Archive CD Books Canada NEWSLETTER V2#1 - 18 May 2005
Contents:
1 WELCOME
2 WHAT’S IN THE NEWSLETTER
3 NEW CANADIAN RELEASES (3)
4 COMING SOON
5 NEW RELEASES FROM OTHER PARTNERS
British Books ( 5)
USA Books (4)
6 NEWS & GOSSIP
7 FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY AND OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
8 PREVIOUSLY RELEASED BOOKS
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1 WELCOME:
Welcome to the Archive CD Books Canada newsletter. This newsletter will be published whenever we have enough information to make it worth your while reading, but we expect that will mean there will be about one a month.
Remember this Newsletter is published for you so if you think we’re missing something important drop me a line to Malcolm@ArchiveCDBooks.ca .
Newsletters work best when they get a good circulation. We’re doing our best to let people know about it but you could help us along by mentioning it to your genealogy buddies and generally spreading the word.
2 WHAT’S IN THE NEWSLETTER:
A total of 12 new title releases in this newsletter.
New releases from Archive CD Books Canada.
New British Books on CD
New USA Books on CD
News Gossip and more.
3 NEW CANADIAN RELEASES:
To find a book on our web site http://www.archivecdbooks.ca take a note of the catalogue number - or use the “copy” function - go to the web site, click on the “Search Page” link and enter, or “paste,” the number into the “Product Number” box. Hit “Search” and then “More” and you will be in a position to reread the description or to place your order. There is frequently more information about the books available on the web site.
All prices in $Cdn.
* A History of the County of Grey
CA0130: $23.00
Another wonderful history of an Ontario County. This one is a little unusual in that it has been sponsored by the "Grey County Council" and so has something of the stamp of official authority. As you might expect it contains the history of the county from it's earliest settlement. The author has devoted the first two chapters to "The Indians" and "Indian Legends and Customs" this being a discussion of the initial interactions of the First Nations peoples with the fur-traders, explorers and missionaries and an account of what was learned from these early interactions. From this starting point the development of Grey is followed from the making of the first treaties, which made settlement possible, through the establishment of organized communities as we recognize them.
The book's author / editor, Edith Louise Marsh (1870 - 1960), has shown her talent for writing by including a lot of anecdotal accounts amongst the bald accounting of facts so that it is a pleasure to read what might otherwise have become another dull history text book.
The names of many of the early pioneers can be found here, including in many cases the location of their land allotment and where possible their photograph or portrait is also shown. Not to say that the book limits itself to only the early period. Development is followed right up to just before the publication of the book in 1931 although there were obviously difficulties in giving individual accounts of all those who settled in the county as its population grew. The accounts of more recent times tend to follow specific topics such as Religion and Politics. Of great interest will be the accounts of the establishment and growth of each township, town and village.
Finally there is a genealogist's "gold mine" in the appendices:
- Appendix A: contains an Alphabetical Directory of Grey for 1865 giving the name of each landowner and their plot's location.
- Appendix B: is a list of all those from Grey who served in the "Great" war (1914 - 1918) The list shows the Contingent, and sometimes the unit, they enlisted in and the municipality in which they enlisted. It also lists those "sons" of Grey who were elsewhere when they enlisted but the place of enlistment frequently seems to be within Grey so it is not clear where they actually resided at their point of enlistment. It claims to be as complete a list as was possible at the time (c1930) and indicates those listed who did not survive the conflict.
- Appendix C: names of Officials, Wardens and County Councilors of the county from the first provisional council in 1852 through 1931 when the book was published.
- Also given are the incorporation dates of the major towns / city as well as the names of the first Mayor.
The book has been formatted for text searches using the features of the freely available PDF reading applications. We recommend Adobe Reader v4 and better for maximum compatibility.
* Sketches of some Early Shefford Pioneers
CA0151: $13.00
Although this book was primarily intended as a set of background notes to ten portraits which were to be presented to the Waterloo Public Library by George G. Foster, Esq., K.C., it exceeds that relatively humble purpose by a great deal. The subjects of the portraits were all men who had had a significant role in the formation and development of the Eastern Townships of Quebec and of Shefford County in particular. Mr. Noyes has provided us with well researched and in many cases extremely detailed biographies of the subjects and in doing so has explained and highlighted much of the history of Shefford, the Eastern Townships and, to some extent, the whole of Canada.
