Signatures Is Published Twice a Year

THE MAGAZINE OF LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES CANADA

FALL WINTER 2018 THE MAGAZINE OF

MANAGING EDITOR Michelle Pellerin LIBRARY AND

EDITORS Louise Pedneault ARCHIVES Chris Pitre Clément Prévost CANADA COORDINATOR DIGITAL VERSION Snjezana Kulic FALL / WINTER 2018

All images presented in this issue are 1 Introduction 11 Curating Web Collections from the collection of Library and Archives by Guy Berthiaume by Emily Monks-Leeson Canada unless otherwise indicated. 2 Happy 65th Birthday, 12 Building the Government’s Library and Archives Canada 550 de la Cité Boulevard Legal Deposit in Canada! Permanent Memory Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0N4 by Alison Bullock, by Émilie Létourneau, www.bac-lac.gc.ca Karin MacLeod and Renaud Séguin and Julie Anne Richardson Candace Loewen

4 Margaret Atwood’s Tale 14 A Collective Effort in Our CanLit Collection by “Friends” by Liane Belway by Émilie Chirip and Marianne Scott 5 Gabrielle Roy, Journalist Cat. No.: SB3-3 (print) by Annie Wolfe Choosing While Channelling: Cat. No.: SB3-3E-PDF (online) 16 ISSN: 2369-4521 (print) A Lowy Curator’s Story ISSN: 2369-453X (online) 6 Our Music Collection: by Michael Kent Date of publication: October 2018 Canada’s Songbook and Playlist 18 The Stelco Archives Signatures is published twice a year. Subscribe online: by Joseph Trivers by Lucie Paquet www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/signatures 8 Stories in the Canada 20 A Fundamental Acquisition For more information: Lands Survey Records by Alain Roy [email protected] by Roderick W. McFall © Library and Archives Canada 22 LAC Perspectives 10 Our Digital Collection of Published Documents 24 Genya Intrator, by Arlene Whetter an Angel to Refuseniks by Christine Barrass

Cover, clockwise from top: 1. Jazz pianist Oscar Peterson, ca. 1940s (source: e010752610); 2. Map from the Alexander E. MacDonald Canadiana Collection, ca. 1701 (source: e008311021); 3. Playwright and theatre director Paul Thompson with archival items that he donated to Library and Archives Canada, 2017 (photo: Jean-François D’Aoust); 4. Self-portrait by Emily Carr, ca. 1899 (source: e006078795); 5. Attestation paper for the Canadian Expeditionary Force, 1917; 6. Teen activist, speaker and writer Hannah Alper (left) and Guy Berthiaume, Librarian and Archivist of Canada, at the legal deposit of her book Momentus: Small Acts, Big Change, 2017. he first task of was established in 1953? Our librarians provide ample T librarians and evidence of just how exhaustive this part of our collection archivists is acquisition. is: they highlight the first works of Gabrielle Roy, published For without it, preser- in a newspaper for farmers, the Bulletin des agriculteurs, vation is unnecessary, between 1940 and 1945 (article by Annie Wolfe); they report and access impossible. on our Margaret Atwood collection, which is so comprehensive Twenty-three centuries that it includes an article from a school newspaper published ago, Ptolemy II dreamed in 1949, when the author of The Handmaid’s Tale was just of having 500,000 scrolls 10 years old (article by Liane Belway); and they highlight in the Great Library of our Lowy Collection of rare, ancient Hebrew and Jewish Alexandria. Today, the works, recently enriched by six works acquired through the Library of Congress generosity of the Friends of LAC (article by Michael Kent). boasts some 32 million books and 61 million And let us not overlook the audiovisual sector. manuscripts. The drive Christine Barrass uncovers fascinating sound recordings to acquire is strong. of telephone conversations conducted by a Canadian heroine, There is even a word in Japanese for the behavioural Genya Intrator, who was a link between our country and disorder of acquiring books without ever reading them: refuseniks in the Soviet Union from 1972 to 1991. Our tsundoku. And without admitting having a disorder, colleague Joseph Trivers introduces us to treasures in our raise your hand if you have really read every single music collection, which dates to 1969, when legal deposit book that you ever bought! was expanded to include musical recordings. His article quite rightly focuses on the considerable challenge of The Library and Archives Canada (LAC) collection is vast. adapting our acquisition practices to constantly changing Depending on the lists, its size puts it among the top three formats: CDs, DVDs, software and—back to the future— or four in the world: 22 million works, 250 kilometres of 33-rpm vinyl LPs! In the same vein, Arlene Whetter’s textual documents, 30 million photographs and 3 million interesting article discusses our digital collection of published maps, not to mention stamps, medals and works of art. documents, which has been growing exponentially since it was established in 1994, and particularly since 2007, It is therefore highly appropriate for the theme of this when legal deposit was expanded to cover digital publications. issue of Signatures to be acquisitions of all types, including Naturally, our overview would be incomplete without those that bolster LAC’s claim to be “Canada’s memory”: mentioning the acquisition and archiving of websites, as archives, government records and publications. related by Emily Monks‑Leeson.

Regarding archives, the bounty is both amazing and In addition to the richness of our collection, what abundant; the article by Émilie Létourneau, Renaud Séguin strikes me most on reading this issue is the passion of and Candace Loewen addresses this eloquently. LAC holds our colleagues. Their articles practically overflow with love the surveying records, decoded by Roderick McFall, that for the records in their care. This is eloquent testimony to reveal the secrets of the Klondike Gold Rush; the rich the power of memory and the extraordinary good luck we Stelco documents that Lucie Paquet uses to help us have to work with it every day. I wish all of you the good understand our social history; and the Parks Canada fortune of sharing these feelings while you read this archives referenced by David Cuthbert in relating the issue of Signatures. history of Banff, Jasper and other treasures of the Rockies.

As for the acquisition of government records, while we readily understand today that this is one of LAC’s fundamental missions, the contribution by our colleague Alain Roy reveals that this was not always the case. He takes us back to the 1870s and the debates over the Guy Berthiaume creation of a Canadian archival service worthy of the name. Librarian and Archivist of Canada And as Alison Bullock, Karin MacLeod and Julie Anne Richardson remind us, what about the books and periodicals that we have acquired since the National Library of Canada

Photo: Michel Gagné

1 HAPPY 65TH BIRTHDAY, LEGAL DEPOSIT IN CANADA!

—— BY ALISON BULLOCK, Director, Acquisition, KARIN MACLEOD, Manager, Published Canadiana, and JULIE ANNE RICHARDSON, Team Lead, Legal Deposit, Published Heritage Branch

