Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Library and Archives Canada - online survey


 
Sylvie Tremblay, Manager, Online Content of the Library and Archives Canada (LAC), has sent out the following press release -

Library and Archives Canada is conducting a usability study of our to gather information about how visitors use our website. This study includes a question about digital content available on the LAC website. Please note that the identity of respondents is strictly confidential’.

The study can be accessed at: http://fluidsurveys.com/surveys/lacbac01/lac/ until March 6th.

If you have any questions about the study, please contact: webservices@bac-lac.gc.ca.

So I took the survey, and found that they asked very good questions, such as how did you find the LAC website and what (records) were you searching for today?

The questions caused me to think, and the two things that I would like to see added would be the 1851, 1861 and 1871 agricultural census and the vast collection of newspapers that they have onsite. Whether they will accommodate my wish list remains to be seen.

What did you think of the survey? What would you like to see in the future as far as digital content is concerned? Are there questions that they should have asked, and didn’t?


Check the Canadian Week in Review every Monday morning for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada.

If you missed this week’s edition, it is at http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/03/canadian-week-in-review.html
 It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in Canada!

It has been a regular post every Monday morning since
April 23, 2012.
           
        

Call for Speakers - Irish Genealogy


 
Gwyneth Pearce, the Secretaryof the Toronto Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society has sent me the following press release -

'Toronto Branch is planning a one-day workshop on 19 September 2015 on Irish genealogy and family history with a specific focus on Ulster. Historian Dr. William Roulston and genealogist Chris Paton have agreed to lead this workshop as keynote presenters, and we are now seeking other speakers with Irish expertise who would like to be part of the team. We invite proposals for presentations at either a beginner or more advanced level aimed at family historians researching ancestors in the nine counties in the historic province of Ulster'.


The deadline to submit a proposal for this workshop is Saturday,18 April 2015.

Their Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/TOFamilyHistory

Their Twitter account is @TOFamilyHistory



Check the Canadian Week in Review every Monday morning for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada.

If you missed this week’s edition, it is at http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/03/canadian-week-in-review.html


It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in Canada!

It has been a regular post every Monday morning since

April 23, 2012.

Monday, March 2, 2015

Canadian Week in Review 02 Mar 2015

 


I have come across the following Canadian websites, social media websites, and newspaper articles this past week that were of interest to me, and I thought you might be interested in them, too.

This Week in Canadian History

1917 Women in Ontario win right to vote in provincial elections. On December 6, 1921, at the age of 31, Agnes Macphail became the first woman to sit in the House of Commons.

For more information, go to http://www.cbc.ca/history/EPISCONTENTSE1EP12CH3PA1LE.html

On February 24, 2013, the City of Vancouver, British Columbia, unveiled a plaque at the former site of Hogan’s Alley, officially recognizing the area’s deep historical ties to the city’s first Black community

For more information, go to http://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/cseh-twih/index_e.asp

Social Media

(Video) Black Halifax’s unseen histories

http://www.thecoast.ca/halifax/black-halifaxs-unseen-histories/Content?oid=4553663

Black Halifax: Stories from Here highlight 14 important historical African Nova Scotian moments
(Photos) Sir John A. Macdonald's gold watch impresses students

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/sir-john-a-macdonald-s-gold-watch-impresses-students-1.2971780

A pocket watch owned by the first prime minister of Canada has proven popular with students at a Summerside school.

New Brunswick

Girl Guides seek memorabilia for Saint John archives
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/girl-guides-seek-memorabilia-for-saint-john-archives-1.2973309
Former N.B. Brownies, Guides and Pathfinders asked for uniforms, photos and other items

Nova Scotia

Creignish stone cottage restoration wins heritage award
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/creignish-stone-cottage-restoration-wins-heritage-award-1.2971559
Settler's descendant reclaims family homestead. Ian MacMaster built what's known as Moidart house around 1801


Broughton ghost town attracts heritage interest
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/broughton-ghost-town-attracts-heritage-interest-1.2968959
Cape Breton heritage group hopes to preserve former mine town

Ontario

Museum of History among local cultural institutions to get a boost in funding
http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/museum-of-history-among-local-cultural-institutions-to-get-a-boost-in-funding
Local museums and cultural agencies will be among the beneficiaries of federal government largesse this year, according to spending plans outlined in the 2015-16 main estimates.

Saskatchewan

A special month for black history in Saskatchewan
http://www.leaderpost.com/life/special+month+black+history+Saskatchewan/10836909/story.html
A pphysician, politician, pharmacist, farmer and publisher: Dr. Alfred Schmitz Shadd was the man whom history records as the first black settler in Saskatchewan.

News Stories of the Week

This week The Stories of the Week is slanted towards the youth of Canada – your talents are wanted!

Canadian Day Challenge 2015


This year, the youth from ages 8 to 18 years across Canada are asked to tell us what makes them proud to be Canadian by submitting their best, most dynamic drawings, photos or pieces of creative writing that represents everything that Canada is as a strong, proud and free nation.

Enter the 2015 Canada Day Challenge for a chance to win great prizes, including all-expenses paid trip for two to Ottawa to celebrate Canada Day on Parliament Hill: go backstage, meet some of Canada’s most inspiring people, tour museums, galleries, the iconic Parliament Buildings and be part of a special summer exhibit at the Canadian Museum of History!

Plus, there’s even more to be excited about this year! Winners will also receive the opportunity to work with the amazingly talented team of education specialists from the National Film Board of Canada to create their very own short films about their adventures in Ottawa.

