Ancestry has 10 billion records

Congratulations to Ancestry on posting its 10 billionth record. Their press release is here.
For the record, the top ten databases by record count are:

Title	Collection	Records	Activity
	Public Member Trees	Family Trees	2,107,016,069
	U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 (Beta)	Schools, Directories & Church Histories	1,051,103,065
	Private Member Trees	Family Trees	527,913,893
	Ancestry World Tree	Family Trees	467,671,004
	U.S. Public Records Index, Volume 1	Schools, Directories & Church Histories	418,692,357
	U.S. Public Records Index, Volume 2	Schools, Directories & Church Histories	402,475,206
	U.S. Phone and Address Directories, 1993-2002	Schools, Directories & Church Histories	313,281,811
	British Phone Books, 1880-1984	Schools, Directories & Church Histories	278,407,919
	U.S. School Yearbooks	Schools, Directories & Church Histories	155,566,303
	London, England, Electoral Registers, 1847-1965	Census & Voter Lists	132,734,772

The top ten Canadian databases by record count are:

Title	Collection	Records	Activity
	Public Member Photos & Scanned Documents	Pictures	55,222,661
	Canadian Phone and Address Directories, 1995-2002	Schools, Directories & Church Histories	37,867,068
	Private Member Photos	Pictures	19,466,520
	Quebec, Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967	Birth, Marriage & Death	14,515,649
	Canadian Passenger Lists, 1865-1935	Immigration & Travel	7,286,089
	1911 Census of Canada	Census & Voter Lists	7,223,678
	Public Member Stories	Stories, Memories & Histories	6,985,083
	1901 Census of Canada	Census & Voter Lists	5,343,565
	Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s	Immigration & Travel	4,838,517
	1891 Census of Canada	Census & Voter Lists	4,787,225

The top ten UK databases by record count:

Title	Collection	Records	Activity
	British Phone Books, 1880-1984	Schools, Directories & Church Histories	278,407,919
	London, England, Electoral Registers, 1847-1965	Census & Voter Lists	132,734,772
	England & Wales, Birth Index: 1916-2005	Birth, Marriage & Death	71,312,077
	England & Wales, Marriage Index: 1916-2005	Birth, Marriage & Death	63,777,372
	England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915	Birth, Marriage & Death	62,795,416
	Public Member Photos & Scanned Documents	Pictures	55,222,661
	England & Wales, Death Index: 1916-2005	Birth, Marriage & Death	49,027,159
	England & Wales, FreeBMD Death Index: 1837-1915	Birth, Marriage & Death	38,334,193
	England & Wales, FreeBMD Marriage Index: 1837-1915	Birth, Marriage & Death	32,698,349
	1901 England Census	Census & Voter Lists	30,580,800
	1891 England Census	Census & Voter Lists	27,126,989

Ancestry subscription correction

I'm blushing. A few days ago I claimed Ancestry.ca had a short-term offer of the world (complete) edition of Ancestry for $49 for 6 months. I've just found out I was mistaken and apologize to anyone I misled.

The offer is for Ancestry Deluxe. I mistook Deluxe as meaning something other than just the plain old ordinary Canada-only databases. Not so.  Its a savings of around $10.00 (or more if you went month to month).

Maybe I'm not the only one to be tripped up by marketer's gobbledygook.

BIFHSGO May meeting

Next BIFHSGO Meeting - Saturday, May 12, 2012 - Library and Archives Canada Auditorium, 395 Wellington Street, Ottawa

9:00 - 9:30 a.m Before BIFHSGO: Digital Images for your Family Tree, Part 2
Presented by Brian Glenn

9:30 - 10:00 a.m. Discovery Tables

BIFHSGO May Meeting
10:00 - 11:30 a.m

ROOTS: A Genealogical Snapshot of a Sandy Hill Congregation
Presented by Dr. Glenn J. Lockwood and Janet Uren

When the church of St. Alban was built in 1867 in the emerging neighbourhood of Sandy Hill, it attracted a congregation that included many of the movers and shakers of a very young Ottawa. In that year, members of parliament and civil servants were only beginning to arrive in the brand new Canadian capital, and many built their houses in Sandy Hill. The young congregation included Sir John A. Macdonald and his wife, whose first home was in Sandy Hill. But where did they and their neighbours come from? Using St. Alban’s as a focal point, the speakers will look back at the origins of a new neighbourhood to show how a typical Canadian community was constructed out of largely British building blocks in Confederation-era Canada.

About the Speakers

Dr Glenn J. Lockwood is a professional historian who serves as Archivist of the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa.

