SOCIETY PAGES TRANSACTIONS the NAVAL REVIEW of 1908 by Charles-André Nadeau
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SOCIETY PAGESN UMBER 2 1 ■ A UTUMN 2 0 0 8 ■ $ 2 , 0 0 ■ IN SEARCH OF QUEBEC’S WELSH HERITAGE By Patrick Donovan ■ THE NAVAL REVIEW OF 1908 By Charles-André Nadeau ■ Published with the assistance of Canada Post T HE M AGAZINE OF THE L ITERARY AND H ISTORICAL S OCIETY OF Q UEBEC , F OUNDED 1824 ■ EDITOR AND DESIGN Patrick Donovan [email protected] ■ NUMBER 21 ■ AUTUMN 2008 PUBLISHER Literary and Historical Society of Quebec 44, chaussée des Écossais CONTENT Québec (Québec) G1R 4H3 PHONE Letter from the President 1 David F. Blair 418-694-9147 FAX Executive Director’s Report 2 France Cliche 418-694-0754 Transactions GENERAL INQUIRIES [email protected] The Naval Review of 1908 3 Charles-André Nadeau WEBSITE www.morrin.org Red Dragons Among Us ■ A look at Welsh heritage LHSQ COUNCIL in Quebec City (and beyond) 5 Patrick Donovan David F. Blair, President Steve Cameron, Vice-President Library Pages James Haberlin, Treasurer Diane Kameen, Secretary Computer Catalogue Launched 6 Simon Auclair Marie C Tremblay. Honorary Librarian Wish List: Hugo Prize Winners 6 Simon Auclair Peter Black Louisa Blair Young Adult Bonanza 6 Simon Auclair William GK Boden Sovita Chander Book Review: A Long Way Gone 7 Dominik Parisien James Donovan Judith Dunn Testimonials Dorothy O’Brien Lorraine O’Donnell Kids Love the Book Quest 7 Iphigénie M. Nshutinyayo Jill Robinson Heritage Corner Hélène Thibault [email protected] Photography at ■ Morrin College 8 Leah Blythe EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR France Cliche [email protected] STAFF Simon Auclair Library Manager [email protected] Jessica Boutin 400th anniversary coordinator [email protected] LIBRARY HOURS Valérie Deslauriers Administrative Assistant [email protected] Sunday 12:00PM-4:00PM Patrick Donovan Monday CLOSED History-Interpretation-Conservation [email protected] Tuesday 12:00PM-9:00PM ■ Wednesday 12:00PM-4:00PM The Literary and Historical Society of Quebec is a non-profit organization whose mandate is to Thursday 12:00PM-4:00PM foster English-language culture in the Quebec City region and share its diverse heritage. The Friday 12:00PM-4:00PM LHSQ manages the Morrin Centre. Saturday 10:00AM-4:00PM ■ ISSN 1913-0732 Front cover: Welsh Flag, Wikipedia LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT THE CARING GARDENER “Now 'tis the spring, and weeds are shallow-rooted; books linked to its own history and to the Quebec Suffer them now and they'll o'ergrow the garden.” City region. For example, we are committed to -William Shakespeare (1564-1616) preserving the Quebec Library Association book collection in its entirety, which contains books from Dear Members and Friends : Canada’s first public library. These are the jewels of our collection and are not considered in any of our As you may know, a book auction will be taking weeding processes. place this fall. Some have expressed concern about this event and I would like to reassure you that this The books to be sold in the upcoming auction were is not a “mindless” sale, but the result removed according to principles of a well thought out process. similar to those used in other small historic libraries. Weeding criteria Preserving and sharing heritage has were established with the help of two always been at the heart of the experienced librarians with Masters Society’s mission. For this reason, Degrees in Library Science, and later about 10 years ago, the Society approved by our fifteen-member embarked on its most important Council as well as by the honorary preservation action ever: the librarian. One of our devoted restoration of its 200-year-old home members, who managed a historic to create the Morrin Centre, an collection in Maine for several English-language cultural centre decades, personally went though showcasing the contribution of every book removed from our English-speakers to the history of collection to ensure we were this beautiful city. This project has respecting our mission. involved an incredible commitment from staff and volunteers and has The main objective of this book repositioned the Society and the auction is not to raise funds, nor to building in the forefront of the city’s free up space. Our objective is rather to provide cultural scene. members and visitors alike with a Library that preserves the finest items from its past while At the heart of this project lies our Library, which remaining a relevant resource for the present. All has been a major part of the Society’s commitment to proceeds will directly benefit the collections. They its members and to the community since its creation will ensure that the Library is a relevant cultural in 1824, over 184 years ago. We continue to meet the resource that complements other libraries in the needs and interests of users by regularly adding new region. They will also go towards the conservation of material to our collections. Like other lending significant