Christmas Day in the Workhouse
Christmas Eve 2024
Fifteen centimetres of snow. That’s what I’d shovelled, so the walk to the mailbox, even in the bright sunshine with neighbours “Merry Christmasing,” felt like a bit of a trek. And for what? Bills. Bloody bills. The Canada Post strike meant no Christmas cards this year. But it got me thinking.
The thing about Christmas cards is they don’t go off. They’re not like milk or bread. It’s not about getting them on the 25th; it’s about what they are. It’s the memories, the feeling you get when you see a familiar scrawl. They’re little bits of connection, little time capsules of someone’s thoughts and well wishes.
Even the cards from people who aren’t around anymore are a reminder that they’re still part of our life story. It’s not the paper or the glitter; it’s the feeling, the enduring warmth they keep alive. That’s why my Christmas decorations this year include cards from years gone by.
Yuletide R&R
A classic
New Canadian Records on FamilySearch Full Text Search
Since the start of December FamilySearch has added or updated titles totalling over 16.5 million records in its Full Text Search Canadian collection. Here’s the list. There are some unusual titles!
| Collection Title | Records | Last Updated |
| Canada, Migrations, from 1630 to 1992 | 4001386 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Saskatchewan, Legal, 1925 | 3843055 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Ontario, Properties, from 1854 to 1868 | 1949031 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, New Brunswick, Properties, from 1 October 1917 to 28 February 1918 | 1343415 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Nova Scotia, Properties, from 1893 to 1894 | 965855 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Ontario, Legal, 1605 | 553430 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Newfoundland, Military Service, from 1913 to 1918 | 470453 | 19-Dec-24 |
| British North America, Canada West, Properties, from 1860 to 1867 | 447625 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Military Service, from 0191 to 2019 | 370074 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Quebec, Legal, from 2 July 1888 to 25 July 1925 | 332508 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Nova Scotia, Others, from 1614 to 1969 | 243074 | 23-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Nova Scotia, Legal, from 1900 to 1925 | 201982 | 19-Dec-24 |
| British North America, Upper Canada, Properties, from 1802 to 1894 | 174316 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Ontario, Others, from 1927 to 1987 | 135575 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, British Columbia, Legal, from 1300 to 1913 | 119321 | 17-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Deaths, from 1560 to 2007 | 118147 | 17-Dec-24 |
| Canada, New Brunswick, Migrations, from 30 August 1920 to 9 January 1921 | 112033 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Employment, from 1752 to 1971 | 93597 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Ontario, Military Service, from 1821 to 1827 | 75639 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Saskatchewan, Migrations, from 1 October 1905 to 28 February 1906 | 70765 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Ontario, Migrations, from 1920 to 1924 | 62740 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Quebec, Migrations, from 3 October 1909 to 26 April 1910 | 46069 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Marriages, from 1315 to 1999 | 42947 | 01-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Nova Scotia, Education, from 1803 to 1885 | 35848 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Others, from 1315 to 1994 | 35592 | 23-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Saskatchewan, Military Service, from 1777 to 1841 | 32987 | 19-Dec-24 |
| British North America, Lower Canada, Properties, from 1637 to 1899 | 32234 | 17-Dec-24 |
| Canada, New Brunswick, Military Service, from 1777 to 1841 | 28365 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Saskatchewan, Others, from 1917 to 1920 | 27139 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, British Columbia, Employment, from 1864 to 1970 | 26556 | 17-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Nova Scotia, Biographies, from 1817 to 1879 | 26470 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Quebec, Military Service, from 1852 to 1867 | 24472 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Ontario, Biographies, from 1863 to 1987 | 22571 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Newfoundland, Employment, from 1880 to 1992 | 22038 | 17-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Nova Scotia, Employment, from 1880 to 1920 | 22038 | 17-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Saskatchewan, Deaths, 1991 | 21598 | 01-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Nova Scotia, Migrations, from 29 February 1912 to 1 April 1912 | 21353 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Nova Scotia, Military Service, from 1852 to 1867 | 19624 | 19-Dec-24 |
