References

National Archives of Canada - National Library of Canada - Ontario Cemetery Finding Aid

Latter Day Saints - Archives of Ontario

National Archives of Canada (NAC)

395 Wellington Street
3^rd Floor
OTTAWA, Ontario
K1A 0N3

On the 3rd floor there are *tons* of film, microfiche and hard copy reference materials.

A personal visit must first be made during office hours to obtain a research pass, which is valid for a year. You will be asked to present identification, such as a driver's licence.

Most of the films are available for Inter Library Loan (ILL)

National Library of Canada (NLC)
395 Wellington Street
2^nd Floor
OTTAWA, Ontario
K1A 0N4
613-995-9481

You require a research pass to allow you to visit the NLC. It can be obtained along with your pass for NAC, near the commissionaire's desk on the first floor during office hours.

The NLC has reference books (as in telephone directories, etc) on their floor. However, most of their publications and newspaper microfilms can be ordered up and put into the reading room within a couple of hours. Some of their holdings are off site in other buildings and it can take a day to have them brought to the reading room.

I have been assured that the microfilms of old newspapers can also be borrowed through ILL. It would probably be best to obtain a copy of abstracts or indexes for these newspapers before ordering them. While the newspapers in their entirety are very interesting, it could take days to find the entry you are searching for without the aid of the abstracts/indexes.

Although you should supply as much information as you can about an item, the easiest way to obtain it is to make sure to quote the AMICUS number.

To search NLC Catalogue on the Internet

Most of the films and publications are available for Inter Library Loan (ILL)

Ontario Cemetery Finding Aid (OCFA) &

Is a volunteer project, free of charge that is put together in British Columbia. Local genealogical societies record the cemeteries, input these records onto the computer and then send a file containing NAME, CEMETERY, LOCATION and where to purchase the indexed books out to BC. The societies use these cemetery recording book proceeds as one of their main fund raisers for their organizations.

The OCAF project is now up to version 6. Version 5 is Searchable on their web site, version 6 is not. For a complete listing of the cemeteries to date and the stones recorded, you *need* to have both version 5 and version 6.

Both versions 5 and 6 can be downloaded to your home computer. I believe that you can open these files using a word processor, however I have only done so using a database. I have never had any difficulty opening the files.

I have heard that some people using mac computers are getting an out of memory problem when try to open the files:

For Mac users trying to open large files:
"Try opening the file from within your word processing program. The Simple Text program on Macs cannot handle large files and was not meant to. If the problem is RAM (you probably have 16mgs or less), close out of program, restart your Mac and launch only your word processing program. If it is a very large file, you may find that you need to allocate more memory to your word processing program. To do this, close out the program, select only the icon of the program (don't double-click, just click on it once), go to the file menu and select "get info", at the bottom you will see the memory allocation for that program.

The credit for this fix goes to Penny Bonnar

Latter Day Saints (LDS) FHC (Family History Centre)

The LDS has been microfilming all sorts of genealogical information all over the world. For a small charge, you may order film or fiche into your nearest FHC.
Local FHCs keep resources pertaining to their area permanently on site. The workers at these centres are volunteers so please be kind.

You will have to phone ahead to book a reader or computer.

To use the references to the books (US/CAN Book Area), you will either have to go to Salt Lake City or, I have heard, they will photocopy limited amounts of data for a small charge.

LDS is noted for:

And can now be searched Online!

Family History Library Catalogue
The catalogue describes the library's records. It is the key to research in the library and at family history centres. Use the catalogue (either microfiche or CD) to learn the book, microfilm and microfiche numbers you need to obtain records. Patrons at any family history centre can borrow most of library's microfilm and microfiche. There is a postage and handling fee. The 35,000 rolls for Canada include almost all the Quebec church records and many civil records from Ontario and other provinces. We have tried to list as many as possible for Lanark County on individual townships or the general information pages.

International Genealogical Index (IGI)
IGI can be found both on microfiche and on the computers. It lists birth, christening, marriage and death information. It does not contain names of living persons. Most of the names come from vital records, however, some have been submitted by members of the Church. There have been a few editions. Their brochure says that the 1992 edition of the microfiche and computer (CD) versions are the same. The CD version is now updated as well as an addendum. If you are using the CD version, you can make a "holding file" on diskette to take home with you. The information is not 100% accurate and you are encouraged to validate it with other sources.

Ancestral File
This file contains genealogies sent to the LDS by people throughout the world. The file links individuals into predigrees showing their ancestors and descendants. This information includes names, dates, places of birth, marriage and death. Most of the information in the file is about deceased people. The file also contains the names and addresses of individuals who have contributed the information. The information may not be accurate and you are encouraged to validate it with other sources.

Archives of Ontario(OA)

The Ontario Archives
77 Grenville Street
Toronto ON M7A 2R9

You must complete a research application form at the commissionaire's desk. Your registration card is valid for one year. Upon arrival and departure you must sign the Visitors' Book at the commissionaire's desk and present your registration card.

Reproduction of documents is available for a fee. Take care to complete the request form accurately.

Most of the films are available for Inter Library Loan (ILL)

Hours of Operation:

Vital Statistics 1869+

There are many web sites to explain these files to you. The best one that we have found belongs to Bill Martin.

These films are available both at the Ontario Archives in Toronto and through the LDS.
Every year, the Government makes another year available to the public.
If you are looking for a certificate for a person after the years available to the public, you will have to do this through Thunder Bay ON.

The years available are currently:

Births 1869 - 1903
Marriages 1869 - 1918
Deaths 1869 - 1928

The Evolution of an Administrative System" by George Emery in the Canadian Historical Review vol. LXIV no. 4 (1983), pp. 486-493 states:

• In 1870, only 1/5 of all deaths, 1/3 of all births, and 2/3 of all marriages were reported to the office of the Registrar-General.
• By 1880-81, it was calculated that 90% of marriages, 70% of births and 60% of deaths were being reported.

This was being corrected by the following initiation of laws:

• The 1881 Ontario Registration Act, which required cemetery caretakers to advise divisional registrars of any burials made with death certificates.
• The 1896 Ontario Registration Act, which forbade clergy, undertakers or cemeteries to bury a body without first obtaining a death certificate.
• An 1897 amendment to the Registration Act, which required physicians to report births which they attended, and deaths where they occurred
• The 1919 Ontario Registration Act, which required physicians to report births within 48 hours and deaths, with causes, within 24 hours.

Grosse Isle - settlers information between 1800 - 1900, covering births on ships, marriages and deaths. There are approximately 7,553 person buried on Grosse Isle.

See the following site: http://www.genealogy.gc.ca/01/010202_e.html

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