Some top genealogy tweeters

Has anyone not heard of Twitter, a social networking and microblogging service, enabling its users to send and read messages tweets, text-based posts of up to 140 characters?

According to Wikipedia Twitter is estimated to have 200 million users, generating 190 million tweets a day and handling over 1.6 billion search queries per day.

Inevitably some of that is genealogical. If you search Twitter for genealogy you'll find an active community. Below is a graphic showing who is posting using the word genealogy. It covers only 500 tweets, all posted June 22.  

I've been following who posts using The Archivist http://archivist.visitmix.com/ The online version only shows the most recent 500 genealogy tweets but I've noticed a pattern.

By far the largest single poster of genealogy tweets, the top poster every time I've checked, is UK based FamilyTree Folk, tweets 28,120 sent and 1,375 followers. A follower is someone who has subscribed to receive all the tweets posted from a particular account. A typical tweet from FamilyTreeFolk is 

Your not using PVC clear pockets for your valuable written/printed work are you? http://bit.ly/diISZU #genealogy #familyhistory #archival

The order amongst other tweeters high in this 500 tweet sample, ranked here according to number of followers, is:

Gould Genealogy is Australia based so goes up and down the rankings depending on the time difference. It has 4,915 tweets and 1,081 followers.

UK based Peter Western, posting as maxgenealogy, has 10.330 tweets and 794 followers

Scottish blogger Chris Paton is frequently high in the rankings. He has posted 5,472 tweets and has 632 followers.

Frances Ellsworth, from Texas, has made 6,605 tweets and has  573 followers

Some tweeters don't show as high in this sample but still have many followers. For example, US professional genealogist Michael Hait has posted 2,781 tweets and attracted 1,468 followers, a very favourable ratio of followers to tweets and more followers than FamilyTreeFolk.

Ontario Births, 1869-1912 at FamilySearch

Transcripts/Indexes of 1,403,211 Ontario civil registration records are now online at FamilySearch.

The original image is not linked, but is available at Ancestry.ca (subscription).

http://goo.gl/z9Xvw

Canada Births and Baptisms, 1661-1959 at FamilySearch

FamilySearch now have 1,529,089 records online, previously available in the IGI and/or the "North America Vital Records Index: Canada." set on CD.

These are indexes or transcripts; the original images are not linked.

http://goo.gl/wQImk

LAC posts Flickr photostream on Nitrate Film Preservation Centre

A 12 image set of photos from the opening of the LAC Nitrate Film Preservation Centre are posted at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lac-bac/sets/72157627022868964/show/

If you find them exciting you might also enjoy reading remarks delivered on the opening by the Librarian and Archivist of Canada.

"Introduction to Genetic Genealogy at Family Tree DNA" free webinar

Genetic genealogy has been around for more than a decade, but some folks still haven't explored the possibilities in the only all natural genealogical record - their own DNA. Others explored it a while ago, decided it wasn't for them, or perhaps wasn't affordable. Things change.

Here's an opportunity, a free opportunity, to hear an explanation of "What is Genetic Genealogy? What tests are available and which one should I order? How much does a Genetic Genealogy test cost? Do I need to be a geneticist to understand my results?" 

"Introduction to Genetic Genealogy at Family Tree DNA" is a webinar hosted by Relative Roots to be held on Thursday, June 23 at 11am EDT.

Register for this webinar at: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/631487590

Renovations at LAC

In response to a query at the Friends of LAC annual general meeting on Monday it was made known that there will be work done on the sprinkler system than protects the reference collection on the second floor. Materials will need to be removed and not be accessible. There was no indication of exact date.

That's not the only work that needs doing on the building, just past the 44th anniversary of it's official opening. One of the two public elevators has not been operational for weeks, and nothing seems to be happening to repair it. If more of the LAC senior management team worked out of the building would repair have received a higher priority? If the Librarian and Archivist ever went to the building to interact with clients, not just practice one way communication, and that limited, he'd get an earful. Perhaps that's why he doesn't - unlike his counterpart at the National Archives in the UK who advertises his occasional availability to the ordinary clients.

Comparing the archives

Here are extracts from instructions for four different national archives regarding ordering materials in advance of a visit -- always a good idea.

Which seems most user friendly?

Which is least user friendly?

Which is LAC?

(1) You can order up to 2 weeks in advance.
Request no more than five items
Ensure that there are no restrictions placed on these items.
Try and give at least two working days notice
(2) You may order a maximum of ten items (i.e.: books, boxes of archival documents, video-tapes, etc.) and you must submit your request at least five working days prior to your visit.

(3) ... you can order up to six documents in advance of your visit using the online order form.

Orders need to be placed before 17:00 on the working day before your visit if documents are stored on-site, and before 11:00 three working days before your visit if they are stored off-site

(4) Many of our records are held offsite – that is, in different buildings from our reading rooms – so it is best to order records in advance of when you plan to visit. If you are travelling from (a distance), or are planning to undertake extensive research, please contact us at least two weeks in advance. This gives us the time to make sure that the records you want to see will be available.

The Canadian Bookman (Volume 1-3, January 1919- September 1921)

I was surprised at the number of folks who followed the link from my last posting on the Canadian Bookman. In case those were a bit too late a date for you, maybe the editions for 1918 - 1921, now posted to the Internet Archive by the University of Toronto, will be of interest.

Find them at: http://www.archive.org/details/canadianbookman13cana

England, Northumberland, Miscellaneous Records at FamilySearch

Announced by FamilySearch is a 8,866 image collection of Parish Registers, Electoral Registers, Nonconformist Records, and Parish Chest.  It includes Official Actions (1901-1925), Electoral Registers (1901-1925), and Church/Parish Registers (1717-1987).


The records are from towns and parishes throughout Northumberland. The collection is being published at http://goo.gl/QmYzQ as images become available.


Presently available are electoral registers for Hexam and Tyneside.


Also included are parish records for Edmondbyers and  Muggleswick in County Durham.

The British Library and Google to make 250,000 books available to all

The following is from the British Library website:

The British Library and Google today announced a partnership to digitise 250,000 out-of-copyright books from the Library’s collections. Opening up access to one of the greatest collections of books in the world, this demonstrates the Library’s commitment, as stated in its 2020 Vision, to increase access to anyone who wants to do research. 

Selected by the British Library and digitised by Google, both organisations will work in partnership over the coming years to deliver this content free through Google Books (http://books.google.co.uk) and the British Library’s website (www.bl.uk). Google will cover all digitisation costs.

Read the full press release at http://pressandpolicy.bl.uk/Press-Releases/The-British-Library-and-Google-to-make-250-000-books-available-to-all-4fc.aspx

Something new for BIFHSGO

Last week I made the first post on the new BIFHSGO blog. This week we break new ground as that blog sings, dances and talks.