| British North America, Canada West, Legal, from 1834 to 1855 | 19532 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, British Columbia, Military Service, from 1940 to 1947 | 18170 | 19-Dec-24 |
| British North America, Canada East, Legal, from 1 November 1913 to 30 September 1914 | 18163 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, British Columbia, Biographies, 1991 | 17567 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, British Columbia, Migrations, from 18 October 1938 to 19 October 1939 | 17274 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Prince Edward Island, Legal, from 1786 to 1930 | 16620 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Alberta, Military Service, from 1777 to 1841 | 16128 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Legal, from 1875 to 2014 | 14966 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Prince Edward Island, Employment, from 1809 to 1943 | 14163 | 17-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Nova Scotia, Deaths, from 1919 to 1922 | 13509 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Manitoba, Military Service, from 1940 to 1947 | 10925 | 03-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Alberta, Others, from 1863 to 1914 | 9088 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Prince Edward Island, Military Service, from 1794 to 1870 | 8507 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Biographies, from 1315 to 2008 | 7871 | 23-Dec-24 |
| Canada, British Columbia, Residences, from 1871 to 1899 | 7409 | 23-Dec-24 |
| Canada, New Brunswick, Others, 30 April 1971 | 7290 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Saskatchewan, Employment, 1900 | 7142 | 17-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Manitoba, Others, 1858 | 5945 | 17-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Newfoundland, Legal, from 1786 to 1996 | 5889 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, New Brunswick, Legal, from 1871 to 1873 | 5765 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Residences, from 1781 to 1916 | 5212 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, British Columbia, Others, from 1818 to 1981 | 5119 | 17-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Ontario, Deaths, from 1866 to 1868 | 4294 | 04-Dec-24 |
| British North America, Canada East, Properties, from 1806 to 1852 | 4169 | 17-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Quebec, Others, from 3 October 1862 to 27 March 1863 | 4111 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Nova Scotia, Residences, 1880 | 4020 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Prince Edward Island, Others, from 1871 to 1985 | 3504 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Ontario, Residences, from 1908 to 1918 | 2980 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Manitoba, Employment, from 1864 to 1970 | 2857 | 02-Dec-24 |
| British North America, Canada East, Military Service, from 1809 to 1869 | 2803 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Saskatchewan, Residences, from 1894 to 1949 | 2601 | 17-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Ontario, Employment, from 1864 to 1970 | 2385 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Newfoundland, Others, from 1871 to 1904 | 2381 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Newfoundland, Residences, from 1871 to 1880 | 2381 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Prince Edward Island, Residences, 1880 | 2381 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Quebec, Biographies, 1902 | 2317 | 17-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Ontario, Marriages, from 1866 to 1868 | 2267 | 01-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Ontario, Religious, from 1835 to 1877 | 2206 | 04-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Nova Scotia, Medical, from 1907 to 1924 | 2128 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Manitoba, Residences, 1976 | 2010 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Quebec, Employment, from 1849 to 1958 | 1782 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Alberta, Employment, from 1900 to 1932 | 1772 | 03-Dec-24 |
| Canada, New Brunswick, Religious, from 1854 to 1985 | 1715 | 04-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Ontario, Medical, from 1783 to 1870 | 1694 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Alberta, Residences, from 1700 to 2001 | 1639 | 17-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Properties, from 9 December 1857 to 25 June 1867 | 1590 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Manitoba, Legal, from 1745 to 1930 | 1563 | 17-Dec-24 |
