Wordless Wednesday - Janet CARMICHAEL - Victoria County Ontario Canada

Janet CARMICHAEL, born 1851, Victoria County, Ontario, Canada. Married William IRWIN in 1876.

Treasure Chest Thursday - Sweet Memories

This was all my Mum's. She loved costume jewellery and had colourful sets of bracelets, earrings and necklaces to match many of her best outfits. I remember as a little girl watching her get 'all dressed up' to go out. She'd make sure I had some powder on my face too.

Both of us wore pins a lot at one time, so I did keep a few of hers. Mine are mostly cat pins, but she loved frogs - and this glittery frog is one that I gave her.

The necklace though was from 'the olden days'. I only remember her wearing things like this when I was little. I think it must be from the 1930s or 40s.

My mother wasn't very sentimental, so I wonder why she kept it all that time. Now I keep it because it reminds me of her. I am sentimental! She did have a long dress from the 1940s and let me wear that as a costume when I played Boadicea (now called Boudicca or Boudica) at school. I know I wore some jewellery then, bracelets and a brooch for a cloak, I think, but I'm afraid they weren't memorable enough.

Maybe this necklace was a present - from my Dad or another admirer - but if so, she never mentioned it. (Yes, you may well say 'Why didn't you ask?' but I didn't.)

Saddle Horse Party on the Sourdough Trail - A Festival of Postcards

Front - 8 - Saddle Horse Party on the Sourdough Trail - 4A-H828; Back - Rainer National Park Co., Tacoma, Wash. Made in U.S.A. "C.T. Art. Colortone" Reg. U.S. Pat. Off. C.P. Johnston Co. , Seattle, Washington.

Postmarked: Jun 20. 2 PM 1946 Seattle, Wash.

Over at A Canadian Family, Evelyn Yvonne Theriault is hosting a new Festival of Postcards - dedicated this time to QUADRUPEDS.

Almost immediately I thought of the horses shown on the card above and with this one I'm showing another postcard from, I believe, the same person - a 'Louise H'.

Both cards were sent to my mother, the one below in 1943 while she was still serving as a member of the Canadian Women's Army Corps (CWAC) in Canada. The one above was sent to her in 1946 in Vancouver, Canada, just after she moved here.

She and my father had married in Washington, DC, USA while both were serving in the Canadian Forces and they had decided to live in British Columbia, my Dad's home province. The address shown on the postcard is his parents'.

My Mum loved Riding Mountain National Park in Manitoba, depicted on the card below. It's not too far from where she grew up. (I know because I used to scoff at the very idea of mountains in Manitoba - sorry Ma.)

But who is the postcard writer - 'Louise H'?

According to her messages, Louise biked to Kenora, Ontario in 1942, and to Clear Lake, Manitoba in 1943 - that's right near Riding Mountain National Park.

Then in the summer of 1946, she took a trip through Washington State in the U.S.A., and went on up to Vancouver, British Columbia where she stayed with a Mrs. Leitch and, I hope, had a reunion with Mum.

Now we do have some LEITCH connections - through Elizabeth Anne Irwin (1858-1907) who married Joseph Brown whose mother was a LEITCH, but I just don't recognize 'Louise H' as a relative. I'm thinking Louise may have been a friend of Mum's from Winnipeg, perhaps even someone she worked with at Eaton's before the war. I don't believe Louise would have been in the Canadian Women's Army Corps as I don't think a CWAC would have had much time for biking trips!

If the names and dates ring a bell with someone, please do let me know.

In the meantime, I will likely see what I can find out about Mrs. Leitch of Vancouver, BC at telephone number Alma 0445-L in 1946 during my next visit to the Vancouver City Archives. Maybe she was a relative of Louise's.

Front - East Entrance Gate, Riding Mountain National Park, Manitoba, Canada. The postmark is difficult to read but I think it is Macdonald College. Back - Photogelatine Engraving Co., Limited, Ottawa with company logo.
Postmarked: Winnipeg Manitoba Jul 26 1943 330 PM and Wasagaming Manitoba (date unreadable).