As an example, two of the subjects were heavily involved in bringing the railways to the Eastern Townships and in all the scandal and intrigue surrounding those events. Their biographies give an interesting perspective on these events given, as they are, from a very personal viewpoint. Then again two of the subjects held commissions in the local militia giving some interesting background on that aspect of the area's history.
Yes, there's a lot more to be gained from this relatively small book than just the life stories of this handful of its most prominent citizens who's names are given on our web site
This book has been formatted for text searches using the "Search" and "Find" features of the freely downloadable PDF file readers. We recommend Adobe Reader(TM) v4 or later for maximum compatibility.
* A McCurdy Family History
CA0153: $23.00
Not one but two McCurdy family history books on one CD!
The primary book is "The McCurdys of Nova Scotia" and provides a very complete chronicle of the family from Alexander (The Pioneer) McCurdy who was the first of the line to land in Nova Scotia, through to the generation contemporary with the publication of these books in 1930. While this branch of the McCurdy clan made its first home in Nova Scotia, subsequent generations have spread all over the North American continent. In addition to following the McCurdy name the author has also included chapters on the Archibald family and on Mrs. Alexander Graham Bell, the daughter of a McCurdy girl.
The second book is "The Ancestral McCurdys" which traces the ancient origins of the McCurdy clan to the ancestral homes in Scotland and then Ireland. The earliest ancestor identified is "Chief Gilkrist Makurerdy" a name which uses both the ancient form of the modern "Mc" and "Mac" (son of) and an "interesting" spelling of his progenitor's name, a name which the author concludes was "Reuda," a known clan leader.
It is quite clear that the books were intended to compliment each other so we feel the reproduction of both on the same CD is completely appropriate.
Both books were written by H. Percy Blanchard (a family name strongly related to the McCurdys) although The McCurdys of Nova Scotia was "published for" the Hon. F. B. McCurdy, which I take it to mean that he funded it. Both books were privately published in England and are of a very high publication quality.
The chronicle of the Nova Scotia branch of the clan spans about 7 generations and about 200 years. The author has supplied family trees and entries for every member. Of course some entries are short but where information was available the author has not stinted in providing the biographical highlights.
Research into such an important name has continued and still continues and, as might be expected, some errors made by the authors have been exposed. We have not made an exhaustive search for information on such errors but a few that we came across have been recorded in our publication notes.
The text of both books has been formatted for computer searches using the "Find" features of the freely available PDF reader applications. This will be of significant help in finding specific topics within the books.
These books have been loaned to us by a Friend of Archive CD Books Canada who prefers to remain anonymous, I'm sure you will join with us in thanking her for allowing us to make this information available to you all.
4 COMING SOON:
We are pleased to announce that we are now working on a cooperative project with the Yarmouth County Museum and Archives (N.S.) to help preserve some of their valuable and fascinating old books. Our first joint project is to be:
* Yarmouth (N.S.) shipping from 1761 to 1902 (working title)
We are making a compendium of several books and other sources to create what is probably the most complete historical list of ships, and owners, registered in this important Nova Scotia Port.
and two more from the same source:
* Yarmouth Past and Present, by Lawson - 1902.
Subtitled, A Book of Reminiscences.
* Yarmouth, Nova Scotia: A Sequel to Campbell’s History, by George S. Brown - 1888.
A great history of Yarmouth.
* We have just been loaned two books on British Columbia which will be scanned and released as soon as possible.
5 NEW RELEASES FROM OTHER PARTNERS:
(All prices in $Cdn.)
BRITISH BOOKS - NEW RELEASE:
* 1939 Kelly's Directory of Somerset (excluding Bristol)
GB1258: $35.30
A very comprehensive late directory, which can be very useful to family historians tracing families in earlier times. It is surprising how many families will have lived in the same houses for decades.
This CD doesn't include Bristol but covers all other parts of Somerset, giving historical, statistical and local information. It does of course include a trades and professional directory and is clearly indexed to make finding ancestors a doddle. Fully searchable.
* Civil Division of the County of Dorset - 1833
GB1266: $27.80
In 1830, the county of Dorset was re-organized. Instead of the old arrangement of thirty six "Hundreds", the county was divided into nine new "Divisions". It was a complicated affair which caused much confusion, and this book was published at the time to sort it all out.
Comprising lists of the magistrates and subordinate officers, clerks of the peace. Sheriffs, county clerks, bailiffs, gaolers, surgeons, coroners, constables, tythingmen, surveyors, overseers of the poor. Knights and burgesses in parliament from the year 1760, etc. With a complete list of parishes, towns, villages, hamlets, farms, etc. The annual value of parishes, places and property. Names of tythings and places, and the new divisions of the county, with map.