Janet Uren is a professional writer who specializes in historical subjects.

Deceptive and misguided: LAC RPP 2012-13

You'd think a document tabled in Parliament to justify allocation of public funds would contain current information. Not so.

On Tuesday the document Library and Archives Canada 2012-2013 Report on Plans and Priorities (pdf) for was tabled, along with those for many other departments and agencies.

It shows total financial resources decreasing from $117.7 million this year to $95.7 million in 2014-15, an 18.7% decrease. Human resources are show as stable at 1,117 Full Time Equivalents, something that will come as a surprise to 235 Public Service Alliance of Canada member LAC employees who received notices with the information that 105 of their positions are expected to be eliminated. A total 20% staff cut is expected which is a long way from stable! There was no response to an email sent to Mark Melanson, Senior Director General and Chief Financial Officer at LAC requesting clarification.
As we can't rely on the numbers perhaps there's information in the words and trends.

This year's Wordle for the RPP shows mostly the same words to be prominent as last year's. Modernization, which ranked with documentary and information last year warranting 61 mentions is reduced to 28 mentions this. Again this year there is no mention of genealogy or newspapers. 

The financial planning summary table on page 16 shows substantially reduced expenditures anticipated in the next three years for "Collaboration in the management of government records" and "Preservation of Continuing Memory". Increased funding is for "Documentation of the Canadian Experience".

The section of most interest to clients is Resource Discovery on page 5. Here it states that "LAC understands that its clients expect to have access to Canadian documentary heritage when, where and how they want it."
Yet last week LAC announced it is terminating the Interlibrary Loan service. ILL made published materials, including microfilmed newspapers, available through local libraries. The service is popular. It delivers LAC service locally so folks don't have to travel to Ottawa to view the materials. Why is LAC going backwards? Why won't LAC walk its talk?

The same Resource Discovery section mention "a new service model approach that supports digital service delivery as the primary access channel for clients."  Digitization of content on demand is given as an example. That's an expensive option. Commonly referenced information should be made available without the financial burden falling on the first user. Yet LAC has limited resources for digitization, and little inclination to index records.
Why is LAC now so reluctant to enter into partnerships, as in the past with Ancestry? It's in the interest of LAC to have more materials more widely available, an objective delivered by services like Ancestry Library freely available at many public libraries. Individual subscribers pay for individual access, and commercial partners get more clients, employ more people and pay more taxes. Who loses? Why won't LAC walk its talk?

Also in the Resource Discovery section it states "LAC will refocus services so that staff expertise can be gradually applied in the most cost-effective ways in accordance with the services that clients value." LAC measures cost-effective as number of clients served. Of two clients, one a genealogist satisfying their curiosity about their family history, the other a researcher for a book or TV program that will be seen by tens of thousands, doesn't one do more to "contributing to the cultural, social, and economic advancement of Canada" in the words of the LAC mission? Yet the reduction in service on Wellington Street is placing obstacles in the way of that researcher in making effective use of the LAC collection.

There's further information on the deteriorating state of LAC services at http://www.savelibraryarchives.ca/update-2012-05.aspx

QFHS Lecture: The Sinking of the Empress of Ireland

The Quebec Family History Society is offering a free public lecture

The Sinking of the Empress of Ireland

by Anne Renaud

Saturday, May 12, 2012 at 10:30 a.m.
Briarwood Presbyterian Church Hall, 70 Beaconsfield Blvd, Beaconsfield, QC, H9W 3Z3

Anne Renaud is the author of numerous historical books. Her topic is "Into the Mist," the story of the tragic sinking of the Empress of Ireland in the St. Lawrence River in 1914 with the loss of over 1,000 lives.

www.qfhs.ca

Emergency Preparedness

May 6-12 is Emergency Preparedness Week in Canada.

Have you prepared your family history materials to withstand an emergency? Scanning your documents and photos with automatic online backup is a simple cost-effective step. Several backup services are mentioned in this recent article by Dick Eastman.

Digitized War of 1812 records at LAC

Library and Archives Canada announce access to 73,000 new images of War of 1812 records on its website. The images available are:

• War of 1812: Board of Claims for Losses, 1813-1848, RG 19 E5A (23 microfilms)
• War of 1812: Lower Canada Nominal Rolls and Paylists, RG 9 1A7 (10 microfilms)
• War of 1812: Miscellaneous Records (21 microfilms)
• War of 1812: Upper Canada Returns, Nominal Rolls and Paylists, RG 9 1B7 (14 microfilms)

For each collection there is a help file which gives an outline of the contents reel by reel.  There is no name index. Unless you know the battalion or other unit in which a person served the search is likely to be arduous.  As described here checking the RG8 military C series may may yield that information.

