This report presents a survey of the performance of wood-frame construction in a number of recent earthquakes. After a review of the dominant factors that affect the seismic behaviour of buildings, the following earthquakes are examined: Alaska, 1964; San Fernando, California 1971; Edgecombe, New Zealand, 1987; Saguenay, Quebec, 1988; Loma Prieta, California 1989; Northridge, California, 1994; and Kobe, Japan 1995. Wherever possible, the behaviour of buildings is related to the measured peak horizontal ground accelerations. The survey shows that despite some specific shortcomings and resultant failures, a majority of wood-frame buildings of various ages, when subjected to peak ground accelerations of 0.6 g and greater, survived the shaking without serious structural damage or collapse and with very few resulting injuries and deaths. Thus, the life-safety criterion that is implicit in building codes is largely satisfied. In addition, many modern wood-frame buildings survived such shaking without any visible damage. The few observed failures and collapses could be traced primarily to specific instances of lack of lateral bracing, weak first storey, inadequate connection to foundations and the fact that the observed ground motions far exceeded the then-existing design requirements. The observed shortcomings have been and are being addressed by researchers and practitioners in order to eliminate these adverse effects in future earthquakes. The research program at Forintek Canada Corp. is highlighted, aimed at improved seismic behaviour of wood-frame construction and the subsequent implementation into design guides and codes and standards. Studies on joints, shear walls, mathematical modelling and development of codes and standards are discussed. Finally, for existing buildings that do not meet current seismic standards, guidelines available in the USA and Canada for screening, evaluation and upgrading are presented. It is concluded that wood-frame construction can withstand the shaking from large earthquakes without serious distress and often without damage provided that appropriate anti-seismic procedures are followed by designers, builders and owners.