We finally made it to Oakville!
It took us all day yesterday (Wednesday) to get here, but we’re settled in now, and are ready to do a day of research at the neighbouring city of Burlington.
This morning, while having breakfast, we met some fellow OGS members. They were talking about the conference, and this morning’s Chairs Meeting, where they will talk about what has happened over the year in their individual branches, and will discuss this year’s upcoming year.
One Chair has completely digitized her branch’s newsletters, and they will appear on the OGS website for interested parties to buy <http://www.ogs.on.ca/>.
Another woman talked about going to the “new” Ontario Archives <http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/> yesterday, and was looking for her uncle, which she, unfortunately, did not find. But she gave the Archives top marks for having the information organized, in a much better fashion than found at their old location.
So it’s off to Burlington with our friend, June Coxon, to search for her ancestor, Charles HALES. The first place we’ll hit will be the library, and with any luck, will then head for the cemetery, with the hopes of finding his gravestone and tying up the loose ends of that family, thus making the trip a success!
‘til the next blog …
A daily blog about Canadian genealogy, heritage, and history
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
OGS Conference '09 - Day 3
On day 3 at the conference (Sunday), my wandering days will be over for me as I will be at the OGS Publications Table all day - well, until the conference closes at 2:15 in the afternoon.
It has been a busy week for me, doing my regular work plus helping to plan the table - but I think we are ready to go.
This will be my last blog from home, but we are ready to try a new smartphone during this trip and conference - so I will be in touch.
We will wrap up on Sunday afternoon and then it will be a travelling day for me on Monday. We have to be back, as my husband is going to a conference the next weekend.
See you at the conference!
It has been a busy week for me, doing my regular work plus helping to plan the table - but I think we are ready to go.
This will be my last blog from home, but we are ready to try a new smartphone during this trip and conference - so I will be in touch.
We will wrap up on Sunday afternoon and then it will be a travelling day for me on Monday. We have to be back, as my husband is going to a conference the next weekend.
See you at the conference!
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Plans for OGS Conference '09 - Day 2
Day 2 will find me in the Plenary Session at 8:00 in the morning. Will I be awake enough to see what's going on? That is the question!
I know that it will be at this session that the dreaded "rate increase" — as John Reid at his Anglo-Celtic Connections blog <http://anglo-celtic-connections.blogspot.com/2009/05/are-genealogical-society-fees-too-high.html> has been writing about — will be brought up.
The proposed increase for yearly membership will be $15.00 (making it $60.00 per year), and I wondered what the reaction will be because I don't know - I suspect that people already have made up their minds. We shall see. You will be the first to know - I will be Twittering from the conference!
After that session is over, I will be going to hear a panel discussion on "From the Printed Page to the Digital Age: The Professionals", which will be moderated by Sharon Murphy. Panelists include Susanna de Groot and Tammy Priolo — both graduates from the National Institute for Genealogical Studies; Brian Gilchrist, the Archivist at the Region of Peel Archives; Janice Nickerson, who has her M.A. in History and a website at <www.uppercanadagenealogy.com>; and author and lecturer, Ruth Burkholder.
The rest of the day I will be in the Marketplace talking to people and seeing what is new this year. Then, I will be at the banquet to hear Charlotte Gray talk about Alexander Graham Bell and his love of genealogy.
Sounds like a full day to me!
I know that it will be at this session that the dreaded "rate increase" — as John Reid at his Anglo-Celtic Connections blog <http://anglo-celtic-connections.blogspot.com/2009/05/are-genealogical-society-fees-too-high.html> has been writing about — will be brought up.
The proposed increase for yearly membership will be $15.00 (making it $60.00 per year), and I wondered what the reaction will be because I don't know - I suspect that people already have made up their minds. We shall see. You will be the first to know - I will be Twittering from the conference!
After that session is over, I will be going to hear a panel discussion on "From the Printed Page to the Digital Age: The Professionals", which will be moderated by Sharon Murphy. Panelists include Susanna de Groot and Tammy Priolo — both graduates from the National Institute for Genealogical Studies; Brian Gilchrist, the Archivist at the Region of Peel Archives; Janice Nickerson, who has her M.A. in History and a website at <www.uppercanadagenealogy.com>; and author and lecturer, Ruth Burkholder.
