06 April 2017

BIFHSGO April Meeting

With two favourite speakers the Saturday 8 April BIFHSGO meeting is a not-to-be-missed!

9:00 am to 9:30 am
Canadians on Vimy Ridge, 1917: A Short Guide to Resources and Research  (Before BIFHSGO Education Talk), by Glenn Wright

Did you have an ancestor in the Canadian Expeditionary Force who participated in the battle for Vimy Ridge in April 1917?  Just a few days before the 100th anniversary Glenn Wright's presentation will highlight the major sources of information: service documents, war diaries, unit records, useful websites, and published resources.

Glenn Wright is past-president of BIFHSGO and author of Canadians at War, 1914-1919: A Research Guide to World War One Service Records.

10:00 am to 11:30 am
Mostly at Sea: Captain Harry Grattidge  (Monthly Meeting)

Gail Roger’s mild obsession with the Titanic led her to the discovery of the closest thing to a celebrity in her family tree: Harry Grattidge — sailor, survivor, and a Commodore of the Cunard Line. No, she hadn’t heard of him either. We will meet some of the Grattidge ancestors that Harry and Gail have in common, ponder the blessings and drawbacks of a highly unusual surname, and discover how Harry came to be a consultant on a classic film by surviving Britain’s worst maritime disaster (not the Titanic).

Gail Roger has been a BIFHSGO member for over a dozen years, and it took her the first seven years to pluck up the courage to make her first BIFHSGO presentation. This is her fifth. Gail’s family will tell you that her obsession with the Titanic is not as mild as she claims. They are mistaken. They also say that her obsession with family history borders on the frightening. They may have a point.

That's not all. At the Discovery Tables
Four Soldiers of Vimy Ridge and Glass Plate Photographs
In June 2016, Brian Glenn gave us a Great Moments talk on the Stories Behind Glass Plate Photographs of The Great War. This month, he will bring in the glass plate photographs the talk was based on for us to view.

Irish Research Success
Anne Renwick has been helping a friend do some research of her Irish roots. While doing this detective work, she has so far gleaned some interesting artifacts and pictures which she is going to share with us. We will learn about Anne's success in an area where research is often difficult.

Global Genealogy
Rick and Sandy Roberts from Global Genealogy will bring some of their genealogy books and products to sell.

And more,

Pick up some surplus journals and magazine at the table run by Brian Chamberlain and express your appreciation by making a donation toward operation of the library.

Visit the Friends of the Ottawa Public Library Bookstore.

Stop by the OPL Branch after the meeting.

UPDATE: Want another presentation on Saturday. Head over to Stittsville for a 1:30 pm DNA presentation by Jason Porteous - http://stittsvillecentral.ca/events/dna-for-genealogy-with-jason-porteous/

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