenous & Métis

The Hudson’s Bay Company was active in the development of the western provinces since its establishment in 1670. These records can be useful to research early family history. Many types of records exist including contracts, personal accounts, pension records, estate records and census information on some indigenous peoples.

Online 

The Archives of Manitoba holds the Hudson's Bay Company Archives collection

There is an easy-to-use guide to the HBC records on the Internet. As well, the name index link.

Microfilm

Our Family History Department has three Hudson’s Bay Company record indexes on microfilm, that act as detailed finding aids to what’s available at the Hudson Bay Archives in Manitoba. The films are finding aid microfilms: 20M1, 1M1252 and 1M1253. Please ask a staff member for assistance. 

Print

The Family History Department has several resources relating to Hudson’s Bay Company records in its print collection. Some examples:

Simmons, Deirdre. Keepers of the Record: The History of the Hudson’s Bay Company Archives. Library call number: 971.201 SIM 2007

Morin, Gail.  Company Men. [A series of over 20 volumes of genealogies of men who worked for the Hudson’s Bay Company.] Library call number:  929.37127 MOR 2017

Oliver, Prof. E.H. (ed.)  The Canadian North-west, Its Early Development and Legislative Records: Minutes of the Councils of the Red River Colony and the Northern Development of Rupert’s Land Library call number 971.2 CAN