Back in November I recorded a short interview with Helen Osborn of Pharos Teaching and Tutoring who will be a speaker at September's BIFHSGO conference. We spoke about her background, heavily London, and then about one of the presentations she'll be giving.

To hear Helen, and me stumbling my way through, click the link at the bottom of the item at www.bifhsgo.ca/blog

OGS Ottawa Branch June Meeting

Tuesday evening, 21 June, at Library and Archives Canada sees the final monthly meeting of the season for the Ottawa Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society.

The meeting includes the Annual General Meeting, and as an added attraction I'll be there to present "Your Family History in Newspapers Online."  That's one of my most popular talks, one I've given a couple of times in the past month. This time it's tailored to an Ottawa audience, and, I hope to have a special offer of access to a set of digitized newspapers.

This will also be Mike More's final meeting of his extended term as Chair of the Ottawa Branch. Mike finds the role of Regional Director and Branch Chair a bit much. There's no doubt Mike has done a great job for Ottawa Branch and I hope there's a good turn out for the meeting if only to show appreciation to Mike.

Juice and cookies are available starting at 7:00 pm in room 156 at LAC with the AGM getting underway at 7:30pm.

The Parish Register of Kingston, Upper Canada 1785-1811

This is a transcript of the first parish register kept by the Revd. John Stuart, the first missionary of the Church of England in Upper Canada and covers the years 1785 to 1811. Although nominally for Kingston it records many names of those to whom Stuart ministered, as far afield as the Grand River.

Chapters include: The First Rector; The first St. George's Church; The Benefactors; Church wardens; Vestry Men; Pew Holders 1794-1811; Clerks and "Saxtons"; Baptisms; Marriages; Funerals; Index.

There are several versions online. A convenient format is in two parts: The Parish Register of Kingston 1785-1811 - PART 1; The Parish Register of Kingston 1785-1811 - PART 2

There is also an Internet Archive version at http://goo.gl/UQQjk and an OurRoots version at http://goo.gl/Nzh8H

OGS financial statement for 2010

This isn't all that new, but the most recent issue of Newsleaf, the magazine of the Ontario Genealogical Society prints the society audited financial statement for 2010.

It must be with considerable satisfaction that the Board and management of the Ontario Genealogical Society saw income from membership dues increase 21% from 2009 to 2010, the result of a 33% fee increase approved at the 2009 annual general meeting. While there was some decline in membership it was not as great as some feared.

Dues accounted for 58% of gross income in 2010, down from 62% in 2009. Total income, including a small net contribution from sales, increased 20%.

Expenditures dropped by $17.5K.

Office expenses, over $120K for wages and $50K for rent, account for a major share of expenses.

There was a year end operating surplus of  $23,177 compared to a $2,586 deficit the previous year.

A substantial draw down of endowment and memorial funds occurred, mainly toward operations. The withdrawal increased from $35K in 2009 to $82.3K in 2010. There was also a major increase in fund raising expenses which did not produce any increase in donations to the funds, but may have paid off in donations toward operating expenses.

Comment:  The major endowment funds with which OGS is blessed means it can continue to draw these down for operations for a few years. OGS will eventually have to tackle its major office and administrative expense issue.

OGS Ottawa Blog

There's a new genealogy blog in town, written by Mike More from the Ottawa Branch of OGS. The first posting was on June 10.

New blogs take time to get known so I'm sure you clicking on http://ogsottawa.blogspot.com/ and reading the news, and perhaps some of Mike's views, would be appreciated. I did and learned something new -- you'll have to visit to find out what it is!

Public art at the new Ottawa Central Archives building

Landscaping was underway around the new City Central Archives and OPL Materials Centre on Thursday. I stopped by on my way from the Centrepointe Library and snapped these shots of the public art installation in the courtyard to the northeast of the building.

As I recall the house suspended in the sky is supposed to light up at night; perhaps giving a different impression.

The installation was selected by a panel of experts assembled by the City from a number of proposals. There was a prior public showing of the proposals, this was not my selection.

At one of the last meetings of the stakeholder group for the building development I attended, just after this installation was selected, I queried the choice. A staff member assured me the public art process was followed assiduously and this was the unanimous recommendation of the expert panel.

I hope they're right and it doesn't continue to look like some remnant the building contractors forgot to remove.

Giving due acknowledgement

It's common to acknowledge the source of a lead when writing a blog post. Sometimes that gets overlooked. Please let me know if you think I've transgressed in respecting this practice which is only simple politeness.

FreeBMD June update

The FreeBMD Database was last updated on Thursday 16 June 2011 and currently contains 202,560,089 distinct records (257,412,880 total records).

Major additions in the past month are in the 1950s with substantial additions in the 1930s and 40s.

Ancestry.com on CNBC

Tim Sullivan, CEO of Ancestry.com, was interviewed by CNBC's Jim Cramer on 17 June. 

Interesting points that came out are that the market for Ancestry\s services is seen at 20 million families; the market demographic for Ancestry services is age 45 and up, one the stock market doesn't understand well; and the key to getting subscriptions renewed is to keep on adding new databases (something that, aside from updates to the obituary collections, has been lacking this week.)

 

View the interview on video here.

DNA Interest Group

Ottawa's DNA interest group for genealogy is now on the International Society of Genetic Genealogy's (ISOGG) wiki list of DNA interest groups at http://www.isogg.org/wiki/DNA_Interest_Groups

The wiki is a source for a variety of information on DNA and family history and has an educational mission.

Ancestry 30% off for new subscribers

Ancestry.com sent an email advising of a 30% off offer until midnight 20 June for "new subscribers only and not for renewal of current memberships."

The World Deluxe subscription, with unlimited access to everything on Ancestry.com, is on sale for $209.40

Similar reductions are available for other subscriptions.

Call 1-800-958-9081 (Monday - Friday 10am-10pm ET, Saturday and Sunday 10am-6pm ET).

The Canadian Bookman

Just added to the Internet Archives texts are volumes 4-5, December 1921- December 1923, of the   Canadian Authors Association monthly publication The Canadian Bookman.

The Canadian Bookman had the aim, first to deal with all subjects of current interest in the Canadian literary sphere. and second, when dealing with other subjects, to sound concerning them a characteristically Canadian voice. It took on increasing concern for the book trade as well as literary matters.

You will find numerous mentions and even photographs of Canadian authors and luminaries in The Canadian Bookman, but are unlikely to find ordinary folk unless in the published lists of new members and associate members. 

