Canadian border entry and more: LAC introduce online images from microform

The following information is posted by Library and Archives Canada

"Numerous documents belonging to the Library and Archives Canada collection have been copied to microfiche and microfilm. Some items from this collection are being digitized for access over the Internet. These digitized microforms are available on the Browse by Title page. Please note that this is not a database, therefore the images are not searchable by keyword.

Once you have selected the specific microform series you wish to access, you will be presented with links to the digitized images for that set of records. This online access to microforms attempts to duplicate the experience of going to a reading room. Use these links as you would an actual reel or fiche of microform. Each digitized reel or fiche is presented in sequence from beginning to end.

Navigation links allow you to go forward or backwards. The navigation also allows for either page-by-page viewing or skipping to a specific page within the series of records by using the text box provided. The digitized image is first presented in a standard JPEG version, but can also be viewed in PDF format, which allows you to print, zoom and rotate the image.

A topic-specific "Help" page is also available for every series of microform records that has been digitized, providing the background and content of the series, as well as its arrangement and organization."

Two datasets are presently available:

Form 30, Border Entry Records, 1919-1924
Individual forms (Form 30) be completed and submitted to the immigration officers at border ports. The series is far from complete, but where available the information given usually includes:

• port and date of entry;
• name;
• age;
• occupation;
• birthplace;
• race;
• citizenship;
• religion;
• last permanent address; and
• destination.

School Files Series - 1879-1953 (RG10)

A partial series containing only records relating to schools and education during the operation of the Residential Schools system.

Comment:

Hopefully making these records available online will facilitate independent indexing/transcription initiatives.