23andMe eliminates subscription model

Cece Moore posts that DNA testing company "23andMe has listened to its customers and decided to eliminate the subscription model beginning on Thursday, announcing the new price going forward will be $299." 

Berkshire Probate Index

Just now available from the Berkshire FHS, the Berkshire Probate Index CD containing details of some 38,000 people (and over 9,000 distinct surnames) and 39,000 documents between 1480 and 1857. Most of these relate to Berkshire but 18 further English and Welsh counties are identified.

Information on the contents, how the CD was produced and how to purchase a copy is at  http://www.berksfhs.org.uk/cms/Projects-general/berkshire-probate-index.html

Updates to Cheshire and Yorkshire BMD

The following updates to the local BMD register indexes are announced.
Cheshire:
Births:
6,781 for Congleton, registers at Cheshire East (1951-1974).
Deaths:
1,003 for Birkenhead, registers at Wirral (1928-1929)
2,001 for Tranmere, registers at Wirral (1924-1926).
Marriages:
1,152 for NE Cheshire Civil Marriage, registers at Stockport (1968-1971)
Revised 3,149 for Stockport Civil Marriage, registers at Stockport (1875-1891)
22 for Wallasey, Memorial Church (Manor Road), registers at Wirral (1940-1953)
21 for New Brighton, Presbyterian Church URC (Ennerdale Road), registers at Wirral (1934-1940)
21 for Wallasey, St Saviour (Radnor Drive), registers at Wirral (1933-1953)
20 for Seacombe, Oakdale Presbyterian Mission (Somerville), registers at Wirral (1941-1957)
4 for Seacombe, Egremont Church of Christ URC (Crescent Road), registers at Wirral (1984-1987)
9 for Seacombe, Oakdale Mission (Somerville), registers at Wirral (1972-1984)
10 for Liscard, English Presbyterian (Martins Lane), registers at Wirral (1946-1949).

Cheshire now has more than 6 million BMD index entries.

Yorkshire:

Deaths:
285 for Addingham, registers at Bradford (1859-1863)
3,708 for Bradford East, registers at Bradford (1859-1863)
2,731 for Bradford West, registers at Bradford (1859-1863)
1,669 for Bingley, registers at Bradford (1859-1863)
1,978 for Bowling, registers at Bradford (1859-1863)
924 for Drighlington, registers at Bradford (1859-1863)
5,221 for Horton, registers at Bradford (1859-1863)
1,746 for Idle, registers at Bradford (1859-1863)
1,570 for North Bierley, registers at Bradford (1859-1863)
1,053 for Shipley, registers at Bradford (1859-1863)
1,719 for Thornton, registers at Bradford (1859-1863)
534 for Wilsden, registers at Bradford (1859-1863)
Marriages:
2 for Primitive Methodist Chapel (Albany Street), York, registers at York (1930-1931)
21 for Christ Church Heworth, York, registers at York (1964-1973)
316 for Clifton Methodist, York, registers at York (1907-1973)
71 for Church of English Martyrs, York, registers at York (1971-1973)
166 for Garrison Chapel (St George), York, registers at York (1933-1971)
82 for Haxby Methodist (Wigginton), York, registers at York (1931-1973)
269 for Holy Redeemer, York, registers at York (1951-1973)
3 for Mission Room (Duke of York St), York, registers at York (1920-1921)
358 for Trinity Methodists Church Monkgate, York, registers at York (1911-1973)
90 for New Earswick Methodist, York, registers at York (1929-1973)
36 for St Andrew New Earswick, York, registers at York (1959-1972)
78 for Church of Our Lady, York, registers at York (1970-1973)
25 for Baptist Church Priory Street, York, registers at York (1964-1973)
34 for St James the Deacon, York, registers at York (1966-1973)
411 for St Luke, York, registers at York (1921-1973)
54 for St Wulstan Heworth, York, registers at York (1961-1973)
8 for Jewish Synagogue, York, registers at York (1909-1941)
5 for Trinity Chapel (Peckitt Street), York, registers at York (1927-1935)
36 for Upper Poppleton Methodist, York, registers at York (1953-1973)
76 for Victoria Bar Chapel, York, registers at York (1920-1939)
51 for Acomb Trinity Methodist (Wesleyan), York, registers at York (1920-1948)
61 for Water Fulford Methodist, York, registers at York (1925-1973)
15 for Wesley Circuit Mission Hall (Skeldergate), York, registers at York (1909-1934)
50 for Boroughbridge, Wesley Chapel, registers at Harrogate (1968-2010)
51 for Coxwold, St Michael, registers at Harrogate (1990-2002)
495 for Aldborough, St Andrew, registers at Harrogate (1837-1908)
19 for Faceby, St Mary Magdalen, Northallerton, registers at Harrogate (1984-2008)
489 for Fewston, St Lawrence, registers at Harrogate (1837-1909)
340 for Great Ouseburn, St Mary, registers at Harrogate (1837-1978)
102 for Christ Church, Harrogate, registers at Harrogate (2005-2011)
167 for Arkendale, St Bartholomew, registers at Harrogate (1837-1979)
501 for Kirkby Malzeard, St Andrew, registers at Harrogate (1837-1905)
423 for Kirkby Overblow, All Saints, registers at Harrogate (1837-1911)
500 for Stokesley, St Peter and St Paul, Northallerton, registers at Harrogate (1872-1935)
21 for Cleasby, St Peter, registers at Harrogate (1981-1998)