Genealogy is mentioned twice:

"Captain C. E. Lart. who is the author of the article, "Eye-Witnesses' Accounts of the British Repulse of Ticonderoga," in the December Canadian Historical Review, is doing a great deal of important research work in Canadian history and genealogy in the British Museum and also in France...."

A January 1823 article on Caughnawaga, opposite Montreal on the south side of the St. Lawrence, noted that ," .. unwearied delving work in the field of genealogy left by the Abbe Joseph Gillaunie Forbes, who spent fifteen years at the settlement before becoming Bishop of Joliette in 1913. This missionary found that Eunice Williams, one of the Deerficld captives of 1704, has left a posterity of one hundred descendants living in Caughnawaga: that the young boy Silas Rice, who was captured at Marlboro, Massachusetts, in the summer of 1703 and had married into the tribe, had a living posterity in the year 1900 of over thirteen hundred descendants, and that Jacob Hill and John Stacey, the two boys taken near Albany in 1755 and adopted by the tribe, had become the ancestors of fifteen hundred of its members."

748 pages of The Canadian Bookman are now online at http://www.archive.org/details/canadianbookman45cana

Deceased Online adds Peterhead Old Churchyard records

Grave register scans for 15,426 burials dated from 8th July 1615 to the last burial in 2005 for St Peter's Churchyard, West Links, Peterhead, Aberdeenshire. (also known as Peterhead Old Churchyard) are added to deceasedonline.com. These show the Lair owner, owner's address or occupation, date of interment, age and address of the deceased.

This adds to the 18,402 burials, dated 7 August 1869 to 23 December 2010, for Peterhead Cemetery, Constitution Street, which were added in May 2011.

Tracing Your English & Scottish Ancestors

Humility notwithstanding, here is a shout out to one of Moorshead Magazines recent publications:

"Tracing Your English & Scottish Ancestors compiles some of the best articles we’ve ever published in Family Chronicle, Internet Genealogy and Discovering Family History about researching your English and Scottish ancestors. Jam-packed with informative articles on the records and resources (not to mention online databases) you need for success. 

I have cause to be humble as my article on newspapers, while included, is in the category "and much more" in the contents list. 

Free access to the Canadian census

Unless you're a newcomer to family history you likely know of the free access to Ancestry's suite of name indexed Canadian census records, from 1851 to 1916, at many public libraries and Family History Centres.

They were completed under a collaborative arrangement with Library and Archives Canada. The agreement is summarized at http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/about-us/012-215.01-e.html and includes a table of projects currently underway to be posted online, on the LAC website, as time and resources permit.

Ancestry.ca Projects	Digital images To be created	Digital Images available on Collections-canada.gc.ca	Nominal index To be created	Nominal index available on Collections-canada.gc.ca	Available on Ancestry.ca
Canadian Passenger Lists	Yes	To be determined	Yes	To be determined	Online (http://landing.ancestry.ca/ intl/canada/passenger /lists.aspx?o_iid=36816 &o_lid=36816)
1851 Census	Already exist	Online (www.collections-canada.gc.ca/ archivianet/1851 /index-e.html)	Yes	Estimated summer 2011	Online (http://content.ancestry.ca/ iexec/?htx= List&dbid=1061)
1861 Census	Yes	To be determined	Yes	To be determined	Online (http://search.ancestry.ca/ iexec/Default.aspx?htx= List&dbid=1570)
1871 Census	Yes	To be determined	Yes	To be determined	Online (http://search.ancestry.ca/ iexec/Default.aspx?htx= List&dbid=1578)
1881 Census *	Already exist	Online (www.collections-canada.gc.ca /databases /census-1881 /index-e.html)	Already exist	Online	NA
1891 Census	Yes	Online (www.collections-canada.gc.ca /databases /census-1891 /index-e.html)	Yes	Online	Online (http://content.ancestry.ca/ iexec/?htx= List&dbid=1274)
1901 Census	Already exist	Already Online (www.collections-canada.gc.ca /databases /census-1901 /index-e.html)	Yes	Estimated summer 2011	Online (http://content.ancestry.ca/ iexec/?htx= List&dbid=8826)
1906 Census	Already exist	Already Online (www.collections-canada.gc.ca /databases /census-1906 /index-e.html)	Yes	Estimated summer 2011	Online (http://content.ancestry.ca/ iexec/?htx= List&dbid=8827)
1911 Census	Already exist	Already Online (www.collections-canada.gc.ca /databases /census-1911 /index-e.html)	Yes	Estimated summer 2011	Online (http://content.ancestry.ca/ iexec/?htx= List&dbid=8947)
1916 Census	Yes	To be determined	Yes	Estimated summer 2011	Online (http://search.ancestry.ca/ iexec/?htx= List&dbid=1556)

* Family Search provided the index available on the LAC website. LAC provided the digital images of the 1881 Census to Ancestry.ca.

This summer we should see the 1851, 1901, 1906, 1911 and 1916 census nominal indexes at the LAC site, adding to 1881 and 1891 where nominal indexes are already available.  In addition, last December, LAC committed to providing "by 2011," "digitized images of original census documents from 1861 and 1871."

There are two other sources:

Automated Genealogy provides free access to name indexed transcripts of the 1901, 1906 and 1911 censuses with links to images at LAC.

Go to FamilySearch for free access to name indexes/transcripts for the 1851, 1871, 1881 and 1891 censuses, but no access of original images. At the site you can also access the 1871 Mortality Schedules and images for the 1831 census of Lower Canada.

Upgrade opportunity for existing Family Tree DNA clients

Family Tree DNA have announced an attractive short term sale, until June 22, 2011, for upgrades by existing customers, as follows:

Summer Upgrade Sale
Family Finder	Was $289	Now $199
Y-DNA 12 to 25	Was $49	Now $35
Y-DNA 12 to 37	Was $99	Now $69
Y-DNA 12 to 67	Was $189	Now $148
Y-DNA 25 to 37	Was $49	Now $35
Y-DNA 25 to 67	Was $148	Now $114
Y-DNA 37 to 67	Was $99	Now $79
mt to FMS	Was $269	Now $229
mtPlus to FMS	Was $239	Now $199

Notice the substantial reduction for the Family Finder (autosomal) test.
Unfortunately there is no special for a Y-DNA upgrade to 111 markers, the only one I could use. Perhaps next time!

23andMe database surpasses 100,000 users

A press release from 23andMe celebrates passing 100,000 clients. While most of the press release is about health, ancestry gets a nod with the paragraph

23andMe additionally noted that 45 is the average age of its users, 57% of its users are male, 47% are sharing their data with other users and 12% have multiple ancestries -- representing heritage from over 177 countries from Azerbaijan to Zambia. The 23andMe community forums currently have over 100,000 posts and more than 60,000 pairs of relatives have been discovered among users using 23andMe's unique Relative Finder feature.

