The Canadian War Museum invites you to honour the life and legacy of Dr. Tim Cook, Chief Historian and Director of Research at the Canadian War Museum, author, and long-time contributor to Canada’s military heritage.
Together, we will reflect on Dr. Cook’s extraordinary contributions, share memories, and celebrate the profound impact he had on the understanding of Canada’s wartime history.
Friday, December 12
4 to 6 pm
https://www.warmuseum.ca/events/dr-tim-cook
An update for Scotland and Northern Ireland follows the update to the England and Wales, Death Index, 1989-2025 mentioned in Sunday Sundries.
The S&NI index now has 987,856 entries, compiled from funeral directors’ records and obituaries. A small number of records from Jersey and the Isle of Man are included.
This episode is the 2025 Year in Review. Hosts Steve Little and Mark Thompson examine which predictions hit the mark, and what they missed.
The most important advancements were based on reasoning models.
The advances are mainly generic, not specific to family history. Later parts of the episode make the connection to family history more direct.
Here’s the episode outline:
03:30 Agents, Agents, Everywhere: Deep Research and Agentic Browsers
09:49 Cost of AI Drops Like a Rock: DeepSeek Disrupts the Market
12:26 OpenAI Dethroned: Gemini and Anthropic Rise
18:46 Local Language Models
23:54 AI Invades Social Media
28:24 AI-Enhanced Writing: From Grammar Checking to Ghost Writers
32:30 Family Tree Diagrams: Possible But Not Practical
36:03 Handwriting Recognition: Reasoning Improves Results
38:01 Reasoning Models: 2025’s Most Important Advancement
41:31 Text in Images: A Solved Problem
45:05 Image Restoration: Breakthroughs and Responsibilities
51:02 Vibe Coding: Speaking Software Into Being
Library and Archives Canada posted a report on the third year of its 2022–2025 Accessibility Plan. Here are three initiatives that showed tangible progress for clients:
1. Improved Access to Information Requests
LAC revamped its access to information and privacy (ATIP) content, focusing on plain language, and added a step-by-step online assistant to help clients navigate the request process. This addresses a complex process and makes it easier for clients with diverse needs.
2. Redesigned First World War Personnel Records Database
LAC launched a new search tool for one of its most popular databases (First World War Personnel Records). The redesigned version uses the Canada.ca template and includes plain-language instructions, making this popular resource more accessible to all clients.
3. Enhanced Public Event Accessibility
The Programs and Events team improved accessibility in public programming at events such as the Open House at the Preservation Centre by providing wheelchair-accessible pathways, adaptable seating, clear bilingual signage and more.
Read about the other steps taken in the full report at https://www.canada.ca/en/library-archives/corporate/about-us/strategies-initiatives/accessibility-plan/progress-reports/2025.html
Do you consider these three significant? Did I miss something that should have been in the top three from a client perspective?
Choose from these selected free online events. All times are Eastern Time, unless otherwise noted. Registration may be required in advance—please check the links to avoid disappointment. For many more events, mainly in the U.S., visit https://conferencekeeper.org/virtual/
Tuesday 9 December
2 pm: New and Upcoming Features at MyHeritage, by Itay Sobol for Legacy Family Tree Webinars.
https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar/new-and-upcoming-features-at-myheritage/
2 pm: Ottawa Virtual Genealogy Drop-In, for OGS Ottawa Branch.
https://ottawa.ogs.on.ca/events/virtual-genealogy-drop-in-2-2025-12-09/
2:30 pm: Finding My Way: Researching Your Ancestor in the City, by Jessica Fontana for Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center.
https://acpl.libnet.info/event/15069311
Wednesday 10 December
6 am: Free Weekly Research Advice, from the Genealogical Society of Ireland
https://familyhistory.ie/event/zoom-drop-in-session-39/
8 pm: Scattered Leaves: Reconnecting family branches with DNA, by Fiona Brooker for Legacy Family Tree Webinars.
https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar/scattered-leaves-reconnecting-family-branches-with-dna/
Thursday 11 December
6:30 pm: Researching Your Swedish Ancestry, by Cynthia Grostick for Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center.
https://acpl.libnet.info/event/15069332
Friday 12 December
2 pm: The Business of Enslavers: Acquiring Human Inventory, by LaDonna Garner for Legacy Family Tree Webinars.
https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar/the-business-of-enslavers-acquiring-human-inventory/
Saturday 13 December
9 am: Holiday Social
10 am: Great Moments, with Dianne Brydon, Gloria Tubman and Jennette Logan.
All for the British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa.
http://www.bifhsgo.ca/events
A few days ago marked the anniversary of the devastating Halifax Explosion in December 1917. Shortly after the disaster, Prime Minister Robert Borden, who represented a Halifax constituency, travelled to the city to survey the damage. At the time, he had been campaigning in Prince Edward Island during the fiercely contested “conscription” election that ultimately returned his Unionist government to power on 19 December.
