52 Ancestors: Week 25 - Indigenous Research at Library and Archives Canada

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This week's 52 Ancestors prompt is "Earliest". The earliest people in Canada were the native tribes, so I thought I'd look at Indigenous Research at Library and Archives Canada.

The best place to look at what they have both offline and online is their page Indigenous heritage. On it are links to their databases, virtual exhibits, and research guides. It's a great information page to help you get started. They've also provided links to their pages on the First Nations, the Metis Nation, and the Inuit.

I've taken a look at their online databases, and given a brief outline of each one.

Indian Affairs Annual Reports, 1864-1990
The Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development was created in 1966. Before then, various departments were responible for Indigenous Peoples and/or Canada's North. This database contains images of the the annual reports submitted to the government by the Department and it's earlier counterparts. If your ancestor was an Indian Agent, you might find mention of them. If your ancestor was part of the indigenous tribes, you probably won't find mention of them. However, you can still get some background on their life through the eyes of the government. This database can be searched by keyword or by year. Images can be downloaded to your computer.



Indian Reserves - Western Canada
This database contains maps and plans of the Indian Reserves in Western Canada. You can search by:

• Reserve Name
• Reserve Number
• Province
• Date
• Reprography Number
• Keyword

The results screen gives you the year of each result, and whether there is an online image. Click on a result, then "PDF" to obtain your image. You can then download the image as a PDF file.



Project Naming
This database is a collection of over 4,000 photographs of the Inuit people in Canada's far north. It is an ongoing collaboration to name the individuals photographed. You can search the collection by

• Community
• Photographer
• Year
• Keyword
• Reproduction Number

You can also further your search by whether or not the people in the photographs have been named. If there's an image you would like to keep, then right click your mouse. Click on Save image as... to save to your computer.

Royal Commission on Aboriginal People (RCAP)

This database contains the documentation looked at by the RCAP. In 1996 the Commission released an indepth report on the relationship between Canada and the indigenous people. Thedocuments include project submissions, research reports, transcripts, and publications. You can search by 

• Keyword
• Title
• Language
• Document Type

These documents can be downloaded to your computer as PDFs.

Treaties, Surrenders, and Agreements

This database contains the documents relating to the Treaties, Land Surrenders, and Agreements that are in LAC custody. This is not a complete collection of all documents, as some are in the custody of other government departments. You can search by

• Keyword
• GAD Reference Number
• Volume 
• Microfilm Reel Number

Click on your result, and you have the option of looking at the images by JPEG, PDF, or both. Here's an image of an 1846 map titled Indian Chart of Red river

There is also a digitized microfilm collection that could provide you documentation of your Indigenous ancestor in the Residential School system. The collection, called School Files Series - 1879-1953, contains digitized microfilms that deal with the administrative side of the residential school system. If you scroll to the bottom of the page in the link above, there is a chart.

Beside the microfilm number is the name of the agencies and schools on that particular reel. Pick the reel you'd like to look at, and then scroll page by page. These are not searchable. The nice thing is though, is that once you find an image you'd like to keep, you can download that particular image. Just click on View PDF just above the image to save to your computer. You can also right click and save as a JPEG. Here's a quarterly return for the Cecilia Jeffrey Residential School in Kenora:

Don't forget to also look at the census returns on the LAC website. Reserve lands were often included in the enumeration.

52 Ancestors: Week 24 - Diaries Found at Provincial Archives

This week's 52 Ancestors prompt is "Diaries". Most of us are not lucky enough to have an ancestor's diary. But looking at other people's diaries can still give you insight into your ancestor's life. This week I thought I would highlight some of the digitized diaries available online at each Provincial/Territorial Archive.