Read the full release at http://goo.gl/rZOTF

Comment:  23andMe have likely doubled their client base in the last year. While Family Tree DNA have exceeded that percent increase they likely have only a tenth the number of clients for their autosomal test.

Anglo-Celtic Roots: Summer 2011 issue

The new issue, volume 17, number 2, just released contains three articles as well as the regular columns and listings.

An Introduction to Researching your Roots in Northern Ireland, by William Roulston, research director of the Ulster Historical Foundation, summarizes all  the beginner needs to know in seven and a half pages.

He Wore His Buttons Well: Discovering the Details of an Epic Rescue at Sea, by Barbara Tose, is the story of her relative's involvement in a marine disaster and the benefits that may follow from the publicity about a pending BIFHSGO presentation.

Harry Gray's Pub, by Brenda Turner, tells the story of how she discovered her relative received the honour of the Freedom of the City of London.

This issue also contains the Society Annual Reports documenting its successes and solid financial situation. There is a small decline in membership, from a peak of 530 in 2007 to 516 in 2010, which should not be ignored given the demographics of baby boomers moving into their prime years of family history interest.

Essex resources for genealogy

• Essex Churchs is a growing archive of excellent quality images of more than 200 churches in Essex, UK. So far, nearly 1,400 images are posted to site.
  
  Essex Country Life provides details of the lifestyle of people above and below stairs in Victorian and Edwardian times in the Essex Region of the UK. Content includes recipes, etiquette, songs, home life and health to give a picture of life in those days. 
• 
  Essex Family History is where people researching ancestors who lived in Eastern Essex in the UK can visit, free of charge, to check the indices of thousands of names and also visit the over 130 pages providing local history and background information.
  
  
  via Cyndi's List

Flagging your ancestry

In recent conference presentations, including at the Roots 2011 conference in Montréal, I've been using this slide.  The flags are for the nations in which the generations back to my great-grandparents were born.

I use it to show how my paper trail genealogy is consistent with the ancestral origin autosomal DNA results I have from both Family Tree DNA and 23andMe.

In Montréal one of the attendees said they found the presentation in this slide helpful in depicting family origins and asked if I could make the image available on the blog.

Canadian Catholic Historical Association publications archive

Available free online are back issues of Canadian Catholic Historical Association Journals from 1933 to 2006, as well as indices for issues from 1933 through 1983:

• Back Issues. CCHA Journals, 1933-2006
• Bilingual Index to CCHA Transactions (1933-1958)
• Index to the CCHA Report (1959-1965) and Study Sessions (1966-1983)
• Index des Mémoires (1959-1965) et des Sessions d'études (1966-1983)
  [French Section]

There are academic articles with a narrow scope of interest, but some such as The Irish Emigration of 1847 and Its Canadian Consequences and The Hon. Edward Whelan: A Father of Confederation from Prince Edward Island – One of Ireland’s Gifts to Canada may contain useful background reading.

LAC launches new version of the Lower Canada Land Petitions (1626-1865)Database

The following is a notice from Library and Archives Canada:

Library and Archives Canada is pleased to announce the release of a new version of the online database Lower Canada Land Petitions (1626-1865). This version includes digitized images of the actual petitions for all individuals listed in the database. Corrections to entries, including suggestions received from users, have also been integrated into this updated version. Many staff members contributed to the success of this project, and their efforts are much appreciated. 

The database is available at:
www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/lower-canada/index-e.html.

Comments:

The digitized images make this a good addition to the LAC online collection. More than 95,000 references to individuals who lived in present-day Quebec between 1764 and 1841 are included.

Some of the petitions are on multiple pages, The system can be slow in moving between pages.

The notice is dated June 8 and was posted on June 13.

Genetic Genealogy News

CeCe Moore blogs on the Your Genetic Genealogist blog on talks given at the SCGS Jamboree on behalf of 23andMe and Family Tree DNA.

- 56,000 people, or about 70%, of 23andMe clients are of Northern European ancestry.
- 23andMe customers will be able to sort their matches by mtDNA and Y-DNA haplogroups, most likely by the end of the month.
- FTDNA is planning to allow uploads of 3rd party data to their Family Finder database.

Read the post here

Genealogy, a French passion

What's happening in genealogy in other cultures? Are there ideas we could pick up from the way things are done elsewhere?

The French Federation of Genealogy, La Fédération Française de Généalogie, which unites more than 150 associations to encourage and help people to conduct genealogical research, had its 2011 Congress in Lille from 2-4 June.

There were presentations in multiple parallel session, a marketplace/exhibition and tours of local sites of interest. All familiar features of conferences many of us attend.

There was a theme, our ancestors and work, the topic of several but by no means all talks.

Some the more interesting sounding titled presentations were in the theme sessions: "The development of midwifery in the 18th century"; "Customs officers and defrauders"; "Trades of the father in France, trades of the son in New France"; and "Prostitution in the Middle Ages". There were also presentations on case studies, how to write a family history and explanations of what you might find in a particular archive.

While I didn't see anything startlingly different about this Congress the theme of work might be an interesting one to explore for a conference, or perhaps a one day workshop.

There's a conference website at: http://www.genealogie-lille-2011.org/ where you will find a copy of an article, in French, from which the title of this item is taken.

Forthcoming OGS Toronto Branch events

Gwyneth Pearce from OGS Toronto Branch sent information that registration is now open for Finding Ontario Ancestors, a one-day summer workshop to be held at the North York Central Library Auditorium on Saturday 6 August 2011. You will find out how to get the most from familiar records or discover a new source to expand your understanding of your Ontario ancestors. Enjoy a relaxed, information-packed day with speakers who revel in the intricacies and richness of records – and love to share their knowledge. For program details, speaker biographies and registration information, see www.torontofamilyhistory.org/Finding_Ontario_Ancestors_2011.html.

Also, Toronto Branch is presenting a special evening for British family historians on Monday 19 September 2011 - Audrey Collins, Family History Specialist at The National Archives, UK, will be presenting a two-part lecture, For details, see www.torontofamilyhistory.org/TNA2011Lecture.html.

Audrey's visit to Toronto is an example of the benefits of cooperation between centres as she will be there after her weekend at the BIFHSGO conference.

Find the Toronto Branch on Facebook (www.facebook.com/pages/Ontario-Genealogical-Society-Toronto-Branch/109914192424515) and follow on Twitter @TOFamilyHistory (https://twitter.com/#!/TOFamilyHistory).

