DIGGING FOR GOLD IN TORONTO LIBRARIES AND ARCHIVES

The Toronto Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society, and the Canadiana Department of North York Central Library is planning to hold a day-long workshop for family historians on May 4, 2013 at the North York Memorial Community Hall, located on 5120 Yonge Street, Toronto.

It is so easy these days for genealogists to spend all their time immersed in online resources, that we sometimes forget about the wonderful archives and libraries available to us in Toronto and the GTA. We are seeking presentations that will inspire researchers to get out of their pyjamas and explore the wealth of information and special services in and around our city.

We hope to receive proposals from genealogists and historians, as well as librarians and archivists who would like to showcase their facilities and collections.

We are looking for a variety of presentations at various skill levels. Here are a few ideas, but we welcome all proposals that emphasize on-site research in Toronto:

an overview of collections and services in a Toronto-area repository

 a collection or how several collections can be used together

a survey of the holdings of a particular type of resource at several repositories (like newspapers, for example)

Each session will be an hour long, including 5 to 10 minutes for questions. Presentations should be illustrated – we can provide a computer projector or an overhead projector. Speakers will be expected to provide a handout of supporting material (up to four pages) in advance, which we will photocopy for all registrants. Speakers will be paid an honorarium of $100 per lecture plus modest expenses.

Please submit your lecture proposals by e-mail to: courses@torontofamilyhistory.org. Please keep proposals brief and informal at this point. Be sure to include your mailing address, phone number and a brief bio.

DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS: Friday, 25 January 2013

Toronto Branch is one of 34 branches of the Ontario Genealogical Society, a not-for-profit organization and the largest genealogical society in Canada. For more information about Toronto Branch, please visit www.torontofamilyhistory.org.

© Elizabeth Lapointe All Rights Reserved

New/Updated Websites, Blogs, and Newspaper Articles – 24 December 2012

I have come across the following websites, blogs, and newspaper articles this past week that were of interest to me, and I thought you might be interested in them, too –

My Descent into Descent http://mydescentintodescent.blogspot.ca A genealogy blog where you can check the surnames - Saunders, Sanderson, Hart, Merriam, Wright, Marlow, Bosomworth, Monk, Crawford, Lefevre, Green, Cook, Goff, and Dickenson.

To Edmonton House with the Saskatchewan Brigade, Part One http://furtradefamilyhistory.blogspot.ca/2012/12/to-edmonton-house-with-saskatchewan.html Nancy Marguerite Anderson has a blog about the North Saskatchewan River and the people who travelled along it and the history they lived. And here is Part Two - Saskatchewan Brigade to Edmonton House, Part Two http://furtradefamilyhistory.blogspot.ca/2012/12/saskatchewan-brigade-to-edmonton-house.html

Hooper-Squires Photo Archives Treasure No. 5
http://olivetreegenealogy.blogspot.ca/2012/12/hooper-squires-photo-archives-treasure.html These are rescued photographs of the Hooper and Squires families of St. Mary's, Ontario.

SGS Prince Albert member recognized with Heritage Award www.paherald.sk.ca/Local/News/2012-12-18/article-3142969/SGS-Prince-Albert-member-recognized-with-Heritage-Award/1 The Prince Albert branch of the Saskatchewan Genealogical Society recognized Barb Beck with the 2012 SGS Volunteer Heritage Award according to an article in the Prince Albert Daily Herald

© Elizabeth Lapointe All Rights Reserved

OGS President Shirley Sturdevant Has an Update on the LAC

There has been an update on the termination and replacement of the Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Services at the Library and Archives Canada‏ from OGS President Shirley Sturdevant. 

You can read the full update on their blog at www.ogs.on.ca/ogsblog/?p=2794, but it more or less says that although she offered to be a part of the discussion, that offer wasn’t accepted. This is rather unfortunate, since Shirley might have been able to present the “genealogical point of view”, which has been missing from the discussion so far.

The answer that she received from the LAC said, in part, that “Although my offer was not accepted, I was promised by M. Grandmaitre (of the LAC) hat we would receive the same documentation as the other participating parties for further discussion with or distribution to our members”.

In the meantime, she says that “The Ontario Genealogical Society shall stay its course in advocating for open and equal access to our Canadian archival documents”.

© Elizabeth Lapointe All Rights Reserved

Dick Eastman and Tourtière Genealogy

Dick Eastman wrote in his newsletter this morning about his French-Canadian ancestry, and the making of the Christmas meat pie in an article called “Tourtière Genealogy”. 