There are about 5.5 million index entries in the Yorkshire BMD database.

OGS Conference: interview with conference chair Nancy Cutway

There's a short interview on OGS Conference 2012 with conference chair Nancy Cutway by Jack Thompson of Kingston’s 102.7 The Lake radio here. She points out that Conference 2012 could be a great starting point for beginners as well as an opportunity for more experienced family historians to network.

What's new at the British Newspaper Archive

Now it's easy to find out which newspapers are newly added to the British Newspaper Archive. Additions for the last 30 days are listed at the top of Newspaaper Titles page at http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/home/NewspaperTitles

Papers presently listed as new are: Chelmsford Chronicle 1942 - 1950; Cheltenham Chronicle 1809 - 1859, 1861 - 1950; Cornishman 1878 - 1887, 1949 - 1950; Derby Daily Telegraph 1893 - 1912, 1939 - 1947; Dover Express 1902 - 1918; Gloucester Journal 1941 -1949; Hull Daily Mail 1889 - 1920; Luton Times and Advertiser 1877 - 1880; North Devon Journal 1828 - 1841, 1950; Shields Daily Gazette 1860 - 1874; Taunton Courier, and Western Advertiser 1866 - 1949; Yorkshire Evening Post 1899 - 1903.

Lost Cousins newsletter and Ancestry savings

Tips, including how to save on FindMyPast and Ancestry subscriptions, are in the latest Lost Cousins Newsletter.

It looks like in the short term Ancestry.ca's offering of a 6 month subscription to the Canada Deluxe (World) Membership for $49, only for new subscribers, beats the UK deal. But beware of the small print:

Offer valid until; May 20th at 11:59 (ET).  .. Membership will be renewed automatically at the end of the 6 month subscription period and your payment method will be debited at the rate of $77.70. 

TNA podcast: Selling history: the role of the past at Fortnum and Mason

Founded by William Fortnum and Hugh Mason over 300 years ago, Andrea Tanner, keeper of the company memory at Fortnum and Mason tells stories from its past and explains how they are important communication and marketing tools in the battle to ensure sustainability and growth.

The presentation was recorded on 26 April 2012 at The (UK) National Archives.

http://media.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php/selling-history-the-role-of-the-past-at-fortnum-and-mason/

Is Ancestry moving into DNA and health?

The announcement last week that Ancestry.com now has a DNA test available to existing subscribers, marketed under the name AncestryDNA, is no surprise. The company discussed plans at RootsTech as part of their Saturday morning plenary and has been piloting the system with select clients in the US. Some have posted about their experience.

Most were pleased with the information given, but disappointed that the company does not return the raw data. That's something FamilyTreeDNA and 23andMe both do. The information can be used for further analysis, only likely something likely to be tackled by the expert.

The AncestryDNA website indicates "demand is sky-high, but we'll be sure to let you know when we have a test for you" so you add yourself to a waiting list."  The advertised price is $99.

A couple of items in Ancestry's press release on Thursday were surprises.

The first was the acquisition of data from the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation.

"In March, Ancestry.com DNA, LLC acquired access to an extensive collection of DNA assets from Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation, a non-profit organization. Founded by molecular genealogy pioneer, James LeVoy Sorenson, this organization has been dedicated to building the world's foremost collection of DNA samples and corresponding genealogical information. Over the last 12 years, the Sorenson Foundation collected a one-of-a-kind DNA database of tens of thousands of DNA samples with documented family histories in more than 100 countries on six continents. This DNA database gives AncestryDNA test-takers an expanded family history genetic resource, and should enable new levels of discovery about people's family backgrounds."

