by Lisa Cooke | Nov 10, 2013 | 01 What's New, Canadian, Inspiration, Oral History
The Victoria Genealogical Society has started a new memory project called “Voices of the Past.” They are recording the stories of senior members of their community and posting them to their website. You can listen to any given story or click on one of the themes they’ve organized the material into, then listen to stories relating to that theme.
I heard about it from Merv Scott, a Project Director at the Victoria Genealogical Society. Merv sees this project as a win-win experience for those telling stories and those receiving them. “I’m sure you have seen how uplifting it is for seniors to tell stories about their family history,” he writes. “Research has shown it boosts their self-esteem reduces stress and anxieties….I think it’s an amazing legacy to leave your children and grandchildren with stories about their family as told by the person who was there. ” You can contact Merv (Projects@victoriags.org) for more information.
I’ve heard about lots of oral history projects, from the national in scope to the most local. Browse some of these (and find tools and resources for doing your own) at Cyndi’s List.
by Lisa Cooke | Oct 14, 2013 | 01 What's New, Canadian, FamilySearch, Immigration
Mixed group immigrants, Quebec
Over a million indexed records and images for Canadian passenger lists (1881-1922) are among newly-announced records now searchable at FamilySearch.org.
The database includes records for Canadian ports–Quebec City, Halifax, St. John, North Sydney, Vancouver and Victoria–as well as U.S. ports for passengers who reported Canada as their final destination.
Before this time period, travel between the U.S. and Canada was common. But it was not always officially recorded because there were no border crossing stations on land. During the time period covered by these records, nations on both sides of the border became concerned about the impact of this invisible migration. Official border crossing record-keeping began in 1895. (See a database at Ancestry.com).
Here’s a tip: If you have immigrant ancestors who landed in the United States during this era but you haven’t found their passenger records, consider the possibility that they arrived via Canada. They would have avoided the increasingly strict monitors at the port gates of entry to the U.S. “golden door.”
Here’s a full list of recent updates to FamilySearch.org:
|
Collection
|
Indexed Records
|
Digital Images
|
Comments
|
| Argentina, Buenos Aires, Catholic Church Records, 1635-1981 |
539,210 |
0 |
Added indexed records to an existing collection. |
| Argentina, Capital Federal, Catholic Church Records, 1737-1977 |
682,002 |
0 |
Added indexed records to an existing collection. |
| BillionGraves Index |
407,422 |
407,422 |
Added indexed records and images to an existing collection. |
| Canada Passenger Lists, 1881-1922 |
1,673,051 |
61,099 |
Added indexed records and images to an existing collection. |
| Denmark, Church Records, 1484-1941 |
0 |
2,399,826 |
New browsable image collection. |
| Germany, Prussia, Brandenburg, Landkreis Ostprignitz-Ruppin, Miscellaneous Records, 1559-1945 |
0 |
9,569 |
New browsable image collection. |
| Italy, Campobasso, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1809-1918 |
0 |
2,171,641 |
New browsable image collection. |
| Italy, Napoli, Fontana, Parrocchia di Santa Maria della Mercede – La Sacra, Catholic Church Records, 1659-1929 |
0 |
54 |
Added images to an existing collection. |
| U.S., Illinois, Northern District (Eastern Division), Naturalization Index, 1926-1979 |
0 |
214,094 |
Added images to an existing collection. |
| U.S., Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-1994 |
980,427 |
951 |
Added indexed records and images to an existing collection. |