egal deposit has been a special electronic systems, where records, services to publishers, by developing L means of collecting and preserving descriptions and many of the publica- business intelligence and products, countries’ published heritage for over tions themselves are in digital form. by systematically monitoring the 450 years. Canada’s Legal Deposit publishing industry, and by improving Program is much younger than that Legal deposit is enshrined in the performance reporting. Our ongoing and has been in place since the National Library and Archives of Canada Act commitment to enhancing staff Library of Canada was created in 1953. and further explained in the Legal capacity and skills will further Legal deposit was initially applied Deposit of Publications Regulations, contribute to successful outcomes. to books, and later expanded to which indicates the publications that include serial publications (1965), Canadian publishers are required These outreach goals introduce new sound recordings (1969), multimedia to deposit with Library and Archives approaches to delivery of services kits (1978), microforms (1988), video Canada (LAC). The regulations also to the publishing community. The recordings (1993), CD-ROMs (1995), indicate which categories of material proactive monitoring of industry maps (1997) and online or digital (e.g., print newspapers) are not required trends and assigning portfolios to our publications (2007). unless expressly requested by the acquisition librarians is deepening Librarian and Archivist of Canada. our understanding of the industry we 2018 marks the 65th year of legal Legal deposit applies to all publishers serve. It is now possible to consider deposit in Canada. Remarkably, some in Canada, and to all publications service improvements based on client of the very first titles received were on in all media and formats. Materials feedback, and robust new systems similar topics to those received today. produced by Canadian publishers at LAC are providing opportunity to Politics, parenting and pressure were become part of LAC's collection, and introduce new services such as the the themes explored in the first three they are preserved and available for long-awaited transition to email legal deposit titles received in 1953: public consultation. receipts. Armed with a new strategy The Political System by D. Easton, on outreach to publishers, a new Questions Parents Ask by S.R. Laycock, LAC’s published collection includes vocabulary, and new ways of working, and Second Annual Report on Stress books, serials, electronic publications, we are engaging with publishing by H. Selye. Interestingly, some of the sheet music, maps and audiovisual clients as never before! first titles received in 2018 tackle the formats. While legal deposit legislation same subjects: The National Question empowers LAC with a powerful And our publishing clients are respond and Electoral Politics in Quebec and “stick,” in reality it is the voluntary ing with honest, candid feedback. Scotland by Eric Bélanger et al., Les participation of Canadian publishers LAC’s publishing clients are quick to parentillages : carnet insolent sur l'art and music producers that contributes share their insights. These include d'être parent by Louis-Simon Ferland, most significantly to successfully their perceptions of LAC, suggestions and Touch in the Helping Professions: building the foremost collection of to improve the Legal Deposit Program, Research, Practice and Ethics edited by Canadiana in the world. Recognizing and observations about the Canadian Martin Rovers et al. The more things that collaboration with publishers publishing and music landscape. change, the more they stay the same! is essential, LAC has developed a publisher outreach strategy to guide In-person visits during the first year What has changed, though, is the ongoing engagement and relationship of the publishers outreach strategy way that we record what we receive. management efforts. LAC aims to produced a gold mine of information In 1953, librarians meticulously typed in increase awareness of and participation related to legal deposit services and a “Legal Deposit Register” (see image), in the Legal Deposit Program by irritants, which seem to surface more whereas in 2018, we benefit from providing a client-focused set of readily in person than they do through online feedback.

2 All clients expressed support of LAC, LAC is striving to be as comprehensive their publications promptly, and LAC its mandate and goals. All were as possible as it develops its national is pleased to see that awareness of impressed that LAC was engaging collection of published heritage. legal deposit—and participation rates by seeking input on services and Happily, most publishers submit in the program—are on the rise. collection development. They repeat- edly mentioned that partnerships The national library collection with companies or organizations CLIENT COMMENTS assembled through legal deposit (such as FACTOR, a private non-profit They said … becomes the record of the nation's organization dedicated to providing published heritage, a collection that “You are off the radar is important for scholars today and in assistance and supporting the growth until that letter arrives.” and development of the Canadian the future. A big thank you to all the music industry) would be beneficial We heard … publishers and music producers for for LAC. Visits to publisher associa- “Some publishers use their contributions. Together, we are tions found key allies who are willing documenting Canada’s publishing claim letters as a kind history and building an invaluable to cross-promote legal deposit and of order form.” partner with us to support Canadian collection of Canadiana for everyone. writing and music.

Then and now, nothing changes. Photo: David Knox

3 MARGARET ATWOOD'S TALE IN OUR CANLIT COLLECTION

—— BY LIANE BELWAY, Acquisitions Librarian, Published Heritage Branch

s we reflect on the 65th anniversary they called it Survival—because the A of legal deposit at Library and book was a last-ditch attempt to keep Archives Canada (LAC), we also Anansi alive, because survival was the celebrate not only the vastness and main theme it found in Canadian writing, variety of the Canadian literature in and because surviving was what our national collection but also the Canadian literature did … Survival sold excellence of those literary works. 50,000 copies in three years. It saved A retrospective of 65 years of publishing Anansi and demonstrated a literature in Canada could fill an entire issue its title doubted. Canadian literature of Signatures and still highlight just hadn’t just survived; it had arrived.”1 a small portion of the best CanLit publications. In fact, some contributors As our national collection continues have enriched our collections for even to grow, so does Atwood’s contribution longer than that. For example, our to it. Her works offer a stellar example earliest record for Canadian author of just how CanLit has evolved over Margaret Atwood is a school newspaper the decades. She is currently highly called “Home and School News,” popular because of the successful from 1949, four years before the television series of her iconic novel Legal Deposit Program began! The Handmaid’s Tale (published in 1985, well before literary science Since Atwood is currently still very fiction became trendy). Her over active, she gives us an excellent 40 books, and hundreds of different example of the scope and strength of editions and translations, at LAC publishing in Canada. Let us consider provide an impressive glimpse into two highlights, from her long writing how accomplished Canadian authors career, that we have in our collections are, and how vital it is to preserve Survival: A Thematic Guide to Canadian Literature, Margaret Atwood. © 1972, at LAC. Her first major collection their work for future generations. 2012 by O.W. Toad Ltd. Reproduced with of poetry, The Circle Game, won permission from House of Anansi Press, the 1966 Governor General’s Award Collecting and preserving the work Toronto (www.houseofanansi.com). for Poetry. Considered a classic of of one of Canada’s most prolific and Source: AMICUS No. 50916 contemporary poetry, it provides an award-winning authors, who has had example of a developing Canadian a long and remarkable career, who poetic voice in the key era of the has helped to create that heritage and 1960s. Nick Mount credits another continues to do so, is one of the many work, her groundbreaking Survival: achievements of the Legal Deposit A Thematic Guide to Canadian Program at LAC. Legal deposit may Literature, with ensuring the survival have just turned 65, but we have no of foundational Canadian publisher intention of retiring or even slowing House of Anansi and with promoting down in our mission. the growth of CanLit itself. In Arrival: Search for the works of your favourite The Story of CanLit, Mount writes: Canadian authors in LAC’s collections: “In 1972, House of Anansi published www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/ a book about Canadian literature … 1. Arrival: The Story of CanLit, Nick Mount, lac-bac/search/lib Toronto: House of Anansi Press, 2017, pp. 15–16.

4 GABRIELLE ROY JOURNALIST

—— BY ANNIE WOLFE, Acquisitions Librarian, Published Heritage Branch

he is the pride of Franco- people who had spirit, courage and a connection to reality: it is only by S Manitobans and Quebecers determination. Despite the huge watching the world that good fiction consider her one of their own. An challenges they faced—such as the can be written and Roy truly grasped accomplished novelist and an important colonization of Nepawa Island in this connection. figure in Francophone communities Abitibi by people from the Magdalen across Canada, Gabrielle Roy shaped Islands—they displayed a love of In 2007, the Éditions du Boréal French-language literature in Canada. life and their positive outlook was published a compilation of Roy’s focused on better days. articles, entitled Heureux les nomades In 1945, she published her first urban et autres reportages, 1940-1945. This Quebec novel, Bonheur d’occasion, Roy’s time at the Bulletin des slice of history with literary repercus- for which she received France’s presti agriculteurs was formative and it led sions was produced by the Groupe gious Prix Femina in 1947. It was the to a prolific career. The newspaper, de recherche sur Gabrielle Roy, a first time that this award was won by which celebrated its centennial on research team at McGill University. a foreign writer. It was also the first February 2, 2018, was and remains of many honours that recognized the today a key information tool for Library and Archives Canada is major impact of Roy’s work, nationally Canada’s Francophone farmers. privileged to have in its collection and internationally. The writer perfected her style and Gabrielle Roy’s published works critical thinking while working there. and her archival fonds. Before becoming a novelist, Roy Literature does not exist without was a teacher and a journalist, which enabled her to travel across Canada and hone her writing. For five years, Gabrielle Roy, 1947. Photo: Ronny Jaques Source: e010957756 from 1940 to 1945, she wrote about various regions for the Bulletin des agriculteurs, a newspaper for farmers. From Saguenay to the Eastern Townships, from the Gaspé to Abitibi, from the Saskatchewan prairies to Dawson Creek, British Columbia, she skilfully described Canada’s land scapes and seasons. While nature had a significant place in her articles, her descriptions of her encounters with people were profound.

