Val's Recommendations
My favourite Canadian and French genealogy resources:
There are so many genealogy resources available these days that it can be overwhelming knowing where to start. Here are my favourite picks that have been most helpful to me over the years.
Best books:
In Search of your Canadian Roots by Angus Baxter is an absolute must-have book for anyone doing research in Canada. It is a comprehensive guide with chapters on each province. Included is information on civil registrations, church records, genealogy societies, census records, libraries and much, much more. Baxter has a down-to-earth tone and reading his book is like having a one-on-one chat with a professional genealogist. ISBN 0-7715-9019-9, Toronto: Macmillan Canada, 1994.
Directory of Archives, published by the Canadian Council of Archives in 1996, is a listing of archival institutions across Canada. There are over 520 entries including their contact information and a brief list of their holdings. Some libraries and archives have a copy; if not, it can be ordered direct from the CCA at West Memorial Building Room 1009, 344 Wellington Street, Ottawa ON K1A 0N3. It will save any family historian or researcher a lot of time and guess work!
Best web site:
Denis Beauregard’s French genealogy web site has long been a favorite of mine. He is now bigger and better than ever at www.francogene.com and specializes in Franco-American and French genealogy resources. Denis has translated all the French content into English removing the language barrier for many.
Best reference materials:
Tanguay/DGCF (Dictionnaire genealogique des familles canadiennes depuis la fondation de la colonie jusqu’a nos jours) compiled by Cyprien Tanguay (1918-1902), a Catholic priest. ISBN is 0-88545-009-4 (reprinted in 1975 by Editions Elysee), on CD-ROM (Originis) or on the web at the BNQ (National Library of Quebec) at http://www2.biblinat.gouv.qc.ca/numtextes/accueil.htm.
Jette/DGFQ (Dictionnaire genealogique des familles du Quebec) is published by Gaetan Morin Editeur, 175, boulevard de Mortagne, Boucherville, QC, 450-449-2369 for approximately $200. The original release can be found through some genealogy societies and archives but is not readily available through the library system.
