Sunday, June 1, 2014

Canadian Week in Review

Check the Canadian Week in Review tomorrow morning for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada.

It has the latest news covered in New/Updated Websites, History, Social Media, and Newspaper Articles. 

It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in country! 

It has been a regular post every Monday morning since April 23, 2012.

GANS office open this afternoon

Pamela Wile has just sent this notice.

If you are in Halifax today, why don’t you stop into the office at GANS for a chat, or to do some research in their library?

"Cemetery season has arrived, but you might want to do a little research before you head out to find those headstones. Drop in to see us this afternoon.

Sunday, June 1
GANS Office Open
1:00 pm to 5:00 pm - 3258 Isleville Street, Halifax, NS

The Office is open to everyone. Stop by to chat, do some internet research, check out our library or buy a publication or membership. Bring a friend!"



Twitter: @NSAncestors

Saturday, May 31, 2014

Doors Open Ottawa 2014


The Canadian Conservation Institute has sent me this notice to post. They will be taking part in the Door Open Ottawa 2014 to be held over the summer months in Ottawa.

"We invite you to join us at the Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI) during Doors Open Ottawa on Saturday, June 7 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. to explore the fascinating world of conservation and conservation science. Tour CCI laboratories and speak with our conservators and conservation scientists about the work we do to preserve Canada’s heritage.

Visit us to view the following artifacts: the Salzinnes Antiphonal, a rare cultural and ecclesiastical 16th- century liturgical manuscript written in iron gall ink on parchment; a gut skin parka made of strips of walrus intestines that dates back to the Classic Thule Period, approximately 500 years ago; and a Niagara Falls panoramic photo described as the largest one-piece, one-exposure photo enlargement in the world. Also, learn about the pests of cultural property and how to control them in collections, find out which materials can damage historic objects simply by being near them, see a demonstration of photographic and radiographic techniques used in the examination of paintings and museum objects, and much more.

If you are unable to join us on June 7, we will also be open to the public on Thursday, July 3 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. as part of our involvement in Canada History Week". 

The CCI is located at 1030 Innes Road (southeast corner of Innes and St. Laurent), Ottawa. 

Their website is at http://www.cci-icc.gc.ca/in

Friday, May 30, 2014

Ottawa Branch of the OGS meeting will be held tomorrow

Tomorrow Saturday May 31st, at 1 o’clock at the Ottawa City Archives on Tallwood Drive (Room 115), the Ottawa Branch of the OGS meeting will be held.

Are You a "Trust Me" Genealogist? - Citation of Sources: The Why and How will be presented by Heather Oakley who will explore the reasons why genealogists need to provide a citation of their sources of information. Additionally, she will show many examples of how all types of sources should be cited in their family history research.

This meeting will be simulcast for members who can't join us in person. 


Their website is http://ogsottawa.on.ca 

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Empress of Ireland

  

I have just been to the website of the museum devoted to the sinking of the Empress of Ireland at http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/home.html.

It was today that the Empress of Ireland sank after being in a collision with the SS Storstad in dense fog off of Rimouski, Quebec. More than 1,000 people lost their lives.

You can read about the sinking of the ship, read the personal stories of the people who were on the ship, and you can plan your visit to the museum at Pointe-au-Père (near Rimouski), Quebec.

You can even plan a boat tour of the place that the ship went down, and you can witness the images of the ship via underwater sonar!

The museum is open until October 5th from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. every day.

You can also revisit my post The Empress of Ireland - May 29, 1914 at
http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-empress-of-ireland-may-29-1914.html

LAC releases its latest podcast - Underwater Canada: Investigation Shipwrecks.

Library and Archives Canada (LAC) has released its latest podcast episode - Underwater Canada: Investigation Shipwrecks. 

In part, the press release says that - 

"In honour of the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Empress of Ireland, Marc-André Bernier, Chief of Parks Canada’s Underwater Archaeology Service, joins us to discuss shipwrecks, their importance in Canadian history, and how LAC plays an important role in researching, discovering and investigating them". 


There is also a transcription of the podcast on the website.

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Underwater Canada: A Researcher’s Brief Guide to Shipwrecks

If you are researching a shipwreck in your genealogy, the Library and Archives Canada (LAC) has released pointers on how to use their records to do the research - 

Shipwrecks, both as historical events and artifacts, have sparked the imagination and an interest in the maritime heritage of Canada. The discovery of the War of 1812 wrecks Hamilton and Scourge, found in Lake Ontario in the 1970s, and the discovery of the Titanic in the 1980s, served to heighten public awareness of underwater archaeology and history. 

Whether you are a wreck hunter on the trail of a lost vessel, or a new shipwreck enthusiast eager to explore images and documents that preserve the epic tales of Canadian waters, Library and Archives Canada (LAC) has something for you.

Starting your research 

First, gather as much information as possible about the shipwreck(s) you are researching. Specifically, you will ideally want to obtain the following information (in order of importance):

· Name of Vessel

· Location of accident

· Date of accident

· Ship’s port of registry

· Ship’s official number

· Year of vessel’s construction 

The Ship Registration Index at http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/ship-registration/index-e.html?PHPSESSID=7g9h5km4d9l7l0krorlhh9n9s5 is a helpful resource. The database includes basic information about more than 78,000 ships registered in ports of Canada between 1787 and 1966. 

Can’t locate all of the information listed? There’s no cause for concern! Not all of the information is necessary, but it is essential that you know the name of the vessel. All Government records relating to shipwrecks are organized according to the ship’s name.

What is Available?

Using Archives Search at http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/lac-bac/search/arch , you can locate the following types of material:

Photographs

· Consult the How to Find Photographs Online article for more help.

Maps

· In Archives Search, under “Type of material”, select “Maps and cartographic material” to narrow your results.
Government Records 

All records listed are found in the documents of the Marine Branch (Record Group 42) and/or Transport Canada (Record Group 24). Official Wreck Registers, 1870‒1975

· Wreck Reports, 1907‒1974

· Register of Investigations into Wrecks, 1911‒1960

· Marine Casualty Investigation Records, 1887‒1980

Important: Government records contain information about shipwrecks that occurred in Canadian waters, and include all accidents involving foreign vessels in Canadian waters.

Please note: this is not an exhaustive list of resources, but rather a compilation of some of the major sources of documentation available on shipwrecks held at LAC.

Helpful Hints 

You can find a number of digitized photographs, maps and documents on the Shipwreck Investigations virtual exhibition at http://www.lac-bac.gc.ca/sos/shipwrecks/index-e.html. More specifically, check out the collection of digitized Official Wreck Registers in the Shipwreck Investigations Database. Simply check if the name of the vessel you are researching is listed.

Another excellent source of information on shipwrecks is local public libraries. There are many maritime histories and bibliographies that offer reference points to begin your shipwreck research.