30 May 2012

War of 1812

There is a local event in Spencerville, ON 1 -3 June. There will be a re-enactment of an election, a Regency Ball and so much more

Also Parks Canada has a very interesting web site   www.pc.gc.ca
Click on 'a time to discover' then WAR of 1812, then 'interactive map and timeline'
Explore the timeline by clicking on a coloured dot. The date of the event will appear as well as a short description. The timeline begins with date 22 June 1777, the start of the American Revolution and lists many events as well as some associated with the War of 1812. I did not check how far it went forward in time. I did check for any mention of the Rideau Canal and there was none although it did mention that the Duke of Richmond was appointed the Governor General of British North America on 17 Dec 1817. He developed a comprehensive plan to defend the Colonies from a potential american attack.

29 May 2012

OGS Conference 2012

Borders and Bridges: 1812 to 2012, the 2012 OGS Conference, will be held in Kingston ON, June 1-3, 2012 at St. Lawrence College, 100 Portsmouth Avenue, Kingston, Ontario. See more details at http://www.ogs.on.ca/conference2012/

The War of 1812 was a border dispute between England and the United States. Issues such as borders; land settlement and pension records (on both sides of the border) of participants in the war of 1812 and other wars; immigration and migration; and genealogical resources in areas bordering eastern Ontario as well as in Ontario will be among the topics covered by speakers at the Conference.

YOU CAN STILL REGISTER IN PERSON IN KINGSTON BEGINNING MAY 31, 2012.

Timeline May 29 to 31

May 29
1660  England's King Charles II was restored to the monarchy after an interregnum of 11 years.
1765  Patrick Henry denounced the Stamp Act before Virginia's House of Burgesses.
1903  Bob Hope, entertainer, was born Leslie Townes Hope in Eltham, England.
1942  Bing Crosby recorded Irving Berlin's White Christmas in Los Angeles for Decca Records.
1953  Mount Everest was conquered as Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and sherpa Tenzing Norgay of Nepal became the first climbers to reach the summit.
1999  Space shuttle Discovery completed the first docking with the International Space Station

May 30
1431  Joan of Arc, Condemned as a heretic, was burned at the stake in Rouen, France
1539  Spanish explorer Hernando De Soto landed in Florida.
1909  Benny Goodman, American jazz clarinetist and orchestra leader was born.

May 31
1809  Franz Joseph Haydn, composer, died in Vienna, Austria.
1847  William James Pirrie, Irish shipbuilder who controlled Harland and Wolff, builders of the Titanic, was born.
1930  Clint Eastwood, actor-director, was born.
1990  The sitcom "Seinfeld" premiered on NBC.
2009  Millvina Dean, the last survivor of the 1912 sinking of the Titanic, died in England at age 97.

28 May 2012

On To Ottawa Trek

I copied this from today's Anglo-Celtic Connections of John Reid:

A reminder about Monday's Canadian archivists' 'On to Ottawa Trek'. For details see http://archiviststrek2012.tumblr.com/details.

Genealogists must support this initiative, even though it only focuses on part of the problem at LAC, eliminating funding for the National Archival Development Program. As the saying goes, we must hang together or we'll hang separately.

It would be a mistake to see this as a zero sum game within the LAC funding envelope. Inter-library Loan, dispersal of a national collection, reduction in consultation service provided by qualified librarians and archivists at LAC, and pretense of more digitization when half the staff so occupied are being let go, are just as important funding priorities.

27 May 2012

Timeline May 27 & 28

May 27
1647  Alse Young became the first person executed as a witch in America when she was hanged in Hartford, Connecticut.
1819  Julia Ward Howe, American author & reformer, who wrote Battle Hymn of the Republic, was born.
1837  Wild Bill Hickok American frontiersman, army scout and marksman was born.
1907  Rachel Carson American biologist and writer was born.  Her books inspired the Environmental movement.
1941  The British Navy sank the German battleship Bismarck off France.

May 28
1908  Ian Fleming, English novelist, who created James Bond, was born.
1934  The Dionne quintuplets were born to Elzire Dionne near the village of Corbeil, Ontario, Canada.

24 May 2012

May Ottawa Branch Meeting


Date          Saturday,  26 May 2012; 1:00 – 4:00 PM
Location    City of Ottawa Archives, 100 Tallwood Drive, Room 226
Speaker     Dorothy Meyerhof
Topic         Lineage Societies

Contact     chair@ogsottawa.on.ca

The meeting will be in room 226 on the second floor.

This meeting may be simulcast for members who can’t join us in person.
We will be using Live Meeting 2007 which is compatible with Windows PCs.
Use this link (ttp://ogsottawa.on.ca/live-meeting-information/) for information on how to connect.

