Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Leap Year, 1884, New Westminster, BC

WHAT SOME PEOPLE SAY

That the young Iadies of New Westminster have embraced the opportunity of it being leap year, as instanced by the number of marriages there lately. Leap year balls and picnics are frequent occurrences in the Royal City.


Seen in the Daily Colonist, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, 11 September, 1884, page 3.

(For June to September, 1884 there were apparently 24 marriages registered as in New Westminster District. Some may not have been in the city itself.)

Sunday, February 26, 2012

1940 US Census Community Project -


I'm an Ambassador for the 1940 US Census! In a sense, I feel like a 'real' Ambassador because, of course, I'm in another country - I'm a Canadian.

Beginning this week, I'll be posting information about the 1940 US Census and related topics.

One reason I'm doing this is personal. Canadians and USians have strong ancestral ties, as well as social and work relationships. Many of us have known relatives on both sides of our borders. But many of us are searching for 'lost' family members in both Canada and the US too. As I mentioned in my New Year's resolutions, I'm hoping the release of the 1940 US Census details will lead me to living descendants of at least one family in the USA.

The other reason I wanted to be an Ambassador for the 1940 US Census is that this is already such a fantastic project. Beginning 2 April 2012 the US National Archives and Records Association - NARA will be releasing digital images of the 1940 US Census free. This will be a first in the USA.

Then the 1940 US Census Community Project, sponsored by Archives.com, FamilySearch and findmypast.com and by the National Genealogical Society - NGS (USA), the Federation of Genealogical Societies - FGS (USA) and the Association of Professional Genealogists - APG, of which I am a member, will be co-ordinating on-line access and indexing so that the 1940 US Census is free and accessible on-line. Please volunteer right now to assist with the indexing. You can download the software now and try it out.

The 1940 US Census Community Project has already made background information about the 1940 US census on-line in a variety of formats, including blog posts, videos and photographs. For example, did you know that 5% of respondents were asked extra questions, including the place of birth of the person’s father and mother. I do hope mine were among that 5%. And many genealogists and family historians have been posting or writing 1940 US Census research tips and examples of search strategies.

NARA is also featuring the 1940 US Census on NARAtions, the Blog of the United States National Archives. One of my favourite posts so far is 1940 Census – Following the instructions (of the enumerators!) by Diane Petro. Reading this may give you an idea how variable enumerators work might be. ( When surveyed afterwards, over 12,000 said they read all the instructions before enumerating; 857 said no; and almost 3,000 gave no answer.)


My Recent Posts Mentioning the 1940 US Census
With the Coopers in Seattle, 1949
Genealogy Resolutions - 2012

Sunday, February 19, 2012

With the Coopers in Seattle, 1949

Mrs. Cooper (Polly) holding Diane, July 1949, in Seattle, Washington. Mike Cooper is on the stairs. Weren't we cute? (I may still have that little jacket. Pink, of course.)


Remember those 2012 New Year's Resolutions? I'm working away on one of mine, as I have time, so I'll be ready in April when the 1940 US census starts to become available.

Of course, there are always other byways to explore....and maybe I'll find those Whites right away (LOL!), so I'll undoubtedly look for a few other people in the US in 1940. While scanning some more photos, I noticed an small envelope labelled 'Cooper'. These show the family of Walter and Polly Cooper who were friends of my dad and his family. They moved to Seattle late in the 1930's, I think.

Grandma's book has addresses for the Coopers in Seattle, Washington, and in San Leandro, California.

I did have a little look into Grandma Rogers' album and there are a few more Cooper photographs there, but I do like these.

We must have visited over a couple of days in 1949 as some of the photos are dated. Since there is a house # shown in one picture which is written in Grandma's address book, I am sure these were taken at 7335-18th St. NW, in Seattle. This address is listed for the Coopers, and for "Betty Cooper as was, Mrs. L. L. Widing" [Mrs. Lorents Widing].



Above, Cooper 'boys', with my dad, George W. Rogers, on the left.
Below, the Cooper family with me. Both photos taken in Seattle, 1949.




















Tuesday, February 14, 2012

She's Temperamental Lady, But Her Owner Swears She's a Dear





As some will know, I have been researching early car owners in British Columbia, Canada. This is a fun project for me, but one which will later benefit others looking for their families in BC.