TNA podcast: Behind the scenes: two centuries of census-taking

Audrey Collins, who will be one of the major speakers at BIFHSGO conference in September, gave this talk last March in the TNA lecture series. Audrey drops in a lot of anecdotal material, including a look at the army of civil servants, temporary clerks, registrars, enumerators and others, and the part they played in this astonishing feat of organisation once a decade; incidents and accidents along the way, including the only time advertising was allowed on census material.

There are also several hints that may help if you're having trouble finding an ancestor or making sense of the census. Audrey give high praise to the University of Essex website www.histpop.org.uk which has a lot of additional background material including original documents.

Audrey's talks for BIFHSGO will be Tracing Your English Ancestors in The National Archives; The Fleet Registers: Clandestine Marriages in London 1667–1754; and The London Gazette: Not Just the Brave and the Bankrupt.

Catch the podcast at http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/podcasts/census-behind-the-scenes.htm

English probate in Amsterdam

File this one under curiosities, likely the result of a stray microfilm reel.

Noted in the GENBRIT Rootsweb list, contained in the images of birth certificates for Amsterdam 1853 there are images of the book Calendar of Wills (GB) 1869, on Familysearch starting at:
https://www.familysearch.org/search/image/show#uri=https%3A//api.familysearch.org/records/pal%3A/MM9.1.i/dgs%3A004094997.004094997_00420

It covers names Mabb to Mytton.

BIFHSGO news

Saturday's BIFHSGO AGM and monthly meeting was another interesting and well attended session.

Congratulations to Marg and Willis Burwell on being named to the BIFHSGO Hall of Fame. They have both made major contributions to the Society over many years. Marg was not able to get to the meeting and I wish her a speedy recovery from her surgery last month.

Other recognition was to Chris MacPhail as he retires as editor of Anglo-Celtic Roots (ACR); to Heather Boucher Ashe for best article in ACR; and to Naomi Ridout for best presentation to a monthly meeting by a member during the year.

Most of the board members whose terms expired stood for re-election. Secretary Ron Elliott did not as he is leaving for the left coast. Elected to the vacant director position was Anne Sterling who will no doubt learn to fill his big shoes in her quiet competent manner.

I enjoyed each of the great moment presentations. While I could have attended webcasts by high-profile US genealogists from the SCGS Jamboree in the same time period it's much more satisfying listening to an in-person presentation and experiencing the social interaction.

I notice many bloggers and others have flocked to the Jamboree rather proving the point about the importance of in-person interaction. That's something that societies becoming mesmerized with technology would be wise to remember. We want the advantages of online genealogy, and social networking, and the in-person connection.

LAC 2011-2012 Report on Plans and Priorities, a first look

Compare the Wordle diagram for the just released Library and Archives Canada's 2011-2012 Report on Plans and Priorities with that for 2004-2005, the organization's first, and you won't see much change overall. In 2011 the abbreviation LAC has replaced spelling out the individual words, National has disappeared, partly replaced by pan-Canadian, and Modernization is prominent this year.

What comes through in a first reading of the text is an emphasis on service to government, and LAC as a repository and source for government information. There is a de-emphasis of LAC as a national (pan-Canadian) repository, and a move to get other local partners to assume part of that role, or to deliver online.

This, LAC trumpets using other institutions walls and screen in showing it's portrait collection. Would such a collection have existed if the emerging acquisition policy had been in place many years ago?

Somme trenches investigation

From this BBC, this item about a team of archaeologists about to begin one of the largest investigations ever mounted on the battlefields of World War I.

VIDEO: Somme trenches investigated

People living with Parkinson's can get free DNA test

Did you know that anyone living with Parkinson's disease is eligible for a free DNA test through 23andMe as a contribution to a research project.

As well as contributing to the Parkinson's study participants with a genealogical interest can benefit from the genealogically relevant DNA information which is part of the regular 23andMe service.

Information is at: www.23andme.com/pd/

Paper of Record resurrected

The website at www.paperofrecord.com is active again. Click on the link and it forwards to paperofrecord.hypernet.ca

Information at hypernet.ca is that the site is a partnership.

Until earlier this year the collection had been available through World Vital Records.com.

The collection has 2.7 million pages of digitized text, with nearly 910,000 pages of Canadian content including 1,188 pages of the Bytown Gazette from 1836 - 1845, 5,902 pages of the Ottawa Free Press between 1871 and 1881, and 2,504 pages of the Ottawa Times between 1865 and 1867.

The newspapers with the largest number of pages in the collection are:

Informador, El Guadalajara 1917 - 1968, 264,614 pages
Simcoe Reformer, Simcoe 1860 - 2003 (partial), 238,501 pages
The Sporting News, St. Louis 1886 - 2003, 189,416 pages
Woodstock Sentinel-Review,  Woodstock 1886 - 2002 (partial), 155,724 pages
Afro American, Baltimore 1902 - 1978 (partial), 103,093 pages.

Be aware that the word search capability where the original copy is of poor quality is not good.

Annual subscriptions are $71.40+HST, There is a monthly rate of $12.95+HST. Both have a limit of 250 downloads/day.

LAC care of the collection

With the wonderful resources of Library and Archives Canada almost at my doorstep I don't use them very much. I go to the building at 395 Wellington more for meetings than to do research.

On Wednesday I had the opportunity to visit so ordered a file online on Monday, received an email that it was available on Tuesday. The routine ordering of the archival file worked well.

The consultation room was buzzing but I easily found a space at a table, took out a file folder and started to review it. A few minutes passed and a security guard came by and closed the lid on the box containing the remaining folders. No big deal.

I finished the first folder and decided to remove the rest of them for convenient access. The reviewed files on one side, the rest on the other. I left the room briefly only to find on my return that they had all been replaced in the box, except the open open at the workspace and a sheet of instructions with a section underlined saying that removing more than one folder at a time is verboten.

I apologize to LAC for having placed Canada's heritage in harm's way. Undoubtedly the damage done to the papers by being laid flat for a couple of hours is significantly more than the damage in withdrawing and replacing the folders individually, naturally being careful to close the lid on the box each time.

With the financial pressures to which LAC is subject it is comforting to know that enforcement of details of care of the collection by uniformed guards is not being jeopardized compared to, say, trivialities like digitization of materials so that those boxes never have to be opened again.

BIFHSGO June meeting and AGM

Saturday 11 June 2011 at Library and Archives Canada, 395 Wellington, Ottawa

The meeting starts at 9am with the BIFHSGO Annual General Meeting. 

The regular meeting starts at 10 AM, featuring the ever popular semi-annual Great Moments in Genealogy session. 