| Canada, New Brunswick, Deaths, from 1818 to 1964 | 1558 | 04-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Newfoundland, Migrations, from 1939 to 31 August 1940 | 1539 | 17-Dec-24 |
| Canada, British Columbia, Deaths, from 1872 to 1998 | 1426 | 01-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Saskatchewan, Religious, from 1909 to 1954 | 1397 | 01-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Saskatchewan, Properties, from 1870 to 1987 | 1332 | 19-Dec-24 |
| British North America, Upper Canada, Military Service, from 1797 to 1845 | 1214 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Ontario, Births, from 1866 to 1987 | 1173 | 01-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Prince Edward Island, Biographies, from 1799 to 2001 | 1172 | 01-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Prince Edward Island, Deaths, from 1805 to 1906 | 1172 | 01-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Ontario, Education, from 1884 to 1899 | 869 | 19-Dec-24 |
| British North America, Canada East, Religious, 1900 | 862 | 01-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Northwest Territories, Properties, from 1799 to 1870 | 820 | 19-Dec-24 |
| British North America, Upper Canada, Legal, from 1847 to 1956 | 750 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Quebec, Residences, from 1871 to 1908 | 740 | 22-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador, Biographies, from 1 July 1847 to 31 July 1847 | 667 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Residences, Census, from 1640 to 1998 | 622 | 01-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Prince Edward Island, Properties, 30 November 1979 | 585 | 17-Dec-24 |
| British North America, Upper Canada, Biographies, from 1763 to 1816 | 230 | 16-Dec-24 |
| Canada, British Columbia, Properties, from 1885 to 1949 | 208 | 17-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Quebec, Medical, from 1886 to 1899 | 96 | 19-Dec-24 |
| British North America, Canada West, Employment, from 1821 to 1952 | 80 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador, Legal, from 1810 to 1825 | 51 | 17-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Quebec, Properties, from 12 May 1892 to 19 November 1892 | 22 | 16-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Alberta, Properties, from 1907 to 1957 | 19 | 15-Dec-24 |
| Canada, Manitoba, Properties, from 1887 to 1953 | 10 | 15-Dec-24 |
Several titles were added in November, but none like the two large collections added in August
Canada, Probate Records, 1600 – 2020 with 14,726,237 records.
Canada, Homestead Records, 1600 – 2011, with 8,329,643 records.
New UK Records on FamilySearch Full Text Search
Here are the December additions to the FamilySearch Full Text search for England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. There are over 1.5 million records in 105 separate titles.
| Collection Title | Records | Last Updated |
| United Kingdom, Wales, Legal, from 1862 to 1870 | 485115 | 20-Dec-24 |
| United Kingdom, Scotland, Properties, from 1617 to 12 May 1858 | 413027 | 19-Dec-24 |
| United Kingdom, Scotland, Deaths, from 1544 to 1901 | 143629 | 17-Dec-24 |
| United Kingdom, Scotland, Legal, 1840 | 139825 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Lanarkshire, Properties, from 1714 to 1800 | 60463 | 19-Dec-24 |
| United Kingdom, Scotland, Others, from 1396 to 1838 | 44869 | 20-Dec-24 |
| United Kingdom, Scotland, Biographies, 1903 | 38008 | 20-Dec-24 |
| United Kingdom, Wales, Others, from 0901 to 1970 | 35725 | 20-Dec-24 |
| United Kingdom, Wales, Biographies, 1950 | 27052 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Wales, Glamorgan, Legal, from 1778 to 1799 | 24096 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Ayrshire, Legal, from 1607 to 1721 | 17551 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Wales, Montgomeryshire, Properties, from 1557 to 1857 | 15038 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Wales, Legal, from 1400 to 1832 | 13488 | 20-Dec-24 |
| United Kingdom, Scotland, Employment, from 1820 to 1847 | 13132 | 20-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Lanarkshire, Legal, from 1665 to 31 March 1752 | 8923 | 19-Dec-24 |
| United Kingdom, Wales, Military Service, from 1880 to 1892 | 5085 | 20-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Properties, from 1100 to 1868 | 4710 | 19-Dec-24 |
| United Kingdom, Wales, Properties, from 1294 to 1904 | 3794 | 19-Dec-24 |
| United Kingdom, Scotland, Military Service, from 1914 to 1918 | 3762 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Wales, Denbighshire, Legal, from 1576 to 1806 | 3680 | 20-Dec-24 |