During her travels, the journalist engaged with villagers, farmers and merchants, with characteristic gentle- ness and empathy. People confided in Roy; they invited her to become part of the life of the community. She recounted the day-to-day events with realism and elegance and without artifice. From sea to sea, she described

5 OUR MUSIC COLLECTION CANADA’S SONGBOOK AND PLAYLIST

—— BY JOSEPH TRIVERS, Acquisitions Librarian, Published Heritage Branch

usic has played an important efforts to acquire and preserve Le Graduel romain à l’usage du M role in the cultural and economic Canada’s musical heritage. This national diocese de Québec, Buffy Sainte-Marie’s life of Canadians by shaping and collection has items that range from first album It’s My Way, Drake’s Views, reflecting different regional, cultural the earliest commercial publications and a copy of Canada’s Mosaic: and linguistic perspectives and of sheet music in Canada in 1800 to very Sesquies – 40 Orchestral miniatures identities. Library and Archives recent recordings. Examples include celebrating Canada’s 150th published Canada (LAC) makes concerted John Neilson’s publication of by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.

CD box set of Glenn Gould Remastered: The Complete Columbia Album Collection, currently on display at LAC’s exhibition Premiere: New acquisitions at Library and Archives Canada.

6 ON LOAN FROM LAC

Library music collections provide Regarding sound recording, Canadian Museum of Immigration users with an organized set of scores, self-released albums and smaller at Pier 21, Halifax recordings and literature about labels serving niche markets have Refuge Canada music. Some music libraries can be proliferated: URBNET, Arachnidiscs, March 10 to November 11, 2018 specialized—orchestra, conservatory, Distribution Plages, Archaic North Nobel Prize for Chemistry, 1971 radio, academic or public—and reflect Entertainment, Transistor 66, and Awarded to Gerhard Herzberg the purpose of the institution housing Constellation Records. Artists Gold medal (front and back) that library. However, the music use new ways outside traditional collection at LAC is unique because distribution channels to sell and Library and Archives Canada, Gerhard Herzberg fonds, e011183966 it is intended as a comprehensive distribute music; they use sites record of all musical activity throughout and platforms like CD Baby and Canada in various formats: wax Bandcamp or streaming services cylinders, 78-rpm discs, vinyl, cassettes, such as Spotify, YouTube, Apple CDs, DVDs, scores and books. LAC Music, SoundCloud and Google even has a graphic novel based on the Play. They may not even release life of Glenn Gould, and comic books their music in physical formats. by the musician Lights. Many of the independent labels may not be in business for long, so we Developing the music collection may have a short period of time to has been important at LAC since acquire their publications. Some the founding of the National Library smaller record labels frequently in 1953. Legal deposit, in effect release small runs of cassettes since 1953, was extended to include or vinyl of only 25 to 50 copies. sound recordings in 1969. This is the chief means of developing our music What LAC can try to build is a collection. Our goal is to document collection that is as representative as fully as possible the development as possible, not conclusive. New and history of recorded music in Canada. formats create special challenges. That goal relies on the co-operation and With each shift in recording or National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa support of the country’s musicians, publishing technologies, there are Constant Companions: Pets in composers, producers, associations, different opportunities for collection, Nineteenth Century Photography publishers, and recording or preservation and migration. Until April 10 to October 9, 2018 video companies. recently, LAC acquired music in physical formats. We must now Shaking paws, no date Many technological advances since Unknown photographer consider how to safely acquire, Tintype 1969 have changed the music industry. preserve and migrate new material LAC has therefore had to adjust its in digital formats. LAC is currently Library and Archives Canada, collection practices. New reproduction upgrading its acquisitions system John Robert Connon fonds, e011196674 technologies and music notation to facilitate the collection of digitally software have adversely affected the distributed music so it will be sales and operations of publishers of available for future generations. sheet music and increased the costs of publishing. On the other hand, such technology and software make it easier for composers to create and distribute their scores themselves and allow smaller publishing companies to operate. Many artists and composers find it easier and more affordable to record, self-publish, distribute and promote their music thanks to personal computers, software and social media.

7 STORIES IN THE CANADA LANDS SURVEY RECORDS

—— BY RODERICK W. MCFALL, Senior Archivist, Government Archives Division

istorians are taking an increased H interest in the study of memory: how do societies tell their stories, and what do they retain in their collective memories? As an example, consider the Canada Lands Survey Records (CLSR) collection at Library and Archives Canada (LAC). One of the CLSR’s more significant stories involves the mapping of the claims discovered in the Klondike Gold Rush and the role of Indigenous people in this endeavour.

But first, some background. In 2015, the Surveyor General Branch at Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) approached LAC about the potential transfer of approximately 80,000 records long-term storage and preservation. Plan of Placer Mining Claims on part of from the CLSR collection, for a total This acquisition complements LAC’s Eldorado Creek in the Klondike Mining of 1.5 kilometres of archival holdings. collection of 1,034 official survey plans Division of the Yukon Territory. Source: R214, vol. 2091, 9189 CLSR YT A Memorandum of Understanding of reserves and residential school was signed between LAC and NRCan lands, transferred from the Legal in early 2017 governing the transfer, Services Division at NRCan in 1959. preservation and circulation of this the country work to make their major acquisition. These underused archival records collections more open to and sensitive assist in documenting several aspects towards Indigenous people.”1 The collection consists of the official of Canada’s Indigenous history and textual surveys and their associated culture, including the distribution of The CLSR tells us the story of the documentation of Canada Lands language groups, treaty rights, the Gold Rush. Before he became the (First Nations reserves, national location of residential schools and second Commissioner of the Yukon parks lands, Crown lands and terri reserves, and land use and occupation. Territory, William Ogilvie was a noted torial lands) dating from the 1850s. It Through these, we can see the history Dominion land surveyor working consists of maps, survey files, survey and evolution of Indian reserves, in western and northern Canada. In plans and survey field books. NRCan, national parks, military bases, railway 1895, he was commissioned to make the caretaker and owner of the official development, the fur trade, the Arctic, all of the required surveys for town records of the Surveyor General of and defining events like the Klondike sites, mining claims and mineral Canada Lands, had digitized and Gold Rush. As Bob Weber points out: deposits in Yukon. He surveyed the made the collection available online. “Reconciliation is rewriting Canada’s Alaska-Yukon boundary at the Yukon This made possible the physical transfer memory banks as archivists across River in 1887–1888, and in 1896, the of the collection to LAC to ensure its

8 Klondike goldfields of Bonanza Creek and Eldorado Creek. Ogilvie’s surveying work determined the approximate location of the 141st meridian, the current boundary between Alaska and Canada.

