Government Records Branch
The Saskatchewan Archives Board serves as the "collective memory" of the Government of Saskatchewan, its departments, crown corporation, commissions, boards, agencies and court system. It performs the same function for various local government institutions including urban and rural municipalities, school boards and divisions.

As part of the Saskatchewan Archives Board's mandate under The Archives Act, the Government Records Branch provides records management services for the provincial government, reviews all government records eligible for disposal and acquires those records which possess long-term historical significance for permanent preservation. The Saskatchewan Archives acquires records that document the activities of government institutions or shed light on the evolution of the province and its people. Records are collected in all information formats including paper, microfilm, maps, drawings, photographs, audiotape, videotape and film. The government records collection includes case files, program documentation and administrative records.

The records in our collection date back to the territorial period (1870s to 1905) when Battleford and then Regina were the capitals of the North West Territories and when the Territories included what is now Saskatchewan, Alberta and northern Manitoba. Other records document the province's more recent past. The collection reflects the changing role of government and the changing concerns of the people of Saskatchewan.

Government records are a useful resource to researchers. Homestead records, school district records, and local government records provide helpful information for genealogists and local history projects. Records of commissions and inquiries reflect contemporary concerns and propose solutions on a variety of social issues. Court records dating back to the territorial period provide a wealth of information for genealogists and historians alike.

Researchers may access records through Reference Services. Access to government records collections is governed by The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. As a general rule this means that access to government records are restricted for 25 years in the case of administrative and policy records, and longer in the case of records containing personal information. Researchers may request access to restricted collections by writing a letter to the Provincial Archivist. If access is denied you may seek access through formal Freedom of Information procedures. Reference staff can provide assistance.

About  -  News  -  Magazine  -  Services for Public
Services for Government  -  Links  -  Contact Us  -  Search