Newfoundland and Labrador
A search of diaries in The Rooms Archives brought up 33 results. They do not appear to be digitized. A sampling the diaries available:

• Walter Edward Davidson was governor from 1913-1917. His fonds include a personal diary
• Frank William Graham (1922-1991) was an author. There are personal diaries and agendas, as well as records dealing with his book sales.
• There are office diaries for the Game and Inland Fisheries Board. these diaries cover 1930-1934
• Eric Ellis (1904-1977) served with the Royal Newfoundland Regiment from 1916 to 1919. His personal diaries detail his travels in Europe with the regiment

Prince Edward Island

A search for diaries on Memory PEI (the Archives' search engine) reveals 70 results. These are not online. Among the collection are diaries by:

• Various personal diaries of the Macdonald family in Georgetown spanning intermittently between 1886 and 1946.
• Dr. George Dewar, a teacher and doctor who lived in various parts of PEI
• Katherine Elizabeth Dewar, an instructor at the PEI schools of nursing for 22 years
• Transcriptions from the diary of 3 sisters: Margaret, Annie, and Charlotte Anderson. The year range is 1877-1881.

Nova Scotia
I got 64 results when I searched for diaries on MemoryNS, the search protal for the Nova Scotia Archives. Very few have digitized images. Among their collection these diaries:

• Member diaries of the Nova Scotia Teacher's Union
• Ronald St. John Macdonald was a lawyer, jurist and professor. His diaries relate to his career. What if he and your ancestor crossed paths and your ancestor was mentioned?
• William Norman Rudolf (1835-1886) was a businessman who lived and worked in both Britain and Nova Scotia. His diaries detail events in the communities in which he lived.
• John Seccombe (1708-1792) was a congregationalist minister in Chester and Halifax

New Brunswick
ArchivesCANB is the search portal for Archival records in New Bruswick. Using this I was able to generate 19 results at the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick. Included in their collection of diaries:

• Reverend George Muller Young  (1867-1963) was an ordained Methodist minister, who preached across the Maritimes
• Ann Eliza Moore (nee Rogers) kept diaries that show details of family and friends. She also noted the births, deaths and marriages of her community. These diaries cover 1852-1876, and 1890-1896.
• Sisters Alvaretta and Hannah Estabrooks also detail the activities of their friends and family. These diaries cover 1889-1893, and 1905-1906
• Sterling Alexander Limerick (1890-1964) kept diaries detailing his life, work and social activities.

Quebec
Quebec's Provincial Archive, BAnQ, has a few diaries, according to their search engine. Some have digital images. I found diaries of:

• Judge Ulrich-Joseph Tessier (1817-1892) gives insight into life in 19th century Quebec
• Diaries relating to the James Maclaren Company
• Louisa Mary Catherine Foran-Gadbois (1877-1945). She was a Catholic nun who left her order to marry Louis Gadbois. her diaries cover the early years of their marriage
• Mihael Phillip Fulfors Foran (1907-1994) was a corporate lawyer for many companies in Quebec

Ontario

A search of diaries at the Archives of Ontario gave 152 results. There is nothing digitized that I could see. Included among the results are these diaries:

• Diaries from government land surveyors from the early 1800's
• Dr. Oswald Charles Joseph Withrow personal and professional diaries. He was an early 20th century physician, who served jail time in Kingston penitentiary for performing abortions
• Myrtle Crysler (nee Nivens) was a farmer's wife in the Niagara Region of Ontario
• Diaries of several members of the McKeough family, a family with strong ties to the Chatham area

Manitoba

A search for diaries on the Archives of Manitoba's website yielded 260 hits. Some have digital images. Among their collection of diaries:

• Percival Patmore was a purser and supercargo on several ships in the early 1900's. Some of his diaries were the basis for the official reports of the voyages
• Colin Robertson worked for both the Northwest Company and the Hudson's Bay Company. His diaries talk about the Red River Settlement
• Derek Robert Campbell Bedson was a clerk and Secretary in the Manitoba government. His diaries give insight into mid 20th century politics
• Beatrice Bidgen was a social activist. They would be a great read if your ancestor was involved with social and political causes

Saskatchewan

Unfortunately, the search engine that the Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan uses, Threshold, is being upgraded. However, when I looked at their Master Index to Finding Aids I saw family fond collections. I'm sure more than one of these fond collections will have diaries.