The “Plan of Placer Mining Claims on part of Eldorado Creek in the Klondike Mining Division of the Yukon Territory,” plotted by Ogilvie’s field book, documents the discovery claims made by Kèsh (also known as “Skookum” Jim Mason, meaning strong, and identified as “Tagish Jim” on the map), who was a member of the Tagish Khwáan First Nation, his American brother-in-law George Carmack, and his sister Shaaw Tláa, also known as Kate Carmack. These three are credited with discovering the first piece of gold in Bonanza Creek, an event that triggered the Klondike Gold William Ogilvie’s party at winter quarters near the Alaska-Canada boundary line, Rush. This specific survey map and October 1895. Ogilvie is seated, second from right. Source: c074924 the accompanying field book reflect the important roles of Ogilvie, Mason, and George and Kate Carmack in prospectors to be recognized by In describing Mason, Ogilvie wrote what Ogilvie called a “world-startling mining authorities, which makes that “he possesses a practical know 2 discovery.” It was unusual for dis these records even more remarkable. ledge of prospecting that is far beyond covery claims made by First Nations what one would expect to find in an It is now acknowledged that First uneducated savage. Further, he is Nations people were relegated to qualified as a prospector in a way the back pages of the history of the that few white men are, for he carries Gold Rush. However, through these nothing on his outings, which last records, Ogilvie put Indigenous weeks at a time, but a rifle, hatchet, Kèsh, also known as “Skookum” Jim Mason, prospectors like Mason on the front and gold pan.”4 As jarring as it is in Yukon pioneer. Source: a044683 pages. Ogilvie used the sobriquet 2018 to read this account referring “Tagish Jim” in his field books and to an “uneducated savage,” Ogilvie on his survey maps, and Mason nevertheless assigned the discovery also figures prominently in Ogilvie’s mining claims at both Bonanza Creek memoir Early Days on the Yukon; the and Eldorado Creek to Mason and his chapter “Discovery of the Klondike” cousin “Tagish Charlie.” includes a section dedicated solely to Mason. Ogilvie described him as The CSLR acquisition, and the survey his “old friend” and spoke of how he plans acquired earlier from NRCan, “employed Jim in various capacities, offer more untold stories. Hitherto and always found him reliable, truthful, unknown voices are bound to emerge. and competent to do any work I gave him. Afterwards, while working on his claim on Bonanza, I had more 1. Bob Weber, “Rewriting Canada’s memory experience with him, and it only banks: Archivists ‘decolonize’ collections,” corroborated the opinion I have Canadian Press, February 19, 2018. expressed of his character.”3 2. William Ogilvie, Early Days on the Yukon & the Story of Its Gold Finds (Reprint Edition, Arno Press, 1974), p. 115. 3. Ibid., p. 134. 4. Ibid., p. 135.

9 OUR DIGITAL COLLECTION

OF PUBLISHED DOCUMENTS

—— BY ARLENE WHETTER, Acquisitions are freely accessible over the Internet The comprehensive nature of Canadian Librarian, Published Heritage Branch through LAC’s library catalogue. Digital legal deposit legislation is a great publications collected include e-books responsibility. To successfully deal with rom a modest beginning of of all types (novels, non-fiction, such a large quantity of files, we plan F 6 carefully selected serial titles in children’s books), magazines, scholarly to automate our process as much as 1994, Library and Archives Canada’s journals, association newsletters, possible by using publisher-supplied (LAC) collection of digital publications annual reports and Canadian govern- metadata to create bibliographic has now grown to include approximately ment publications. A unique aspect records, instead of manual entry. 85,000 monographs and 15,000 serial of the collection is the self-published titles from Canadian publishers. material. As the only institution that The original system built in 1994, The collection has its roots in the widely collects publications from upgraded over the years, is still in National Library of Canada’s Electronic Canadian independent authors to use today. Affectionately known Publications Pilot Project, which ran make them available for posterity, as LAC’s longest-running pilot for several months in 1994 and 1995. LAC may be an important source for project—24 years!—the Electronic The project was to provide guidelines researchers studying the development Publications Pilot System will be on how to deal with the explosion of self-publishing. retired over the next year or two, as in digital publishing. This project we acquire new tools in support of studied issues such as file formats, The volume of digital material received LAC’s Digital Strategy. With improved transfer methods and copyright. Staff is an ongoing challenge for LAC. processing capacity, we will seek also developed a system to manage Many countries (United States, United out publishers who were previously the acquired files and provide online Kingdom, Australia and others) have unaware of their obligation to submit access to the public. A selection of passed selective digital deposit digital formats, and improve the early e-zines and some of the first legislation to manage the volume. breadth of this important collection. born-digital government publications are still accessible today because of this project. LAC staff members Rebecca Meunier and Alison Pier browse a Coach House Books e-book (From the Atelier Tovar: Selected Writings by Guy Maddin, 2003). Restricted-access publications During the first decade of the collec- in the LAC digital collection can be viewed on dedicated terminals in the Reference Room tion, LAC staff sought out publishers at 395 Wellington Street, Ottawa. Photo: Arlene Whetter willing to allow us to download and archive their publications. With the amendment of legal deposit legislation in 2007 to include digital publications, all Canadian publishers (including trade publishers, university presses, federal government bodies, associa tions and self-publishers) are now required to send copies of their digital publications to LAC. LAC retains these publications on its servers so the material is available to Canadians for generations to come.

To protect publishers’ commercial interests, publications intended for sale are restricted to on-site consultation at LAC’s locations. If publishers agree to open access, then the publications

10 CURATING WEB COLLECTIONS

—— BY EMILY MONKS-LEESON, Archivist, Digital Integration also Digital Integration acquires relevant social media for thematic eb archiving is practiced by collections. Although W memory institutions around the social media platforms world. It draws on the best practices present a significant of information sciences, digital curation challenge to web and preservation and digital humanities archiving platforms, to acquire, preserve, and provide we use a suite of access to web resources of heritage software tools to value and research interest. capture Twitter data and YouTube channels The Web Archiving Program at Library that are relevant to and Archives Canada (LAC) has been our larger thematic collecting federal and non-federal research collections. web resources since 2005. As a core activity, we acquire federal government Digital Integration websites and web publications recently curated a through regular, comprehensive collection documenting harvesting of the Government of the 150th anniversary of Canada domain (gc.ca) and related Canadian Confederation. The Canada 150 chair visiting federal and Crown corporation websites. The Canada 150 collection represents These crawls simultaneously collect Harbourville, Nova Scotia, with an array of political opinions and Cape Chignecto in the background. all Government of Canada official perspectives. Web resources range Photo: Anna Osburn publications in digital format on from social media, blogs, and personal Source: Kings County Museum departmental websites or on the sites to news media that document (www.canada150chair.ca) official site for accessing federal regional and national commemorative government publications. Since 2014, events, websites, and social media website by the Kings County Museum approximately 14 terabytes of federal from the federal government perspec- web resources have been acquired. in Nova Scotia tracking the adventures tive (including the 38 officially recog- of the Canada 150 chair (an antique nized “Signature” Events/Projects). While originally focused on archiving chair billed as “a front row seat to Other resources reflect the official federal web content, the Web Archiving Canadian history”). Over 1200 resources Canada 150 themes of Diversity and Program’s collections have rapidly were collected in the course of LAC’s Inclusion, Engaging and Inspiring expanded to incorporate nationally Canada 150 project and are now being Youth, Indigenous Reconciliation, and significant events and themes. In the reviewed for quality control and given the Environment. In selecting material, past four years, we have acquired appropriate metadata. we applied our program acquisition nearly 10 terabytes for thematic framework, which aligns with LAC’s collections such as the Truth and Web archiving frequently appears in institutional acquisition policies and Reconciliation Web Archive, the LAC’s Departmental Plan (formerly priorities. As with most collections, First World War Centenary Collection, the Report on Plans and Priorities) however, resources were found by Canada 150, the PyeongChang and is recognized in the Evaluation less formal means, including social Winter Olympic Games, the Federal and Acquisition Policy Framework and media, radio news and events, and Politics Collection, the Toronto 2017 other policy instruments as a unique simple word of mouth. These acquisition North American Indigenous Games, stream of acquisition. Curating web methods reflect the ways that every- and the ongoing inquiries into the collections is an important develop- day Canadians also learned about Lac-Mégantic rail disaster and ment for LAC in digitally preserving Canada 150 special events. This led to the Humboldt Broncos bus accident. and ensuring ongoing access to some quirky discoveries, including a Canadian documentary heritage.