Many people donated a DNA sample and gave genealogical information to SMGF on the understanding that it was a non-profit. They received no direct benefit for donating their DNA and information. Now SMGF is selling that information to Ancestry, a for profit corporation, without any further approval from the donor. That may be legal. Is it ethical?

The second surprise was the announcement of a Scientific Advisory Board "that can advise the company on best practices in the emerging field of DNA and genomic testing. The board consists of:

-- Carlos D. Bustamante, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Genetics at
Stanford University School of Medicine
-- Mark J. Daly, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Medicine Harvard Medical
School Center for Human Genetics
-- John Novembre, Ph.D., Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles
-- Jeffrey R. Botkin, M.D., M.P.H., Professor of Pediatrics and Medical
Ethics, Associate Vice President for Research, University of Utah
-- Philip Awadalla, Ph.D., Director of the CARTaGENE BioBank, Saint Justine Hospital, Montreal, Canada"

Notice the affiliations .. medicine, medical, hospital. It makes you wonder whether Ancestry is planning a move into the health side of DNA testing, a field dominated by 23andMe at present.

The Family History Show: Episode 6

While at Who Do You Think You Are Live at Olympia in London in February it was hard to miss Nick Barrratt and Laura Berry with a cameraman conducting interviews with some of the better known people in family history. Short interviews with Debra Chatfield, Josh Taylor and Else Churchill, and others, are now available as part of a 20 minutes episode of  The Family History Show.

I was expecting it might include BIFHSGO member Brenda Turner who recorded a segment at the show. Maybe they're saving it for a future episode. They did get a shot of me taking a photo of Nick and Brenda.

WDYTYA: Rashida Jones survey

A bit delayed posting this one!

News of the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa Archives

Via their Friends newsletter comes news that access to the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa Archives for general researchers is likely to remain closed until September 1st, 2012.

Access has been closed since October as a result of construction on the site. There have been extensive negotiations within the Diocese regarding the location of the facility which are detailed in the newsletter. They involve a group from the larger Archives Advisory Committee making the case for the need for the archives to remain within the Cathedral precinct.

Any individual document within the archives is rarely accessed, yet the archives as a whole has information that is frequently used in the administration of the Diocese. If  this were not the case there would be little argument for housing the archives in the high value downtown location. That's why the new city archives was placed at the suburban 100 Tallwood location, in proximity to a major city administrative centre.

Poll on LAC funding

The Canadian Association of University Teachers is undertaking a Save Library and Archives Canada campaign based on concerns regarding budget cuts and management policies.
The mission of Library and Archives Canada, as embodied in legislation is:

• To preserve the documentary heritage of Canada for the benefit of present and future generations;
• To be a source of enduring knowledge accessible to all, contributing to the cultural, social and economic advancement of Canada; 
• To facilitate in Canada cooperation among communities involved in the acquisition, preservation and diffusion of knowledge; and
• To serve as the continuing memory of the government of Canada and its institutions.

In the 2012 budget cuts of $9.6 million were proposed over three years which will reduce the Library and Archives Canada workforce of 1,065 to 850 people. This poll asks your opinion on the adequacy of funding to allow LAC to meet its mission.

More Aberdeen burials at deceasedonline.com

On Friday, 4 May Deceased Online is adding about 33,000 records, burial registers scans and grave details, dating between January 1830 and November 1904 for St Peter's Churchyard in Aberdeen . This augments the 105,000 burial records for this old Aberdeen churchyard (and later cemetery) already online.

Watch for more Aberdeen records coming soon at deceasedonline.com

2012: Canada's documentary heritage RIP

WDYTYA: Rashida Jones

This week`s subject for WDYTYA on NBC, and CITY-TV in Canada, is Rashida Jones who is known, according to Wikipedia, as an American film and television actress, comic book author, screenwriter and occasional singer. Her ancestry is African-American,  European and Ashkenazi Jewish.

With nearly 4 million Google hits for her name she`s in the middle of the pack of the celebrities featured this year. Advance publicity for the program is that her maternal line will be investigated.

The program starts at 8pm EDT.

Ancestry updates Ontario, Canada Births, 1869-1913

This database is now an index to 2,171,130 births registered in Ontario between 1869 and 1913. As is usually the case, there's no indication whether it's a major or minor update.

Guide to CEF files

Very good news for researchers interested in the First World War is the appearance of Guide to Sources Relating to Units of the CEF a comprehensive index to files relating to each and every unit.