Alberta

The Provincial Archives of Alberta use the HeRMIS system for searches. A search of diaries gave 900 results. None that i could see were digitized. Among their collection I found diaries for:

• Clarence Stout, a journalist in many communities in Alberta in the early 20th century
• Lewis Redmond Ord, a participant in the Northwest Rebellion
• Beth Sheehan collected various diaries in her research about the first homesteaders. Her fonds hold several of them
• Archibald William Ponton was a land surveyor. The Archives hold 26 of his diaries

British Columbia
A search of the Royal BC Museum and Archives resulted in 682 hits. The majority of these have no digital images. But here's a sampling of what kind of diaries are available:

• Stanley Howard Frame (1878-1973) was a surveyor and engineer in Alberta and British Columbia. His diaries contain details about both his professional and personal life
• The Department of Transport has supplied a collection of marine diaries. You can find entries for engine rooms, engineers, and lighthouse keepers
• Phyllis Beatrice Munday (nee James) and her husband were avid mountain climbers. These are her personal diaries.
• There are 2 volumes of the Consolidated Cariboo Hydraulic Mining Company diaries for 1901 and 1902 

Yukon

A search of the Yukon Archives netted 34 results. Nothing is digitized that I could see. Among their collection of diaries:

• Allan Innes-Taylor led an eventful life He was part of the Byrd Anarctic Expeditions, an RCMP constable in the Yukon, a miner, rancher, and captain.
• There is a collection of 43 diaries for Clara Tizya. She divided her time between Vancouver and Canada's far north
• Jesuit missionary diaries
• Margaret Waddington ran Maggie's Museum in Whitehorse. The Yukon Archives holds a part of the over 1000 artifacts she collected.

Northwest Territories

The NWT Archives is a fairly new Archive, and do not hols a lot of non government records. However I did find diaries among their holdings belonging to:

• Edward Lloyd,who traveled extensively around Canada
• Irene Spry, who traveled and photographed the Yukon and Northwest Territories while studying electrical development
• George Magrum was a trapper in the NWT in the early to mid 20th century

Nunavut

I could not find anything on their website. However the Nunavut Archives is the youngest in our country. I'm sure with time they will expand their online presence.

52 Ancestors: Week 23 - Place Names and Social Histories in Canada

We become so focused on the history of our family members that we don't always look closely enough at the history of the region they lived. If you're guilty of this, then you may be missing out on important clues as to why your ancestor settled in a particular place. This week's 52 Ancestor's prompt is "Namesake", so I decided to look at place name and social history resources.

Why look at social histories? These histories give you background on the first settlers of a region. You may even be lucky enough to have your ancestor named. So how does this fit into this week's theme, "Namesake"? Because sometimes looking at the name of a city or town can give you additional insight into those settlers. In some instances, a town may have gone through several name changes. The farther back in your Canadian research you go, knowing possible name and boundary changes becomes more important. For example, the City of Kawartha Lakes in Ontario used to be called Victoria County. Within the City of Kawartha Lakes is a community called Lindsay. It was so named because a surveyor's assistant by the surname of Lindsay died there in 1834 and the new town became named after him. But before that, it was a village called Purdy's Mills. An American family by the last name of Purdy settled there and built a dam, a sawmill, and a grist mill, which the village grew around. Another example is Kitchener, Ontario. Before 1916, it was called Berlin. As you might have guessed, some of the original settlers were of German descent.

Below are some of the ways to look for place and social histories:

Family Search
Family Search has a searchable digital library on their website. Type in your place name of interest to see what they have. Use the menu on the left to find the ones that are public access and can be read online.


Peel's Prairie Provinces
Go to their section on books. You can either search by place name, or you can browse their collection. Both can be done by author, title, or subject.


Global Genealogy
If you want to own a copy of a place history, check out Global Genealogy. This Canadian site has hundreds of books relating not only place/ social histories, but family genealogies and methodology as well. Options for purchase can include hard copy, CD, or PDF download.


Wikipedia
Now good old Wikipedia can steer you wrong sometimes. But it can still be a good resource. What you want to focus on is the source citations at the end of their articles. These can lead you to other sources. Try typing in a place name and see what turns up. You can check out their page List of Canada city name etymologies to get you started.