* Boyles Court Guide 1880
GB1269: $35.30
Including a pull out map of the West End of London(1880) and many charming adverts.
This wonderful book contains street and alphabetical listings of the name and abode in town and country of the nobility and gentry. Included are the family names of the nobility, Houses of Peers and Commons, the Foreign Ministers, Bankers, Army and Navy Agents, Government Offices, Public Societies and Institutions, Club Houses, Inns of Courts etc. Basically anyone who was anyone in 1880 London is listed here. The pull out map and street directories mean you can find where they lived on the map and see who lived next door.
* Kelly's Directory of Leeds 1908 (with map)
GB1301: $27.80
The enormous pull out map will be a great benefit for researchers, even those who know Leeds now, it has changed quite a bit!
A very large and comprehensive directory of Leeds, containing descriptions of every place and monument of notice, with alphabetical lists of residents, their trades and addresses.
Plus a fabulous, 400 page, street directory of Leeds. Anyone researching Leeds should have a copy of this CD.
* T. Bulmer & Co's History, Topography and Directory of Lancaster and District 1913
GB1336: $35.30
The history and archaeology of the town of Lancaster, with separate historical descriptions of each parish and township within a radius of about sixteen miles.
Each place has a list of householders and their occupations as at 1913, and towns also have a classified directory of tradespeople.
USA BOOKS - NEW RELEASE:
* Asheboro, North Carolina City Directory 1937-8
US0115: $18.70
A very comprehensive city directory with the names, addresses and occupations of all residents (in alphabetical order), together with details of all businesses. The book also has a classified "yellow pages" type listing of all businesses and trades, together with some fascinating advertisements.
This is a superb resource for historians and genealogists.
* The San Francisco Blue Book 1907
US0117: $21.90
AND
* The San Francisco Blue Book 1908
US0118: $21.90
From the introductions: "The Fashionable Private Address Directory. Containing the names, addresses, reception days and private telephone numbers of the leading families of San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda, San Jose, San Rafael, Burlingame, San Mateo, Los Angeles, Pasadena, Santa Monica, etc.
Together with the officers and members of the California Federation of Women's Clubs, giving over ten thousand names and addresses within 100 cities and towns of California; also the Men's Clubs, giving the officers and members. A special feature being the list of eight thousand names and addresses of Registered Automobile owners."
* The Complete Story of the San Francisco Horror
US0126: $21.90
Published in 1906. "A comprehensive and connected account of the terrible tragedy that befell the people of our Golden City - the Metropolis of the Golden Gate, and the death and ruin dealt many adjacent cities and surrounding country. Destroying earthquake comes without warning, in the early hours of the morning; immense structures topple and crumble, Great Leland University succumbs; water mains demolished and fire completes devastation. Fighting fire with dynamite.
"Illustrated with lots of photographs taken at the time.
6 NEWS & GOSSIP:
If any of you have genealogy related questions of a general nature - or something specifically related to Archive CD Books - we'd be glad to publish your question in this newsletter to tap into the enormous fund of knowledge which I know is out there.
* JUST RECEIVED:
We have just been informed that a review by Ruby M Cusack, of our book on CD of the Winslow Papers, CA0081, has been published in the New Brunswick Telegraph Journal. You can read the review on the newspaper’s web site at: < http://www.canadaeast.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050517/TPCOLUMNIST10/205170306/-1/lifecolumnists > (make sure you get the whole URL.) This is an important historical document and we are proud to have been able to make it readily available on CD in a computer searchable format.
* COOPERATIVE PROJECTS:
We are continuing to work on setting up cooperative projects with both individuals and organizations.
We are very pleased that we can now announce that we have now started a project with the Yarmouth County Museum and Archives. You can see the Books we have received from them so far in the “Coming Soon” section and we are working hard to ensure that the project will be extended so that we can bring you a lot more of their valuable holdings on CD.
* ARCHIVE CD BOOKS IRELAND:
We are still awaiting our first shipment from our new Irish partners. Unfortunately we don’t have any more influence on Canada Customs than you do.
* SPECIALS:
Our new site special is designed to encourage new customers to try out our great CDs. All new customers will receive a copy of our recently released “Manners and Rules of Good Society,” CA0009 regularly: $19.00, absolutely free. This book holds the key to the social code of 100 + years ago. A great help in understanding the attitudes and actions of our ancestors.