The rest of the day I will be in the Marketplace talking to people and seeing what is new this year. Then, I will be at the banquet to hear Charlotte Gray talk about Alexander Graham Bell and his love of genealogy.
Sounds like a full day to me!
Saturday, May 23, 2009
OGS Conference '09
As many of you know, I will be Twittering and blogging from this year's conference! The first time an OGS conference has been covered in this manner!
The conference will be held from May 29th to June 1st in Oakville (part of Toronto), with well over 700 attendees.
Friday morning — after we register — I will be off to the marketplace while other people will be going on a tour of the NEW Ontario Archives.
In the afternoon, I will be covering the Irish Palatines, where Hank Jones will speak (he has written much about the Palatines), and after that, I will attend the graduation ceremony of the National Institute for Genealogical Studies, which is, by the way, celebrating its 10th anniversary.
The opening ceremonies will be held in the evening, and well-known genealogist Kory L. Meyerink will give the J. Richard Houston Memorial Lecture, with a reception to follow.
So watch for my Twitters and keep an eye for the blogs - I'll see you at the conference!
The conference will be held from May 29th to June 1st in Oakville (part of Toronto), with well over 700 attendees.
Friday morning — after we register — I will be off to the marketplace while other people will be going on a tour of the NEW Ontario Archives.
In the afternoon, I will be covering the Irish Palatines, where Hank Jones will speak (he has written much about the Palatines), and after that, I will attend the graduation ceremony of the National Institute for Genealogical Studies, which is, by the way, celebrating its 10th anniversary.
The opening ceremonies will be held in the evening, and well-known genealogist Kory L. Meyerink will give the J. Richard Houston Memorial Lecture, with a reception to follow.
So watch for my Twitters and keep an eye for the blogs - I'll see you at the conference!
Friday, May 22, 2009
OGS "NewsLeaf" is here
The pre-Conference NewsLeaf is here!
This is a long issue (30+ pages) as it contains a report from each of the branches, plus a report from each of the regional directors, plus financial statements, plus a report on all the things that went on at last year's Conference, plus, plus, plus. Phew!
To say the least, I am usually spent by the time it is done and I take a couple of days off to recover, but this year, I was totally booked in writing magazine articles - so no time off for me!
They are good publications (if I must say so myself) - Families and NewsLeaf. This November, I will have been the editor for three years - it seems like I just put out my second edition, but in truth, it will be my 10th one!
And if you are coming to Conference 2009, be sure to drop by our table. Yes, we will have a table this year. It will be alongside the OGS table, but we will be clearly marked as "OGS Publications".
Grace Jewell, the OGS Webmaster, and John Becker, the editor of Families, will be there on Saturday. And I (Elizabeth Lapointe), the editor of NewsLeaf and e-NewsLeaf, will be there on Sunday.
If you haven't signed up to receive e-Newsleaf, be sure to do that - it is included in your yearly membership dues. There will be a sheet that you can put your email address on it if you haven't already subscribed at the "Members Only" section of the OGS website <www.ogs.on.ca>.
So far, only about 80% of members have sent in their addresses, and we would like to see everybody join up, as there are links for access to the great databases that the OGS has already published, and for the new ones that will be coming soon. So sign up - you'll be glad you did!
This year, I will be representing the International Society of Family History Writers and Editors in my capacity as the International Director, and it's a great organization. I will have a handout available for all, detailing the ISFHWE group, and its benefits. The website address is <http://isfhwe.org>.
So come on over and say "Hello!" to myself, John, and Grace. We would be pleased to see you.
If you would like to send in an article or a family history to be published, be sure to come and see us.
This is a long issue (30+ pages) as it contains a report from each of the branches, plus a report from each of the regional directors, plus financial statements, plus a report on all the things that went on at last year's Conference, plus, plus, plus. Phew!
To say the least, I am usually spent by the time it is done and I take a couple of days off to recover, but this year, I was totally booked in writing magazine articles - so no time off for me!
They are good publications (if I must say so myself) - Families and NewsLeaf. This November, I will have been the editor for three years - it seems like I just put out my second edition, but in truth, it will be my 10th one!
And if you are coming to Conference 2009, be sure to drop by our table. Yes, we will have a table this year. It will be alongside the OGS table, but we will be clearly marked as "OGS Publications".
