This page collects notable reports and other significant publications in Canadian archival history. They chart the development of archival policy from the 19th century to the present. This is a partial list and we encourage you to contact us if you have publications which you would recommend we include.

• Miles, Henry H. “On ‘Canadian Archives’” Transactions of the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec. 1871. [source]
  
  • See also: "Petition of HH Miles and others praying that steps may be taken for the sorting and classification of Canadian records with a view to their being preserved for convenient reference." Referred to Committee on the Library. (pp. 139-140) Report thereon [pp 288-289], Journals of the House of Commons of the Dominion of Canada (extract) [source]
• Brymner, Douglas. Report on Canadian Archives, Appendix to the Report of the Minister of Agriculture (1872 and 1873) and H.A.B. Verrault, Report of the Proceedings connected with Canadian Archives in Europe. (1874). 1872-1874. [source]


• Lemoine, J.M. "The Archives of Canada," Transactions of the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec. 1880. [source]


• Brymner, Douglas. Report on Canadian Archives. 1882 & 1883. [source]


• Report of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the state of the public records, 1897. 1898 [source]


• Royal Commission on the Records of the Public Departments. (Joseph Pope). 1914. [source]


• Royal Commission on National Development in the Arts, Letters, and Sciences. Report. (Vincent Massey). 1951.


• "Management of the Public Service: Paperwork and Systems Management." Royal Commission on Government Organization. (J. Grant Glassco). 1962. [source].


• Symons, T.H.B. To Know Ourselves: The Report of the Commission on Canadian Studies. 1975. [source]
  
  • Caya, Marcel “The Commission on Canadian Studies,” Archivaria 2 (Summer 1976): 60–64.
  • "Canadian Archives: Reports and Responses: The Symons Report, 1975". Archivaria 11 (Winter 1980–81): 3-11.
• Consultative Group on Canadian Archives. Canadian Archives: Report of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. (Ian E. Wilson). 1980.
  
  • "Canadian Archives: Reports and Responses: The Wilson Report, 1980". Archivaria 11 (Winter 1980–81): 12-35.
• Report of the Federal Cultural Policy Review Committee. (Louis Applebaum & Jacques Hébert). 1982.
  
  • Smith, William. “The Applebaum-Hébert Report: Introduction.” Archivaria 16 (Summer 1983): 95-98.
  • Association of Canadian Archivists et al. "The Applebaum-Hébert Report: Official Responses." Archivaria 16 (Summer 1983): 99-118.
  • MacDermaid, Anne et al. “The Applebaum-Hébert Report: Personal Observations.” Archivaria 16 (Summer 1983): 119-133.
• Report of the Advisory Committee on Archives. (Ian E. Wilson) 1984.
  
  • Walden, David E. “Report of the Advisory Committee on Archives” (rev.), Archivaria 23 (1986-1987): 129-130.
• Cameron, David. Taking Stock: Canadian Studies in the Nineties. 1996.



• The Role of the National Archives of Canada and the National Library of Canada. Report Submitted to the Honourable Sheila Copps. (John English). 1999.

  • Cook, Terry. “The “English Report” and Archives: A Critical Appreciation.” Archivaria 53. (Spring 2002): 115-121.

  • Peace, order and good government’’: archives in society, Ian E. Wilson, Archival Science, International Journal on Recorded Information, Volume 12, Number 2
  The phrase ‘‘peace, order and good government,’’ common to the definition of federal powers in both the Australian and the Canadian constitutions, has defined the relationship of the Crown and the citizen for more than five centuries. The archival record is fundamental to that relationship, providing its authoritative legal basis, documenting its evolution and continuing as a reminder of both our proudest achievements and our most dismal failures as a society. This paper reflects on the role of archives in recent Canadian human rights issues, highlighting both the strengths and the weaknesses of the record, the perception of archives as an agency of the state and the role of archives in helping society address highly contentious issues.