| United Kingdom, Scotland, Residences, from 1 December 1889 to 31 July 1966 | 3275 | 20-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Legal, from 1166 to 1945 | 3110 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Wales, Anglesey, Legal, from 1576 to 1798 | 2431 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Others, from 1400 to 1973 | 2267 | 19-Dec-24 |
| United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, Biographies, from 1664 to 1902 | 2229 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Military Service, from 1641 to 1913 | 1982 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Argyll, Properties, from 1257 to 1780 | 1819 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Wales, Flintshire, Legal, from 1 April 1543 to 1799 | 1807 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Ayrshire, Employment, from 1739 to 1785 | 1726 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Ayrshire, Properties, from 22 July 1749 to 21 March 1753 | 1603 | 19-Dec-24 |
| United Kingdom, Wales, Education, from 1864 to 1876 | 1593 | 19-Dec-24 |
| United Kingdom, Wales, Residences, from 1903 to 1906 | 1398 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Wales, Cardiganshire, Legal, from 1798 to 1799 | 1276 | 19-Dec-24 |
| United Kingdom, Scotland, Education, from 1 April 1810 to 30 April 1823 | 1147 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Lanarkshire, Employment, from 1685 to 1791 | 1060 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Wales, Montgomeryshire, Biographies, from 1953 to 1970 | 864 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Berwickshire, Properties, from 3 September 1722 to 25 December 1789 | 822 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Ayrshire, Poor Relief, from 1 June 1798 to 31 July 1845 | 815 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Argyll, Others, from 0001 to 1885 | 793 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Wales, Glamorgan, Properties, from 1608 to 1831 | 731 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Wales, Military Service, from 1588 to 30 April 1880 | 655 | 20-Dec-24 |
| Wales, Breconshire, Legal, from 1647 to 1732 | 630 | 19-Dec-24 |
| United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, Others, from 1669 to 28 April 1979 | 607 | 20-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Aberdeenshire, Properties, from 1 November 1637 to 1680 | 590 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Caithness, Properties, from 17 July 1764 to 8 April 1771 | 586 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Renfrewshire, Others, from 0700 to 1902 | 558 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Fife, Education, from 1413 to 1897 | 554 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Renfrewshire, Properties, from 1694 to 1699 | 481 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Lanarkshire, Others, 1983 | 464 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Aberdeenshire, Education, from 1494 to 1854 | 460 | 19-Dec-24 |
| United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, Properties, from 1634 to 1984 | 444 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Wales, Anglesey, Medical, from 1846 to 1851 | 438 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Edinburgh, Employment, from 1583 to 1790 | 427 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Dumfriesshire, Properties, from 16 August 1679 to 27 October 1759 | 409 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Edinburgh, Residences, from 1406 to 1841 | 390 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Kincardineshire, Residences, 1867 | 378 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Banffshire, Properties, from 23 June 1658 to 1 October 1661 | 366 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Wales, Others, from 1400 to 1973 | 361 | 18-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Kinross-shire, Others | 356 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Fife, Others, from 1089 to 1897 | 356 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Edinburgh, Legal, from 1403 to 1926 | 333 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Lanarkshire, Education, from 1728 to 1858 | 328 | 19-Dec-24 |
