Stewiacke Valley Museum present Genealogy Day

 If you are interested in genealogy or family history of Stewiacke Valley, Nova Scotia, you should plan to attend the Genealogy Day on July 28^th.

Local family researchers will be present to talk and share their

information, and their methods of research and documenting their family

Trips to local cemeteries will be arranged for those who request them.

Please notify us in advance (if possible) which cemetery you wish to visit.

Starter kits will be available for those wanting to begin their research

The resources of the Museum, including nearly 2000 photographs, community history books,Genealogies, Obituaries, Scrapbooks, School Registers,

Diaries, house histories and much more will be available to help with your research.

Photocopies available at a nominal charge.

Genealogy Day will be held on Saturday, July 28 from 10a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Stewiacke Valley Museum, 5445 Highway 289 in Upper Stewiacke

Light refreshments available

For more information, call Judy at 671-2929

"Classic FamilySeach.org" No Longer Exists

They have finally closed the Classic FamilySearch.org, which to many of us was where we cut our teeth on doing Internet genealogy research.

I know there were many problems with the information that the Classical FamilySearch.org had, and some of it was downright incorrect – but one can say it was an admirable first attempt to put the information online.

I started my research on my ancestor Andrew Barclay on the site, and became a regular visitor, and user when I first went on the Internet in the mid-1990s.

One fellow who continues to write about FamilySearch.org is The Ancestor Insider at  http://ancestryinsider.blogspot.com/2012/06/classic-familysearch-is-no-more.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AncestryInsider+%28The+Ancestry+Insider%29.

Read his posting “Classic FamilySearch is NoMore” posted on June 25, 2012.

OGS President Interviewed

Read Shirley Sturdevant’s interview in the 21 June edition of the Chatham Daily News at http://www.chathamdailynews.ca/2012/06/20/connecting-ancestors-to-the-present called “Connecting ancestors to the present.”

She gives her own story of how she became president after joining the OGS five years ago, and the OGS thoughts on the current Library and Archives Canada situation.

It’s worth a read - quite a good interview.

Genealogy Sessions Part of Jubilee Celebrations

                                                                          The  Alberton Historical Preservation Foundation is marking the Queen's Diamond Jubilee with two days of special events at the Alberton Arts and

Heritage Centre in Prince Edward Island.

The celebration starts with a genealogy seminar with George Sanborn from 2 to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, July 11.

Sanborn is an eminent researcher who has worked in the field of genealogy for over 51 years. He will discuss the connections of Prince Edward Islanders who went to work and live in Maine and other New England states.

From 7 to 9 p.m. the Centre will play host to well-known genealogist and CBC Radio Noon personality, Terry Punch, who will speak on Irish and Scottish ncestry and name origins. A question and answer session will follow his

presentation.

Admission to both sessions is free, but seating islimited. Individuals can reserve a seat by calling the museum at 853-2275, or e-mailing the museum at alac@bellaliant.net.

Seven experts in various fields of antiques have been confirmed for an Antique Fair, which will get underway at the centre on Thursday, July 12, starting at 10 a.m.

Areas of expertise include furniture, silver, china, jewelery, books and paintings, military, tools and musical instruments.  Interested persons are

encouraged to bring their special possessions along to be identified, evaluated and explained.

To close out the special Diamond Jubilee celebrations, a giant fireworks display will take place on the Prince County Exhibition grounds just after dusk.

British Columbia Genealogical Society Has Updated Two Indexes

The BCGS has updated two indexes -

British Columbia Auto Permit Holders, 1904-1905

This indexing project is on-going, and is part of a project documenting early vehicle owners in British Columbia, Canada.

This information has been extracted from BC Motor Vehicle Branch records held by the British Columbia Archives.

In some cases, additional information is available from the indexer, who would be happy to hear from those with more information about the vehicle owner or their vehicles. Please contact M. Diane Rogers at diane_rogers@shaw.ca
A headings are the year of the permit, the nunber of permit(s) given, the name of the owner, and his address.