The Festival of Postcards is an ongoing blog carnival. These themes are coming up soon: December 2009 – White; February 2010 – Light; April 2010 – Maps. Join in!

Why I Belong - 82nd Edition of the Carnival of Genealogy - Breaking Into Society.

Red Hat group at the BCGS Walter Draycott Library, 2009.

The 82nd Edition of the Carnival of Genealogy - Breaking Into Society is already up at the California Genealogical Society and Library Blog.

The questions asked for this Carnival were:

What's your favorite genealogical society?
Do you belong to a society?
Tell us why!

Or if not, why not?

I accidentally missed the deadline, but since I feel this is an important subject, I wanted to add my point of view to the rest.

There’s no doubt about it, my favourite genealogical society is the British Columbia Genealogical Society (BCGS). While it’s not the only genealogical society I belong to, this is certainly the most heartfelt and longest lasting of my genealogical society relationships.

Now - I do live in British Columbia, Canada. I have family history here dating back to 1901 at least and I've always been interested in BC history, but I believe joining a local group or society- no matter your genealogical interests - is very important for genealogists. In fact it's one of the top 5 tips I offer people whether they are beginners or seasoned researchers.

Because of my membership in the BCGS, I've made new friends, I've learned about genealogical resources I might never have heard of otherwise, even when I couldn't attend meetings I had the Society's journal as my genealogical lifeline, and I have access to the BCGS Library - a treasure trove.

The other day I talked at the Finding Your Roots Seminar about the BCGS Walter Draycott Library. In introducing this session, I gave my answers to the question: 'Why should I visit a genealogical society library when there are plenty of libraries around?' Although I was then speaking about only one aspect of the activities of the BCGS, I think the points I made explain why I believe joining a genealogical society is good for genealogists.

1. In a genealogical or family history library, you'll always find that the focus is on research and you'll find that the library, and you, continuously benefit from the expertise and enthusiasm of other members. For example, all BCGS menbers are encouraged to suggest new acquisitions for the Library for their areas of interest and their donations to the Library are welcomed. Our BCGS Special Interest Group facilitors are all on the BCGS Library Acquisitions Committee. This has broadened our outlook and we've been able to to strengthen and develop our worldwide collections, even though our budget isn't always large.

2. You'll find that through co-operative arrangements, societies have been exchanging journals and newsletters, as well as other information and resources, for years or even decades. You'll be able to check indexes and browse through past issues for details on your ancestors. And, remember, 'old' genealogical information really is just as good as 'new'.

3. Genealogical society members are well aware of the value of indexes and lists. These abound in any genealogical library and usually you will find you can easily fit right into an indexing project yourself, like the BCGS BC Book Indexing - so far, 58,000 names indexed there and for the Master Surname Index - over 100,000 entries.

4. Members are eager to share with others and to find those researching in their areas. So in our Library, for instance, you'll find binders and binders of pedigree charts donated by members for use by others, as well as bound copies of members' genealogical research on British Columbia Pioneers. (All indexed, of course.)

You'll also see volunteers reading genealogical and family history journals and newsletters as they're catalogued. We feature their recommendations in 'Gleanings from the BCGS Walter Draycott Library' which is published in our own quarterly journal, The British Columbia Genealogist. And if a member sees something interesting on the Internet, or news of an event coming up, they post that on our Library Bulletin Boards for everyone to read.

5. Membership does bring 'special privileges'. In the case of the BCGS, which has a Library of over 13,000 books, periodicals, microforms, CDs, etc., members may use the Library for free (non-members pay only $5. a day). Only members may borrow circulating materials. For me, as for many researchers, these kind of benefits are a real drawing card.

And, at our Library, there are Special Interest Group meetings and special seminars and workshops. Members are entitled to attend any of the Special Interest Group sessions and receive a discount on most BCGS seminars and events.