To search for the references included in all the finding aids relating to the CEF would be a long and exhaustive process since not all of them are yet online. The Guide provides a shortcut to finding the files relating to a particular Battalion, including records created in Canada, in England and at the Front. The Guide also has a brief history of each unit -- when authorized, where recruited, numbers, date of departure for overseas, name of the ship and much more. While this kind of information is available elsewhere, to have it all in one handy guide is a definite advantage.

One of the deficiencies is the challenge of finding a particular battalion. From his service file I knew my great-uncle served with the 28th Battalion. But you need to know that was an infantry battalion to use the guide. A battalion index would be a simple addition.

The Guide was originally developed over many years in the 1980s by Barbara M. Wilson, an archivist with the former National Archives of Canada. That was in happier days when the organization had specialist archivists. The guide has been updated with more recent acquisitions from official records, private papers and diaries, and by many other contributors.

Barbara Wilson, long retired but still with us, also produced a guide, handwritten, on Canadian military records for other periods which should receive the same treatment as this CEF guide. Her books include The half-million : the Canadians in Britain, 1939-1946, written with C.P. Stacey and originally published in 1987; and 
Ontario and the First World War, 1914-1918 : a collection of documents published in 1977 by the Champlain Society.

Thanks to Glenn Wright, author of Canadians and War, 1914-1919, for expert perspective.

LAC cancels National Archival Development Program

One impact of Harper government budget reductions is the elimination of the National Archival Development Program, funding for which came through Library and Archives Canada. The Canadian Council of Archives (CCA) was responsible for providing advice to LAC on the direction of the program, as well as for its administration, including managing the adjudication of applications and the funding process.
The program, worth  $1.7 million in 2011-12, had as its objectives:

• Increase access to Canada's archival heritage through the national catalogue;
• Increase awareness and broaden use of Canada's archives;
• Increase the representation of Aboriginal peoples and under-represented ethno-cultural groups in Canada's archives;
• Increase the capacity of archival networks to undertake strategic and development activities; and
• Increase the capacity of archival institutions to preserve Canada's archival heritage.

$1.1 million was used by provincial and territorial organization to these ends, the remainder for Canada-wide initiatives.

The program is now ended. The following letter from CCA Chair Lara Wilson was sent to provincial and territorial archives associations on Tuesday.

By now you will have heard of the budget cuts at the Library and Archives Canada (LAC) and the elimination of the National Archival Development Program (NADP) program. Like you, the CCA Board is stunned by this news. This is not only devastating to the archival community but will impede access to Canada's documentary heritage by Canadians for the foreseeable future.
Very shortly, CCA will provide you with more in-depth information, but the immediate impact is that there is no NADP funding for 2012-2013. Also, with the exception of the minor capacity needed to administer Young Canada Works (YCW) and the National Archival Appraisal Board (NAAB), the current CCA staff will no longer be in place and our office will be closing.
In preparation for CCA actions to be undertaken shortly, we would ask all of you to review the impact of the NADP, and the CCA generally, in your jurisdiction and institution over the years. Identify how that impact enabled you to provide the public with better service. Such examples are critical because they put a face on how archives serve many facets of the general public, and how the NADP assists archives to serve Canadians.
Such examples could include:

• books and other outputs that have utilized holdings made accessible by NADP
• non-traditional users whose access has been facilitated by NADP
• achievements realized through expertise made available to you through archives advisors, preservation services, training opportunities.
• how has ARCHIVESCANADA.ca and provincial/territorial networks helped users find you
• what holdings have been preserved through NADP and in what ways has that had public acknowledgement
• what activities by other groups have been assisted through the results of NADP funded projects
• what federal initiatives have benefitted by records that were preserved or made accessible through NADP 

The CCA response and any community response needs to be driven by concrete examples and we understand that pulling these together will take some time. We will communicate shortly with a strategy of how all of this information can be utilized. In the meantime if you have questions or suggestions please do not hesitate to contact any member of the CCA executive.

NADP has flown below the radar for most of us but the impact will be on archives users, genealogists, scholars, writers across Canada according to Lara Wilson.

In Ontario the Archives Association of Ontario which received NADP funds will not be in a position to provide the level of advice and training it has done in the past. For an overview of AAO activity see here (pdf). Paul Henry, Ottawa City Archivist, mentioned that the advice of a AAO preservation expert, funded through the NADP, had been of great assistance in developing the new Ottawa city archives.  Larger archives, like Ottawa, will be in a relatively better position than the smaller ones that rely more heavily on shared resources and expertize at the provincial level through AAO.

Listen to an interview with James Turk of the Canadian Association of University Teachers at http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/story/2012/05/02/ottawa-libraries-archives-closing-budget-cuts.html?cmp=rss

I'm informed the CBC was unable to reach anyone at LAC for comment.

