Hudson's Bay Fur Trade Records
Three Centuries of Canadian Commercial History
Digitized documents, maps, and artifacts from the Hudson's Bay Company and North West Company, 1670-1870. See the stories of voyageurs, Indigenous traders, and colonial expansion that shaped Canada.
Explore the ArchiveDigital Collections
Our archive holds preserved records from York Factory, Prince of Wales Fort, and dozens of trading posts across Rupert's Land.
Factor Logs & Ledgers
Daily entries from fort factors on trade, weather, Indigenous relations, and supplies. Searchable transcriptions from 1750-1850.
Cartographic Collections
Hand-drawn maps by David Thompson, Peter Fidler, and company surveyors. Watch geographical knowledge evolve from the Great Lakes to the Pacific Coast.
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Trade Agreements
Diplomatic correspondence and trade treaties between the Hudson's Bay Company and Indigenous nations, including gift-giving protocols and territorial agreements.
Explore TreatiesArchive Explorer
Click on this 1700s map of Rupert's Land to find digitized records, trade routes, and historical artifacts.
Featured Artifact: Factor's Ledger from York Factory (1780)
This leather-bound ledger tracks daily trade at York Factory during the peak of the beaver trade. Each entry shows the intricate economics of frontier commerce, with transactions recorded in "Made Beaver" currency.
Notable Entries:
- • June 15, 1780: "Received 147 prime beaver pelts from Cree traders. Payment: 3 brass kettles, 12 pounds black lead, 4 blankets."
- • July 2, 1780: "York boat departed for Albany with 2,340 pelts. Ice conditions favorable on Hayes River."
- • August 20, 1780: "Factor Hearne reports French competition increasing near Cumberland House."
Research Services
Our archive specialists provide professional genealogical and historical research services for academics, descendants, and institutions.
Archive Access Pass
Unlimited digital access to our complete collection of transcribed documents, maps, and photographic records.
Guided Virtual Tour
Interactive exploration of fort layouts and trade routes with historical context provided by our expert archivists.
Custom Research
Professional genealogical research and historical document analysis for academic projects and family history.
What Researchers Say
This archive connected our community to pre-Confederation trade records that we never knew existed. The digitization quality is exceptional.
A vital resource for my thesis on Métis trappers. The search functionality saved months of research time.
As a descendant of a fort blacksmith, seeing these plans helped me visualize my ancestor's world in incredible detail.