Anglo-Celtic Connections

The feature articles in the July issue.
The Watergate scandal Clifford Williamson delves into the murky events of 1972 that sparked a constitutional crisis-and the fall of US president Richard Nixon. (Was it really 50 years ago!)

British front doors
Rachel Hurdley explains what the entrances to homes reveal about the hopes and fears of the nation over the centuries. (Did your house have a boot scraper?

Normans in Africa
Levi Roach explores a litle-known and short-lived Norman attempt to forge a north-African kingdom in the 12th century.

New light on the Dark Ages
Michael Wood examines the latest discoveries about life in England before the Norman conquest.

Russian Civil War
Antony Beevor tells Rob Attar about the turbulent years of conflict, hunger and repression in Russia that followed the revolutions of 1917. (12 million died in Russia’s Civil War.)

Into the wild
In the seventh part of our series on the history of the BBC, David Hendy looks at the evolution of the broadcaster’s pioneering natural history films.

Accessorising the past
Cordula van Wyhe and Susan Vincent discuss how buckles, buttons and other adornments expressed historical attitudes.

News
One of the surprising news items was a finding that Anglo-Saxon kings were “mostly vegetarian.” “Experts from the University of Cambridge analysed the chemical composition of bones of more than 2,000 people buried in England between the fifth and eleventh centuries, then researched their social status based on the location of their burials and the objects included in their graves. The resuts indicated that the elite didn’t eat more meat on a daily basis than other social groups.

Adobe’s Photoshop web app is now free to use in Canada. There’s access without an account here if you upload an image to start with. Then you can take a tour to introduce “the beta’s interface, collaboration features, and limited editing functionality.”

Photoshop has an enviable reputation. Even on this stripped-down version, there is a bit of a learning curve.

Depending on your needs you may prefer to stick with what you know. Lately, I’ve been using Photopea.

Researching Local History (Paperback)
Your Guide to the Sources

By Stuart A. Raymond
Imprint: Pen & Sword Family History
Series: Tracing Your Ancestors
Pages: 240
Illustrations: 40 black and white illustrations
ISBN: 9781526779427
Published: 30th June 2022

How has the place we live in changed, developed, and grown over the centuries? That is the basic question local historians seek to answer. The answer is to be found in the sources of information that previous generations have left us. The records of parish, county, and diocesan administration, of the courts, of the national government, and of private estates, all have something to tell us about the history of the locality we are interested in. So do old newspapers and other publications. All of these sources are readily available, but many have been little used.

Local historians come from a wide diversity of backgrounds. But whether you are a student researching a dissertation, a family historian interested in the wider background history of your family, a teacher, a librarian, an archivist, an academic, or are merely interested in the history of your own area, this book is for you. If you want to research local history, you need a detailed account of the myriad sources readily available. This book provides a comprehensive overview of those sources, and its guidance will enable you to explore and exploit their vast range. It poses the questions which local historians ask, and identifies the specific sources likely to answer those questions.

Tracing Your Theatrical Ancestors (Paperback)
A Guide for Family Historians

By Prof Katharine M Cockin
Imprint: Pen & Sword Family History
Series: Tracing Your Ancestors
Pages: 192
ISBN: 9781526732057
Published: 30th July 2022

How can you find out about the lives of ancestors who were involved in the world of theatre: on stage and on film, in the music halls and travelling shows, in the circus and in all sorts of other forms of public performance? Katharine Cockin’s handbook provides a fascinating introduction for readers searching for information about ancestors who had clearly defined roles in the world of the theatre and performance as well as those who left only a few tantalizing clues behind.

The wider history of public performance is outlined, from its earliest origins in church rituals and mystery plays through periods of censorship driven by campaigns on moral and religious grounds up to the modern world of stage and screen. Case studies, which are a special feature of the book, demonstrate how the relevant records and be identified and interpreted, and they prove how much revealing information they contain. Information on relevant archives, books, museums and websites make this an essential guide for anyone who is keen to explore the subject.

New to Ancestry, this collection of 508,318 records from the Edinburgh City Archives provides (where available):

Name of deceased
Name of spouse(s)
Names of parents
Birth date
Death date
Burial date
Last residence
Parish and cemetery of burial.