Victoria, British Columbia Naturalization Index, 1859

British Columbia Naturalization documents from the British Columbia Archives are now digitized and available free at https://familysearch.org/search/collection/show#uri=http://familysearch.org/searchapi/search/collection/2001101 which begin with Oaths of Allegiance signed in 1859.

The BC Archives has names of individuals already on-line from the Cranbrook records and FamilySearch has digitized the official Cranbrook index book.

If you would like to search for a Cranbrook name in the Cranbrook naturalization applications 1905-1923. you can go to http://search.bcarchives.gov.bc.ca/sn-234C840/search

Finally, if you want to get rid of your pennies, the BCGS are collecting pennies to contribute to the fund for a Coat of Arms for the Society.

Any pennies will be accepted at all general meetings. Volunteers will roll them, if need be.

Toronto Branch Letter and Resolution - The LAC

Gwyneth Pearce from the Toronto Branch of the OGS sent this announcement to me the other day, and it says -  

"I am writing on behalf of the Toronto Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society to let you know about our response to the recently announced cuts to funding and staff at Library and Archives Canada.

At its annual general meeting on 28 May 2012, the Toronto Branch approved a resolution to send a letter to both the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages and the Prime Minister of Canada expressing our serious concerns about the cuts.

The letter, signed by Branch Chair Diana Thomson, urges the government of Canada to consider alternatives to the planned service reductions and elimination of programs at LAC so that Canada’s precious documentary and published heritage will be preserved and remain available for future generations".

The Toronto Branch letter and resolution are both posted on our website at www.torontofamilyhistory.org.

Cuts at Library and Archives Will Affect Genealogists

In May of this year, the OGS put this on their blog. It reads - 

Cuts at Library and Archives Canada will Affect Genealogists
May 18th, 2012

Recently several cuts were announced by Library and Archives Canada (LAC). These cuts will affect the ability of LAC to provide a high level of service to researchers and will affect the public’s ability to access records housed at LAC. Additionally, LAC has announced cuts to programs that support archives throughout Canada, which will affect the ability of these organizations to continue to make Canada’s documentary history accessible.

What do these cuts mean?

Our access to Canada’s documentary history, as well as its continued preservation, has been put in jeopardy.

How will these cuts affect genealogical researchers?

1. LAC will be reducing their hours, restricting the public’s access to knowledgeable archivists and reference staff, and genealogical inquiries will require appointments.

2. The inter-library loan program will be cancelled as of February 2013. Previously researchers could request that documents be sent to their local library, free of charge. Examples of these documents included microfilms of passenger lists and census records, or published books held in the library collection. The cancellation of this program means that researchers must travel to Ottawa to view these records, or hire a researcher in the Ottawa area to access the records for them.

3. The number of staff employed at LAC is being reduced by approximately 20%. Not only does this mean a reduction in service to researchers, it will also affect LAC’s ability to catalogue books, describe archival collections, and digitize the collection.

4. LAC’s collection mandate is changing. Previously LAC’s role was to preserve Canada’s cultural and historical heritage, but now the focus has shifted to preserving the documents of the federal government. This means that private business records and the documentary history of ordinary Canadians are no longer being actively collected. Already several important pieces of Canada’s Aboriginal and military history have been acquired by private collectors both inside and outside of Canada.

5. Small and medium-sized archives throughout the country have been dependent upon funding administered through LAC. The elimination of this funding puts their ability to preserve their collections at risk. This funding, in the past, has allowed these institutions to properly describe archival records, digitize collections, create archival exhibitions, and hire new archival professionals.

If these changes concern you:

Write a letter to: your MP, the Minister of Canadian Heritage & Official Languages, the Prime Minister, and/or your local newspaper. Outline how these cuts will affect your ability to research and access Canada’s documentary history.
Members of Parliament:
http://www.parl.gc.ca/MembersOfParliament/MainMPsCompleteList.aspx?Language=E

Have you written your letter today?