Did you know that the F. Burnham Gill Archival Centre houses 6828.78 feet of hardcopy records? That’s enough to pave the way from City Hall to Harbourside Park, and back!

April is internationally recognized as Records and Information Management (RIM) Month. RIM is the day-to-day activity of creating, receiving, organizing, disseminating, securing, and disposing of records. The City is inundated with information daily; hardcopy and electronic. Our ability to service the public in a timely and efficient manner depends on the management of this information; and being able to access it when we need it. Keeping information organized, secure, and accessible is what records and information management is all about!

5 Interesting RIM Facts about the City of St. John’s:

1. The City Archives was established by a Resolution of Council on Jan. 11, 1989. The motion was put forth based on “the necessity and desirability to preserve documents and records of a historic significance to the City of St. John’s.”
2. The oldest records in the Archives are a collection of John Oldfield (1789-1863) sketches dated 1831. His sketches reveal the landscape of 1830s St. John’s.
3. The most popular items requested from the City Archives are photos. Check out our collection online.
4. The City of St. John’s first website was launched on Feb. 3, 2003. It was the first time property assessment information was made available online!
5. The almost 7,000 feet of hardcopy records housed at the F. Burnham Gill Archival Centre consists of paper, maps, microfiche, and photos. These records stacked, would equal the height of 136.5 Cabot Towers or 3.75 CN Towers.

For more information on the City of St. John’s Archives or to book an appointment, please visit our page or call 709-576-8167.