He talks about how he has it every Christmas, but he didn’t realize that people from different parts of Quebec have different views on meat pies – and it is tied in with their ancestry.

The article came about because of a story in The Montreal Gazette by Susan Semenak in which she talks about the beloved French-Canadian food tourtière called “The genealogy of your tourtière: The Quebec Christmas feast staple, the tourtière, can reveal where a person’s family comes from”.

To read about it, go to www.montrealgazette.com/genealogy+your+tourti%C3%A8re/7683786/story.html

To read Dick's article, go to http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2012/12/tourti%C3%A8re-genealogy.html


© Elizabeth Lapointe All Rights Reserved

Old Time Christmas

Father Christmas, horse-drawn sleigh rides, music in the Harvey House and the Schoolhouse featuring the Good, the Bad & the Ugly, Roger-Lee Martin, Marven Condo and Nancy Vignola, traditional food & drink, outdoor fires, Tea Room, carollers, kid’s crafts and skating on the pond. Doesn't it sounds great!
It will be available Wednesday, December 26, 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m. at the Gaspesian British Heritage Village, 351 Perron Blvd. West, New Richmond, in the Gaspe Region, which is in Quebec.

And there will be a Family Day on December 28 from 1:00 p.m. to: 4:00 p.m. which will be presented by the Town of New Richmond. There will be Dogsled rides, decorating gingerbread men, outdoor fires, treasure hunt, music, face-painting and other activities.

And it will be held at the Gaspesian British Heritage Village, 351 Perron Blvd. West, New Richmond, Gaspe.

The entrance fee to both events is $3.00 per person

For more information, go to www.villagegaspesien.com

© Elizabeth Lapointe All Rights Reserved

A Special Invitation for a Victorian Christmas Eve

A very interesting notice came into the office this morning that the readers of this blog be interesting in attending -

The people at the Fairbairn House have invited you to the Victorian Christmas Eve event at Fairbairn House from 2 to 4 p.m. on December 24th.

Please come by and help decorate the tree, join in the carol singing, sip a hot cocoa or spiced apple cider, and sample our selection of home-made treats while enjoying the ambience of the newly renovated heritage home.

The 1861 builder William Fairbairn, with his wife Jean, will be in attendance to greet you in the old house, decorated in the fashion of the time.

The event is free, but we would be most grateful for an offering, such as a hand-made vintage-style decoration to add to our collection of decorations for the house, a small plate of homemade sweets, or a donation in our money jar at the house.

They look forward to seeing you on this special afternoon, with expectations that it will set a festive mood for the family celebrations to follow.

Come and stop by the FAIRBAIRN HOUSE HERITAGE CENTRE at 45 Wakefield Heights Road, La Pêche, Quebec just north of Ottawa.

If you wish to know more about the Farirbarin House, you ca go to www.fairbairn.ca/English/history.html

© Elizabeth Lapointe All Rights Reserved

Toys and Games in Canada

The Library and Archives Canada (LAC) sent out this notice yesterday about the history of toys in Canada, and pictures on their Flickr album -

"The joyful holiday season is the perfect time to introduce you to the Library and Archives Canada collection of photographs related to games and toys.

Although toys and games have existed since the dawn of time, it was only in the 19th century that the ‟toy” really came into its own in Canada. It was also during the Victorian era that toys and diversion were deemed beneficial to children, thereby kick-starting the mass production of playthings. At first, toys mainly came from England, Germany and the United States, but between 1860 and 1915, some 20 Canadian companies began to manufacture them as well. They were made of wood and generally mimicked miniature furniture, cars or horses.

The First World War slowed toy production in Europe, giving the Canadian toy industry the opportunity to flourish. New toys were produced, particularly battleships and construction sets. This is also when manufacturers started using a wider variety of materials, which resulted in copper, tin, iron, lead, and rubber toys. Plush dolls and animals, small lead soldiers, bugles and trumpets, rubber balls, hockey pucks and even humming tops could also be found.

In the 1940s, plastic was introduced in toy manufacturing; it was used to make rattles, beach toys, tractors, trucks and construction sets, as well as an array of tools. In subsequent years, large multinational companies emerged and completely diversified the toy-making industry".

Various outdoor games, such as croquet and lawn bowling have become popular. Children also enjoy games of strength, string, and chance, which are featured in our new Flickr album at www.flickr.com/photos/lac-bac/sets/72157631912501393