11 BUILDING THE GOVERNMENT’S PERMANENT MEMORY

—— BY ÉMILIE LÉTOURNEAU and RENAUD SÉGUIN, Senior Archivists, Government Archives Division, and CANDACE LOEWEN, Director, Government Records Initiatives Division

very day, federal government and collected by federal employees Records Department, Experimental Farm, E institutions create and acquire and members of the Canadian Armed Ottawa, March 1945. enormous amounts of information. Forces and Royal Canadian Mounted Source: a144872 From welcoming refugees to inspecting Police can be preserved, classified, nuclear plants, the Government of described and made accessible. Canada’s activities generate millions Records that will be kept in the Under the Library and Archives of of records each year. Only a tiny archives for future generations must Canada Act, no record of the federal proportion of all documents prepared therefore be identified upstream. government may be destroyed

12 ON LOAN FROM LAC without the written permission of transferred to LAC for long‑term the Librarian and Archivist of Canada preservation for the benefit of all Canadian Museum for or, as is currently the case, his dele Canadians, is also set out in the Act. Human Rights, Winnipeg gated official. The archivists in the Protecting Rights in Canada The ephemeral and fragile nature of Government Archives Division are July 25 to October 22, 2018 responsible for identifying this heritage digital records present the greatest and recommending its acquisition to archival challenges. Technology is Western Treaty No. 5 (first page) the Chief Operating Officer of Library changing so quickly that systems Signed by Commissioners the Honourable and media may become obsolete Alexander Morris and the Honourable and Archives Canada (LAC). Once the James McKay on behalf of Queen Victoria, selection is approved, the creating before records are transferred and representatives of the Saulteaux and institution is informed of how it can to LAC. Furthermore, the effort Swampy Cree, September 1875 dispose of records that it no longer required to ensure the long‑term Ink on paper with affixed seals and ribbon requires, either by transferring them preservation of records depends Library and Archives Canada, Department to LAC if they have archival value or largely on the conditions of their of Indian Affairs and Northern Development by disposing of them. creation. To address these challenges, fonds, e010775565 LAC actively collaborates with For almost 25 years, macro‑appraisal central agencies to influence has guided the research into analysis decisions that affect government underlying these recommendations. information management and Prior to adopting this approach, govern technology activities so that archival ment archivists assessed records requirements are taken into based on their potential use in future consideration as early as possible. research. By the late 1980s, the limitations of this approach became Given the size and complexity obvious. In addition to the monumental of the federal government, efforts required to analyze government LAC professionals cannot simply records to identify information that wait for government records of might be of interest, archivists faced historical value to be offered to the impossible task of trying to predict them; they need to be proactive. what might be useful for research These efforts are essential purposes in 10, 50 or 100 years. for ensuring that Canadians have access to the archives With macro‑appraisal, the value of their government, now and of records is determined by the in the future. context of their creation. For LAC, this means identifying the activities Royal Canadian Artillery of the Government of Canada that Museum, Canadian Forces significantly affect society as well Base Shilo, Manitoba as the records that document those 1918 – The Last 100 Days activities most effectively and succinctly. May 17 to December 14, 2018 The main objective is to document how Boesinghe the federal administration carries out Mary Riter Hamilton, 1921 the responsibilities assigned to it by Oil on wove paper Parliament. This approach makes Library and Archives Canada, it possible to identify historical and Mary Riter Hamilton collection, archival records even before they are c132002k created, since the emphasis is on the activities that generate them rather than on their content.

LAC also works with federal departments and agencies to improve their information management. This in-advance work, aimed at protecting archival records before they are

13 A COLLECTIVE EFFORT BY “FRIENDS”

—— BY ÉMILIE CHIRIP, Analyst, Stakeholder Relations and International Affairs, and MARIANNE SCOTT, President, Friends of Library and Archives Canada

n the early 1990s, a group of I volunteers dedicated to supporting expansion of the collections of the National Library of Canada (NLC), established in 1953, created the Friends of the National Library (FNL).

These kinds of associations (“friends of libraries”) were quite common at the time; however, it was an innovation for one to support a Government of Canada institution. The FNL developed its key fundraising initiative—the annual book sale—based on the public’s interest in second-hand books. It began collecting used books from Ottawa residents and held its first “Giant Book Sale” in 1995 at a local mall. As books came in, volunteers would sort Canadian publications from non-Canadian ones. The volunteers would then meticulously research each Canadian publication to see whether the books could fill Cent peintres rendent hommage à Maria Chapdelaine / [compiled by] missing gaps in the NLC’s collection. Clément Fortin, Alma, Quebec: Éditions C. F., 1985; ISBN 2980048704. Source: AMICUS No. 6119778 The non-Canadian publications were Credit (cover): Nicole Billard sorted by language and literary cat egories, and sold at book sales with the Canadian publications that would not be retained by the NLC. The revenue Library and Archives Canada (LAC) in acquisition is unique, some real gems generated by book sales helped to May 2004. FLAC’s long-standing support have been added to LAC’s collections purchase special items for the NLC, has helped LAC (and predecessors) to over the years. with the first acquisition in 1992 of a acquire rare material for the collections rare book entitled Joseph Frederick for over 25 years. These acquisitions For instance, Cent peintres rendent Wallet Des Barres (1722–1824). are as varied and diverse as the LAC hommage à Maria Chapdelaine, collections themselves, and include compiled by Clément Fortin, 1985, is These activities continue today manuscripts, books, sound recordings, notable for its binding. Nicole Billard through the Friends of Library and maps, portraits and film posters. of Montréal, Quebec, was located on Archives Canada (FLAC), which was Montréal’s South Shore in the 1980s formed in May 2003 by combining the Since 2002, 9,609 Canadiana titles and created the unique binding out of FNL with the Friends of the National were donated to LAC; of these, goat leather. This piece has French- Archives of Canada. This union came 2,472 had not been held previously by technique binding with colourful about in anticipation of the creation of LAC. Although each FLAC-assisted fine-leather inlays and onlays, and

14 a gilded head. Billard’s one-of-a- kind binding features a landscape enriched by flower-petal inclusions on the end papers. The volume itself contains reproductions of the work of 100 artists inspired by the novel Maria Chapdelaine, written by French author Louis Hémon while residing in Quebec.

Another exceptional acquisition made possible by FLAC is a sketchbook by Canadian artist and author Emily Carr. Carr is not only one of Canada’s best- known visual artists but also a talented writer. This acquisition shows both of these talents as well as her humour and wit. The work also provides a first-hand account of Queen Victoria’s funeral on February 2, 1901. Carr’s journal A First Nations family travelling in a canoe in the summertime, recounts her efforts and those of her by Peter Rindisbacher, no date. Source: e008302911 close friend, Hannah Kendall, to catch a glimpse of the procession. The sketchbook, or “funny book,” as she called it, is entitled The Queen’s Funeral. The collection features works from undertaken by FLAC, which is always London and contains seven drawings artists such as Peter Rindisbacher seeking new members and volunteers mounted on taupe paper. The sketch- (1806–1834), who specialized in to participate in a variety of interesting book was a gift from Carr to Mr. and watercolours of the Anishinaabe, Cree events throughout the year. Donations Mrs. William H. Clarke, her publisher and Sioux peoples. James D. Duncan’s are also welcome through three in Toronto, who published her book (1806–1881) watercolours depict FLAC programs: the Marianne Scott Klee Wyck (from the Aht languages, Canadian landscapes and street scenes, Endowment Fund, the Jacob M. Lowy meaning “one who tends to laugh”) and Maria Morris Miller (1810–1875) Collection, and the general fund for in 1941. of Nova Scotia specialized in acquisitions of exceptional archival botanical illustrations. and library resources. More information In some instances, FLAC provides is available on FLAC’s website (www. financial support toward the acquisition We should also recognize the generous friendsoflibraryandarchivescanada.ca). of a larger or more expensive item or gift that FLAC volunteers offer: the gift collection; such was the case in 2008 of their time. In 2017, LAC officially “We should all cherish our and 2015, when FLAC supported the named a conference room after cultural heritage and the insti- acquisition of the Peter Winkworth Marianne Scott, National Librarian tutions that make that heritage collection. This valuable collection of Canada (1984–1999) and FLAC’s accessible through the collection of prints, watercolours and oil President since 2009, in recognition and preservation of all that is paintings covers over four centuries of her commitment to LAC. FLAC precious in Canada’s history. As of Canadian history! remains an essential collaborator we know, knowledge of the past as it continues its mission of supporting clarifies the present and helps LAC with acquisitions, public us understand the future. I am programming, special projects and proud of the work the Friends of providing access to special collections. Library and Archives Canada do Its current bibliographical project is to support the activities of one of to enrich access to the Soldiers of the Canada’s cultural treasures.” First World War database; volunteers are inputting search terms to help – Marianne Scott, June 2018 identify specific soldiers. These are just some of the helpful activities