| United Kingdom, Scotland, Migrations, 1930 | 326 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Elginshire, Legal, from 1 June 1746 to 1814 | 310 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Lanarkshire, Residences, 1783 | 301 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Stirlingshire, Others | 269 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Aberdeenshire, Others, 1696 | 256 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Dunbartonshire, Residences | 234 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Forfarshire, Others | 221 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Shetland, Legal, from 1602 to 1689 | 216 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Renfrewshire, Properties, from 10 March 1518 to 1871 | 206 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Residences, from 1781 to 1800 | 201 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Aberdeenshire, Legal, from 1 December 1800 to 31 August 1802 | 196 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Kinross-shire, Properties, from 1617 to 1830 | 175 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Fife, Properties, from 1 September 1666 to 17 June 1730 | 175 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Perthshire, Legal, from 1 November 1661 to 30 November 1661 | 169 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Wales, Pembrokeshire, Legal, from 1559 to 1634 | 158 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Wales, Residences, from 1790 to 1799 | 151 | 18-Dec-24 |
| Wales, Merionethshire, Legal, from 1543 to 1799 | 139 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Edinburgh, Biographies, from 1460 to 1950 | 126 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Wales, Properties, from 1300 to 1789 | 120 | 20-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Linlithgowshire, Legal, from 1694 to 1695 | 120 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Forfarshire, Legal, from 1613 to 1 September 1800 | 117 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Dunbartonshire, Legal, from 1 July 1632 to 28 February 1723 | 113 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Biographies, from 1100 to 2005 | 113 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Perthshire, Others, from 1699 to 1745 | 100 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Kincardineshire, Properties, from 1600 to 1860 | 97 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Nairnshire, Properties, from 1617 to 1868 | 83 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Midlothian, Legal, from 1580 to 1797 | 83 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Elginshire, Properties, from 1666 to 1868 | 83 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Wales, Flintshire, Others, 1899 | 61 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Stirlingshire, Legal, from 1 June 1724 to 28 February 1734 | 60 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Roxburghshire, Legal, from 1700 to 30 June 1775 | 60 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Argyll, Legal, from 1 July 1693 to 1801 | 54 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Fife, Legal, from 1613 to 1778 | 48 | 17-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Ayrshire, Others, 1983 | 45 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Argyll, Education, from 1710 to 1860 | 43 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Inverness-shire, Others, from 1725 to 1745 | 36 | 18-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Edinburgh, Military Service, 1860 | 34 | 19-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Banffshire, Others, 1696 | 34 | 16-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Bute, Poor Relief, from 1849 to 1855 | 24 | 18-Dec-24 |
| Scotland, Employment, from 1696 to 1830 | 22 | 16-Dec-24 |
| Wales, Glamorgan, Military Service, from 1690 to 1760 | 3 | 18-Dec-24 |
| United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, Legal, from 1891 to 1903 | 3 | 17-Dec-24 |
| Wales, Caernarfonshire, Legal, from 1774 to 1799 | 2 | 17-Dec-24 |
Yuletide R&R
FreeBMD December Update
The FreeBMD Database was updated on Saturday, 21 December 2024, to contain 292,099,269 unique records.
Years with more than 10,000 additions in the past month are 1993 and 1996 for births and marriages and 1995 for deaths.
During 2024, 2,335,116 records were added, the vast majority for the 1990s.
Sunday Sundries — Season’s Greetings
Miscellaneous items I found of interest during the week.
Free Family Stories Resource Kit
Just fill out the form and sign up for the free Family Tree newsletter to receive your ‘Collect your family stories resource kit’ featuring interview sheets, suggested questions, pedigree charts, ancestor fact sheets, and more.
The last month has transformed the state of AI
A blog post by AI guru Ethan Mollick
OC Transpo Transit Routes
From Carleton University, OCTranspo route maps back to 1929.
Australia, Names & Stories in Newspapers from OldNews.com™
MyHeritage has added this collection, with over 1.2 billion records.
Season’s Greetings
As in previous years, I mostly take a break during the holidays, but not without having prepared daily Yuletide R&R items for the remainder of 2024.
After the first post on Canada’s Anglo-Celtic Connections, eighteen years of blogging have passed. In the past year, there has been one post or more every day. I don’t intend to maintain that pace in 2025.
I wish everyone joy, peaceful moments, and good memories this season. See you in the New Year.