Canadiana
Among all the thousands of treasures on Canadiana are place and social histories. Type your place in the search engine, then use the menu on the left to narrow down to monographs. When I typed in "Tracadie", I initially got over 3000 hits.  By narrowing down to monographs, I was able to find several books on the Tracadie area of New Brunswick.


Ancestry
Instead of searching records, go instead to the card catalogue. Use the menu on the left to narrow your research to find the place histories. There are over 1,500 publications dealing with social and place histories in Canada.


HathiTrust Digital library
If you haven't heard of HathiTrust, you need to look at their website. It is a partnership of research and academic institutions from around the world. Their aim is to digitize books from these libraries and make them available to all.


Internet Archive
This list wouldn't be complete without Internet Archive. More and more Canadian Libraries have been uploading their collections to the website. Click here to access the list of Canadian Libraries and what they have online through Internet Archive.


Find My Past
After their initial misstep in lumping Canadian and US records together, Find My Past has been quietly building a Canadian collection of records. Search the A-Z section of the record sets, then narrow to Canada, then by province. There are not a lot in their collection but they do have some interesting titles


And don't forget to check provincial and local archives. Some of the archive websites, such as the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, have place histories.

52 Ancestors: Week 22: Cemetery Records on Canadiana

This week's 52 Ancestors prompt is "At the Cemetery". I'm going to look at some of the more unusual records you can find on the Canadiana website relating to cemeteries. Through my research I haven't found a lot on there that pertains to indexes and transcriptions. However, I did find some interesting records.


Monographs

• The first Catholic cemeteries of Montreal : and a guide to the present cemetery  by Simeon Mondou (1887). Go to the image 200 to see the cemeteries listed. If your ancestor owned a business in Montreal in 1887, then check out the last set of images showing advertisements.

• Glenwood Burying Ground (Picton, Ont.) The Trustees of Glenwood Burying Ground : rules and regulations. (1911)

• Saint John Rural Cemetery Company. Fernhill Saint John Rural Cemetery Company : acts of assembly and by-laws for the government thereof, together with reports of directors and treasurer and an alphabetical list of the proprietorsof lots, New Brunswick 1898.

• List of missions of the Church of England in Newfoundland and Labrador : with a tabular statement of the number of inhabitants, members of the Church of England, clergy, licensed lay readers, churches, school chapels, cemeteries and the approximate extent of each mission, to accompany a map of the diocese.  by Joseph James Curling (1877).

• A monograph of St. Paul's Cemetery  by George Mulane. Published in Halifax 1902.

• Customs and arts of the Kwakiool by George M. Dawson (circa 1888). Starting on image 348 is an outline of their burial practices.

• The "Last Post" Imperial Naval and Military Contingency Fund : roll of honour

• A sermon, delivered at Plantagenet, Upper-Canada, August, 1828, at the interment of John Chesser, Esquire

• Baptist Burial Ground (Woodstock, Ont.) Baptist Burial Ground, Woodstock, Ontario : Board of Trustees, R.H. Burtch, chairman ..

Government Publications

• Bill : an act to authorize the formation of companies for the establishment and management of cemeteries in Upper Canada. Act to authorize the formation of companies for the establishment and management of cemeteries in Upper Canada (1850)

• Bill : an act for more adequately securing the health of localities in Upper Canada against risk from infection arising from bodies of persons who die of malignant infectious diseases lying uninterred. (1860)

• Bill : an act to incorporate the Congregati[on] of the Most Holy Redeemer (1900)

To see all 1,846 monograph results on Canadiana using the search word "cemeteries" click here. Try playing with search terms. You might find some surprising things. For example, I tried "funeral" and start getting results for funeral invitations. I then tried "funeral notices". I got over 4,000 results. The top results were invitations and notices dating back to the early 1800's. Here's one for a Mr. Jacob Duseler from 1832:

Some publications I didn't include above but are worth looking into for cemetery information on Canadiana:

• Place histories
• Directories
• Church newsletters

As always with Canadiana, book yourself a good chunk of time to explore the site.