A Tip for Family History Research
While reviewing Borden’s transcribed diary, I noticed something interesting: like many diarists of his era, he often mentioned the weather — on approximately 40% of the days in 1917. For anyone tracing their family history, consider exploring the diaries of people who lived near your ancestors. These records often include references to significant weather events that affected the area.
Borden’s 1917 Weather Diary
Here’s a month-by-month summary of the weather in Borden’s diary in 1917, with the most significant weather events recorded. It was produced with the aid of NotebookLM. Note how the percent drops in October and November during the election campaign.
January (approx. 35% of entries)
• Temperature of 20 below zero: On January 12, Borden recorded this extreme low temperature in Ottawa.
• “Fairylike” Snowstorm: On January 13, he described a beautiful snowstorm where the flakes looked like “flowers from heaven”.
• Easterly Storm: A storm was noted in the evening of January 21.
February (approx. 46% of entries)
• 24 Below Zero: Before leaving for England, Borden recorded this temperature on February 11.
• Heavy Blizzard and Intense Cold: While travelling to Halifax on February 13, the train was delayed six hours due to these severe conditions.
• Fog and Penetrating Cold: Upon arrival in Liverpool on February 21, the weather was wet and cold with heavy fog.
March (approx. 16% of entries)
• Snow in London: On March 5, Borden noted the ground was covered with snow.
• “Canadian Weather”: On March 8, he described the snow and conditions in England as being very much like Canadian weather.
• Three Inches of Snow: On March 31, a significant snowfall occurred in London, making the streets very sloppy.
April (approx. 30% of entries)
• Snow and Dense Fog: The month began with unpleasant cold, snow, and dense fog on April 1.
• Wretched Weather: On April 6, he noted snow and the “worst known” weather for 40 years.
• Blizzard at Camp: On April 9, Borden inspected the 6th Brigade at Witley Camp during a blizzard.
May (approx. 45% of entries)
• Fog and Sunshine: On May 11, while at sea, he noted a strange combination of fog and bright sunshine.
• Snow on the Coast: On May 13, while returning to Canada, he grieved to see the coastline covered with snow.
• Heavy Windcloud: On May 13, a dark, heavy windcloud on the starboard quarter was observed as the ship approached Quebec.
June (approx. 57% of entries)
• Dreary Rain: On June 10, a wet, unpleasant day left the ground cold and sodden.
• 79 Degrees: On June 13, a very warm day was recorded with the thermometer reaching 79 at 8 P.M..
• Glorious Day: June 24 was described as a glorious day with roses in abundant bud.
July (approx. 61% of entries)
• Heavy Thunderstorm: On July 15, a heavy rain and thunderstorm beat down the roses in his garden.
• 91 Degrees in Shade: On July 23, Borden recorded this intense heat.
• Very Hot and Humid: On July 24, the weather was described as very hot and humid.
August (approx. 29% of entries)
• Most Glorious Summer Day: August 5 was noted for its phenomenal vine growth and beautiful weather.
• Variable Weather: On August 19, the weather was variable with sharp showers.
• Much Cooler: By August 26, the weather had turned much cooler.
September (approx. 53% of entries)
• Freezing Point: On September 6, the temperature dropped nearly to the freezing point.
• 80 Degrees: On September 16, a glorious early autumn day saw temperatures reach 80 degrees.
• Keen North Wind: On September 22, the temperature was 44 degrees with a keen wind while Borden was bathing in the lake.
October (approx. 10% of entries)
• Lovely Soft Air: October 14 was a fine day with lovely air.
• Wet and Cold: The weather turned wet and cold on October 29.
• Bright Frosty Morning: On October 31, the morning was described as bright and frosty.
November (approx. 7% of entries)
• Very Rainy: On November 16, he stayed on his train car in Sydney due to very rainy conditions.
• Very Heavy Storm: On November 17, a storm in Kentville forced the cancellation of a meeting in Berwick.
December (approx. 42% of entries)
• Fierce Blizzard: On December 7, passing through the area devastated by the Halifax explosion, a blizzard was raging.
• Unusually Heavy Snow: On December 12, Ottawa experienced an unusually heavy fall of snow
• 20 Below Zero: On December 30, the thermometer dropped to 20 below zero in Hot Springs.
In reading these, remember that AI can make mistakes, and locations may be confused. Borden knew where he was, but a reader today can he uncertain as some place names occur in multiple locations. Was it Hot Springs, Arkansas, in the last entry? No, the lowest temperature ever recorded there is -11°F. He could have meant 20 degrees below freezing, 12°F. Or was it another Hot Springs? There’s a Warm (Hot) Springs in Virginia where -20°F is the record low temperature.
Inflation has hit again. A range of fees is being increased, and in some cases introduced at The National Archives (UK). Find the full list here.
The increases, ranging from 20% to 250%, are:
Search – £38.95 per 15 mins, increased from £24.35.
Naturalisation Certificate – £68.84, increased from £27.15.
Page Check – £9.92, increased from £8.40.
Colour Paper Copy – £7.40, increased from £4.95.