Grace Jewell, the OGS Webmaster, and John Becker, the editor of Families, will be there on Saturday. And I (Elizabeth Lapointe), the editor of NewsLeaf and e-NewsLeaf, will be there on Sunday.
If you haven't signed up to receive e-Newsleaf, be sure to do that - it is included in your yearly membership dues. There will be a sheet that you can put your email address on it if you haven't already subscribed at the "Members Only" section of the OGS website <www.ogs.on.ca>.
So far, only about 80% of members have sent in their addresses, and we would like to see everybody join up, as there are links for access to the great databases that the OGS has already published, and for the new ones that will be coming soon. So sign up - you'll be glad you did!
This year, I will be representing the International Society of Family History Writers and Editors in my capacity as the International Director, and it's a great organization. I will have a handout available for all, detailing the ISFHWE group, and its benefits. The website address is <http://isfhwe.org>.
So come on over and say "Hello!" to myself, John, and Grace. We would be pleased to see you.
If you would like to send in an article or a family history to be published, be sure to come and see us.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
LAC Appoints New Librarian/Archivist
The Library and Archives Canada (LAC) has appointed the new Chief Librarian and Archivist. It is Dr. Daniel J. Caron, who transferes to the job from being the Senior Assistant Deputy Minister. He has been with the LAC since its inception a number of years ago.
His appointment was effective April 27, 2009.
Meanwhile, I see where the former Librarian/Archivist, Ian E. Wilson, has taken an appointment with the University of Waterloo at their new research facility in Stratford, Ontario.
He will be a strategic advisor to the new University of Waterloo Startford Institute of Arts and Culture. It will build the next generation in technology to digitize media products and services.
Both Dr. Caron and Ian are to be congratulated on their new positions.
His appointment was effective April 27, 2009.
Meanwhile, I see where the former Librarian/Archivist, Ian E. Wilson, has taken an appointment with the University of Waterloo at their new research facility in Stratford, Ontario.
He will be a strategic advisor to the new University of Waterloo Startford Institute of Arts and Culture. It will build the next generation in technology to digitize media products and services.
Both Dr. Caron and Ian are to be congratulated on their new positions.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
AGM and Genealogy Fair in Brockville
Brockville, Ontario — on the shore of the lovely St. Lawrence River — was the city where the AGM of Region VIII of the Ontario Genealogical Society (OGS) and Genealogy Fair was held Saturday, 25 April at St. Lawrence College. It was hosted by the Leeds and Grenville Branch of the OGS <www.leedsandgrenvillegenealogy.com>.
The first presentation was by Kees Van Den Heuval and he gave a talk on the options available to genealogists for digitizing and restoring photographs entitled, "A Primer on Digitizing and Restoring Photographs for Genealogists".
He went into quite a bit of detail on how to restore photographs, which was of interest to us, for I have a number of photos that have to be restored. My husband and I were madly taking notes, and afterwards, members asked quite a few questions as everybody seemed quite interested in how to restore old photos.
Patti Mordasewicz, Chair of the Leeds and Grenville Branch of the OGS, thanks Kees Van Den Heuval for his presentation at the Genealogy Fair.
After lunch, we listened to Jessica Squires from the Library and Archives Canada (LAC) give a talk on the "Indian Affairs" RG 10 Records held at the LAC, called "Aboriginal and Natural Resources Division on Aboriginal Research". The website for these records is located at <www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/genealogy/022-905.003-e.html>.
She said that among other things, they have treaty paylists, band membership paylists, and enfranchisement lists at the LAC. They also have military records, census records, vital records, and social records.
She also gave a short history of the department and the reclassification of regional offices within the department, and steps to use to overcome this challenge.
She suggested that we all consult the book by Bill Russell entitled, "Records of The Federal Department Of Indian Affairs At The National Archives Of Canada".
Patti Mordasewicz, Chair of the Leeds and Grenville Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society, thanks Jessica Squires after her talk to the people at the Brockville Genealogy Fair.
The third and final presentation was by Professor Tim Abel, who presented a very lively talk on a special archeology dig he did a couple of years ago for a large Realtor who wanted to build on the outskirts of Watertown, Jefferson County, New York — right across the river from Brockville.