On our tippest, tippest, tiptoes... by Emily Carr, 1901. Source: e011182243

15 CHOOSING WHILE CHANNELLING A LOWY CURATOR’S STORY

Jacob M. Lowy the additional question, “What © Estate of Yousuf Karsh, 1978. would Mr. Lowy think of this book?” Source: MIKAN No. 3855042 A question very different from those that library school trained me to ask, I am now privileged not only to acquire but very important. In many ways, books, but ones with significant history. I am gifted with the opportunity to The opportunity to handle a book that continue Mr. Lowy’s legacy of collecting, is hundreds of years old is a humbling a legacy he gifted to all Canadians experience. Being able to bring that through his 1977 donation. book into a public institution is a true honour. I was recently able to put this Lowy mindset into practice in a special I quickly discovered a special aspect way. 2017 was the 40th anniversary of working with the Lowy Collection. of Mr. Lowy’s gift of his collection Named for the donor, it is overwhelm- to all Canadians, so the Friends of ingly a personal collection. Mr. Lowy, Library and Archives Canada (FLAC) fluent in many languages and with a approached me to work with them strong Jewish education, had the abil- on selecting books for a donation in ity to engage with the vast majority of honour of this anniversary. It quickly the books. The pictures of the collec- became obvious to us that “What tion in his residence before it came to would Mr. Lowy think of this book?” LAC show the books, but also a room needed to be the first question as containing family photos, a menorah, we sought to honour the man. I was an ashtray and many other items that choosing while channelling; selecting speak to this as a personal collection. while imagining that Mr. Lowy himself The more time I spend with his books, was deciding. the more I feel I get to know Mr. Lowy, who passed away in 1990. I get to see After some searching, we selected patterns in the collection, areas that six books. The first was the —— BY MICHAEL KENT, Curator of interested him, the colours he must Bibliotheca Rabbinica (1613), the the Jacob M. Lowy Collection, have liked based on the books he had first academic bibliography of Hebrew Published Heritage Branch rebound, the books he no doubt found books, an item that Mr. Lowy, as a interesting since he acquired different passionate collector, would have love books. I am a book nerd. That editions, and his broad definition of appreciated. Next was Moses and I probably will not surprise you, since Judaica based on the inclusion of Aaron: Civil and Ecclesiastical Rites I am a librarian. In my first job as a Christian Hebraism. used by the Jews (1667), selected professional librarian, I could quite because of Mr. Lowy’s interest in honestly tell people I had the best As an acquisitions librarian for Christian Hebraism. Further, as an job in the world as “I got paid to buy special collections, I consider many English text, it is accessible to a wider books with someone else’s money.” factors before selecting a book. How group of our users, access being You can imagine my excitement when will it complement the collection? Do a key concern of Mr. Lowy’s. Third, later I joined Library and Archives we have potential users? Does it fill we selected a Haggadah (1737), the Canada (LAC) to work with the Jacob M. a gap in our holdings? What is the ritual text for the Passover meal, Lowy Collection, an extensive set of condition of the book? With the Lowy as Mr. Lowy was interested in these rare Judaica dating back to the 1400s. Collection, I often find myself asking texts. Further, there were no copies

16 of this edition in OCLC (an international bibliographic database), so we had a unique opportunity to bring this item into a public collection, another of Mr. Lowy’s key concerns. Fourth, we selected a Yiddish translation of Yosefun (1743), a faked Jewish version of Flavius Josephus. Mr. Lowy collected a large number of rare and unique versions of Josephus, and we imagined that he would appreciate the story behind this one.

We also selected a Jewish prayer The six books, donated by FLAC, in their new home in the Jacob M. Lowy Collection. book (1721). As a Yiddish translation, There are two copies of the Even Habochen, one for the collection and the other for this item was likely produced for a programming and displays. Photo: Michael Kent female user. We felt that this was a fitting piece to honour a remarkable woman, Claira Lowy, Mr. Lowy’s second wife. A holocaust survivor the collection now has its own copy. This acquisition of six books, made and woman of great piety, Mrs. Lowy A simple volume, it speaks to the possible by FLAC, will no doubt was an active supporter of the origins of Mr. Lowy’s acquisitions stay in my memory throughout my collection and remained involved after and is the genesis of his remarkable career. I feel immensely privileged Mr. Lowy’s death. We felt that she legacy now located at LAC. Whenever to have pursued an acquisition should be celebrated as part of this I am able to leaf through the book, project that had as its priority to commemorative donation by FLAC. I feel that I am once again getting honour Mr. Lowy’s passion for The final item is by far my favourite. to learn more about a truly collecting books. This was truly It is the Even Habochen (1901), a exceptional Canadian. a special experience. work of Rabbinic responsa literature, printed in Warsaw. This is the first title ever owned by Mr. Lowy, and the same edition. That first book remains Left: The exact edition of the first book ever owned by Mr. Lowy, the Even Habochen; with his family, but I am thrilled that right: a reproduction of a page from Mr. Lowy’s copy of the book, which remains with his family. Photo: Tom Thompson

17 THE STELCO ARCHIVES

—— BY LUCIE PAQUET, Senior Archivist, Archives Branch

ibrary and Archives Canada (LAC) roots lie in the late 18th century: in large numbers, demanded more L retains the documents of one of The Montreal Rolling Mills Co., competitive wages and better Canada’s major companies, The Steel The Hamilton Steel and Iron Co., working conditions. Company of Canada, better known The Canada Screw Co., The Dominion as Stelco. Because of the national Wire Manufacturing Co., and The metallurgy and engineering importance of the steel industry, in The Canada Bolt and Nut Co. series shows how Stelco innovated, 2016 LAC acquired this outstanding expanded production and responded fonds to ensure its preservation. This series includes incorporation to strong growth in residential and papers, ledgers, property titles, commercial construction. The files Stelco’s archives prove invaluable in insurance appraisals, correspondence explain why, in the 1950s, the company understanding an industry—including and a few product catalogues. These automated its production and railroad, automotive parts, heavy records provide insight into the reoriented its strategy toward the machinery and everyday consumer companies’ efforts to raise capital automobile industry and structural goods—fundamental to Canada’s for expansion at a time when Canada steel needs. economic development and population was undergoing unprecedented growth. Covering 110 years of technological growth. The publications series contains production (from 1865 to 1975), articles and presentations written by these archives exist in various The accounts and finance series Stelco’s metallurgical experts, along formats; they consist of 148 linear offers some ledgers and statistics, with promotional materials on the metres of textual documents, about showing Stelco’s profits, losses and company’s products. In addition, the 19,770 photographs, some 745 maps investments, and the growth of its monthly Stelco Flashes internal news- and plans, 119 microfilm reels, mills. The personnel records series letters are invaluable for researching 106 films and soundtracks, 42 objects, reveals changes in wages, benefits, activities at the steel mill. and a few graphic items. labour relations, and social and union tensions. Stelco saw its workforce The textual documents are well The first series in the fonds features grow from 5,000 workers in 1930 to complemented by the graphic documents from the five companies 23,000 in 1974; young workers, hired documents, such as plans, maps that founded Stelco (1910) and whose and drawings. Together, they

Stelco blast furnace, Hamilton, Ontario, Carey Studio, ca. 1948. Source: e011169516

18 The reels feature correspondence on was Chief Service Metallurgist, received a variety of subjects, and executive permission from Stelco to take photos minutes. Preservation of these reels and make films. In 1958, Carey made is crucial, since most of the paper the filmSteel for Canadians in collab records were destroyed. oration with Associated Screen Studies.