• The Letters of Nicholas Watson 1820-26 by Brian Watson
• From Coolross to Canada and Back by Ann Burns
• Uncle Oscar's Poisonous Paramour by Susan Davis
• Genealogy in the Future by Jane Down
• When the Waves Turn the Minutes to Hours: The Tragic End of John Goddard, Master Hairdresser by Gail Roger

There's more on these presentations at http://goo.gl/dyPIf

Genealogical archival information at LAC

Colleague Glenn Wright found an archival file at Library and Archives Canada, in RG37 Vol.82, titled Genealogical Societies. I was interested to see if it had any mention of the defunct societies mentioned in a previous blog post.

The bulk of the file was requests from the Genealogical Society, later the Genealogical Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, at 80 North Main St., in Salt Lakes City, for specific genealogical information. Where the query could be answered directly this was done; and if not a reference to a for hire person was given.

Unlike today, where such a query is answered by a list of people in those days a specific person is named.

In 1950 and 1952 that person is C.G. Crouse, 125 Concord Street in Ottawa. In 1956 Miss W. Desrosiers of 8 Tormey St. Ottawa, is named. From 1955 to 1960 the chosen one is Miss Esther Osborne of 18 Prince Albert St. in Ottawa.

Does anyone know of these genealogists?

Other requests in the file were in 1958 from: the National Genealogical Society of Washington D.C., and the Detroit Society for Genealogical Research. In the same year Reginald Smith, President of the Vancouver District L.D.S. Genealogical Society at 350 E 55th Ave, Vancouver 15, wrote with the letterhead showing an affiliation with the Alberta S. Gen Soc and the L.M.U Gen Soc. Anyone know of these?

Finally there was a query from the Houston Genealogical Forum of 8112 Milridge, Houston 17, TX.

OSBORNE, Esther Weatherly January 16, 1916 May 3, 2007 Born in Stanford Township, Welland County, Ontario

Free 1911 England and Wales Census at FamilySearch

You can now search and view a partial transcription of the England and Wales 1911 census at FamilySearch.org

This uses the index from findmypast.co.uk with a link to images at that site, which is not free.

The free transcription information returned is name, gender, age, birthplace and place of residence.

With the exception of 1871 all England and Wales censuses are now available and indexed with partial transcriptions at FamilySearch.

Behind the Internet Archive

With more than a million of book digitized and searchable The Internet Archive is a wonderful genealogical and historical resource.

Judging by the QFHS Roots 2011 conference many in the community remain unaware of this treasure. This video features Brewster Kahle, the Archive founder, who explains the process behind initiative and gives some interesting statistics.

Romford Cemetery records added at Deceasedonline

London Borough of Havering, burials numbered 1 to 37,778 for Romford Cemetery, dated 27 October 1871 to 15 August 1994, are now available at deceasedonline.com as Burial register scans in various formats at 20 entries per scanned page.

Burials numbered 37,779 onwards, from 19 August 1994, are available only as fully computerised records, with no associated register scans.

Putting flesh(?) on the bones

An interesting article appeared in the St John's Telegram about how the reconstruction of the head of a Canadian Expeditionary Force soldier, who went missing during the Battle of Vimy Ridge, from a cast of the skull helped identify him.

http://goo.gl/ZLCFw

Thanks to Wallace J McLean for the tip.

Newspapers at the British Library

The British Library’s hard copy newspaper collections are scheduled to move from the current Colindale site to a planned Newspaper Storage Building at Boston Spa in West Yorkshire.

The British Library plan to offer access to the national newspaper collection via microfilm and digitised copies, which will be available for viewing at a dedicated newspaper Reading Room at St Pancras.

The British Library have a proactive communications on their newspaper collection, and are  offering sessions this summer to provide an update on progress made by the Newspaper Moves strategy along with a preview of the service currently being developed for St Pancras.

Canadians envy this open approach from the British Library which contrasts so strongly with Library and Archives Canada's approach.

Ancestry updates Border Crossings: From Mexico to U.S., 1895-1957

Canadians, and others, have been visiting Mexico and returning via the USA for decades. Many of them are in an index of aliens, and some US citizens, crossing into the U.S. from Mexico via various ports of entry between 1895 and 1957. I found several people of interest, including former National Archivist Arthur Doughty.

The database on Ancestry covers: Ajo, Lukeville, and Sonoyta, Arizona (Jan. 1919-Dec. 1952) and Los Ebanos, Texas (Dec. 6, 1950-May 26, 1955); Douglas, Arizona (Jul. 1908–Dec. 1952); Douglas, Arizona (Sept. 10-1906-Oct. 10, 1955); Naco, Arizona (1908-1952); Nogales, Arizona (Jul. 1905-1952); San Luis, Arizona (Jul. 24, 1929-Dec. 1952); Sasabe/San Fernando, Arizona (1919-1952); Andrade and Campo (Tecate), California (1910-1952); Calexico, California (1907-1952); San Ysidro (Tia Juana), California (Apr. 21, 1908-Dec. 1952); Columbus, New Mexico (1917-1954); Brownsville, Texas (Feb. 1905-Mar. 31, 1957); Eagle Pass, Texas (Jun. 1905-Jun. 1953); El Paso, Texas (May 1909-Oct. 1924); El Paso, Texas (ca. Jul. 1924-Dec. 1954); Fabens, Texas (Jul. 1924-1954); Fort Hancock, Texas (1924-1954); Laredo, Texas (Jul. 1908-Feb. 1912); Laredo, Texas (May 1903-Apr. 1955); Presidio, Texas, (1895–1954); Progreso/Thayer, Texas (Oct. 1928-May 1955); Rio Grande City, Texas (Nov. 1908-May 1955); Roma, Texas (Mar. 1928-May 1955); San Antonio, Texas (May 17, 1944-Mar. 1952); Yseleta, Texas (Jul. 1924-1954); Zapata, Texas (Aug. 1923-Sep. 1953); plus manifests for the Immigration and Naturalization Service District of El Paso, Texas (1906-1910). 

The database generally includes: name, age, birth date, birthplace, gender, ethnicity/nationality, names of individuals accompanied by, port of arrival, arrival date. There are links to original images.

Wolfe returns, Wiggins remembered

Monday's Ottawa Citizen includes an article about a statuette of hero of the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, Gen. James Wolfe, left at the Lord Elgin hotel with a note that it was stolen in the 1950s from the Public Archives of Canada building on Sussex Street. Read the story here.

In the same issue of the Citizen, the regular Monday column by Phil Jenkins this week recalls Ottawa eccentric Ezekiel Stone Wiggins. Phil will be the Don Whiteside lecturer in September at the BIFHGO conference.

Celia Heritage joins the Pharos team

Chris Paton at Scottish GENES reports on an addition to the Pharos Teaching and Tutoring (www.pharostutors.com) tutorial team. Celia Heritage strengthens an already strong team, of which Chris himself is one.

