Month: January 2023

A document is now posted following the Information Commissioner’s highly critical April 2022 report on LAC’s non-compliance with deadlines set out in the Access to Information Act.

The document is an Action Plan. There’s an ATIP Task Force responsible for implementing the plan.

The plan is long on the word will as indicated in this document wordcloud. LAC acknowledges that “tangible results will still take time.”Ancesdotally I hearing of improvements in response time.

Although the document emphasizes what will be done there is just one mention of hiring having been taken.

“LAC has proactively strengthened its ATIP function and improved its capacity to respond to requests by expanding its management team and recruiting new staff across the institution to support the response to ATIP requests.”

What’s “proactive” about this recruitment? How many staff have been recruited to respond directly to ATIP requests?

We llok forward to the next and let’s hope more substantive semi-annual report when “LAC will be reporting on its progress against commitments in this Action Plan, through a combination of qualitative and quantitative measures. Quantitative measures will begin after the fiscal year 2022-23 to demonstrate progress.”

You will be pleased to learn this welcome news provided to me by LAC Media.

LAC is currently digitizing and preparing the 1931 Census for access. Our plan is to have the first online access tool available for the release date in June 2023. This preliminary tool will allow access to digitized images by sub-district. Work to transcribe and create a nominal index will begin as soon as we can provide public access and we will provide regular updates on our progress towards a fully searchable database.

This follows somewhat the same process used for releasing and indexing the 1950 US census in 2022 that enabled timely access and others to index, including using optical character recognition.

 

It’s a year since Findmypast released the 1921 census for England and Wales.

Members, not just new members, can get 21% off subscriptions between January 6-15 using the code SAVE21. That includes unlimited access to the 1921 Census for less with a discounted Premium subscription

 

England’s smallest historic country, Rutland, is 56 times larger in area than Gibraltar, the focus for FMP’s additions this week.

Gibraltar Census 1871-1921
Six decades of census returns show Gibraltar had a population about the same as Rutland, but given its strategic location, attracted much more attention.

The FMP records are transcriptions, with no images and no capability to view the complete household.  On many records, the religious denomination is given. Records for 1891, 1901 and 1911 also include notes on disability. There are over 100,000 records to explore altogether.

Gibraltar Military Deaths 1869-1914
Just 2,749 entries in this transcript collection include many children of service personnel.

Gibraltar Marriages 1802-1942
An additional4,420 records have been added to this existing collection, mostly for between 1802 and 1920. The total collection is now 13,836 You should find military marriages, civilian marriages and Protestant marriage licences, typically including the names of both spouses, their residences, the groom’s occupation, the name and occupation of each father, and the religious denomination.

Check the Gibraltar National Archives for more complete records.

 

Under the heading Library Archives Canada relaunches website, Diane Peters writes that the redesign is part of a multi-year plan to improve access to collections, spaces and services, and to make the LAC more responsive to users’ needs.

It quotes Karen Linauskas, director general of the access and services branch of the LAC, as saying “there will be more new offerings coming up, with most falling under the priority topics of military history, genealogy and Indigenous peoples.”

Genealogists would like to know about plans for making the 1931 census available following the official release to LAC in June. I’ve requested details from LAC media.

The feature articles of the January issue are:

When Britain said ‘Oui’
Alwyn Turner charts the United Kingdom’s journey to becoming a member of the European Economic Community in 1973

The golden age of pirates
Rebecca Simon reveals the factors that sparked a boom in piracy during the 17th and early 18th centuries – and how authorities tackled maritime crime/

Britain’s greatest archaeological discoveries
Susan Greaney highlights eight of the most important and exciting finds spanning 12,000 years of British history

Eating for victory
During the austere years of the Second World War, a network of communal dining rooms filled empty stomachs for less. Bryce Evans tels the story of British Restaurants.

Animal attractions
Joanne Cormac explores how the role and popularity of British zoos evolved during the 19th century

Warrior queen of Arabia
Emran El-Badawi introduces an inspiring leader who defeated the Romans and forged an independent Arab state.