UPDATE
Here`s a shocking summary of what`s happening at LAC from the Canadian Association of University Teachers. http://utlibrarians.wordpress.com/2012/05/02/serious-situation-developing-at-lac-alert-your-colleagues-and-faculty-news-from-caut/
Stay tuned for more.

Book Review: Researching Your Irish Ancestors at Home and Abroad

Researching Your Irish Ancestors at Home and Abroad
By David R. Elliott
Dundurn
ISBN-13: 978-1459703971
May 2012
224pp, Paperback
$19.99 CAD

This book aims to help the reader identify the county and parish of Irish ancestors using documents and Internet sites in Canada, or more generally home country. It then guides through the process of researching in Ireland to build out the family story.

The author is a retired history professor who now operates a genealogy research company, Kinfolk Finders. I was impressed that the book is up to date to February 2012 and with the clarity of the presentation.

Chapter One: Understanding Religion and Politics in Ireland is a review of the island's often turbulent history, with an introduction to the main datasets you will encounter.
Chapter Two: Finding Clues to the County in Ireland explains where to look in Canada, and to some extent other diaspora settlement countries, to do the essential work of localizing the origin of your immigrant ancestors. It takes you through the various sources and reminds to look at records for relatives, and even those who settled nearby in case your ancestor was part of a chain migration.
Chapter Three: Zeroing in on the Parish and Townland, aims to help you understand the geographical organization of Irish records and rehearses the resources that will help you home in on the townland.
Chapter Four: Strategies for Travel to and within Ireland, sets this book apart with practical advice on travelling, accommodation, food (the $25 hamburger), utilities and currency. That's the type of issue that can make or break a genealogy trip but would not be covered in a book by an Irish resident that focuses on genealogical resources available.
Chapter Five: Sleuthing the Irish Archival Centres, picks up with more practical advice on which centres hold specific records. Sometimes two hold the same information and the book advises which archives to choose. There are maps of Dublin and Belfast showing archives and library locations, instructions on procedures to follow when first visiting, and insight on institutional idiosyncrasies. While finishing this review I found a short blog posting by John Grenham on the Register of Deeds in Dublin, a resource given three pages by Elliott. Grenham's description of its "back-breaking, tombstone-sized volumes" is more evocative than Elliott's "between eighteen and twenty-two kilograms" but none the less informative.
Chapter Six, Putting Flesh on Your Irish Ancestral Skeletons, delves into some less familiar records.
Chapter Seven, Digging Around in Irish Graveyards, helps you stay out of trouble and make the best of the adventure when you visit what you hope is the last resting place of your ancestral family.
The books ends with a conclusion, three appendices including a seven page collection of important historical and genealogical websites for Irish research. There is an annotated bibliography and comprehensive index.

Reading this book reminded me of lectures I've heard by Terry Findley, a BIFHSGO member, on walking in your Irish ancestors footsteps. With this book David Elliott takes you a step further with his experienced guidance on making the best of the resources available before and on your journey to discover your Irish ancestry.

Millions of Canadians have some Irish heritage yet many have scant knowledge of the connection. This book should find a ready market as they wake up to the urge to explore their Irish roots.

Researching Your Irish Ancestors at Home and Abroad can be purchased at a discount from Amazon where there is a "Look Inside" preview available to browse. Go to http://www.amazon.ca/Researching-Your-Irish-Ancestors-Abroad/dp/1459703979/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1335754002&sr=8-1

LAC cuts

The Globe and Mail is reporting that the Library and Archives Canada workforce of 1,065 will be reduced to 850 people over the next three years, as a result of the 2012 federal budget cuts.

On Monday, 450 staff received notices that their positions could be “affected” by cuts so obviously not all those who have received notices will lose employment. Some reductions will occur as people retire, or leave as they become disillusioned with the management of the organization, and are not replaced.

Those who voted for Conservative MPs can take their share of the credit for this reduction. The agenda of The Dear Leader and company has been evident since his days with the National Citizen's Coalition.

Unfortunately some of the changes being made by LAC top management are ill-informed. They are dominated by counting clients, the number coming to the building (slowly declining) and the number visiting the website (increasing). Naturally if you cut service in the building, as has been happening for years, people will visit less often. I now visit less than I did.

The last time I looked at the mission of LAC it was:

• To preserve the documentary heritage of Canada for the benefit of present and future generations;
• To be a source of enduring knowledge accessible to all, contributing to the cultural, social and economic advancement of Canada;
• To facilitate in Canada cooperation among communities involved in the acquisition, preservation and diffusion of knowledge; and
• To serve as the continuing memory of the government of Canada and its institutions.