* NEW WEB DEPARTMENT:
Keep an eye open for a new department we will be introducing on our web site soon. It is intended to be the equivalent of the lounge area of a modern bookshop and will allow you to browse a few pages out of our books so you can get a better idea of what they are like. It is going to take us a while to get the “samplers” ready to go onto the web site so please be patient but our aim is to have a sampler of every Canadian (prefix CA) book on CD available for your review.
To introduce this new department we will be putting up a complete new book which you can browse or download absolutely free. For those of you who don’t want to use up the bandwidth (time) needed for this download we will also be selling this book on CD in our catalogue at our minimum economic price of $9.50.
* ARCHIVE CD BOOKS CANADA FORUM:
As well as announcing our new releases in this newsletter we are also posting them on the British-Genealogy Forums. I suggest you use the link below to go straight to our Canadian page because there are a lot of forums on this site and it takes a while to find your way around:
http://www.british-genealogy.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=20
In addition to posting our new releases you will see that we also announce other pieces of news and gossip as they come along. You may find some of the other forums of interest if you haven’t visited this site before.
COMMENTS FROM CUSTOMERS:
“Have had a quick look at the CDs - excellent stuff. Now I have to go to work. Such a boring thing work - but it pays for the more exciting stuff like genealogy. LOL” R.L.
7 FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY AND OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Genealogy - Irish and Scottish Surnames in Nova Scotia
At the Halifax Celtic Feis festival:
A one-hour overview of the field of genealogy, generally, and Nova Scotia in particular, followed by an hour dealing with the origin of surnames in western Europe with emphasis on family names in Europe's "Gaelic Fringe" (Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Isle of Man).
Instructor: Dr. Terrence M. Punch - A Certified Canadian Genealogist [CG(C)], a life fellow of the Royal Society of Irish Antiquaries (FRSAI) and the Royal Nova Scotia Historical Society (FRNSHS), resident genealogist for the CBC, and a regular columnist in "Saltscapes" and "Seniors' Advocate".
Saturday, June 4, 2005 Pier 21 National Historic Site
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Halifax, Nova Scotia; Fee: $13.00 + HST
For more information contact:
Scott Long. Program/Production, Halifax Celtic Feis 2005
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* BHCD Reunion August 27th. 2005 Rockingham, Halifax,NS
British Home Children and Descendants Association will hold their 3rd annual reunion on August 27th, 2005 at the Rockingham United Church Hall, 12 Flamingo Dr. Rockingham, Halifax, NS. Registration 9.00.AM to 9.45AM.
Special speaker will be Dr. Patricia Roberts-Pichette, British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa, who will speak on conditions in Britain's industrial cities in the later 1800's - early 1900's.
Highlight of the afternoon program will be the unveiling of an Interpretive Panel, in Rockingham Centennial Park, to honor John T Middlemore, to preserve the history of the " Fairview Home " Middlemore Distribution Centre and as a Memorial to all Middlemore children who came to Canada.
For more information contact: Cecil Verge, phone: 902-681-6697,
e-mail - willowcb@auracom.com
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* The Kelowna & District Genealogy Society invite you and your members to attend our 2005 Seminar "Harvest Your Family Tree" to be held in Kelowna, B.C., Canada, on September 30, October 1, 2, 2005. We have a selection of noted speakers from Scotland, England and Western Canada; something for everyone, whether you are just beginning or are a seasoned researcher. More information about early bird registration, seminar schedule and presenters is available on the Kelowna & District Genealogy website:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~bckdgs/seminar2005.htm .
Kind regards, Betty Maurice, Advertising Committee, 2005 Seminar - bjmaur@telus.net
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Don't forget we can help your group to spread the news. Send us an e-mail.
8 PREVIOUSLY RELEASED BOOKS:
Archives of this newsletter showing all the previous release announcements are available in the newsletter archive which can be reached through,
< http:/archivecdbooks.ca/NewsletterArchive.html >
All our newly released books are listed on our web site in the New Releases and Special Offers page. Go to:
< http://www.archivecdbooks.ca/new.html > for an instant update on our new products.
Archive CD Books Canada Inc.
Attn.: Malcolm Moody - President
P.O. Box 11,
Manotick, Ontario, K4M 1A2, Canada.
(613) 692-2667
e-mail: Malcolm@ArchiveCDBooks.ca
Canadian web site: http://www.archivecdbooks.ca