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Celebrating 30 Years of Partnership!. Why genealogy matters to me.
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Published in Times-Journal July 16, 1981 with caption: "Advice From Director - Elgin County Library research librarian Tom Bonanno, right, who is directing a summer project to compile indexes of old area census reports, talks over a minor problem with project co-ordinator Patti Binks, second from right. Patti worked last summer on the first phase of the project, which is expected to be completed this winter." Also shown are research assistants Steve Peters, left, and Cathy Mihalik, seated.
1980 – 1982 Census Indexing Project • This project was the first comprehensive genealogical project in Elgin and one of the first in Ontario. It was the building block to the partnership we have today. • What made it happen? Elgin County Library’s early commitment to local history and genealogy and evidenced by the most comprehensive microfilm collection of any County in Ontario.
Elgin County Library Microform Collection -assessment and collectors' rolls for the different municipalities.; -complete microfilm copies of every census from 1842 to 1901 for the Province of Ontario.; -bylaws and minute books from municipalities within the County.; -Tweedsmuir Histories; -assorted city and county directories from Elgin and neighbouring municipalities; -gazeteers and directories concerning Upper Canada, Canada West, and Ontario.; -business directories; -diaries and letter books; -scrapbooks; -newspapers published in the County; -Surrogate Court Estate Files and Wills for the London District and Elgin County.; -Surrogate Clerk of Ontario records; -Upper Canada Land Petitions; -church records from various churches in the County.
Acknowledging those who made it happen… Elgin Wells and Ruth Prowse
30 year anniversary of public discussion on archives… • First resolution on this matter passed by Elgin County Library Board in 1982. • Study commissioned by Elgin County Council in 1988 called for development of Elgin County Archives on 4th floor of administration building. • Issue sat dormant until 1998 when County Council again took up the matter in response to municipal amalgamation and land records issue. • Archivist hired in 2001 to shepherd the development of a program. Let the fun begin!
Creating Elgin County Archives Stakeholder consultations began in 2001, including with OGS. Initially, concerns were expressed about the types of materials the archives was willing to acquire, particularly the unwillingness to acquire published family histories given that they did not fit the mandate. There were some tense moments!
Elgin County Archives mandate (By-Law 01-21) to act as the repository for all inactive records in all formats of the County’s executive, management and administrative functions and related agencies that are designated for permanent retention according to legislative requirements and/or the County’s records retention by-law (see Schedule “A” attached to and forming part of this by-law for a glossary of terms); to establish policies for the management of active and semi-active records within all County departments, including authority for the destruction of all corporate records as well as maintenance of the County’s records retention by-law; to enter into transfer agreements for the management of inactive records of the County’s former and current local municipalities; to acquire archival records from private sources that have bearing upon the history of the County of Elgin as appraised by the archivist and in accordance with an acquisition policy approved by Council. It is generally understood that such donations are the property of the archives upon completion of a donation agreement unless otherwise stated; to enter into agreements pending Council approval for the management of records of other agencies and levels of government.
Acknowledging the important role of STPL Thorman Room has filled the void a reference library for OGS for published materials such as family histories. STPL is responsible maintains the Times-Journal collection and is responsible for on-going microfilming. STPL recognized the significant importance of maintaining published sources on local history and genealogy through the recent revitalization of the Thorman room. In other words, things have worked out pretty well. Each institution is able to focus on acquisitions that meet respective mandates in complete partnership.
Success to date has increased resources and services available We have completed transfers for all of Elgin’s 16 former municipalities, making resources like tax assessment rolls and voters’ lists available. We have acquired Tweedsmuir history books for almost every current and former branch in the County. We have provided a powerful, on-line database to our collections which includes the Scott Studio photographs. We have acquired significant holdings on local veterans, particularly for First World War and early militia records. We have provided in-house genealogical reference services to thousands of patrons in our first ten years and responded to tens of thousands more via phone and e-mail. We received an institutional award in 2007 from the Archives Association of Ontario.
Projects that symbolize our strong partnership • Acquisition of Times-Journal hard copies, sorting and indexing. • Remember those hot days on the 3rd floor… • The indexing of the duplicates and their other uses in the community has been truly gratifying. Thanks Carol!
Archivists’ attitudes have also changed from… • “We are all aware of the fact that an unfortunate antipathy exists between members of the archival and historical professions and the genealogists. The former generally view the ancestry researchers with contempt, regarding them as people who contribute little or nothing to our knowledge of this country’s past and are chiefly occupied in forging weak links between themselves and such celebrities as Charlemagne and William the Conqueror. The genealogists, on the other hand, often think that archivists and historical society personnel deliberately close their eyes to the real value of genealogical investigation and consequently are uncooperative when requested to make available records in their custody.” Milton Rubincam, American Archivist, (1949) • Genealogists are like potatoes; the best parts are underground. • Does the index date 01/01/32 mean January 1st, 1932 or is it January 32nd, 1901?
To the point where genealogists are vital customers… • Archivists’ attitudes have changed drastically in the past 20 years, fuelled partly by the key role genealogical groups have played in advocating on archival issues. No better example than the joint work on release of the 1911 census. • Locally, genealogical research accounts for at least 80% of our usage. • The nature of genealogy has also changed given recent moves to open adoption records, the need to determine family medical history and the fact that it is now “big business” (ancestry.com). Through the indexing work of genealogists, the Internet has turned archives from being one of the least accessible resources to one of the most accessible.
Our go-forward partnership in action… • I am willing to bet that there is not a jurisdiction anywhere in Canada that has more material digitized, indexed and available on-line than Elgin County, especially between www.elgin.ca and www.elginogs.ca
Future challenges • We recognize that we need more space and plans are unfolding to address this. • Our success with digitization is only increasing expectations that we will be digitizing everything – this is simply not realistic in the foreseeable future for a whole host of reasons such as cost and preservation considerations.
Advocacy must continue! • Archivists need genealogical community more than ever
Your voice is needed. • http://archiviststrek2012.tumblr.com/ • Sign the petition under google search “Help save Canada's National Archival Development Program”.
Final words of wisdom… • Don’t focus on your past while forgetting your present. In light of family breakdowns, employment mobility, we need to document the here and now of our families too. Don’t leave this for future generations. • Let’s always remember that between a birth, marriage and death date there was a life lived. Stop and smell the roses and learn more about your ancestors than just their vital statistics.