The city requested that a survey be done on the land first and it was known that a farm land had been there before, but very little evidence had been found about what had happened to it.
Tim was hired to go start an archaeology dig there, and found the house had caught on fire in the late 1800s and burnt down!
He was unable to find the descendants of the Earl family but he was able to take over 6,000 objects from the area. They have been classified and put in a museum in the area.
The Realtor built its store on the property - but in front of the store there is a spot where the farm house once stood. It is undeveloped, with uncut grass growing there in the summertime.
Patti Mordasewicz, Chair of the Leeds and Grenville Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society, says her "thank you's" to Tim Abel for his interesting talk at the Brockville Genealogy Fair.
We had an enjoyable trip to Brockville and found St. Lawrence College quite easily and went in to register. There were a dozen or so vendors and groups represented in the marketplace, and they seemed to be doing a brisk business.
We had a wonderful lunch of hot soup and sandwiches served in the cafeteria. And at a table just as you entered the marketplace, there were homemade squares of every description, and coffee and tea that you could have at anytime.
It was a most wonderful day, and we had a nice trip back to town in about an hour and a half. That night, we had a most terrific storm with wind and thunder that caused trees to fall and much damage to roofs on houses and barns, in Ottawa and surrounding area. It was later classified as a tornado.
The first presentation was by Kees Van Den Heuval and he gave a talk on the options available to genealogists for digitizing and restoring photographs entitled, "A Primer on Digitizing and Restoring Photographs for Genealogists".
He went into quite a bit of detail on how to restore photographs, which was of interest to us, for I have a number of photos that have to be restored. My husband and I were madly taking notes, and afterwards, members asked quite a few questions as everybody seemed quite interested in how to restore old photos.
Patti Mordasewicz, Chair of the Leeds and Grenville Branch of the OGS, thanks Kees Van Den Heuval for his presentation at the Genealogy Fair.Credit: J.M. Lapointe, CD
After lunch, we listened to Jessica Squires from the Library and Archives Canada (LAC) give a talk on the "Indian Affairs" RG 10 Records held at the LAC, called "Aboriginal and Natural Resources Division on Aboriginal Research". The website for these records is located at <www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/genealogy/022-905.003-e.html>.
She said that among other things, they have treaty paylists, band membership paylists, and enfranchisement lists at the LAC. They also have military records, census records, vital records, and social records.
She also gave a short history of the department and the reclassification of regional offices within the department, and steps to use to overcome this challenge.
She suggested that we all consult the book by Bill Russell entitled, "Records of The Federal Department Of Indian Affairs At The National Archives Of Canada".
Patti Mordasewicz, Chair of the Leeds and Grenville Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society, thanks Jessica Squires after her talk to the people at the Brockville Genealogy Fair.Credit: J.M. Lapointe, CD
The third and final presentation was by Professor Tim Abel, who presented a very lively talk on a special archeology dig he did a couple of years ago for a large Realtor who wanted to build on the outskirts of Watertown, Jefferson County, New York — right across the river from Brockville.
The city requested that a survey be done on the land first and it was known that a farm land had been there before, but very little evidence had been found about what had happened to it.
Tim was hired to go start an archaeology dig there, and found the house had caught on fire in the late 1800s and burnt down!
He was unable to find the descendants of the Earl family but he was able to take over 6,000 objects from the area. They have been classified and put in a museum in the area.
The Realtor built its store on the property - but in front of the store there is a spot where the farm house once stood. It is undeveloped, with uncut grass growing there in the summertime.
Patti Mordasewicz, Chair of the Leeds and Grenville Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society, says her "thank you's" to Tim Abel for his interesting talk at the Brockville Genealogy Fair.Credit: J.M. Lapointe, CD
We had an enjoyable trip to Brockville and found St. Lawrence College quite easily and went in to register. There were a dozen or so vendors and groups represented in the marketplace, and they seemed to be doing a brisk business.
We had a wonderful lunch of hot soup and sandwiches served in the cafeteria. And at a table just as you entered the marketplace, there were homemade squares of every description, and coffee and tea that you could have at anytime.
It was a most wonderful day, and we had a nice trip back to town in about an hour and a half. That night, we had a most terrific storm with wind and thunder that caused trees to fall and much damage to roofs on houses and barns, in Ottawa and surrounding area. It was later classified as a tornado.
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