Timeline May 24 to 26

May 24
1626  Peter Minuit buys Manhattan.
1686  Daniel Fahrenhiet German physicist and developer of the temperature scale was born.
1738  John Wesley is converted, essentially launching the Methodist movement.
1819  Queen Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 1837-1901 and Empress of India 1876-1901,  was born in London.
1844  Samuel B Morse transmitted the message, "What hath God wrought!" from Washington to Baltimore as he opened America's first telegraph line.
1883  The Brooklyn Bridge was opened to traffic.
1962  Astronaut Scott Carpenter became the second American to orbit the earth aboard Aurora 7.

May 25
1787  The US Constitutional Convention was convened in Philadelphia.
1961  US President John F Kennedy asked the nation to work toward putting a man on the moon by the end of the decade.

May 26
1521  Martin Luther was declared an outlaw and his writings were banned by the Edict of Worms.
1896  The Dow Jones Industrial Average was first published.
1907  John Wayne actor was born Marion Morrison in Winterset, Iowa.
1940  The evacuation of Allied troops from Dunkirk, France, began during WW II.

22 May 2012

Potential children's program at the Rideau Canal Festival


Ottawa Branch OGS has been asked if we could provide a children’s heritage program at the Rideau Canal Festival, on the August long weekend leading up to Colonel By Day (August 4th and 5th).  The audience would be primarily families with children visiting on a drop-in basis.  We would be expected to provide the content of the program and any supplies needed.

Major themes of both the Rideau Canal Festival and Colonel By Day include celebrating the achievements of Lt. Colonel John By and the hundreds of workers who built the Rideau Canal, as well as highlighting the heritage of the five canal “builder groups”: English, Irish, Scottish, French Canadian, and Native Canadian.  A programming tie-in to either of these themes would be ideal.

This is an excellent opportunity to do some outreach with children and youth in the city, and to gain exposure for our organization.  Because the site is in a high-traffic area for tourists and locals, and the dates are a holiday long weekend, any programming has a high probability of attracting interest from passers-by.

Unfortunately, I have yet to find anybody who has any ideas of what to do or who might be interested in helping develop a proposal. My work experience is not with children (although some childish adults, at times), so I have few ideas.

Anyone with any suggestions can reach me at pastchair@ogsottawa.on.ca

Timeline May 22 & 23

May 22
337   Constantine the Great, Roman Emperor died. (b. 272)
1622  Louis de Buade Frontenac, French courtier and governor of New France 1672-82 & 1689-98 was born.
1813  Richard Wagner German composer was born in Leipzig, Germany.
1859  Sir Arthur Conan Doyle author of Sherlock Holmes was born in Edinburgh, Scotland.
1906  The Wright brothers were granted U.S. patent number 821,393 for their "Flying-Machine".

May 23
1430  Joan of Arc was captured by the Burgundians who sold her to the English.
1568  The Netherlands declared their independence from Spain.
1707  Carolus Linnaeus Swedish botanist was born. He created a system for defining genera and species.
1873  Canada's North West Mounted Police was established.

20 May 2012

Timeline May 20 & 21

May 20
1497  John Cabot set sail from Bristol, England, on his ship  Matthew looking for a route to the west.
1506  Christopher Columbus died in poverty in Spain.
1927  Charles Lindbergh took off for Paris from Roosevelt Field, Long Island, NY, aboard the Spirit of St. Louis on the first nonstop solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean.
1932  Amelia Earhart took off from Newfoundland for Ireland to become the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.
1939  Regular trans-Atlantic air service began as a Pan American Airways plane took off from Port  Washington, NY bound for Europe.

May 21
1840  New Zealand was declared a British Colony.
1878  Glenn Curtiss American aviation pioneer was born.
1881  Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross.
1917  The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is established through Royal Charter to mark, record and maintain the graves and places of commemoration of Commonwealth of Nations military forces.
1927  Charles A Lindbergh landed his Spirit of St. Louis near Paris, France.

17 May 2012

Saving Library and Archives Canada


As noted in the latest issue of The Ottawa Genealogist, the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) has launched a campaign asking Canadians to join in ensuring our history and heritage is preserved by Library and Archives Canada (LAC)—the only national institution with the mandate and capability to fill this role.

The response to the CAUT campaign has been mixed with many associations reticent to lend their open support in fear of damaging their relationship with LAC.  Other associations have announced their support, however, including the Ex Libris Association, the Canadian Historical Association, the Canadian Association of Law Libraries, the Jewish Public Library Archives and others.  Supportive articles have also been published in a number of major newspapers, including Victoria’s The Times colonist which noted Prime Minister Harper’s interest in the War of 1812.  The federal government is spending $28 million to help Canadians to remember the War of 1812, an event "of great national significance" that "laid the foundation for Confederation," but the very records that that document this history are at serious risk because the government is attacking the foundations of Canada's history and heritage by allowing significant changes to the mandate of LAC. 