Book reviews are a regular strength of the magazine.

Indigenous Continent, by Pekka Haméldinen is reviewed by Joy Porter.
The pull quote is “The author corrects the misapprehension
that Europeans were top dogs in the North American story.” it
“upends everything you thought you knew? Better yet if that book is peppered with interesting facts and written in a pacey,
intriguing style by one of the finest minds of his generation.”
Later in the review comrs the comment “Provocative inversions of existing readings are always intriguing, but a closer look reveals this is actually a more conventional bringing together of existing work than it first appears.”

Conquer We Must: A Military History of Britain 1914-1945, by Robin Prior is reviewed by Dan Todman.
“The story the book tells is of the British state developing the capacity to inflict overwhelming, physically destructive force on its enemies.”

 

 

Before the holiday, I sent a query to LAC about the statement in their 2021-2022 DRR about Co-Lab that “There were a total of 16,205 contributions from the public.”

I received the following responses more quickly than expected.

1- How many were contributions to the Challenges? 8766

2- How many contributions were there using Co-Lab but not through Challenges? 7438

3- What is the goal for Co-Lab contributions? Two central goals are to increase the accessibility and discoverability of LAC’s collection while encouraging Canadians to engage with, and feel a sense of ownership of, LAC’s documentary heritage When the tool was launched the goal was 5% increase in contributions each fiscal year, now that the program has been running for a couple of years, we will review our goals and strategies to ensure that Co-Lab is serving Canadians effectively.

4- How can one judge whether Co-Lab is value for money for the investment of LAC resources ($ and FTEs)? While there have been some technical issues and operational challenges arising from Covid-related temporary shutdowns, we are seeing a growth in contributions which is encouraging.

5- The Challenge “Travel posters in the Marc Choko collection” went from 98% complete in November to 96% this month. What accounts for this? Contributors can change the status of an image from “Complete” to “in progress”/”Needs review” etc.. therefore, altering the overall percentages from month to month.

Comment. The 8766 contributions to Co-Lab Challenges is more than I expected given the progress I’ve reported month by month.
The 7438 contributions outside the Challenges is new information. LAC is missing the opportunity to give publicity to the documents now available through the program, thus giving “a sense of ownership of LAC’s documentary heritage.”
The planned review of goals and strategies to ensure that Co-Lab is serving Canadians effectively is welcome. I would suspect that there are lessons learned from the past year’s experiences and from similar programs operated by peer institutions.

Thanks to LAC Communications for the timely responses.

This post reviews, month-by-month, significant events in 2022, the company’s 19th year of operation.

 

A reminder that on Tuesday, 3 January, Henry Louis Gates starts the new series, season 9, of his popular US PBS TV program Finding Your Roots. It will air at 8 pm on PBS channels available in Ottawa,

The show combines historical research, DNA analysis, and traditional genealogy techniques to trace the ancestry of its subjects. As befits a program on an educational channel, it aims to provide a deeper understanding of the past and help people learn more about their own personal histories, especially the challenges. 

 

 

Choose from a few selected free online events in the next five days. All times are ET except as noted. Those in red are Canadian, bolded if local to Ottawa or recommended. Assume registration in advance is required; check so you’re not disappointed. Additional mainly US events are listed at https://conferencekeeper.org/virtual.

TUESDAY 3 JANUARY

2:30 pm: Expanding Your German Research Beyond Ancestry and Family Search, by Carolyn Schott for Allen County Public Library Genealogy Centre.
https://acpl.libnet.info/event/7693490

7:30 pm: Exploring FamilySearch.org, by Michele Jeannotte for Durham Region Branch OGS.
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAufu2urTwuHtQmByKvxFkXH8ZQeN2NH8gE

 

Here are newspaper.com’s new or updated holdings for England in the past month, including ten new titles.