BCGS members are eligible to volunteer in the Library too. There's a great variety in the work available, of course, from the duty volunteers who give new visitors tours and check out books, to the cataloguers of new acquisitions and donations, to the indexers of our history book collections who might even work at home. Sometimes we get to participate in special tours and activity days, as several of us did in the Red Hat research day shown above.

By volunteering, I've seen and learned much more about the collections and I've made new genealogy friends as well. Having genealogy buddies nearby is great - they are there to congratulate you when you're successful and to cheer you up and offer tips when you're not so lucky. And usually on a 'duty day', there's time to do and share some work on your own family too.

This, I feel, is one of the major benefits of a genealogical or family history society - the chance to learn about genealogy within a group of like-minded people - who share not only your vocabulary and your acronyms (BMD. GEDCOM, LAC, UEL), but, as well, your enthusiasms and your passion for any and or all things genealogical.

In January 2010, there will be a new carnival devoted exclusively to genealogical (and historical) societies. Keep an eye out for more information at the California Genealogical Society and Library blog.

Women & Sports History Conference - October 23-24 - Vancouver BC

WHN/BC - Women’s History Network of BC
“Women, Sports and Physical Recreation”

Vancouver, 23-24th October, 2009
Conference Registration Form You may register at the door if your form is not already mailed.

WHN/BC Blog: http://www.whnbc.blogspot.com/

E-mail: whnbc@shaw.ca
or call 604 724 8744


Friday, 23 October 2009 – Registration begins at 7:00 pm in the Salmonberry Room, Stanley Park Dining Pavilion, Vancouver. See the WHN/BC blog for details/map.(link above)

7:00 pm Registration
7:30 pm – 9 pm RECEPTION

Saturday, 24 October 2009 – Registration begins 9:30 am

10 am – 4 pm at the British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame, 777 Pacific Blvd S., Vancouver.

Registration 9:30 – 10:00 am

OPENING REMARKS 10:15 am

SPEAKERS: 10:20 – 11:30 am

“Gender Justice and Gender Politics in Women’s Ski Jumping: An Historical Analysis” by Patricia Vertinsky and Shannon Jette, University of British Columbia.

“Governing Risk, Exercising Caution: Western Medical Knowledge, Exercise and Pregnancy” by Shannon Jette, University of British Columbia.

11:30 – 1:00 pm LUNCH

SESSION 2 – 1:00 – 2 pm

TOUR OF ‘IN HER FOOTSTEPS: CELEBRATING BC WOMEN IN SPORT’ GALLERY AND DISCUSSION

2:00 – 2:15 pm BREAK

2:15 – 3:15 pm WHNBC - ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

3:15 – 3:30 CONFERENCE WRAP-UP

Blog Action Day 2009 - For Climate Change

Bloggers around the world wrote about climate change yesterday for Blog Action Day 2009 - 27,000 posts worth!

See all the identified Canadian blog participants here on the official Blog Action Day - BAD - website.

And here are the genea-bloggers as posted by Thomas MacEntee at the GeneaBloggers website. Thank you, Thomas!

There might be a few more listed as genealogy blogs on the BAD weblist too.

Now - here are just a few of the non-genealogy Canadian blog posts I liked - in no particular order, (Yes, I liked ALL of the genealogy posts!)

Social History Timelines "Action Day: Mapping Ice Melt", Maureen Flynn-Burhoe.

Knitting Is My Boyfriend, "Five Things (that I don’t like to do) to Help the Environment" by Em. Warning - a bit of bad (pun?) language.

Cap Bridge Views, "45 Things You Can Do to Stop Global Warming", from the Capilano Suspension Bridge, North Vancouver.

Dave Ingram's Natural History Blog, "Blog Action Day: At the Edge of the Sea" by Dave Ingram.

Ms Writer: More Musings from Meaford, "Blog Action Day - Climate Change" by Natalie Meaford.