books that deserve our care and respect, libraries, the Society also regularly weeds its many of which have lain forgotten and neglected collections. In recent years, our extra efforts have among weeds for decades. A library is like a garden, allowed us to substantially increase both our we need to tend it carefully to make sure it membership and library book circulation. continues to grow and to enlighten. Our commitment to preserving heritage is Sincerely, showcased through our Special Collections, where our most significant books are kept. Books within these collections focus on the history of Canada and the former British Empire. The collections contain many first-person travel narratives that are difficult David F. Blair to find in other libraries. The Society also retains all President PAGE 1 AUTUMN 2008 Executive Director’s Report AUTUMN 2008 UPDATE by France Cliche, executive director Summer has seen our office bursting at the seams were installed in June. They are a contemporary take with students, providing much needed help on a on the original 19th century models (see inset). variety of projects. You should see many workers in the building as of SOME NEWS this fall. They’ll be working on the elevator, prison cells, the former chemistry lab, the Children’s Library, Staff, Interns, Volunteers: Our accounting assistant and generally doing lots of fine tuning to make the Marie-France Paré recently left the Morrin after a place look great while keeping the traces of time. three year part-time internship. I want to convey my thanks for her great work and wish her luck in the Fundraising: Many major pledges were received future. Barry McCullough was hired over the last few months. The launch of in June to work on financial planning the public phase of our major and has taken over most of the campaign should happen this fall. accounting tasks. With a degree in More info coming soon! Business Administration and experience in cultural organizations LHSQ Library: This fall, members will around the country, he is a great have access to a computerized addition to the team. catalogue of all our circulating collections (see page 7 for details). Many dynamic young students worked for us this summer thanks to The inventory and recataloguing of grants from Young Canada Works special collections is also moving ahead, with 50% of all books entered and Service Canada. Graphic designer Detail from 1879 Engraving depicting original chandelier in College Hall in the catalogue. Julie Brouillette returned for a second summer to work on the Celtic Festival and long- term design standards for the Morrin. Stephanie Rentals: We continued to rent out our library and Cotnoir, studying Public Relations in Michigan, lent College Hall throughout the summer. The Centre is a hand on many communication tasks. Art history attracting many national and international heritage student Camille Dufour-Truchon worked on the groups. We hosted a cocktail in the library for Celtic Festival and did some planning work for our delegates from ICOMOS this June, in Quebec to restoration project. You may have seen Iphigénie examine new proposals for the World Heritage List. Nshutinyayo working in the library - she spends the The Heritage Canada Foundation will be hosting rest of her year studying environmental science in parts of their annual conference at the Morrin Minnesota. Maria Fernanda Zaldivar Turrent also Centre from September 25 to 27. helped in the library, and will be pursuing Doctoral studies in linguistics this fall while continuing to Events: Many successful events took place over the work part-time for us as a library clerk. Finally, last few months, including our usual summer English literature student Dominik Parisien worked Candlelight series. The launch of our VoxTours on event planning, translation, and recruited great (www.voxtours.ca) walking tours attracted special writers for readings next spring. Thanks also to reports on CBC Radio-One, CKIA, the QCT, and a graphic designer David Dupuis, who completed his seven-minute prime-time feature on Radio-Canada’s contract with us in July and was responsible for the television station, broadcasted throughout the design of the VoxTours brochures. province. We hope you were able to participate in the third edition of our Celtic Festival, which Restoration project: You may have noticed the new continues to grow and attract more sponsors with chandeliers in the library and College Hall, which every passing year. ■ PAGE 2 SOCIETY PAGES TRANSACTIONS THE NAVAL REVIEW OF 1908 by Charles-André Nadeau French, British and American warships firing a gun salute in honour of the Prince of Wales, on July 25th 1908 Between July 14th and 30th of 1908, some of the most uniforms. The reviewing authority embarks in a powerful warships in the world anchored below Cap designated ship which slowly moves along the rows Diamant to participate in a naval review, on the of cruisers, destroyers, and frigates, receiving the occasion of the 300th anniversary of Québec.