Since it's Valentine's Day today, I could not resist posting this great find - a 1921 newspaper article about a woman's love for her car. (Sorry, little brother, it's a Ford.)






She's Temperamental Lady, But Her Owner Swears She's A Dear

by Winifred Philpot, Parksville, BC

Perhaps that is rather misleading, for my lady is not a car really—she is a Ford; but quite definitely she is a lady. She is altogether too subtle, too psychic, too consistent to be considered for one moment as of the other sex.

I should like to hear a certain well remembered Eugenics Society in Cambridge discuss my car, although perhaps that would hurt her feelings, and I would not do that for all the amusement I personally might derive from the discussion; but I feel sure they would declare she was of the dominant type.

She is getting old alas! she is nearly four, but her characteristics must be entirely due to heredity, and not in environment, for they were all strongly developed from the beginning. I am perfectly certain my character has had absolutely no effect on hers; that is obvious to everyone, for I am neither subtle, psychic, nor thank heaven, consistent.

I do not know the proper catalogue name for my lady but she is that kind that can carry five passengers if they are of exactly the right shape and she is all covered in.


OH YES, SHE EATS

She has always been dainty, eating to live, not living to eat, by which of course I mean she does not use much oil, and therefore keeps her clothes (I am so afraid you will not quite understand me, her spark plugs) clean. She has always disliked garage men, she is essentially dainty, and worked for two years without falling into their hands. Truly, she is a remarkable car. But then you must realize I am remarkable too. I have turned out in the rain, and the wind and the snow rather than allow anyone else to drive her. I have even been rude to others, going to the extreme point of hurting their feelings rather than hers.

I said my character had not influenced her, but alas! my family say she is rapidly changing mine. I am naturally friendly, generous, kindly, even a little religious—my car will have none of this, definitely and decidedly none of this. For instance, during the first three months of this year I used my lady solely for selfish, frivolous, sentimental and worldly pursuits, and she ran like a charm, then just before Easter we faced together the realities of life once more.


SNOBBISHNESS COSTS $3.

The very first day she gave me warning. Knowing her past history I ought to have realized what was likely to happen, but foolishly I had forgotten that no car owner is mistress of her own identity. She pulled me up gently at the beginning. I wanted to give a tired old man a lift. It was towards evening. There is much to do in the country in the spring. He only wanted to deliver some milk; it all seemed so simple, and so right; so natural to me. My lady would not even try to start, much less give a kick. That gracious impulse of mine, that snobbishness of hers, cost me $3 to get her towed into the nearest garage. I hoped the humiliation would teach her a lesson. Far from that; she merely decided I had not yet learned mine.

Things were much worse the next day. A wonderful collection of good thoughts and deeds were in my car. A weary mother with two small children to be taken on their way; a neighbour hard at work in most praiseworthy industry in his dirty, damp garden, able to continue because I undertook to deliver a message for him; yes, and even flowers for the Easter decorations of our church. Perhaps my lady would have suffered all this. I know not; but heedless of all warnings, I added later a grubby little child to the long list of indignities. One wild, awful moment of revolt, then later the report that the ignition had burnt out. The new man at the garage evidently thought it was my fault. I forgave him—he did not know my lady, nor that I can drive a car.

Just at the beginning of Lent last year our settlement was tremendously excited when we heard we must collect $2000 for some Church Forward Movement. Of course we had never heard before of such a sum, but were immensely proud to think anyone thought we had so much money. Some of us started to make cakes, and some of us to sew and some to beg. Now heaven forbid that I should ever bake or sew. It is absolutely foreign to my naturally generous nature to beg. I had a car, behold I would drive people who could beg.

Alas, alas! My dear lady was even then most definitely anti-church; net result, nothing for movement, broken gear and bill for $28 for me.


OBJECTS TO OLD SHOES

She is even anti humanitarianism. A dear old man, a great friend of my own, albeit humble, that is what my lady objected to. Albert humble was ill in hospital 30 miles away. Hist dear old wife was naturally anxious to see him. I am naturally of a kindly, sentimental disposition. My lady went and returned but gave me every possible trouble. Finally she choked up one wild sob on a hill up which she usually flies with [?] grace, and murmured, she could not and she would not. The old wife's hat and shoes were too horrible.