Records, which as also browsable, are for:
Calton, 1841-1887
Canongate, 1855-1885
Colinton, 1885-1914
Comely Bank, 1896-1923
Dalry, 1846-1906
East Preston Street, 1820-1872
Edinburgh and Leith/Rosebank, 1846-1927
Edinburgh Southern Cemetery-Grange, 1846-1923
Greyfriars, 1771-1842
Liberton, 1862-1900
Morningside, 1878-1935
North Leith, 1855-1911
North Merchiston, 1874-1921
Portobello, 1877-1933
Restalrig, 1818-1901
South Leith, 1843-1889
St. Cuthberts, 1804-1890
Warriston, 1843-1903

Choose from 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.

Tuesday 7 June. 2 pm: Virtual Genealogy Drop-In, from Ottawa Branch of OGS and The Ottawa Public Library.
https://ottawa.ogs.on.ca/events/

Tuesday, 14 June. 2 pm: Common Ancestors with DNA by Shahar Tenenbaum for Legacy Family Tree Webinars. https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar/identifying-common-ancestors-with-dna/dentifying 

Tuesday, 14 June. 2:30 pm: Research with the Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research, by Irene B. Walters for Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center.
https://acpl.libnet.info/event/6710376

Tuesday 14 June. 7 pm: Diligence Has its Rewards – A Remarkable Discovery Regarding My Early Lambton and Kent Ancestors, by Claire Smith-Burns for OGS Kent Branch.
https://kent.ogs.on.ca/events/kent-lambton-branch-diligence-has-its-rewards-a-remarkable-discovery-regarding-my-early-lambton-and-kent-ancestors/

Wednesday 15 June. 2 pm: Advanced Lightroom Techniques for Photo Editing by Jared Hodges for Legacy Family Tree Webinars.
https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar/advanced-lightroom-techniques-for-photo-editing/

Wednesday 15 June, 7 pm: Aeolian Hall: A History Against the Odds, by Clark Bryan for OGS London and Middlesex Branch.
https://londonmiddlesex.ogs.on.ca/events/london-middlesex-branch-aeolian-hall-a-history-against-the-odds/

Friday, 17 June. 2 pm: A 19th Century Ontario Enigma – A Case Study by Janice Nickerson for Legacy Family Tree Webinars.
https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar/a-19th-century-ontario-enigma-a-case-study/

Friday 17 June. 7 pm: Jewish Ancestry, by Howard Slepkov for OGS Niagara Peninsula Branch.
https://sandbox.ogs.on.ca/events/niagara-peninsula-branch-howard-slepkov-educational-webinar/

The following notice, dated 10 June, is posted by Library and Archives Canada.

“Library and Archives Canada (LAC) is pleased to announce that clients will no longer need a reservation to visit our Ottawa service point as of June 27, 2022. All rooms at our 395 Wellington Street building will return to full capacity on that date, with seating available on a first-come, first-served basis. In-person appointments with reference specialists will also resume on June 27.

To make the most of their time, researchers should order their materials at least 10 days prior to their visit. See the Retrievals and Consultation section for more information on how to order archival and published materials. For information on current opening hours and safety measures, see the Ottawa section of Keeping you safe during your visit.”

Note:  There is no specific information about the DigiLab facility.

Contents of the new issue are:

An English Shoemaker Named Janeck — Where Did He Come From? by Christine Jackson.

Finding Edward Cohen MC (1895 – 1917), by John D Reid.
The photo, which didn’t fit in the publication, is of Edward’s Military Cross at Queen’s College, Cambridge,

We Shall Remember Them: Private Archibald Richard Sydney James Bellinger, by Nigel Lloyd

The Cream of the Crop, by John D Reid.

Members can read the issue now posted in the members area of the Society website. Back issues, prior to 2020, are open access.

BIFHSGO is now on the summer break. The next meeting is on 10 September, followed by the annual conference, 28 September – 2 October on the theme England and Wales: at home and on the move.

 

While I rarely read fiction, I reserved this historical novel from the Ottawa Public Library in the hope of getting a feel for the experience of my great uncle, Edward Cohen. I’d likely read an enthusiastic review.

A daring young woman who, against the wishes of her Yorkshire country doctor father and against the odds, earns a medical degree. Flouting convention, she risks everything to serve as a doctor on the front lines during World War I and learns life lessons in the darkest of times.

I struggled with the first few chapters. It seemed the women were all white hats and the men black hats. That changed as the story developed, not that it doesn’t maintain a feminist perspective.