TITLE	AREA	PAGES	YEARS
Evening Standard	London, Greater London	2,367,331	1897-2022
The Guardian	London, Greater London	1,114,757	1821-2022
Lincolnshire Echo	Lincoln, Lincolnshire	222,230	1893-1999
The Hull Advertiser	Hull, Humberside	5,801	1995-1999
Evening Post	Bristol, Avon	450,165	1962-1999
Hull Daily Mail (NEW)	Hull, East Yorkshire	326,284	1986-1999
Horncastle Target	Horncastle, Lincolnshire	22,183	1991-1998
The Middleton Guardian	Middleton, Greater Manchester	1,896	1877-1918
The Huddersfield Examiner and West Riding Reporter	Huddersfield, West Yorkshire	15,240	1875-1952
Huddersfield Daily Examiner	Huddersfield, West Yorkshire	180,614	1871-1999
Esher News and Mail	Esher, Surrey	15,988	1974-1999
Walton and Hersham News and Mail (NEW)	Hersham, Surrey	334	1988-1999
Cobham News and Mail (NEW)	Cobham, Surrey	1,932	1986-1999
The Uttoxeter New Era, and General Advertiser	Uttoxeter, Staffordshire	12,167	1855-1910
Birmingham Metronews	Birmingham, West Midlands	17,951	1993-1999
Gateshead Post	Gateshead, Tyne and Wear	70,110	1948-1999
Macclesfield Express Advertiser and Times and Courier	Macclesfield, Cheshire	34,850	1986-1997
Northwich Chronicle (NEW)	Northwich, Cheshire	916	1997
Daily Mail	Hull, Humberside	390,684	1896-1986
Wellingborough and Rushden Herald and Post	Wellingborough, Northamptonshire	28,129	1989-1998
Star and Merseymart	Aintree, Merseyside	12,704	1995-1999
The Daily Gazette for Middlesbrough, Stockton and District	Middlesbrough, Cleveland	680	1872-1881
Dorking Advertiser	Dorking, Surrey	43,911	1986-1999
Stockport Times	Stockport, Greater Manchester	36,274	1989-1999
Sleaford Target	Sleaford, Lincolnshire	33,670	1991-1999
Northampton Herald and Post	Northampton, Northamptonshire	25,798	1994-1999
Staines and Egham News (NEW)	Staines, Surrey	7	1998
Gainsborough Target	Gainsborough, Lincolnshire	25,021	1991-1999
Surrey Mirror	Reigate, Surrey	13,885	1995-1998
Cobham News and Advertiser (NEW)	Cobham, Surrey	1,196	1969-1971
Evening Post	Nottingham, Nottinghamshire	519,584	1878-1999
Surrey Herald	Chertsey, Surrey	48,814	1986-1998
Stockport Express	Stockport, Greater Manchester	8,362	1998-1999
Herald and Post	Runcorn, Cheshire	15,633	1993-1999
Ilkeston Express	Ilkeston, Derbyshire	35,741	1989-1999
Alderley and Wilmslow and Knutsford Advertiser	Alderley Edge, Cheshire	17,686	1977-1981
The Birmingham Journal and General Advertiser	Birmingham, West Midlands	14,146	1825-1860
Manchester Metro News	Manchester, Greater Manchester	27,103	1992-1999
Isle of Thanet Gazette	Margate, Kent	21,771	1987-1999
Rugeley Mercury	Rugeley, Staffordshire	42,483	1889-1999
Cambridge Weekly News	Cambridge, Cambridgeshire	34,349	1986-1998
The Chester Chronicle	Frodsham, Cheshire	17,902	1995-1999
Wilmslow Express Advertiser (NEW)	Wilmslow, Cheshire	160	1981
Lichfield Post and Staffordshire Times	Lichfield, Staffordshire	6,269	1996-1998
The Surrey Mirror and County Post, etc.	Reigate, Surrey	29,795	1901-1960
The Daily Gazette	Exeter, Devon	3,772	1892-1895
Stockton and Billingham Herald and Post	Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire	8,740	1996-1999
East Grinstead Observer	East Grinstead, West Sussex	42,218	1892-1999
Horley and Gatwick Mirror	Horley, Surrey	13,696	1997-1999
The Sutton Coldfield News	Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands	42,993	1900-1998
Hinckley and South Leicestershire Herald and Journal	Hinckley, Leicestershire	3,282	1998-1999
