Useful resources
Calgary ‘s history is well captured at the Glenbow Museum, the Calgary public library, and at the University of Calgary in its Taylor Family Digital library collection
The local history section of the public library has amazing collections of old phone books, even old Henderson directories of names, addresses, phone numbers, occupations. It is hilarious and touching to trace for instance your former or current addresses and see what happened there.
Most files of the Calgary newspapers over the years are on microfilm.
There are copies of old yearbooks for sale online and some can be seen at the University of Calgary local history area.
Many Calgary communities have their own history books researched by that community association. Some writers have published histories of the earlier town and some have updated with anniversary books of Calgary’s centennial or origins of city street names here.
The provincial government archives in Edmonton have copious records and our local newspapers kept files and microfilm of early editions.
This is one of those projects like doing genealogy. It is like a stacking doll. You keep discovering new things you could research.
Heritage Park and the Confluence (formerly Fort Calgary ) not only have records but have displays of things from earlier times.
Heritage Calgary does research as does the Historical Society of Alberta.
The City of Calgary hosts walking tours.
The Alberta Family History Society is a nonprofit helping with genealogical research.
Individual churches, clubs, sports teams, stores have their own histories and some have made written compilations for posterity. Newcomers of various ethnic groups also have their own histories of coming here. There is a wealth of information out there.
In 2026 there are many social media sites that capture memories of this city.
Some are
Rewind Calgary, You know you grew up in Calgary, Calgary YYC, Good old Days
The data does not always agree. That is a little upsetting but also logical. When we deal with a date it is not easy to decide if a building or bridge should be dated from date of construction or from date of completion. Memories differ about names of that store on Macleod Trail or that restaurant. We have to be a little like a network , sharing the web wisdom because somewhere in what we recall is the basic accuracy.
Here are a few of many useful resources for the broader city:
Cashman, Tony; A Picture History of Alberta; Hurtig Publishers; 1979
Edmonton Journal Group Inc., Alberta – 100 years a home; Friesen’s Corporation, 2005
Hamilton, Jacques; Places – the “Our Alberta Heritage Series”; Calgary Power Ltd. 1971
Humber, Donna Mae; What’s in a Name, Calgary; Detselig Enterprises; 1995
Karamitsanis Aphrodite; Place Names of Alberta volume II; Alberta Culture and Multiculturalism; 1992
Peach, Jack; Thanks for Memories – more stories from Calgary’s Past; Fifth House Ltd; 1994
Osborne Jerry, editor, Treasures of the Trail- a nature guide to Edworthy Park; Edworthy Park Heritage Society; 2002
Provost, George, publisher, “Calgary 100”; Provost Promotions & Publications LTd; 1974
Sanders, Harry; the story behind Alberta Names; Red Deer Press; 2003
Sherrington Peter, editor; Calgary’s Natural Areas; Calgary Field Naturalists’ Society; 1975
Shiels, Bob,- Calgary- a not too solemn look at Calgary’s first 100 years; The Calgary Herald; 1974
A few other history websites I created may also be of interest
- History of Calgary schools
- Funny experiences of a Calgary school teacher
- History of a district I lived in as an adult, West Hillhurst, and the northwest part of the city
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