The Minister of Canadian Heritage continues to insist that LAC will be able to fulfill its mandate thanks to its significant digitization activities.  It is estimated, however, that only 1-4% of paper documents have thus far been digitized and we are told that 50% of the digitization staff of LAC have been surplused in the present round of government cuts.  Given the known massive cost of digitization activities, estimated to be in the billions of dollars, it is not credible that existing resources will permit adequate electronic access to materials. 

LAC’s recently tabled Report on Plans and Priorities states that one “of the pillars of the mandate of Library and Archives Canada (LAC) is to ensure that Canada’s continuing memory reflects Canadian society and is of interest to current and future generations.”  Unfortunately, it is impossible to predict what will be of interest to future generations and future Canadians may be denied their historical heritage because material is not collected today.  An excellent example of this possibility is the recent discovery of an obscure document in LAC’s collections that could hold the key to citizenship for persons known as “lost Canadians” because they were born out of wedlock outside of Canada before 1947. 

Latest updates to the CAUT campaign can be found on the website at:  www.savelibraryarchives.ca/update-2012-05.aspx

Posted for Ralph Manning, Membership, the Ottawa Branch Board

More on Library and Archives Canada

More information can be found on:

Anglo-Celtic Connections
http://anglo-celtic-connections.blogspot.ca/

War of 1812

Local event is presented by Goulbourn Historical Society. At the Stittsville Legion on Main St at 1:30PM, Sat 19 May. Speaker is Ron Dale, a local boy, who is presently with Parks Canada, Niagara. Subject of the talk is researching War of 1812 records.

Also at Fort Wellington, Prescott they are celebrating 1812 Garrison weekend 19 - 21 May and unveiling a new visitors centre and period encampments. Future events in Brockville area are from their 2012 Visitors Guide

16 May 2012

Save Library and Archives Canada

We urge each and every one of you to make your voice heard in opposing the budget cuts to the Library and Archives Canada recently announced in the Federal Budget. Please go to the following website, there's a letter addressed to the Ministers concerned, which all you have to do is add your name and email, click on forward and confirm in the email to send the letter to the Ministers. http://www.savelibraryarchives.ca/send-letter.aspx.
Also write to your local Member of Parliament.
One issue is the probable deferral of the 1921 Census release which we as Canadian genealogists are awaiting for its much anticipated release after all the hype that the release of the US 1940 census has recently received. 
Please add your voice to Save our Library and Archives Canada!!!

Timeline May 16 to 19

May 16
1905  Henry Fonda, American stage and film actor, was born in Grand Island, Neb. Died Aug. 12, 1982.
1920  Joan of Arc was canonized by Pope Benedict XV.
1991  Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom addressed a joint session of the United States Congress. She is the first British monarch to address the U.S. Congress.

May 17
1749  Edward Jenner, English surgeon; helped develop smallpox vaccination, was born. Died Jan. 26, 1823.
1792  The New York Stock Exchange was founded by brokers meeting under a tree on what is now Wall Street.
1992  Orchestra leader Lawrence Welk died at age 89.

May 18
1152  Henry II of England marries Eleanor of Aquitaine.
1642  The City of Montreal was founded
1498  Vasco da Gama reaches the port of Calicut, India.
1756  The Seven Years' War begins when Great Britain declares war on France.
1783  First United Empire Loyalists reach Parrtown (later called Saint John), New Brunswick, Canada after leaving the United States.
1980  Mount St. Helens volcano in Washington state exploded, leaving 57 people dead or missing.

May 19
1535  French explorer Jacques Cartier sets sail on his second voyage to North America with three ships, 110 men, and Chief Donnacona's two sons.
1588  The Spanish Armada set sail for England.
1649 – An Act of Parliament declaring England a Commonwealth is passed by the Long Parliament. England would be a republic for the next eleven years.

15 May 2012

Could you be the Board Member we are looking for?

Ottawa Branch is run by a small group of volunteers. We meet once a month, except July and August in Ottawa or on-line. In addition Board members are expected to attend general meetings, particularly the Annual General Meeting in June. The Board are expected to take an active ‘hands on’ role within the organization. Board members are unpaid but expenses are paid where appropriate.The Board is seeking new members to serve from June 2012 to June 2013. The various positions are described at http://ogsottawa.on.ca/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/OB-Job-Descriptions-2010web.pdf.

You must be a member of the Ontario Genealogical Society to serve on the Board but there are other volunteers opportunities for non members.