The Stelco fonds also includes over The Stelco fonds also has 106 audio- 19,700 photographs from the end of visual documents. In 1960, for its the 19th century to the mid‑1970s. 50th anniversary, the steel mill hired They depict managers and workers, producer Thomas Farley of Crawley mills and machinery, products, and Films Inc. to make the film Bright social and sporting activities and Century. In 1968, Stelco established events organized by the steel mill. an audiovisual centre and engaged The oldest, very rare photos show the specialists to create films such as first mills built in Quebec and Ontario. A Time of Challenge, Les perspectives After new machinery was installed in de l’acier, Steel Bridge Design in a mill, workers paused for a moment Canada and Stelco in the Future. Cover of the Stelco Flashes and posed proudly for a picture, so the In 1971, the centre’s activities were newsletter, May 1969. photographer could immortalize expanded to include distance training; Source: e011198084 the occasion. seminars were recorded on VHS tapes and shown to employees. provide considerable documentary For special events, Stelco would hire potential. The latter are important professional photographers to promote The Stelco archives are held under for studying a company focused on its business. The panoramic and aerial reference code R15513. They contain manufacturing products through photos are remarkable, often showing much more than information about processing raw materials. The maps the scope of the industrial complexes equipment, machinery and product and industrial drawings produced by with the city, neighbourhood or port manufacturing. Researchers who Stelco’s engineers give a clear picture facilities in the background. consult them will absorb the history of the company’s evolution, including of the thousands of steel industry During the 1950s, media, photograph its strategic planning to acquire land workers who witnessed the economic, ers and artists were fascinated by for its mills, and the steps in the technical and social transformation the extent of industrial progress. construction of facilities and the manu- of our country. Stelco allowed visits to its facilities for facture of equipment and products. short films and employee interviews. The corporate records series also Some of these employees had special has 119 microfilm reels produced by talents in the visual arts. One of these, Stelco’s micrographic department. John J. Carey (known as Jack), who

Plan No. 1 of the Pillow, Hersey and Company mill, drawn Workers at the first open-hearth furnace, Hamilton, by architect A.F. Dunlop, Montréal, 1887. Source: e011198087 ca. 1915. Source: e011198089

19 A FUNDAMENTAL ACQUISITION

—— BY ALAIN ROY, Policy Advisor and Historian, Strategic Research and Policy

he acquisition of records relating T to public administration is at the core of the mandate of any institution that, like Library and Archives Canada, serves as the memory of the government and the country. This seems obvious to us today, but it was not always so. An integrated approach to historical archives and governmental records dates back only to the early 20th century. Its history may surprise you…

It is important to realize that the modern administration of government as we know it today began in the 1840s, when an organized public structure was created, based on government departments. During that decade, the size of the administration of the Province of Canada grew rapidly. The capital was first located in Kingston (1841–1843), then The so-called Elgin vaults, Château Ramezay, Montréal. in Montréal (1844–1849), cities where © Pointe-à-Callière, Montréal Archaeology and History Complex/ departments were accommodated in Christian Paquin fonds, 2013.30.19.621 various houses. Construction of an office building in 1847 brought the departments together under one roof. The new building included a first: nucleus of departmental archives, A few years later, in 1871, several two vaults to protect departmental these records were at the centre of a intellectuals who were concerned documents from fire. real saga because of tension between about how these historical records two opposing services. were being handled signed a petition Although the capital of the Province tabled in Parliament that asked for of Canada alternated between the At Confederation, it was unclear who the archives to be consolidated in cities of Toronto and Québec after would be responsible for the country’s Ottawa, so the holdings could be fire destroyed the parliament building archives. Initially, under legislation inventoried and protected. in Montréal in 1849, the records adopted in 1868, Parliament mandated remained in Montréal, in an annex to the Department of the Secretary In June 1872, in response to this Government House (now the Château of State to oversee all government petition, an archives service was Ramezay). They were more or less records and papers not specifically established within the Department forgotten about, since the Province of transferred to other departments. of Agriculture. Douglas Brymner Canada did not have a true archival This provision, based on the British was responsible for drawing up the service. Only after Confederation was model of 1838 and intended to inventory. In October 1872, he realized there any interest in these records. create a Public Records Office, the disastrous state of the documents And before they became the original was never implemented. stored in Montréal and asked for

20 them to be moved to Ottawa. The request for transfer was made to the Government of Quebec, but nothing happened. The following year, a parliamentary committee recognized Brymner’s collection work, but he was instructed to continue his inventory of historic records in London, England.

Henry J. Morgan inherited the respon sibility of consolidating the archives; under an order dated October 1873, the Cabinet mandated him to oversee the relocation and classification of the records stored in Montréal. As Clerk to the Secretary of State, Morgan was a prolific author, specializing in directories, biographies and parliamentary guides. He was recognized as a person of historical significance in 2016.

In 1874, the order of October 1873, made shortly before elections, was called into question. However, a petition was presented by MPs and senators expressing support for Morgan, and the order was confirmed in August. A few days later, Morgan was in Montréal to arrange the transfer of the records, an operation that required 39 days Henry J. Morgan, undated. Source: C-031146 for his team to complete.

From then on, Morgan was recognized as the keeper of the records until his historical and governmental records replacement by Alphonse Audet in preserved in a single building, and the 1883. The transfer of records from merger of the two services. His proposal Montréal to the Secretary of State was was supported by Under-Secretary of strongly criticized by Brymner, who in State Joseph Pope, whose suggestion an 1878 brief proposed a redefinition to establish a commission of inquiry of the roles of the two services. into the state of public records was approved in 1896. The commission’s During the decades that followed, report was scathing. It resulted in both the Secretary of State and the the establishment in 1903–1904 of Department of Agriculture retained the National Archives as we knew archival services with overlapping it: an institution holding both private mandates when it came to government archives and government records, in a documents. As years passed, this building constructed for this purpose administrative confusion (derived from 1904 to 1906. from the British model, which managed historical and governmental records Despite the tensions highlighted separately) was increasingly criticized by the saga of the Montréal records, for its inefficiency. the outcome was the birth of a centralized model of Canadian In another brief, written in 1895, archival management. Brymner analyzed the situation in various countries. He proposed a Report of the Commission of new Canadian model that would have Inquiry into the State of the Public Records, Ottawa, 1898. Source: e011198148

21 LAC PERSPECTIVES

VANCOUVER / INDIGENOUS GENEALOGY WORKSHOP

—— BY CAITLIN WEBSTER, Archivist, Public Services Branch

The LAC Vancouver office is now fully established in our new service point at the central branch of the Vancouver Public Library. Since the opening in November 2017, staff have been busy helping clients navigate LAC’s website and online forms, sharing research advice, and providing access to genealogy tools such as Ancestry.ca, Findmypast and BMS2000.