This is an opportunity to remind you that two of the Pharos founders, Sherry Irvine and Helen Osborn, will be joining another strong team - speaking at the BIFHSGO conference, 16-18 September 2011.

Benefits for Ancestry World Archives Project indexers

Following on the survey here a couple of weeks ago about indexing volunteering Ancestry.ca staffer, and friend, Lesley Anderson drew my attention to an item about the Ancestry World Archives Project at the Ancestry UK site at http://goo.gl/CgU7g. 

Of particular note:

  "As a Project contributor, you get to see these intriguing records before anyone else. Plus, you receive completely free access to all the records in any collections you work on. We also offer special rewards for our most active volunteers – including money off your Ancestry.co.uk membership for our top contributors."

Lesley informs me this also applies to Ancestry.ca memberships.

British immigrants in Montreal

From the start of the 20th century to the start of the Great War of approximately 2.85 million newcomers to Canada 1.18 million had English, Scottish, Irish, Welsh or other British roots. Peaking in 1912-1913 this was the greatest immigration Canada has known, and as a percent of population on an annual basis far greater than the present rate.

British Immigrants to Montreal is a personal website about the experiences of the Shill family from London who arrived in early 1907 and their subsequent life in Montreal. Inasmuch as any individual case can be typical it illustrates the stories of those who arrived in the period.

Website owner, Deborah Waddell Robertson, would be pleased to help others with ancestors who immigrated to Montreal from Britain in the early 1900s share their stories through the site.

Update:  Thanks to Jean for pointing out the broken link.

Previous Canadian Genealogical Societies

A few years ago this blog had a posting on the defunct Canadian Federation of Genealogical and Family History Societies, with an informative comment by Brenda Dougall Merriman.

Now information on two other, and similarly defunct, Canadian genealogical societies has emerged.

In a response to a recent posting J. Brian Gilchrist mentioned the "Imperial Genealogical Society" operating in Hamilton in the 1950's for which he has a sheet of their letterhead. 

The 23 September 1950 issue of the Ottawa Citizen reports the death of Rev Henri Morriseau, archivist of the University of Ottawa and "one of the founders of the local branch of the Canadian Genealogical Society."

Do any readers have information on either of these two earlier societies?

Carlisle's new Archives Centre

Of interest for those with Cumberland roots, as of 1 June Carlisle has a new £8.2 million archives centre housing more than one million documents.

It's covered briefly in this newspaper item. The "bankers" interim visiting hours are here.

The building is south of the centre of Carlisle, off the A6 and quite close to the M6, with free parking.

The news is via an item on the British and Irish Genealogy blog at http://bi-gen.blogspot.com/

Naming the new Ottawa Central Archives / Public Library Materials Centre Building

The City of Ottawa has announced the process to be followed in naming the building which will house the City's Central Archives, copied below. My comments follow.

Ottawa - Due to increased public interest, the City of Ottawa is encouraging residents to submit proposals to commemoratively name the new Central Archives Ottawa Public Library Materials Centre.
Nominees for commemoration should meet at least one (1) of the following criteria:

• The nominated individual has demonstrated excellence, courage or exceptional service to the citizens of the City of Ottawa, the Province of Ontario and/or Canada.

• The nominated individual has provided extensive community service and has an extraordinary community service record.

• The nominated individual has worked to foster equality and reduce discrimination.

• The nominated individual is a current City of Ottawa employee, and has made an outstanding contribution to the City of Ottawa unrelated and to outside of his/her job responsibilities, capacity and duties as a City employee.

• The nominated individual is a former employee of the City of Ottawa and is to be recognized for exceptional service unrelated to and outside of his/her job responsibilities, capacity and duties as a former City employee.

• The nominated individual has made a significant financial contribution to a park or facility, and the contribution significantly benefits the community that the park or facility serves (i.e. the park or facility may not have otherwise been possible without the financial assistance).

• The nominated name has historical significance to the community, City of Ottawa, Province of Ontario or Canada.

The new Central Archives Ottawa Public Library Materials Centre.is located at 100 Tallwood Drive (corner of Woodroffe Avenue).
Commemorative naming proposals for this facility must be received by 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 30, 2011. All of the names submitted will be vetted in accordance with the Commemorative Naming Policy, then be listed for 60 days of public consultation, in accordance with Policy guidelines. Eligible submissions and the results of the public consultation will be reviewed by the Commemorative Naming Committee and a recommendation will be made to the Community and Protective Services Committee and City Council in September.
If you would like to submit a name for consideration or require any further information, send an e-mail to namingottawa@ottawa.ca or call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401).

Comment.

The name given to such a facility should bear some relationship to its mission, that is, a premium should be put on the criteria that the naming should be for someone who has historical significant to the heritage/library community. Just as the stadium at Lansdowne Park was named for Frank Clare, renowned Ottawa Roughrider coach, so a library/archives facility should reflect the purpose of the facility.

I understand that the name of Claude Aubrey, a former City Librarian, has already been submitted and the previously submitted name of William Pittman Lett, the first City Clerk of the newly-named municipality of Ottawa, a post he held for 36 years, will be resubmitted.

More Canadian heritage online?

Michael Geist, University of Ottawa professor, blogger and newspaper columnist, imagines the mandates letters an enlightened Prime Minister might have sent to several of his Ministers. From the letter to James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage responsible for Library and Archives Canada.

The next four years also offers the chance to create a true national digital library as the foundation of a digital cultural policy. Canada has only digitized 13 per cent of its documentary text and less than one per cent of its video, audio, and photographs. You should assume a leadership position by actively working with provincial and local groups to develop a world-class national digital library that makes Canadian culture available from coast to coast and around the world by July 2015.

The figure of 13% of Canada's documentary text being online comes from The Stratford Report 2011 at http://www.uoguelph.ca/~mridley/Stratford-Report-2011.pdf

A section of that report on digitization in Canada notes that "Canada is falling behind other nations in recognizing the economic importance of preserving and making our national cultural documentary heritage accessible now and for future generations."

In Canada we have had a lot of talking around digitization, with development of a vision and plans. But as the Stratford report highlights "Vision without action is hallucination...Canada needs action."

Now that Parliament is in session we should soon be seeing the release of Library and Archives Canada's Report of Plans and Priorities. Will it contain details of the action LAC will undertake on digitization this year, or subject us to yet another year of hallucination?

Doors Open Ottawa 2011

While I'll be in Montreal for the Quebec Family History Society Roots 2011 conference this weekend most Ottawa residents will have the opportunity to view some of the City’s interesting and architecturally intriguing buildings in the 10th installment of Doors Open Ottawa on June 4 and 5.