Nowhere there do I see "to maximize number of visits to LAC buildings and the website." That's a metric chosen by LAC management that omits any consideration of the nature of the visit. You could offer a game online or give free beer to build numbers. Would twice as many people visiting LAC mean a greater contribution to the cultural, social and economic advancement of Canada?

If you want to measure that contribution why not look at the number of books sold by authors who relied on LAC resources? Look at the number of people who watch TV programs and films that use LAC materials. Look at the number of graduate degrees granted to people who cite LAC as a resource in their thesis or dissertation and will subsequently move into careers that promote Canada's advancement in these fields. Those measures would be more difficult to calculate but, now that items are digitized, less so than in the past.

Management would likely find that by making research at LAC more difficult for high multiplier clients they are faced with an inconvenient truth about their modernization strategy.

OGS chooses new Honorary Patron

A new Honorary Patron for the Ontario Genealogical Society has been named

Senator Vivienne Poy has decided to relinquish the post.

Mr. Peter Milliken, former MP for Kingston and the Isles, and the longest serving Speaker of the House of Commons, will assume the role effective at the 2012 OGS Conference. He is a descendant of United Empire Loyalists

Celebrating May Day?

The first of May is a traditional festival. I've never danced around the Maypole but have recently come close. Here's the story.

Not traditional, but a cause for mild celebration, is that 100 year old Google digitized back issues of the Ottawa Citizen resumed 1 May 1912. There are no digitized issues after November 1911 through the end of April 1912.

The 1 May issue is incomplete and significantly illegible. Here's an article from page 3 that day as shown by Google news. It would be nice to say I found it by searching but Google news search seems to have been deliberately hobbled. But then it is free for Canadian and many other papers!

It was a tease to read "English immigrants. Great Britain is unlucky to lose them." I wanted to read the whole article so set off in search of another source for that Ottawa Citizen copy.

No luck with the microfilm at the Ottawa City Archives or the Ottawa Public Library. Similarly the microfilm at Library and Archives Canada didn't include that page. So, last Wednesday I went to LAC and ordered up the hardcopy hoping it hadn't been de-accessioned yet.

There was no way of knowing whether LAC had found the issue. Feeding such information back to the client online is something LAC appears incapable of doing. No wonder they're incapable of leading a national newspapers digitization project like all their peer organizations internationally.

On Monday I went back to LAC, found a note that I had to go the the special consultation room to see the paper. Was I to see the article at last? NO, the wrong year had been delivered!

The staff I spoke to were profuse in their apologies. We checked; what was ordered was the issue for 1 May 1912. What arrived was for decades later!

Living in Ottawa means I only wasted a few hours. What if I had been from out of town, and needed to wait several more days because of LAC's mistake?

Mistakes happen. Apologies are nice, but its better when they don't have to be issued.

Perhaps leading me a merry dance is LAC's way of celebrating May Day.

Benchmarks update

Here are some benchmarks as of 30 April 2012. Comparable figures a month ago are shown in brackets. The higher th Alexa ranking the more popular the site.

Familysearch.org has 1,139 (1,116) record collections: census & lists 100 (99); birth, marriage, & death 733 (726); probate & court  85 (79); military 93 (89); migration & naturalization 52 (48); other  76 (72). It has Alexa
rank 4,597 (4,994).

Ancestry.com has Alexa rank of 657 (758); ancestry.co.uk ranks 8,561 (9,545)

Findmypast.co.uk has an Alexa rank of 25,940 (27,331)

Family Tree DNA has 372,245 (368,023) records in its database. It ranks 39,341 (41,213) on Alexa.

Britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk claims 5,024,276 (4,899,436) pages digitized, well below the 8,000/day target. Alexa rank 176,252 (153,693).

Cyndislist.com claims 311,431 (310,159) total links in 188 (188) categories, with 4,486 (5,682) uncategorized. Alexa rank 86,566 (94,728).

FreeBMD has 215,273,933 (214,279,072) distinct records, Alexa rank 82,334 (87,765).

UKBMD provides 2,214 (2,214) links to web sites that offer on-line transcriptions of UK births, marriages, deaths and censuses. Alexa rank  255,726 (289,554).

CanadianHeadstones.com has over 396,000 (380,000) gravestone photo records from across Canada. It scores  690,896 (878,717) in Alexa traffic rank.

And in case you're curious: Anglo-Celtic Connections has 3,511 (3,418) posts and has slipped in Alexa rank 130,495 (123,735).

Did I miss something significant? If so please post a comment with statistics.