Cannock Chase Post	Cannock, Staffordshire	20,548	1992-1998
Esher News and Advertiser	Esher, Surrey	14,069	1938-1974
Beverley and East Yorkshire Advertiser	Beverley, Humberside	13,705	1995-1999
Midweek Visiter	Southport, Merseyside	24,341	1988-1999
East Hull Advertiser (NEW)	Hull, Humberside	872	1999
Mercury: Clevedon, Nailsea, Portishead, Yatton (NEW)	Clevedon, Avon	8,030	1998-1999
Bromborough and Bebington News	Bromborough, Merseyside	22,490	1994-1999
Middlesbrough Herald and Post	Middlesbrough, Cleveland	26,324	1989-1999
Star and Merseymart	Liverpool, Merseyside	8,847	1995-1999
Folkestone Herald	Folkestone, Kent	49,534	1986-1999
Bristol Observer	Bristol, Avon	6,052	1993-1999
Great Barr Observer	Great Barr, West Midlands	18,724	1991-1999
Stanmore, Edgware Observer	Harrow, London	23,091	1994-1998
Staffordshire Newsletter	Uttoxeter, Staffordshire	20,477	1993-1998
Clevedon, Nailsea, Portishead and Yatton Mercury	Clevedon, Avon	28,871	1990-1998
Burntwood Post	Cannock, Staffordshire	19,141	1994-1999
The Hounslow and Chiswick Informer	Hounslow, London	34,907	1988-1998
Sevenoaks Focus	Tunbridge Wells, Kent	8,932	1992-1998
Haltemprice and East Yorkshire Advertiser	Haltemprice, Humberside	7,362	1995-1998
The Advertiser and Salford City Reporter	Eccles, Greater Manchester	3,464	1998
Belper Express	Belper, Derbyshire	35,049	1989-1999
Bootle Times	Bootle, Merseyside	34,757	1878-1999
Cambridge Daily News	Cambridge, Cambridgeshire	36,727	1888-1955
Ely Weekly News and Town Crier	Ely, Cambridgeshire	7,587	1997-1999
Cambridge Town Crier	Cambridge, Cambridgeshire	15,596	1990-1998
The Staines Informer	Staines, Surrey	60,772	1986-1999
Axholme Herald	Epworth, Humberside	2,035	1992-1999
Crosby Herald	Crosby, Merseyside	41,933	1986-1998
The Extra (NEW)	Plymouth, Devon	2,124	1998
Rossendale Free Press	Rawtenstall, Lancashire	32,440	1889-1998
The Evening Gazette for Middlesbrough, Stockton and District	Middlesbrough, Cleveland	416	1872
Burton Mail	Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire	188,162	1912-1999
Surrey Herald	Chertsey, Surrey	44,691	1986-1998

There are also a few updates for Canada, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, but no new titles.

Global Heritage Press published a flood of Canadian military history books by Kenneth G Cox in 2022. There are more to come early this year.

Documenting Your First World War Royal Flying Corps and Second World War Canadian Air Force Ancestors. $12.95

Documenting Your Canadian Ancestors who served in World War One (1914-1918) or World War Two (1939-1945) with the Canadian Navy. $12.95

Documenting Your Canadian Ancestor who Fought in Spain during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) $12.95

Documenting Canadian Military Personnel Who Were Prisoners of War During World War One or World War Two. $14.95

The War of 1812 in British North America, Searching for your Ancestor’s Elusive War Records. $16.95

Searching for Canadian Militia Records following the Fenian Threat and the Red River Expedition, 1866-1872. $14.95

Prices given are for pdf downloads.

Coming soon are:

Documenting Canadians Who Served During the North-West Rebellion (1885) in Western Canada

Documenting Canadians Who Served in South Africa During the Boer War (1899-1902)

Documenting Canadian ‘Voyageurs’ Who Served in the Nile Expedition (1884-1885)

BTW: in another military matter, 2 January is the anniversary of the birth of James Wolfe in 1727,