Lecia Cornwall,  the author and Alberta resident, has previously written romance novels. That comes through in her writing, somewhat too syrupy in places for my taste. However, I did gain the renewed appreciation for the situation in medical facilities near the front I sought and that Edward would have experienced in his final hours.

I finished the book in a few days — something that’s rare for books I borrow.

Title: The Woman at the Front
Author: Lecia Cornwall
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Berkley (Sept. 28, 2021)
Format: ‎ Paperback
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 448 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0593197925
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0593197929

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/634183/the-woman-at-the-front-by-lecia-cornwall/

Miscellaneous items I found of interest during the week.

10 Quirky Museums Across Canada

340-year-old lost royal wreck found

Quality of life in Canada
Statistics Canada data for the first quarter of 2022 show more than half of the population rank their life satisfaction in the top category, with satisfaction for seniors being significantly higher,

Excess deaths in Canada
Statistics Canada data shows an estimated 40,349 excess deaths occurred in Canada from March 2020 to the middle of February 2022. That’s 95 of the 110 weeks that had deaths greater than expected. 

The AI that creates any picture you wantTheGenealogist’s Map Explorer™ now includes 1901 census

A Country Without a History?: Dispatches from a Stuck Historian

Thanks to this week’s contributors. Andrew James, Anonymous,  Gail, Teresa, Unknown.

BIFHSGO and OGS both had AGMs on Saturday.

BIFHSGO
Newly appointed to the Hall of Fame were Kathy Wallace and Sheila Faure Dohoo.

Awards were given to Mags Gaulden for best presentation by a member, David Jeanes for best educational presentation, and Anne Renwick for best article in Anglo-Celtic Roots.

The Board has new members: Dianne Brydon – President; Anne Coulter – membership; and Patricia Grainger – at large; together with those continuing their terms. Thanks to departing President – Duncan Monkhouse (who stays as Past President), Past President – Barbara Tose, Membership – Anne Burns and Lynne Baxter – Education.

OGS
The award for best “Bricks and Mortar website” went to Kawartha Branch with honourable mentions to Leeds and Grenville, and Oxford County Branches. Best “Virtual Website” went to the Irish Palatine SIG with an honourable mention to the Ireland SIG.
The award for the best newsletter went to Sudbury Branch’s Ancestor Hunting, with honourable mention to Kingston’s Relative Roots.
A citation of recognition was given to Nancy Trimble, and an award of merit to Huron County Library.
A community service award went to Catherine Bechard, and a genealogical essay prize (student) to Camryn Ruthven.

The newly elected President is Heidi Deschenes. Vice-President is Paul Goodyear, Directors-at-Large are Heather Oakley, Kathryn Lake-Hogan, Colleen L’Abbé, Ben Dawson, together with those continuing their terms.

Departing President (staying as Past President) is Heather McTavish Taylor and departing Past President Steve Fulton.

I hope I got those correct. Please let me know of anything missing or needed changes.

 

I’m chuffed to see my latest article, Was Your Ancestor Schooled in the BCATP? in print in this issue. It was a pleasure working with Editor Helen Tovey.
The article covers part of the material I’ll be presenting at the OGS conference on Saturday 25 June at 1 pm.

Highlights from the contents:

NAVAL RESERVISTS: Simon Wills decodes the uniforms
PHOTOGENEALOGY: AN INTRODUCTION: Ann Larkham unveils the first steps in creating an awesome home photograph archive/
A RETAILING REVOLUTION: Dress historian Jayne Shrimpton looks at the radical retail transformation of the British shopping scene between the wars.
DEATH DUTY REGISTERS A MASTERCLASS: David Annal shares practical advice and expert tips on using death duty registersfor family history research. Dave will be presenting at the BIFHSGO conference in September.
REMEMBERINGTHE PIONEER OF THE PACKAGE HOLIDAY Nicola Lisle looks back at the rise and fall of Thomas Cook.
WHAT MIGHT A RING SIGNIFY? Charlotte Soares on the rings that our ancestors may once have worn, and the stories behind them.

Editor Helen Tovey also compiled three GENEALOGY GADGETS AND APPS (FOR ALL OCCASIONS). One, suggested by Wayne Shepheard, also an OGS conference speaker, may be found at naturalreaders.com.

The FreeBMD Database was last updated on Saturday 4 June to contain 285,217,675 unique entries (284,959,570 at the previous update).
Years with changes of more than 10,000 additions are: for births 1990-92; for marriages 1991-92; for deaths 1987, 1990, 1992.