Thanks to Alison Hare, Ann Burns, Anonymous, Barbara May Di Mambro, Brenda Turner, Christine Jackson, Lesley Anderson, Teresa, and Unknown for this week’s contributions.
LAC Co-Lab Update for December
There are currently 4,096 items in LAC’s Collection Search identified as Co-Lab-only contributions, up from 4,092 in November.
Here is the progress on the challenges since November. One challenge shows progress.
Games of the XXI Olympiad, Montréal 1976 remains at 80.8% complete.
Treaty 9, with 27 images, remains 3.7% complete.
Mary Ann Shadd Cary is 66.1% complete, up from 50%.
Expo67 remains 6.8% complete.
Summiting Mount Logan in 1925: Fred Lambart’s personal account of the treacherous climb and descent of the highest peak in Canada remains 13.4% complete.
Women in the War remains 1.4% complete.
Arthur Lismer’s Children’s Art Classes remains <1% complete.
John Freemont Smith, RG10, Volume number: 4079 remains 88.5% complete.
Molly Lamb Bobak remains 94.7% complete.
Diary of François-Hyacinthe Séguin remains 99% complete.
George Mully: moments in Indigenous communities remains 0% complete.
Correspondence regarding First Nations veterans returning after the First World War remains 98.5% complete.
Winnipeg General Strike of 1919 remains 94.7% complete.
Legendary Train Robber and Prison Escapee Bill Miner remains 99% complete.
Japanese-Canadians: Second World War remains 2.8% complete.
Projects that remain 100% complete are no longer reported here.
What’s changed in 40 years
You can read the first Family Tree Magazine (UK) issue from Nov-Dec 1984 here. It included an article, “How to Trace Your Family Tree.” How things have changed!
1. Digital Archives and Search Capabilities
The article describes research at locations like St. Catherine’s House in London, where researchers kept fit by lifting large red, black and green books to a desk for searching. Today, most records are digitized and searchable. Advanced online platforms provide powerful search engines, keyword filters, and algorithmic matching. There’s instant access to millions of historical documents.
2. DNA Testing
This article does not mention genetic genealogy, which has revolutionized family history research in the past two decades. DNA matching allows people to identify genetic relatives, confirm family connections, and trace ancestral origins in ways impossible 40 years ago.
3. Global Interconnectivity
The article suggests hiring local researchers or travelling to different locations to access records. Modern genealogists collaborate internationally through online forums, social media groups, and genealogy websites. Resources from different countries are increasingly digitized and shared across borders. However, visiting is still often required, and a pleasure, to go in-depth
4. Computer-Based Organization
The author recommends a “loose-leaf folder” for organizing family history information. Today, genealogists use specialized software, cloud-based platforms, and complex family tree management tools that allow for instant updates, linking of sources, and sophisticated data management.
5. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Modern genealogy research increasingly employs AI technologies to help researchers. These include automated record matching, predictive ancestor suggestions, handwriting recognition for old documents, and advanced algorithms that can suggest potential family connections based on complex data analysis. Some capabilities unimaginable when the article was written remained so even a couple of years ago.
Généalogie Québec Discount
From 20 to 24 December, Généalogie Québec offers a 25% discount on annual subscriptions.
It is available only through the link
https://www.genealogiequebec.com/en/subscription-offer-noel2024
TheGenealogist adds City of London Cemetery records
Searchable records for the City of London Cemetery, comprising 492,465 burials, are now available on TheGenealogist. There’s access to comprehensive information from 1856, including:
● Full name of the deceased
● Precise cemetery plot location
● Occupation
● Date of burial
● Age at time of death
● District of death registration
● Residential address.
The 200-acre cemetery is located in Manor Park in East London.
If you know the approximate date of burial, there’s free access to images of the register books at https://col-burialregisters.uk/
The City of London Cemetery is not to be confused with the nearby Manor Park Cemetery and Crematorium (records available at deceasedonline). See the area map here.