Colour Paper Copy, greater than A3 – £17.71, increased from £9.60.
Digital Copy – £1.52, increased from £1.20.
Digital Copy, greater than A3 – £11.95, increased from £8.45.
There are new fees for copying various Ministry of Defence (MoD) Service Personnel Records. See them at: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/legal/our-fees/#guide
Expect additional mailing costs at standard rates.
This map from Historic England Reveals its Heritage at Risk Register 2025 is astounding. So many! A total of 4,891 entries in the 2025 register, 129 removals (for positive reasons), and 138 added.
They comprise, with the number of entries:
Buildings and structures (1,460): Places of worship (986); Archaeology (1,864); Conservation areas (469); Parks and gardens (105); Wrecks (4); Battlefields (3).
You can start a text or map search here.
I didn’t expect to find a milepost from my old hometown.
Perhaps one of the 620 lavatories included is convenient to where your ancestor lived, one they might have used!
Miscellaneous items I found interesting this week.
Legacy Family Tree Webinars
Today is the final day of the annual sale on new memberships. 50% off. Although you can attend and view most presentations live, only members have access to a special AI series. Steve Little will be giving an end-of-year review, “The Best Uses of AI for Genealogists,” on Friday, 19 December at 2 pm.
Frank Gehry, the architect of the unconventional, the accidental, and the inspiring, has died at 96
Ancestry Updated England and Wales, Death Index, 1989-2025
Updated on 4 December. The index now has 7,898,156 entries, compiled from funeral directors’ records and obituaries.
New York State Death Index
10.5 million records are searchable, indexing basic genealogical data from New York State between 1880 and 2017. Includes a basic natural language search system. It’s thanks to Reclaim the Records.
On This Date
In 1703, the Great Storm, hit south Wales and England. Hundreds of people and thousands of livestock were drowned in the Somerset Levels. In London, about 2,000 chimney stacks were blown down. At least 1,500 men were lost at sea.
Thanks to the following individuals for their comments and tips: Anonymous, Barbara May Di Mambro, Craig Milne, Gail, Glenn Wright, Patte Wood, Teresa, and Unknown.
Digitized issues of the London Evening Advertiser and the London Morning Advertiser are now available for free public access. Find them through https://www.crkn-rcdr.ca/en/whats-new-canadiana-collections
The London Evening Advertiser has coverage for 2,927 issues between 1922 and 1932.
The London Morning Advertiser has a scattering of 87 issues between 1923 and 1932.
Canadiana has full-text search enabled for these collections, allowing querying names, businesses, and events. However, search hits are not highlighted on the page. While this might seem like a hurdle, it opens an opportunity for serendipity, or, put another way, the hazard of stumbling into rabbit holes. How else would I know that a US community once tried to ban jazz!
Further editions of these papers for the second half of 1932 are listed as “coming soon.”
Dorset Poll Cards
This Dorset collection from the mid-1800s, 671 poll cards, is FMP’s headline addition this week. Sourced from the Dorset FHS, these are partial transcripts, with more on the images of the original. You won’t find a Mary, Joan or Ann.
Kent Parish Registers: Over 21,666 baptism records and 996 marriage records added to this extensive Kent collection. The totals are now over 3.6 million baptism records and over 3.2 million marriage and banns records.
National Burial Index (England & Wales)
An additional 13,181 records from 1580 to 1851, bringing the total to over 17 million.
Fermanagh Cemetery Records
For Irish researchers, 1,170 new records have been added for a total of 20,768 records with transcriptions and headstone images.
The Newspaper Archive
The newspaper holdings have grown by 200,872 pages this week, with three completely new titles and updates to 27 existing publications.
New Titles:
• Anglo-Celt (1846–1849, 1858, 1864–1870)
• Glasgow Argus (1844–1846)
• Hawick Advertiser and Roxburghshire Gazette (1889–1891)
Updates
• Monmouthshire Merlin
• Montgomeryshire Express
• Pick-me-up
• Pontefract & Castleford Express
• Yorkshire Evening Press
• Aberdeen Free Press
• Arbroath Guide
• Banffshire Herald
• Border Standard
• Buteman
• Falkirk Express
• Glasgow Free Press
• Glasgow Gazette
• Greenock Advertiser
• Hamilton Herald and Lanarkshire Weekly News
• Northern Warder
• Orcadian
• Peterhead Sentinel and General Advertiser for Buchan District
• Portobello Advertiser
• Stirling Journal and Advertiser
• Stonehaven Journal
• The Glasgow Sentinel
• The Reporter (Stirling)
• Irish Ecclesiastical Gazette
This new collection contains 351,715 records for students who attended University College London between 1828 and 1954. The records contain a combination of typed and handwritten information. Some records include a photograph of the student.
You won’t find 351,715 unique students. Five hits for last name Northwood were for two individuals. The form for initial entry provides most information. Subsequent records may be surprising.
There’s also a browse capability for various record types. Not mentioned is a compilation of those who died in WW2.