Bird Canada, "Blog for the Boreal", posted by PAT (Patricia Bumstead).

A Change in the Weather - 1899-1900 in Manitoba, Canada -Blog Action Day 2009

Today is Blog Action Day, 2009.

This year's theme? 'Climate Change'.

In recent years, more and more of us have become aware of issues relating to climate change. We have dropped many habits that we now believe contribute to climate changes that are affecting people around the world and will affect our descendants in the future. I haven't used a clothes dryer for over 2 years; I use public transit almost always; I try to buy local goods, especially local foods. There still seem to be 'doubters' though and I do think some of my ancestors would have quite a bit to say to them.

Two of my Canadian ancestors were William Irwin and Margaret Carmichael, farmers who moved to Newdale, Manitoba, Canada in the 1880s, from Victoria County in Ontario.

For them, I'm sure it was almost automatic to think about the weather and I dare say they must have talked about it a fair bit. The state of the weather meant everything to their livelihood and to the well being and safety of their family, while for me, a 'city girl' who grew up in Vancouver in southwestern British Columbia, a place blessed with a very temporate climate, thinking about the weather didn't mean much more than 'Shall I take an umbrella or chance it?'

In their time in Manitoba, weather is often mentioned in newspaper accounts whether it was sunny, snowy or 'same as always'. Changes in weather patterns receive special mention.

"No sleighing, no snow, beautiful weather, and cattle out to pasture this 4th day of January, 1900 is something exceptional for Manitoba, but a change occurred yesterday and a slight snow has fallen, so that sleighing is expected shortly." Minnedosa Tribune, Minnedosa, Manitoba, Canada, 4 January, 1900, page 3.

For me, 'sleighing' brings to mind winter fun. For Margaret and William, it also meant an opportunity for those with freight to haul it out. There's a reasonably ecology-friendly and economical form of transport we in Canada don't think of much in 2009!

However, even in 1900, some were thinking of less environmentally friendly innovations. A Mr. S. Anderson of Winnipeg, Manitoba, demonstrated his patented Anderson Snow Locomotive which could be adapted to different conditions on the prairies with sleigh runners, wheels or rollers for hauling freight, for example. (Morning Telegram, Winnipeg, Manitoba, 13 March, 1900, page 2. Canadian Patent CA 59537, Snow Locomotive. Sigurdur Anderson, Issued 1898-04-05, Classification 305/15. Canadian Patents Database, Canadian Intellectual Property Office, Government of Canada.)

The previous year, the weather had been so much colder than usual, some low temperature records still stand. A few newspaper writers sound a bit concerned, even when joking about it.

"CLANWILLIAM--Have we not had a cold snap? By Jove, Jack Frost is doing his best to make bears of it - keep in the house and suck our paws. Generally a cold spell has lasted only about three days; now it runs on weeks. Our climate is undergoing a change; we will have to go to the south of France." Minnedosa Tribune, Minnedosa, Manitoba, Canada, 2 February 1899, page 2.

In fact, the beginning of 1899 was particulary bitter in North America generally. (To learn more about this, do read "Freezing America: The Cold Wave of 1899" by the Weather Doctor, Keith C. Heidorn.)

I believe if William and Margaret had had any idea they could 'do' something to arrest catastrophic weather changes in their time and ours, they would have read all the articles in the newspapers, discussed and debated the issues with their neighbours and friends, and perhaps been more ready than I was initially to take action, particularly on the local level, to curtail activities that affect climate change.

Of course, in many ways, my farming ancestors lived more simply than I. Most of their food was grown at home or bought locally, for example, although supplies and equipment from away was transported in the main by rail and many trips they had were by rail. Early in their Manitoba life they likely used coal as well as wood for heat, but I know they had a generator for electricity in their house in town. Still I doubt Great Grandmother could have even dreamed of the sometimes wasteful conveniences I use routinely.

