The Office of the City Clerk is among the oldest functions within the City. The first clerk, A.G. Randall, was appointed in 1892, shortly after Edmonton was incorporated as a Town. In 1893 Mr. Randall's duties were expanded to include the position of Town Assessor. This situation continued until 1898 when the two positions were separated. Randall was succeeded in 1898 by F.K. Gibson. Following Gibson's death in 1900, the positions of Town Clerk and Town Secretary-Treasurer were amalgamated under G.J. Kinnaird, who continued to fill this position until after Edmonton was incorporated as a City in 1904. F.M.C. Crosskill became City Secretary Treasurer in 1907. In 1912 the number of City officials was greatly expanded and the position of secretary treasurer was divided into those of City Clerk and Treasurer.

Over the years the City Clerk has been responsible for providing legislative, operational and administrative support to City Council. This includes meeting management for Council, including creating agendas and recording minutes; conducting municipal elections and censuses; and records management, including the safekeeping of original or certified copies of bylaws, proceedings, and contracts.

Until at least the 1970s the Office of the City Clerk reported directly to City Council. Around the late 1970s and early 1980s the reporting structure grew contentious - some wanted the City Clerk to report to the Chief Commissioner (later City Manager) to streamline efficiency, while others wanted to maintain the Clerk's relationship with Council to maintain the Office's independence. In 1987 Bylaw 8461 was passed, stating that the City Clerk was now under the direction of the Office of the City Manager. In 1997 the Office of the City Clerk had been moved to the Corporate Services Department, but in 2016 it was moved back to the Office of the City Manager.