Now I never swear at my car—I talked gently and kindly. I even pleaded the beauty of my own hat and shoes, and we did get to hospital and we did return, but I suffered greatly. Perhaps I wrong her, it is so difficult to appreciate another's sorrows. She may have suffered more; but you will understand now that mine is a most peculiar and subtle car. But I love her all the same. No I will not sell her.



Notes
In 1921, Emily Winifred Lee Philpot, born in England to Richard Lee Philpot and Emily Louisa Baker, was the Proprietoress of the Island Hall Hotel. She and Joan Foster apparently opened the 28 room Hotel in 1917. Winifred married Dr. William James Woodman in Parksville, British Columbia, in 1922 and by 1927, he is listed as the Hotel's proprietor. Soon they left Parksville for the Far East. I would love to know more about her later life. Please do contact me, if you are related or have more information.

This article was published originally in the Vancouver Sunday Sun (automotive section), 19 June, 1921, page 30. The directory page shown is from page 504 of Wrigley's B.C. Directory, 1921, accessed from the Vancouver Public Library's digitized 'British Columbia City Directories' database. The Island Hall Hotel ad referred to in the directory listing was a text ad in the directory's classified section. ( Joan Foster is not listed.)

The Island Hall Hotel is now a condominium site. The Parksville Museum and Archives website has more about Parksville history and shows a photo of a car on the Island Highway in 1919.

Wednesday, February 08, 2012

The Bucket List GeneaMeme

Geniaus started The Bucket List GeneaMeme last month and a good number of Geneabloggers participated. Genias has a Bucket List Meme link list for many of the responses.

I'm a bit late chiming in, but here goes.

  • The genealogy conference I would most like to attend is... oh, my! oh, dear! I'll say 'Who Do You Think You Are' – it's the furthest away but the closest to many of my ancestors, although there's that Southern California Genealogy Jamboree which sounds such fun (and I do have missing Smiths from Long Beach) and, of course, there's RootTech. I just attended some great sessions at that 2012 conference virtually, and my more elusive ancestors must surely be hiding in the Family History Library there in Salt Lake City.

  • The genealogy speaker I would most like to hear and see is... Elizabeth Shown Mills. (That one was easy.)

  • The geneablogger I would most like to meet in person is... Thomas MacEntee, of course. I'm sure meeting him would be a hoot!

  • The genealogy writer I would most like to have dinner with is... my cousin, Ross Irwin. He's written many articles about Canadian genealogy, history and other topics, and has 3 books about our mutual Irwins – and I've not yet met him.

  • The genealogy lecture I would most like to present is... 'How I Finally Found Mary Ann White's Birthplace – A Lesson in Perseverance, not Patience'.

  • I would like to go on a genealogy cruise that visits.... Vancouver! That way I'd have no excuse not to go.

  • The photo I would most like to find is... one of Mary Ann White with William Rogers.

  • The repository in a foreign land I would most like to visit is...in the USA - the District of Columbia Public Library and the Historical Society of Washington DC Library (sure hope it's open again soon), and NARA, and the Smithsonian, etc., etc.

  • The place of worship I would most like to visit is... any of the family churches in Sweden, but with my daughter. We'd have to travel all round the country to visit them all. That would be grand!

  • The cemetery I would most like to visit is ... Abercorn Parish churchyard in Scotland. (Was the Anne Pollock buried there in 1839 really 'mine'? )

  • The ancestral town or village I would most like to visit is... Cootehill, County Cavan, Ireland.

  • The brick wall I most want to smash is...Mary Ann White's birthplace.

  • The piece of software I most want to buy is... right now - Rootsmagic.

  • The tech toy I want to purchase next is ....a FlipPal.

  • The expensive [genealogy] book I would most like to buy is...Familias Macaenses (all 3 volumes).

  • The library I would most like to visit is... the Mitchell Library in Glasgow to search through the poor law records held there.

  • The genealogy related book I would most like to write is... 'Researching Family in British Columbia – Finding the Gold!'

  • The genealogy blog I would most like to start would be about... postcards! (And it's almost ready.)

  • The journal article I would most like to write would be about...polio in British Columbia. This is one of those 'I'd like to do one-more-bit-of-research' projects. (Sigh)

  • The ancestor I most want to meet in the afterlife is... Diana Gilchrist, my great, great aunt (half). Otherwise I might like to meet the family's bigamous lady – the one who wasn't from Owen Sound! I'd like to ask 'Just what were you thinking?' but I would hope to be subtler than that.