Anyone interested can contact me at chair@ogsottawa.on.ca

13 May 2012

Timeline May 13 to 15

May 13
1787  Captain Arthur Phillip leaves Portsmouth, England, with eleven ships full of convicts (the "First Fleet") to establish a penal colony in Australia.
1880  In Menlo Park, New Jersey, Thomas Edison performs the first test of his electric railway.
1917  Three children report the first apparition of Our Lady of Fátima in Fátima, Portugal.
1940  Winston Churchill told the British House of Commons in his first speech as prime minister, "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat."
1940  Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands flees her country to Great Britain after the Nazi invasion. Princess Juliana takes her children to Canada for their safety.

May 14
1607  An English colony was settled at Jamestown in present-day Virginia.
1796  English physician Edward Jenner administered the first vaccination against smallpox.
1804  The Lewis and Clark expedition left St. Louis to explore the Louisiana Territory.
1948  The independent state of Israel was proclaimed as British rule in Palestine came to an end.

May 15
1859  Pierre Curie, French physicist, was born. He won the Nobel Prize for physics in 1903.
1919  The Winnipeg General Strike began. By 11:00 am, almost the whole working population of Winnipeg, Manitoba had walked off the job.
1940  McDonald's opens its first restaurant in San Bernardino, California.

10 May 2012

Library and Archives Canada - War of 1812 Records

Library and Archives Canada (www.bac-lac.gc.ca)

New Digitized Reels: War of 1812 Records

We are pleased to announce that you can now access 73,000 new images of War of 1812 records on the LAC website.

Discover these valuable resources and other miscellaneous records for the War of 1812 with the Microform Digitization research tool
(www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/microform-digitization/index-e.html). This tool allows you to browse these records page by page.

Library and Archives Canada (LAC) holds a unique and vast collection of records about the Canadian men and women who were involved in the War of 1812. Muster rolls, paylists, claims, certificates of service, medal registers, maps, paintings, and published sources are featured in LAC holdings that document this key event.

With these images now online, you have easy access to records for:

    Board of Claims for War of 1812 losses, 1813–1848, Series RG19 E5A
    Lower Canada militia nominal rolls and paylists, Series RG9 1A7
    Upper Canada militia returns, nominal rolls, and paylists, Series RG9 1B7

For more information on recent announcements at LAC, visit “News” (www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/news/Pages/default.aspx).

Timeline May 10 to 12

May 10
1503  Christopher Columbus visits the Cayman Islands and names them Las Tortugas after the numerous turtles there.
1534  Jacques Cartier visits Newfoundland.
1773  The Parliament of Great Britain passes the Tea Act, designed to save the British East India Company by granting it a monopoly on the North American tea trade.
1775  Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys captured the British-held fortress at Ticonderoga, New York.
1775  American Revolutionary War: Representatives from the Thirteen Colonies begin the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia.
1838  John Wilks Booth, American actor who assassinated US Pres. Abraham Lincoln, was born.
1850  Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac, French chemist and physicist died. (b. 1778)
1850  Sir Thomas Lipton, Scottish born English merchant who built the Lipton tea empire, was born.
2005  Germany dedicated a national Holocaust memorial in Berlin.

May 11
1310  In France, fifty-four members of the Knights Templar were burned at the stake as heretics.
1502  Christopher Columbus leaves for his fourth and final voyage to the West Indies.
1647  Peter Stuyvesant arrived in New Amsterdam to become governor.
1820  Launch of HMS Beagle, the ship that took Charles Darwin on his scientific voyage.
1947  The B.F. Goodrich Co. of Akron, Ohio, announced the development of a tubeless tire.

May 12
1588  French Wars of Religion: Henry III of France flees Paris after Henry of Guise enters the city and a spontaneous uprising occurs.
1820  Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, was born in Florence, Italy.
1870  The Manitoba Act is given the Royal Assent, paving the way for Manitoba to become a province of Canada on July 15.
1937  Britain's King George VI was crowned at Westminster Abbey.

08 May 2012

Timeline May 8 & 9

May 8
1541  Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto reached the Mississippi River.
1794  Antoine Lavoisier, the father of modern chemistry, was executed on the guillotine during France's Reign of Terror.
1886  Pharmacist John Styth Pemberton first sells a carbonated beverage named "Coca-Cola" as a patent medicine.
1945  World War II: V-E Day, combat ends in Europe. German forces agree in Rheims, France, to an unconditional surrender.

May 9
1657  William Bradford, Governor of Plymouth Colony died. (b. 1590)
1874  Howard Carter, the British archaeologist who discovered the Egyptian tomb of King Tutankhamen, was born.
1909  Don Messer, Canadian country musician, was born.
1994  South Africa's newly-elected parliament chose Nelson Mandela to be the country's first black president.