A total of 111 doors will be open to the public, free of charge. Some new this year that look especially appealing are The Carleton Immersive Media Studio (CIMS), Crichton Lodge,  Chaudière Falls No. 2 Generating Station, and Fairfields, as well as many popular locations from previous years.

For a complete list of participating buildings, please go to ottawa.ca/doorsopen

42,291 new London Probate Index records on findmypast.co.uk

Findmypast.co.uk announce that:

Most of the records are from 1750 to 1858 - although we have around 70 records outside that date range - and they may prove very useful in providing more detail about London ancestors.
The records come from the London Probate Index 1750-1858 and the data was provided by Dr David Wright.<http://goo.gl/XjaOt>

This is an update. The previous description is more informative:

This index covers the administration of estates at nine courts not ... in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury series held at The National Archives.
Each entry includes first and last name, date of the grant of representation to the estate, whether a will, administration or other record, the court, parish, county, country etc. of residence as given in the original and any other details as shown, including cross-referenced aliases and maiden, former or other last names.

Toronto professional genealogy, 1934

Following up on yesterday's posting on Ottawa genealogists of the past, the Toronto Globe of 9 May 1934 announces the following Toronto genealogists similarly recognized:

Col. Alexander Fraser, Ontario archivist and historian for the Fraser clan; Mrs. J Frederick B Livesay of 20 Rosemount Avenue; Hon. William Renwick Riddell, Justice of Appeal and compiler of a Powall genealogy; Horace H VanWart, an authority on the U. E. Loyalists; and Ms. Margaret Ray, librarian, who have won local recognition for their work in genealogical and historical research, have been honored by being included in the list of the leading active genealogical researchers in the Handbook of American Genealogy recently issued by the Institute of American Genealogy of Chicago.

Is there someone knowledgeable about Toronto's genealogy history to enlighten us about these pioneers?

Dorset parish records added to Ancestry

Database with images of Church of England registers for a large number of Dorset parishes are now available at ancestry.co.uk as follows:
Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906
Marriages and Banns, 1813-1921
Deaths and Burials, 1813-2001
Confirmations, 1850-1921

Most are for dates prior to the start of civil registration in 1837.

In addition, but without images, are 136,400 records miscellaneous Extracted Parish Records

Are your genes your destiny?

Most of us recognize that the old nature versus nurture debate is stale. Both are important. The real question is how do they interact to make us who we are?

Are your genes your destiny? (Not if your mom has anything to say about it) published in the Spring/Summer 2011 issue of McGill News illuminates the work of McGill researchers showing that "life experiences alter DNA by painting it with chemical tags and altering nearby gene expression."

This research has studied rats to understand the impact of maternal care on stress. Rat mothers that licked and groomed their pups raised more even tempered offspring. The grooming switches on a gene that dials down the amount of stress hormones that get released in times of stress, a trait that persists into adulthood. 

The researchers also looked at the brains of suicide victims who had troubled pasts and found a methyl groups associated with the genes that control the production of stress hormone receptors in the brain not found in a control group.

The researchers are now working on a multiyear study, the Maternal Adversity, Vulnerability, and Neurodevelopment Project, with 500 women. Preliminary findings show that children with a genetic disposition to developing depression can avoid an emotional crash if they form a strong bond with their mother in childhood.

While it seems unlikely that there is a single way in which nature and nurture interact the fruits of such research could eventually help those of us looking to go beyond genealogical facts to better understand our ancestors' behaviours.

Read the article from the McGill News at: http://goo.gl/aSCzj

Ottawa professional genealogy, 1932

The following is an article from the Ottawa Citizen dated 15 April 1932

Ottawans Are Rewarded For Research Work

George H Wilson, "Old Time Stuff" Editor. Among Four Listed in American Handbook of Genealogy

Can Now Expand Their Scope of Activities

Norman Fee, Magdalen Casey and François J Audet, Public Archives are Honored

Years of genealogical research have found their reward for four prominent Ottawa genealogical researchers, including George H Wilson, editor of the Saturday Evening Citizen;s "Old Time Stuff" page. The three other Ottawans whose names have been included in the list of leading active genealogical researchers in the Handbook of American Genealogy issued by the Institute of American Genealogy in Chicago are employees of the Public Archives, Norman Fee, M.C,, chief of the map division; Ms. Magdalena Casey, librarian, and Françoise J Audet, chief of index and information.

Recognition in this field will enable the four Ottawans to expand the scope of their work materially. It affords access to the extensive lineage files of the National Clearinghouse for Genealogical Information, as well as professional contact with genealogists in 1331 counties throughout the United States and 16 other countries.

The Institute of American Genealogy has listed the four Ottawans in the handbook because the Institute wanted someone here fully qualified to carry out genealogical research. Years of experience are behind the four persons listed in the handbook. It was pointed out by Mr. Fee that the names of genealogical researchers are customarily placed in the handbook on recommendation of someone and that no special work is required of any researcher to have his or her name listed.

The four Ottawans expressed their pleasure at being listed, when being informed this morning by the Citizen of the honor bestowed upon them.

Has Gained Reputation

Some time ago Mr. Wilson said he received a letter from the Institute informing him that his name had been submitted to them. Mr. Wilson has spent nine years in genealogical and historical research, his delving's into things of the past appearing in printed form each Saturday evening in the Citizen's "Old Time Stuff" page. His reputation spread rapidly and as a result, especially during the summer months, tourists whose ancestors resided in Ottawa often looked him up with a request that he attempt to trace the family tree. While Mr. Wilson's research work has not been that of a professional family tree tracer, his historical researching has provided interesting reading for readers of the "Old Time Stuff" page

Mr. Fee has been employed in the Public Archives for 24 years. Now chief of the map division, his experiences in genealogical and historical research have also gained for him an enviable reputation not only in Canada but in many parts of the United States and other countries. He is Secretary of the Canadian Historical Society.

Active in Research

Miss Magdalen Casey, librarian at the archives, has been employed there for 37 years and has been active in considerable genealogical and historical research in connection with her position. Françoise J Audet, a member of the Royal Society of Canada, and an employee of the archives for more than 40 years, likewise has lead an active life of research and his been commended at various times for his fine work by the government.

Genealogical and historical research work has reached enormous proportions, it was stated to the Citizen. Many people who never before thought of tracing their family histories are now spending large sums of money in this respect. Professional genealogy has taken a stronghold in some parts of the United States but in Canada there are few men whose profession is that of a family tree tracer and who charge considerable money for their services.

"Many people are delighted to find their ancestors fought in the Revolution while others are not so proud of their ancestors once they have been traced," Mr. Fee laughingly said to the Citizen.

The greatest work in genealogical research was with respect to the Acadian (corrected, thanks to DWP) and early French settlers it was stated.