Links & Suggestions
Resources available at the Alberta Family Histories Society library
The AFHS Library is a great place to start. Our online catalogue allows you to search by keyword, title, author or subject. https://afhs.ab.ca/library/
The Basics
Library and Archives Canada has put together a brief introduction to doing genealogy in Alberta https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/genealogy/places/Pages/alberta.aspx
Organizations
Alberta Family Histories Society https://afhs.ab.ca
Alberta Genealogical Society (has branches for many locations within the province – see Branches menu on the website) https://www.abgenealogy.ca/
Peace River Genealogical Society http://sites.rootsweb.com/~abprdgs/
American Historical Society of Germans from Russia Calgary Chapter http://calgarychapterahsgr.ca/
La Société Généalogique du Nord-Ouest: a resource for people exploring their Francophone roots in Alberta https://www.sgno.ca/
Société Historique et Généalogique de Smoky River https://shgsr.org/
Genealogical Institute of the Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada https://www.jhcwc.org/about/genealogical-institute/
Jewish Historical Society of Southern Alberta http://jhssa.org/
Mennonite Historical Society of Alberta http://mennonitehistory.org/
Southern Alberta Pioneers and their Descendants http://pioneersalberta.org/
Calgary Branch UELAC (United Empire Loyalists) http://uelac.org/calgary/
Alberta Ukraine Genealogical Project https://sites.ualberta.ca/~ukrville/Family_History_Portal/fhp.htm
Libraries and Archives
Alberta Family Histories Society Library: https://afhs.ab.ca/library/
Calgary Public Library: Calgary’s Story: https://calgarylibrary.ca/connect/calgary-story
Edmonton Public Library https://www.epl.ca/genealogy/
Libraries in smaller communities are usually a part of a regional system. You can find most libraries and library systems through this link: https://thealbertalibrary.ca/members
University of Calgary Library : Sources for Metis Genealogy https://library.ucalgary.ca/c.php?g=702954&p=4997985
Glenbow Western Research Centre https://cdm22007.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/glenbow/search
Vital Records and Announcements
Alberta Family History Genealogy Research (The Recents) provides free indexes to some Alberta resources including newspaper BMDs Charges apply for copies of the sources. https://www.albertagenealogy-research.ca/
Census
Automated genealogy – An ongoing project to index Canadian census records and link them to selected resources. Includes the 1906 Census of the Prairie Provinces. http://www.automatedgenealogy.com/index.html
Library and Archives Canada – digitized census records including the special censuses of the Prairie Provinces (1906, 1916 and 1926) https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census/Pages/census.aspx
Land Records
Alberta Genealogical Society Homestead Index https://www.abgenealogy.ca/alberta-homestead-index
Provincial Archives of Alberta Homestead information: https://provincialarchives.alberta.ca/how-to/explore-paa-research-resources/homestead-records
Western Canada Land Grants Database – if the homestead was improved a patent could be applied for. This site also has a very good description of the Western Canadian Land System.https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/land/land-grants-western-canada-1870-1930/Pages/land-grants-western-canada.aspx
Not all land was homesteaded. Land was set aside for the Hudson’s Bay Company and the railway. Sometimes this land was sold to settlers.
Canadian Pacific Railway land sales database: https://glenbow.ucalgary.ca/archives-cpr-land-sales/
Hudson’s Bay Company land sales https://www.gov.mb.ca/chc/archives/hbca/common_research_topics.html?farm3=open#farm
Newspapers
Grand Prairie Tribune (AGS) https://www.abgenealogy.ca/grande-prairie-daily-tribune?mid=956