By all accounts, her husband, William Irwin, was interested in anything new, mind you. Could he have resisted buying or driving a Snow Locomotive? And I understand he did have an automobile. Would Great Grandmother have 'rationed' his jaunts around the district? I hope so!

Wordless Wednesday - Dress-up, Newdale Manitoba Canada

I believe this was taken in front of Scott's store in Newdale, Manitoba, Canada. Occasion unknown! but the littlest girl - the one who isn't 'dressed up' - is my mother. There is a Kodak ad in the window and some kind of posters on the windows. (So far unreadable.) Photographer, my grandpa, Walter SCOTT. Posted for (Almost) Wordless Wednesday

Finding Your Roots - 15th Annual Family HIstory Seminar - Surrey BC

'Finding Your Roots' 15th Annual Tri-Stake Family History Seminar

17 October, 2009, Saturday - All day - 8am to 4 pm

Free!

6270 - 126th St., Surrey, BC, Canada
Telephone: 604 597 9695

Keynote Speakers

Brenda Smith - 'Pack Your Parachute' and 'Organize: The 2nd Prime Directive'

Dave Obee -'Writing Your Family History' and 'Introduction to Eastern European Genealogy'

Eunice Robinson - 'Ireland' - a session each for Beginners and Advanced, and 'What to do with Your Research'

Jim Terry - Legacy Family Tree 7.0 and Legacy FamilySearch

Lyn McGonigal - New Family Search with Family Insight

Penny Christensen - 'Pedigree Analysis' and 'Recording & Documenting Research'

Many more speakers and topics all day - from DNA to scrapbooking to maps, from Latin America to Christian India to Scotland.

Also talks on researching at Cloverdale Branch Library (Surrey Public Library), Family History Centers (in the Lower Mainland, in Burnaby, Surrey, Abbotsford) and at the BC Genealogical Society's Walter Draycott Library (in Surrey).

Members of many local genealogical organizations, including the BC Genealogical Society, will be on hand all day with displays and with genealogical resources - research guides, CDs, books, magazines, etc. - for sale.

Free. Attend one or five sessions. Full agenda available on the Finding Your Roots Seminar website.

Please pre-register on-line. A $5. box lunch can be ordered on-line as well when you register. Hot apple cider and herbal teas will be available for sale. No coffee as this seminar is at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - church members abstain from coffee. Please see the FAQ at the Seminar website (link above).

I'll be leading the BCGS Walter Draycott Library session. Don't hesitate to ask for me - I will be around the BC Genealogical Society tables for part of the day at least.

Treasure Chest Thursday - A Mystery Item from my Na

For Treasure Chest Thursday, here's a mystery item which apparently belonged to my Na. I've been meaning to ask about it, so here's my chance.

The case is about 16cm long with the top on. It appears to have been simply decorated by scoring out part of the wood in strips by hand after staining it. It holds these 5 pins - there's no room for many more - maybe one or two extra would fit.

Can't be hairpins, surely there aren't enough? I thought these might be for some kind of needlework as Na was very handy with a needle, but any ideas ??? Don't worry, I'll laugh if the answer is really obvious.

Treasure Chest Thursday - 'Natural History' Postcard

Front: From "Punch" - Natural History

Eva: "Mother says I'm descended from Mary, Queen of Scots."

Tom (her brother): "So am I, then."

Eva: "Don't be silly, Tom, you can't be - you're a boy !"

Back: Juvenile Jokes from "Punch." ...

"After the black & white drawing by H. Corbould.

Since October is Women's History Month in Canada, I'll be featuring a few women's history related items this month.

This is from my postcard collection and quite neatly (for me, anyway) combines both my women's history and genealogy interests. (Sister Eva was partly right after all - thinking about Mary, Queen of Scots DNA...)

This is a Tuck's Post Card, divided back, printed in England. #9192. Unmailed; name written across the card in pencil -
Miss Blanche Caldale(?)

By the way, there's a new Festival of Postcards coming up - the theme is QUADRUPEDS. Enter by 20 October, 2009.