How cool all of this is. So parents and grandparents, be sure to encourage the young people in your lives to enter the contest. The deadline is coming fast, so be sure to enter before March 20, 2015.

Contact the Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages at 819-997-7788
for further information.

Commonwealth Day


Commonwealth Day  is March the 9th, and the theme this year is 'A Young Commonwealth'.

"A Young Commonwealth recognises the capacity, contribution and potential of young people, who play a vital role at the heart of sustainable development and democracy," said Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma, announcing the theme.

"The Commonwealth is also a family of dynamic countries at the forefront of innovation, growth and contributing global value. As a diverse and increasingly connected global network, we bring fresh perspectives and new ideas.”

Find out about youth events taking place throughout the year at thecommonwealth.org/ayoungcommonwealth

That was the Canadian genealogy, history and heritage news in Canada this past week!
 
The next Canadian Week in Review will be posted 09 March 2015

Sunday, March 1, 2015

Family History Library - FREE Classes for March 2015!


FamilySearch.org is at it again – they are offering FREE classes this month, and I am going to take the first class (since I have relatives in the New England States) on March 7: New England States Research Series. The classes include “Town and Vital Records” at 9:30 a.m., “Probate, Land, and Tax Records” at 10:45 a.m., and “Pilgrims Progress and Migration Patterns” at 1:00 p.m.

The other classes include those given in Spanish for Hispanic Records and they are -

March 7: Arbol Familiar Para Principiantes Webinar is a class for Spanish-speaking guests and starts at 1:00 p.m.

March 14: Hispanic Research Methodology: A Case Study Webinar. This class starts at 1:00 p.m.

March 21: Hispanic Research Series Webinar. This series is for Spanish-speaking patrons. The classes include “Conozca los sitios asociados de FamilySearch: Inscripcion y findmypast,” “Conozca los sitios asociados de FamilySearch: Ancestry y MyHeritage,” and “Como utilizar Mejor el Wiki FamilySearch.” These classes start at 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00 p.m

Webinars can be accessed by going to FamilySearch.org, and then click Wiki,then Family History Library, then 2.2 Live Online Classes for details.

These classes and workshops are designed to help individuals and families find their ancestors and teach others family history techniques.

Meanwhile, more information has added to the name index of Canadian headstone inscriptions courtesy of CanadianHeadstones which is a family history database of records and images from Canada's cemeteries. Volunteers capture images of headstones in a cemetery and upload them to the site.

To search the site, go to https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2290953







Check the Canadian Week in Review every Monday morning for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada.

If you missed this week’s edition, it is at 
http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/02/canadian-week-in-review-23-february-2013.html
 
It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in Canada!

It has been a regular post every Monday morning since
April 23, 2012

Archive CD Books Canada has a new website



Great news for Canadian genealogy!

The Archive CD Books Canada website has returned to a new website, and it looks fabulous!

It is easy to see exactly what they have to offer, and you get a first-hand look at the products that they have onsite.

So congratulations Malcolm and Chris Moody on their new website, and stop by to see if there is anything that you would like in Canadian books!

Remember to support out Canadian booksellers. They, and societies, are the backbone of out genealogy community. 

And subscribe to their newsletter. It has regular news on their new products. As Malcolm says 'Remember this Newsletter is published for you so if you think we're missing something important drop me a line to Malcolm@ArchiveCDBooks.ca'.

The website is at www.ArchiveCDBooks.ca





Check the Canadian Week in Review every Monday morning for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada.

If you missed this week’s edition, it is at 
http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/02/canadian-week-in-review-23-february-2013.html

It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in Canada!

It has been a regular post every Monday morning since
April 23, 2012.


Saturday, February 28, 2015

Crowd sourcing transcription - is it useful?



Everyone knows that people have been busy at Library and Archives Canada (LAC) digitizing the service files of the men and women who enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) during the First World War.

Now, it is disclosed that 1,000 files (which is a small sample) of the medical records section of the service files - the form of temperature charts, dental records and medical case sheets has been transcribed and given to the public.

Read about it at http://blog.muninn-project.org/node/79

The press release says that “The transcribed data generated has value for researchers in handwriting recognition, and archival and medical institutions’. What about genealogists – we use these papers in our research too! 
So how useful is this form of transcription? Is crowd sourcing transcription a good way to do it? How accurate will it be? They say it will be verified by computer.

Kingston Penitentiary inmate mug shots



The Kingston Penitentiary was located in Kingston, Ontario, and the penitentiary produced a series of Kingston Penitentiary Inmate History Description Ledgers from 1913 to 1916 in which there is detailed informant on each of the prisoners.

The ledger includes frontal and profile mug shots, the inmate’s name, alias, age, place of birth, height, weight, complexion, eye colour, hair colour, distinctive physical marks, occupation, sentence, date of sentence, place of sentence, crime committed, and remarks of authorities.

The ledger books are held by the Library and Archives Canada.

The ledger books are now on Flickr at https://www.flickr.com/photos/lac-bac/sets/72157649959725467/#

Information on The Kingston Penitentiary is at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingston_Penitentiary





Check the Canadian Week in Review every Monday morning for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada.

If you missed this week’s edition, it is at 
http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/02/canadian-week-in-review-23-february-2013.html
 
It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in Canada!

It has been a regular post every Monday morning since
April 23, 2012.