Earlier this year, LAC genealogy experts and LAC Vancouver presented a public workshop on Indigenous genealogy. Workshop participants learned about LAC, our services and our online genealogy tools. The session also explored LAC’s collections supporting Indigenous family history, including census records, First Nations membership and status documents, hunting and fishing rights records, Métis scrip documents, Inuit disc number and surname registers, military records, published sources, and much more. Conducting the census and checking on Family The workshop was very popular! LAC hopes to build on this success by Allowance matters in Windy River, Northwest further developing our expertise in this area. In the future, we would like to Territories (now Nunavut), on December 10, 1950. offer additional genealogy sessions in Vancouver and across Canada, Source: a102695 including in the National Capital Region.

HALIFAX / “GUESS WHERE?”

—— BY VALERIE CASBOURN, Archivist, Public Services Branch

Since moving into our space at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 last year, the LAC Halifax office has participated in several events at the museum. For March Break 2018, we drew on LAC’s collection of archival photographs to create a brand-new activity called “Guess Where?”

“Guess Where?” features unlabelled photos taken in each of Canada’s 13 provinces and territories. The challenge is to match each photo with the right province or territory on a map of Canada. We set up this activity at Pier 21 during March Break, and visitors came by to see the photos and The house of Malcolm Rogers is moored to the shore and awaiting the high tide, during relocation from Fox Island to Flat Island, in guess where they were taken. August 1961, in Dover, Newfoundland and Labrador. Source: e011177530 The photos show beautiful Canadian landscapes, from the Atlantic to the Pacific to the Arctic. All of these photos can be viewed online using LAC’s Image Search tool. Through this activity, we hope to inspire visitors to take a look at, and discover even more of, LAC’s collection. We plan to offer the “Guess Where?” activity at many more events!

22 WINNIPEG / PARKS CANADA RECORDS

—— BY DAVID CUTHBERT, Archivist, Public Services Branch

In 1885, the Canadian government passed an Order-in-Council to prevent the private sale or settlement of the land around the Cave and Basin mineral springs in Banff, Alberta. In historical accounts, the Order-in-Council is often said to mark the origin of Canada’s national park system. Since that date, national parks have been created to protect the natural environment of designated areas across the country. The LAC Winnipeg office holds over 1,600 containers of records relating to national parks, from Parks Canada and its departmental predecessors. The records held in Winnipeg document the history of many prominent parks in Western Canada, including Banff, Jasper, Yoho, Prince Albert and Riding Mountain. While national parks aim to preserve Canada’s natural heritage, the Parks Canada records retained by LAC offer a revealing perspective on the nation’s Blueprint for sign at Cave and Basin social history. These records register the activities and development of the parks Swimming Pool, Banff, Alberta, ca. 1938. since 1885, but they also document the effects of wide-ranging historical events. Source: RG84, accession no. 1985-86/147, Files are devoted to subjects such as the relocation of First Nations communities, box 53, file B-1-1, part 7 the operation of wartime internment camps, and the challenges posed by the spread of large groups of transient young people in the 1960s.

LAC / 2019–2022 THREE-YEAR PLAN

—— BY ZEÏNEB GHARBI, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of the Corporate Secretary

In April 2018, LAC began the last year of its 2016–2019 Three-Year Plan. The 2019–2022 Three-Year Plan, which will be released in late March 2019, is therefore being prepared.

To ensure success in this strategic planning exercise, LAC held numerous consultations from March to September 2018, to gather input and feedback from external groups, including documentary community and academic partners. LAC staff, from senior management to library and archival experts, also participated in consultations. As well, joint consultations involving LAC and partners were held in our Vancouver, Winnipeg and Halifax locations. Joint consultation session at LAC’s Halifax location, For consistency and continuity in its operations, and to build on the momentum June 4, 2018. Photo: Zeïneb Gharbi developed over the past few years regarding partner relationships, LAC will be guided over the next three years by the same key priorities that were the basis for the 2016–2019 Three-Year Plan.

OTTAWA / A HAPPY, UNPRECEDENTED MARRIAGE!

—— BY SYLVAIN SALVAS, Senior Communications Advisor, Communications Branch

They were neighbours, knew each other slightly, chatted sometimes. Then one wrote a letter to the other, expressing deep feelings— and proposing marriage! The beautiful love story between Library and Archives Canada and the Ottawa Public Library started in 2016. It slowly took shape and will lead, in six years’ time, to a bundle of joy: an iconic building in the heart of the nation’s capital. The Government of Canada gave its blessing to the project in its 2018 budget.

The two major memory institutions will retain their independence and their own personalities, but will still share a passion for knowledge, history, discovery, culture and creativity.

We will witness the fascinating birth of a community and cultural hub that will bring together collections both national and universal. The facility will provide free and open access to millions of documents and the rich Canadian documentary heritage at these two major bilingual institutions.

23 GENYA INTRATOR AN ANGEL TO REFUSENIKS

—— BY CHRISTINE BARRASS, Senior Archivist, Archives Branch Genya Intrator. Source: R4849, vol. 43, file 1

o be Jewish in the former their applications to emigrate. Having These phone calls were a primary T Soviet Union generally meant a been raised speaking both Russian source of information on the life of difficulty and struggle. By the and Yiddish, she was uniquely placed situation in the Soviet Union. Thanks late 1960s, Jewish cultural and religious to transmit information back and to activities by Intrator and others in life had become almost impossible forth between the activists in Canada the international movement, facts because of systemic anti-Semitism, and those in the U.S.S.R. She had about refuseniks were communicated and many Jews sought to leave the presence of mind to record her to politicians, the media and the the U.S.S.R. for good. Fearing mass phone conversations. With just over general public. Publishing the names emigration to Israel and other countries, 520 hours of recorded conversations, and circumstances of refuseniks the Soviet Union refused the large Intrator’s collection at Library and was vital; when a name was publicly majority of Jewish applications for Archives Canada is unlike any other. known, this was considered insurance exit visas. Those whose applications She discusses the daily living conditions that the person would not disappear were rejected became known of refuseniks and prisoners of into prison. Through her constant as “refuseniks.” conscience, their health issues, communication, Intrator developed legal issues, as well as visits to the close relationships with some of the Genya Intrator was a pioneering activist Soviet Union by Westerners who refuseniks, including Ida Nudel and in the Canadian movement that worked brought goods and information to Ida Milgrom, the mother of well-known on behalf of these refuseniks. She those in need. Cognizant of the fact refusenik Natan Sharansky, who began volunteering in this movement that the Soviet security agency, the would later become a prominent as a mature student at the University KGB, was monitoring conversations, politician in Israel. of Toronto when, as a fluent Russian she had to be careful not to reveal speaker, she was asked by a student details that could endanger refuseniks Intrator was unquestionably a key group to translate during a telephone or their families. Incredibly, there is player in the movement to assist call to a Soviet Jew in 1970. She ended even a recording of a fellow activist Soviet Jewry. Sharansky described her up joining the group and assuming a in the United States recounting how, best in the 2008 online memorial book leadership role in Canada’s efforts to in the years following the dissolution dedicated to Intrator after her death: support the movement. of the Soviet Union, this activist and in the “1970s and 80s, the years of the her husband ended up having dinner most intense struggle of Soviet Jewry, From 1972 to 1991, Intrator made in Chicago with a former KGB officer the name Genya Intrator was both a weekly phone calls to various refuseniks who had been tasked with listening symbol of the direct link and strong and the families of those who had in on Intrator’s phone calls during bond of world Jewry to our daily lives.” been imprisoned for reasons related to the 1970s.