David A Norris is described as a regular contributor to various of the Moorshead Magazines publications. His second article in this issue takes a look at "The London Gazette" with the sub-head "Published by Authority" reflecting the official nature of the publication.
A full archive of the London Gazette back to the reign of Charles II is free online at www.gazettes-online.co.uk. Chances are any family with long-time roots in England will have some member mentioned in the Gazette, if not for an award or military promotion then for a change of name, notice of claims against an estate, or bankruptcy.
The article makes brief mention of colonial gazettes, especially Australia, but not a word about the Canada Gazette. That's surprising for a magazine published in Toronto.
The history of the Canada Gazette is described here.
Issues of the Canada Gazette after 1997 are available online at the website of the Canada Gazette Directorate: http://canadagazette.gc.ca/index-e.html
Library and Archives Canada are working on digitizing earlier issues. Currently approximately 30% is searchable online, including:
- Part I - 1983-1997
- Part II - 1950-1976, 1983-1997
- Part III - 1985-1997
Why did they start by digitizing the most recent years? Because the print was better? Surely earlier years would provide material of greater historical interest?
ReplyDeleteOne of the forerunners of the Canada Gazette was the Quebec Gazette. Now there's an historical document.
The Edinburgh Gazette for Scotland and the Belfast Gazette (Ireland) have both been digitized back to their deep roots, and available on-line since way back.
ReplyDeleteLAC has long made the Canada Gazette difficult to access even if you visit their building on Wellington Street, Ottawa.
It is a real treasure trove of information about Canadian people and history.
On the several occasions I have asked their staff about it they appeared to be quite clueless as to its importance to researchers.